The Indian Chief Dark Horse is a fun, simplistic – has-all-you-need cruiser – with all the genuine Indian trimmings!  You’ll meet a powerful and mighty first impression which may even be interpreted into intimidating. Still, when acquainted and sitting in the solo seat you feel the fit, the power, and the presence of being in control. The Dark Horse is an enjoyable cruiser and a pleasure to ride, control, and handle!

The Dark Horse is a fairly new addition to the Chief line whose style highlights of Indian’s  celebration of its 100th anniversary of the original Indian Chief. The model originally debuted in 1921.

WHAT SETS THE INDIAN CHIEF DARK HORSE APART

One of the most striking things about the Dark Horse for me apart from its paint,  is its blend of old and new — an aspect that is quite intentional on Indian’s part. As the folks at Indian state,  it’s “Everything you want, but don’t want to see! That old school, keep it simple vibe, but also the modern tech we all take for granted today.”

The Chief Dark Horse is defined using its minimal yet convincing features. The solo seat, machined wheels, mid-controls, and low-slung handlebar speak to this simplicity. And with its chopped Bobber styling it adds up to a  distinctive allure. But that’s not it, the level of detailing on the Dark Horse is outstanding. Clean welds on every part of the frame give it a terrific flow to the eye.

The front headlamp integrates full LED lighting with smartly carved, exceptional looking  lighting elements on the inside. And from the rider’s view, a complete info hub via an elegant 4.0-inch-wide touchscreen. Styled in old-school analog, the gauge sits mid handlebar. Not to be fooled by its simpleness as it’s got all the digital features every rider enjoys! Turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, etc.  You can select various display layouts which are perfectly visible even during bright daylight rides. The screen can also be operated while wearing gloves.  And when the bike is parked, you just see a clean blacked-out screen.

Combining Lean & Mean Minimalism with Modern Technology, Paying Homage to the Past, While Embracing the Future

Truly the Dark Horse’s chopped-off rear fender, along with the duo twin pipe blacked-out exhausts again add emphasis to its distinct style. And with the taillights and indicators integrated into one,  create simple lines, minimal clutter and all bike! And all these modern tech features go completely unnoticed from the Dark Horse simple style.

The Dark Horse has a keyless ignition. Your passcode turns on the system like your smartphone. Furthermore, all the usual modern features: standard ABS, cruise control and three ride modes: sport, standard and tour.

POWERED

Mounted on an 1890cc Thunderstroke 116 The Dark Horse possesses the similar chassis which you’ll see on other Indian models. And the Thunderstroke V-Twin delivers ground shattering 162 Nm of peak torque from as low as 3200 rpm. You will not be disappointed right off the line and at first twist of its throttle!

The six-speed transmission moves freely up and down and its long wheelbase with combined fat wheel combo – front 130/60B19 / rear 180/65 B16 give the bike a stable ride.

You’ll find a telescopic front fork (132 mm) on the Dark Horse with the rear hosting adjustable dual shocks (75 mm).

At 304 kg, the Chief Dark Horse is average weight for a cruiser style motorcycle.  The weight is managed easily and any apprehensions here fades once on the bike – it’s low to the ground (seat height: 662mm / 26.0 inches). And this enhances confidence. Also, the “middles” – mid-set foot pegs allow you to get your seated stance into the bike for control. The seating space is ample with a comfortable seat. There’s a great reach and control feel with its wide handlebar.

The Dark Horse powers through corners beautifully taking the line to where you tell it to. Of course, the lean angle  – being a cruiser – is nominal and it’s likely you’ll scrape the pegs here and there.  And those Pirelli Night Dragon cruiser tires warm up quickly giving you the confidence of good grip to the ground.

The wheelbase is long on the Dark Horse and combined with the wider wheel combination of 130/60B19 (front) and 180/65 B16 (rear) give the bike a highly stable ride and make it easy to turn.

THE WRAP UP

The Chief Dark Horse is a beauty in Stealth Gray (colour discontinued in 2023) and truly meets all expectations of this historic, iconic brand. The rumble of the air-cooled American V-twin engine brings a great feel to the ride. There’s a raw beauty in the minimalistic finishes which all suited me fine. My preference is no windscreen – on expressway rides too –  nor do I carry a passenger. Yet you do have the chance to add accessories to bring both these features to life.

Personally, I like the response I get from the control of the Dark Horse and I enjoy how onlookers get excited to see the Indian motorcycle in action. The works well yet I needed to adjust the rear shock after hitting a few hard spots on the road.

I did use the navigation visually and thought it was great.

Budget wise, it is a bit of an investment with pricing starting at MSRP of $20,599 CA / $17,499 US. Equally the consideration of insurance rates needs to be accounted for as this is a large size cc / engine with a valuable price tag.

All in all, you get a great motorcycle with modern features to ensure enhanced rideability. You’ll feel the luxury in its design and the pride this model brings the sport. The Indian Chief Dark Horse will bring anyone who owns it many fun years of exploring.

WHO IS THE INDIAN DARK HORSE FOR?

This is cruiser style motorcycle for anyone who has a experience under their belt. And if you are a new rider, this could be a great ride once you have a developed your technique and are at a skills level to handle the torque and power.

It is a fabulous ride for commuting, touring and urban environments. Of course, if you wish to bring a passenger along, you’ll have to add-on a passenger seat and pegs so budget extra for that.

ERGONOMICS FIT NOTE

Here I share two minor “ergonomic” challenges when riding the Dark Horse.
The first is that the heel of my right riding boot (rear brake lever/foot peg) would – depending how I angled my foot – frequently contact the front portion of the exhaust pipe/system.  This is nothing really to be concerned about and didn’t get my attention once I realised what was occurring.

Second, was the bit of manoeuvring required to deploy and employ the side stand on the left. The left foot peg seemed to get in the way (pictured above). It seems to obstruct the reach to access the side-stand. It is something you can easily get used to – as I did. I simply angled my toe/foot a little differently to sort this out. And like every motorcycle, there are always fit adjustments to become acquainted with.
Furthermore, and even though the exhausts seemed insulated, I was surprised at how hot they become. Not something I’ve had to pay attention to for many years. So just a heads up to use caution here.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

• Engine Type: 1890 cc Air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 cubic inch, twin-cylinder engine; six-speed transmission
• Peak Torque: 120 ft-lbs ; Horsepower: 79 (approx.)
• Seat Height: 662mm / 0 in
• Weight (As Shipped / Running Order): 294 kg / 647 lbs; 304 kg/670 lbs
• Ergonomics: Mid Mount Foot Controls with Drag Bars
• Standard Equipment: ABS, Ride Modes, Keyless Ignition, USB charge port, 12V Charge Port, Rear Cylinder Deactivation
• Fuel Capacity: 15.1 L / gal
• Infotainment: 4-inch touchscreen powered by RIDE COMMAND

Read Full Specifications Here

Visit the Indian Motorcycle website for a dealer near you!