New Indian Chieftain Impressions

[Mr. P]

It's been a while since my last post.  Life goes on and winter holds fast.  My model is the Chieftain, a fully faired rig.  Put the vinyl  lowers on it for cold weather riding but found that it made everyday riding more comfortable.  I have all of the accessories for the Drifter; bags, windshield, crash bar, solo seat and rack.  Got them all on clearance after they stopped building the black bikes.   Has served me well overs the 17 years of riding.

[RockinRollin]

Which model is your Indian? I like the Vintage, it resembles my Drifter.

[Zoar]

Yeah, for sure!
And it even allows you to keep a grin smile while ridin', with no fear of mosquitos!

Indeed, with the windscreen on my Drifter I do not feel like I am out in the breeze at all.

I have two other motorcycles. A 1981 Honda CB 750 bobber with NO windscreen and that you are out in the breeze.  The other is a Ducati ST4 with the tiny windscreen. Because I wear a full helmet and due to the riding position, and because if how I ride THAT bike----I also do not so much feel "out in the breeze" but rather slicing through all of earth's force fields like a hot knife through butter. (!)

[mittico68]

Nice.

Did you ever have a windshield on your DRIFTER?

It makes a world of difference!

Yeah, for sure!
And it even allows you to keep a grin smile while ridin', with no fear of mosquitos!

[Zoar]

try this

Nice.

Did you ever have a windshield on your DRIFTER?

It makes a world of difference!

[Mr. P]

again

[Mr. P]

try this

[Zoar]

Poop!  Files are too big; I keep getting rejected.  Anyone know how to fix this.  I own a mac.

You need to open the pictures in a photo editing PROGRAM. Like PhotoShop or photo edit.

To do this you can put your curser on the photo itself and RIGHT CLICK it. A menu will appear and one option is OPEN WITH. Left click that. Then a list of what you can open it in will drop down. If you have photo shop or photo edit open that.

The picture will now be opened in your photo shop / photo edit program. At the top you will see a list. See "image". Left click that. A list will drip down and you will see RESIZE. Left click that. Then you will see IMAGE SIZE. Left click that. Then a block will appear showing the current size. Whatever the size is now pick a number about 1/4 the size. Then do a SAVE AS. Normally I keep the same title just add "SMALL" to the name. Then SAVE THAT smaller file either on your desk top or wherever you want to keep this smaller pictures for putting on forums like this.

[RockinRollin]

I know in windows if I select a group of pics and right mouse click  - then send to - mail recipient. It will open an email with all the pics downsized, they need to be 400 kb or less. If you get that far copy the email pics to the desktop.

[Mr. P]

Poop!  Files are too big; I keep getting rejected.  Anyone know how to fix this.  I own a mac. 

[Mr. P]

more pics

[Mr. P]

Ok, here you go.  Side by side.  Not a bad stable to own.  I have kept the Chieftain, like the Drifter, stock.  Any added equipment has been Indian accessories.  The back rest is a functional addition as are the snap on vinyl lowers.  Have not messed with the engine at all.  Fueling is spot on and ride by wire throttle allows the engine to be defined by it's torque curve rather than throttle plate position.  The new 107 Harley engine utilizes this feature also.  If there is one thing I think was over done was the badging.  Indian heads/script everywhere!  As you know Kawasaki down played the branding in order to convey the looks of the bike over the brand.  Clean and simple.
The dash is cool; one colour during the day another at night.  The info screen in the middle has a lot of information on it; all available at the touch of a button on the left handlebar pod.  But beware!  It is easy to flip through the screens and take your eyes off of the road for a period of time.  Electric wind screen is sweet and provides lots of protection even in rain.
Even so, with all of its technical do-hickory, the Indian lacks the Drifters elemental feel.  Not that is does not deliver as a bike.  It's just that the Indian smooths them all over to make for a well it's hard to explain.  The Drifter puts you out there in the wind!

[DC]

Glad it's working out for you Mr. P.. . . . . and what about some pics of that new ride?   

[Mr. P]

In 16 years motorcycles have come along way.  And while the Drifter was, and still is, a technical marvel, besides the styling they are 2 different animals.  The Indian was made to tour.
Even in it's most spartan form (the Chief) the basics are all there.  The Chieftain gets stronger rear frame section to handle the bags and two up riding and a steering rack tweet to quicken up the handling.  Add a radial tire and it just sticks to the road.  I find myself going into corners faster than the Drifter could.  To me, where the Drifter still holds its own is in the engine.  4 valves makes a huge difference in acceleration. The Drifter is not a sensitive to lower obtain fuel either, the Indian HAS to have 91.  And there is the weight.  135 lbs. is a lot of weight.
When I take the old Drifter out for a ride it feels so small.  And your out in the breeze!  The Indian makes putting on the miles so effortless that the Drifter,  as much as it's touring based bonfires will allow, is not in the same league anymore.
I rode that Kawasaki for 16 years and 68000 miles, Killed a deer with it and chased my brother around ever backroad Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota has to offer.   It is the most reliable bike I have ever owned to this point and I still roll it out to look at the lines.
The real difference is that after 7500 miles this year I am beginning to see that the Indian was well thought out, tested extensively and styled to make a modern statement that the Indian is back.  The Drifter just kept the flame alive.

[greenbarn]

So, where's the pics, man??        We likes pics....  

We thank you for your report.  In more detail, when you list things that you listed as attributes, are you mostly saying these things that you listed (e.g. going to the steering locks, cross winds controlled, fairing cuts the breeze) - do you consider all of these things "better" than the Drifter??   It would be real nice to see a pros/cons list compared directly to the Drifter.   Have you done much 2-up riding with it??

I do think they look nice, and really like a lot of the accessories, such as the saddlebags.

[Mr. P]

Greenbarn stated in an early post of mine that he want to see pics of
my new Indian.  But let's start at the beginning.  I am a swoop fender sort of guy,  Girls in skirts or skirted fenders, always catch my eye.   It was the original reason I brought my Drifter.  And the fact that it dared not to look like a Harley.  For the last 16 years and 68,000 miles I rode her. Then in 2014 Indian rolled out the Chieftain.
I wanted to be able to cover more miles more comfortably and it does that in spades.  Even after a deer collision @65mph, 6 weeks of re-coop and another 3 months in the shop for a electrical issue, i have 7,500 miles on her and counting.
This thing is very heavy.  You must strattle it to move it around other wise you will drop it.  At 825 lbs. you don't want it falling on you.  But once underway that all but disappears from the bars.  I can go to the steering locks and not fall over.  With the wide radial tire out back i can almost come to a complete stop and not put my feet down.
Out on the road the fairing does an excellent job of cutting through the breeze.  Cross winds and truck blasts are easily controlled.  The engine sounds wonderful and has a lot more torque than the old Drifter.  Barely strains to climb a hill and the fueling is spot on.   I've been getting around 40 mpg but the cold weather knocks a few mile per gallon off.
Heated hand grips are worth the price and a heated seat is in the future; no more cold nuts!
All in all an impressive American machine.  It smokes the Harley Twin Cams but they have a new 107 4 valve engine that may just keep up.  On that note, the Thunderchuff 111 only has 2 valves per cylinder.  In that department the Drifter has it beat.