Indian Chief Vintage" Impression Indian Chief Vintage" Impression

The Chief Vintage is the "neo-classic" model of the Indian Chief series with an 1890cc air-cooled V-twin. In other words, it is akin to the Kawasaki Z900RS or Honda CB1000F, with the exact same classic looks and modern performance. Yes, they are the same, but there is one part that I feel should be included in the Japanese neoclassical models.

⚫︎ Photo: Junya Yamauchi

Standing in the same position as the Z900RS and CB1000F

Indian's Chief series is a cruiser model powered by an 1890cc air-cooled V-twin "Thunder Stroke 116" engine mounted on a steel pipe frame. Among the seven models in the lineup, the Chief Vintage (starting at 3,380,000 yen), which we test-drove, has a classic look as seen in the front and rear fenders deeply covered by spoke wheels and the saddle-type seat, which are selling points.

The construction is elaborate in any case. The front fenders covering the brake calipers, the crystal mascot above the fenders (which shines), the graceful arc of the frame from the head pipe to the rear axle, and so on. These motifs are the first Indian Chiefs of the 1940s and 1950s, neo-classic models in the same vein as the Kawasaki Z900RS and Honda CB1000F, which revive old models with the latest technology. Naturally, the equipment is modern, with three ride modes, cruise control, a round but color LCD touch-activated instrument panel, and smartphone connectivity. The one-push starter, which keeps the cell motor running until the engine starts, is also very convenient.The Chief Vintage is abike that is loaded with electrical components, and as a result, the wiring and guts are a pain to deal with, asis often the case withtoday's bikes.The wiring around the head pipe is so small that you can easily see through to the other side, and there are no guts in the saddle seat area. This kind of attention to finish is essential for neoclasses, and I think Chief's is a few steps ahead of Japanese neoclasses.

Straightforward and nimble handling is a pleasant experience.

I have already mentioned that the Chief Vintage is easy to ride with its 1890cc engine and 327kg of equipment weight. Perhaps because of its low center of gravity, the handling is straightforward and nimble, and the frame, which seems to be focused on looks, is solid and rigid. The frame, which seems to be focused on looks, is solid and rigid. Although it is a bit misleading to call it sporty (there is not much bank angle), the handling is natural and pleasing.The engine is very well trained, and in the standard of the three driving modes, it does not react abruptly to throttle operation even at low rpms, making it easy to handle, and when running slowly, you can enjoy a pulsating pulse that is like boiling water. However, the engine response is very good, and the engine revs up immediately when you twist the throttle. This may be the difference from the Harley, which gives the impression of a large crank mass, with a heavy and thumping feeling of explosion with each shot.Incidentally, the Sport mode gives a very strong throb of the accelerator, while the Tour mode is so mild that it feels a little sluggish. The difference is very obvious when switching between the two modes, but above 3000 rpm, they all feel the same, so I felt that the standard mode is the easiest to handle in all situations. More to the point,the 1890cc heat felt at idle is quite intense (although it does have the ability to deactivate the rear cylinder under certain conditions).

Another look at the vehicle. The shiny black paint accentuates the graceful pipe frame, the maroon exterior is indescribable, and the head cover has side valve fins.How could they have gone to such lengths to recreate the original Chief? It goes without saying that the appearance of a motorcycle is important, but the "attention to detail for show," including the aforementioned way of hiding organs and wiring, tickles the hearts of enthusiasts and is wonderful. If someone who is not interested in motorcycles were to look at it, it would be hard to believe that it is a new car made in 2025.... Therefore, if there is a "real vintage looking bike championship", I would definitely recommend Chief Vintage.

INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE (2026) main specifications

Overall length x width x height: 2,441 mm x 887 mm x 1,175 mm - Distance between axles: 1,626 mm - Minimum ground clearance: 125 mm - Seat height: 686 mm - Equipped weight: 327 kg - Engine: Air-cooled 4-stroke V-Twin cylinder OHV 1890 cc - Maximum output: undisclosed - Maximum torque: 156 Nm (15 .9kg-m）/3,300rpm ・Fuel tank capacity: 15.1L ・Transmission type: 6-speed ・Brake type (F/R): Disc (ABS)/Disc (ABS) ・Tire size (F/R): 130/90B16/150/80B16 ・Sales price: From 3.38 million yen Contact: Indian Motorcycle: https://www.indianmotorcycle.co.jp/ Visit the gallery (11)