2022 Indian Chief line first look

The Chief badge is certainly resilient. It appeared in 1922 and won the respect of countless riders over the years, including my grandfather. The Chief faded after World War II and died out with Indian in 1953. Of course, it’s been resurrected a few times since then, and now Polaris brings us the Chief’s newest direction.

Indian pulled out all the stops for the latest generation of Chief motorcycles. First, we’ll look at the series-wide changes, then see what sets each Chief model apart.

“The Indian Chief is a truly iconic motorcycle and what better way to celebrate its 100th birthday than unleashing an entirely new Indian Chief lineup,” said Mike Dougherty, Polaris’ President of Motorcycles. “These bikes capture the mechanical simplicity and attitude of classic American V-twins, yet bring it all forward with modern sophistication and features. We could not be more thrilled to bring this new platform into our lineup.”

All the 2022 Chief models are based on the same steel tube frame and air-cooled Thunderstroke engine. “We wanted to capture a timeless look that never goes out of style, and looks beautiful whether naked or fully dressed,” said Ola Stenegärd, Director, Industrial Design for Indian Motorcycle. “We also wanted to keep it simple enough to allow riders’ imaginations to take flight… It’s a pure riding machine.” Stenegärd previously designed bikes for BMW Motorrad, where he worked on models like the S 1000 RR and the R nineT. 

These bikes roll on a 64-inch wheelbase (equivalent to a Harley-Davidson Softail) and offer 28.5 degrees of lean angle. The lightest Chief weighs in at 670 pounds wet. Seat height is silly-low at 26 inches, with forward controls for the Bobber and Super Chief; the standard model wears mids.

Tech updates include “keyless ignition, Ride modes, cruise control, rear cylinder deactivation and LED lighting.” For the Dark Horse and Limited models, Indian is very proud of their new four-inch Round Display with RIDE COMMAND. If you’re gonna build a hardcore heritage V-twin, you’ve gotta have round instruments, right? So Indian added a circular, touch-capable display that can emulate analog gauges, display turn-by-turn navigation, and even connect via Bluetooth for music, calls, and more if you’re running a Bluetooth communicator. 

2022 Indian Chief and Chief Dark Horse

Indian bills the standard Chief ($14,499) as “power, minimalism, and attitude” incarnate. It’s probably the most practical of the line, as well, with its cast wheels (19-inch front and 16-inch rear), “drag” handlebar and mid controls. Its heart is the Thunderstroke 111, naturally. That means the base Chief is the cheapest way onto a new Thunderstroke at your local Indian dealer. 

Stepping up to the Dark Horse  ($16,999) gets you the Round Display, a Thunderstroke 116, and blacked-out elements.

2022 Indian Chief Bobber and Bobber Dark Horse

The Chief Bobber ($15,999) isn’t nearly as “bobbed” as what you’ll find from other manufacturers, mostly because the Chief’s fenders are already fairly short. The solo seat, fat 16-inch tires, and spoked wheels define this model, along with the shrouded suspension and mini-ape handlebar. It’s meant to evoke V-twins of the postwar era with touches like the large headlight with a classically styled nacelle.

The premium Chief Bobber Dark Horse ($18,999) boasts the 116 engine, the Round Display, and more black parts, just like the standard Dark Horse.

2022 Indian Super Chief and Super Chief Limited

The $18,499 Super Chief’s distinguishing features include the quick-detach windshield, saddlebags, floorboard, and passenger seat, just the ticket for riders looking for a Chief for longer rides. It gets the Bobber's spoked wheels, covered suspension, and headlight treatment, mixed with a full chrome exhaust and traditional handlebar.

The Super Chief Limited ($20,999) is all about rich metallic paint and maximum chrome. Three paint variants, Black Metallic, Blue Slate Metallic, and Maroon Metallic, keep the Super Chief Limited both classy and classic, and of course there’s a Thunderstroke 116 thrown in for good measure.

Parts, accessories, and the larger picture

Is it truly a modern American V-twin without a slew of accessories and go-fast parts? Indian has mufflers, intakes, cams, big bore kits, windshields (three heights), heated grips, luggage, racks, sissy bars, passenger seats, and, well, you get the idea. 

The Thunderstroke-powered Roadmaster, Chieftain, and Springfield, along with the liquid-cooled Challenger, still occupy the top of Indian’s range. The old Vintage Chief models just go by “Vintage” now, at least on Indian’s site. This puts the new Chief range at the center of Indian’s line moving forward.

If the Challenger and its PowerPlus engine set Indian apart from Harley-Davidson, the new Chief models can be interpreted as the pendulum swinging back, to take on the likes of the Softail Standard ($13,599), the Street Bob 114 ($14,999), and the Heritage Classic ($18,999), which are more cruising-oriented than the largest touring models. These models are a return to Indian’s roots, too, for those who can’t imagine Indian without the proud Chief nameplate as an option.

Stylistically, these motorcycles feel much cleaner and more cohesive than the older Vintage Chief models, but that’s just my opinion, man. I’m sure Indian will be happy to sell you any of them. The 2022 Indian Chief line will hit dealerships this April.

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