Embracing the dark side

The Indian Chief Dark Horse is targeted at the tough riders that do not want the bling but want all the attention along with a powerful and ultra-refined motor, says Indian automobile website MotorBeam.

Keeping it classy, sophisticated and retro, Indian Motorcycles have always lived up to the name with an abundance of eyeballs attracted towards their cruisers. This time, the American bike maker decided to embrace the dark side for a change, as a result the Chief Dark Horse was born retaining the aforementioned quotient but sans all that bling.

With a beastly V-twin motor under its belly, the Dark Horse sits with a loud growl and manages to grab all the attention. But is it capable of doing more? MotorBeam found that out after cruising on the streets of Delhi.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse distinguishes itself with the minimalist fairing compared to other Chief models while the all black character lends a muscular appearance to the motorcycle. The elongated front and rear fenders keep things decidedly retro and the unmistakable presence gets you tons of attention.

The Thunder Black Smoke paint scheme is unique to the Dark Horse and gets an unpolished matte finish.

The iconic war bonnet sits proudly on the front fender and the use of chrome is minimal complimenting the stealth looks of the bike.

Attention to detail is just overwhelming.

The retro themed instrument cluster finished in beige stands out, packing in a lot of information including an analogue speedometer while the digital display lends access to the odometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, trip meter and ABS among other bits.

There is also a tyre pressure monitor indicator, otherwise seen on premium cars.

The handlebars are wide and the switchgear is of splendid quality. In addition to the regular switches, there is also the cruise control unit on the right stalk.

The keyless ignition feature is extremely cool and the rider needs to switch the bike on in ignition mode and start the bike from the conventional starter button.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse offers a well-cushioned seat with the handlebars easily accessible. The rider's back remains straight throughout long rides and the bike does manage to offer a very comfortable ride.

The sore point though is the lack of grip for the thighs provided by the fuel tank.

Power on the Indian Chief Dark Horse comes from an 1811cc, V-twin Thunder Stroke 111 engine that is tuned to churn out a whopping 138.9 Nm of torque at 2600 RPM.

The bike uses a belt at the final drive, whilst paired to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine is supremely refined and offers ample of usable torque.

With a hefty 400 kg kerb weight, the Chief Dark Horse does the 0-100 km/hr run in under 7 seconds and can cruise all day long between 80-100 km/hr with the tachometer showing 2000 RPM in sixth gear.

Wind blast is a hassle and does not let you push the bike to its true capabilities.

The extensively long wheelbase does make manoeuvring the Dark Horse a task and things don't get better even when you start moving a bit.

Traffic congestions are a strict no for this brute due to the heat emitted from the engine and the American cruiser is best enjoyed out on open roads.

The suspension setup is impeccable and absorbs all bumps keeping the ride quality smooth.

The brakes inspire confidence with 300 mm dual floating discs at the front and a single floating 300 mm disc at the rear.

ABS helps avoid wheel lock during hard braking and is a necessary feature which needs to be seen more often.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse offers a splendid combination of classic vintage and bold dark looks, turning heads quite easily. The strong looks coupled with the very powerful engine makes a deadly combination that will make any rider fall in love with the cruiser again and again.