Indian Chieftain Demo Ride

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Only thing I'm doing is getting the Bronze Beauty pin stripped next weekend I hope!

Be sure to post some pics.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Only thing I'm doing is getting the Bronze Beauty pin stripped next weekend I hope!

It needs something!

[racinfan101]

Thanks for doing the write up! Much appreciated!

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

$1000.00 a lid is a little steep.

$2000 for the saddlebag speaker set up??? They sure are proud of their speakers.

[Cajunrider]

If I tried sticking pin stripe on my bronze beauty, she'd tell me where to stick it.

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

If I tried sticking pin stripe on my bronze beauty, she'd tell me where to stick it.

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by glwilson

It needs something!

Not anything you got!

[dshelly]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Bronze Beauty

Is that what you call it? Last I heard was baby sh*t brown. Good luck with the stripe job anyway. Post some pics.

[trosco]

Hi all. I test rode the 2014 Indians today. Plural because I rode a stocker, and a stage 1 Chieftain (special exhaust, low restriction intake and different map for the injection and timing) along with a stocker Chief. Overall I like the bike. It rides good, is smooth and feels surefooted. It's style is quite appealing and yet designed to be quite functional. I do think though that both the red and the blue colors on the Chieftain were really unattractive and not nearly as nice as several different combos I saw on the Chiefs. I especially liked a white & silver & brown Chief that was in the demo group.
What I really liked was the engine and transmission and the low speed handling. The stock motor trans combo is strong but smooth; nearly as strong and smooth as my Goldwing between 1500-4000 RPM which is all you'd ever need coupled to that slick 6 speed. But above 4000 RPM the Indian drops off quick and by 4500 RPM is begging to be shifted. And the only noticible diference (for me anyway) with the stage 1 mods was that the exhaust was considerably louder. The bike sounded great with the stock exhaust set up and ran just fine in stock tune. However, stock or stage 1, It would not out run one of the Victory CCs or Yamaha Stratoliners or a V2K.
What I wasn't wild about was the seat to floorboard to handgrip layout. Your feet are about a inch higher off the ground than a 1600 Nomad while the seat is about a inch closer to the ground and then the bars are pullbacks but the grip section is at a right angle to the pull back so they felt like pulled back drag bars. I'm 5'11" and these bikes did not feel as confining as the Harley Ultra and 1700 Voyager but the lower half of my body felt the compactness of the arrangement so I'd agree that folks under 5'10" are going to like the arrangement while a 6 footer probably wont. However, a aftermarket seat with a little more height and set back and some aftermarket bars would solve these concerns.
I did find one serious problem that was the same on all three bike. My test rides were about 35 miles and 45 minutes each. Mostly on secondary highways running 35 - 65 MPH with a 3 mile stretch on Interstate at 75 MPH and only 4 stops. From mid thigh to buttocks these bikes cook you. Moving slow or fast, riding hard or easy, dresser or semi naked bagger the rear cylinder directs too much of it's heat at the driver's thighs. It was uncomfortable for me and the comments from other tester's matched mine so I think Indian will have to come up with a fix for this problem. But then, this is what Harley and Kaw both went thru so maybe in a few months they will have one.
So, on a 1 to 10 scale I'd give it a 7.

[GIBBY]

http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/03/12...NDAxMjEzNjc2S0

The mention of the lack of leg room echoes my test rides. As much as I want a new Chieftain I believe that I would be disappointed after the new wears off. Sure hope Victory does a slight redesign of the Vision and adds storage to the 2015 model.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

The mention of the lack of leg room echoes my test rides. As much as I want a new Chieftain I believe that I would be disappointed after the new wears off. Sure hope Victory does a slight redesign of the Vision and adds storage to the 2015 model.

I remember reading Polaris wanted to appeal to HD owners with Indians, so they specifically wanted them to feel familiar to Harley touring/cruiser riders.

When sitting on them at the show, I would say the feel is very similar. To me that is fine though.

I do believe, however, that once a person puts a few miles on one they are likely to get used to the tighter feel... That is unless they are a giant like you!

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by glwilson

I remember reading Polaris wanted to appeal to HD owners with Indians, so they specifically wanted them to feel familiar to Harley touring/cruiser riders.

When sitting on them at the show, I would say the feel is very similar. To me that is fine though.

I do believe, however, that once a person puts a few miles on one they are likely to get used to the tighter feel... That is unless they are a giant like you!

Giant? I do have some trouble with my old hockey playing knees and need to stretch them out occasionally. When it is nice out that is o.k. to do on highway pegs, but when it is cold out that will not do. I am taking my Vic to The Vic Shop just west of Des Moines in May to have a Power Commander installed and a dyno tune done on her. Rylan Vos is one of the best Vic tuners in the country. Your new HD won't have a chance of staying with me.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Giant? I do have some trouble with my old hockey playing knees and need to stretch them out occasionally. When it is nice out that is o.k. to do on highway pegs, but when it is cold out that will not do. I am taking my Vic to The Vic Shop just west of Des Moines in May to have a Power Commander installed and a dyno tune done on her. Rylan Vos is one of the best Vic tuners in the country. Your new HD won't have a chance of staying with me.

First of all, anyone that is a head-taller than me is a giant -- period!

Second of all; I was always told it isn't the machine; but rather the operator who makes the difference when it is all done and said. So, if you think "juicing-up" your Vic is going to help you out, you just go ahead and do it. We'll see ya in the review mirrors buddy. I'll lose you in the first corner.

Of course, that might be easy on a narrow two-lane road when I am leading.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by glwilson

I remember reading Polaris wanted to appeal to HD owners with Indians, so they specifically wanted them to feel familiar to Harley touring/cruiser riders.

When sitting on them at the show, I would say the feel is very similar. To me that is fine though.

I do believe, however, that once a person puts a few miles on one they are likely to get used to the tighter feel... That is unless they are a giant like you!

That may be, but they don't appeal to this HD owner. I just don't care for the styling.

[Netnorske]

The Indian/Victory/Kawasaki Dealership in Lynnwood (Motoplex), is not far from my home so I stop in there on occasion. A couple weeks ago I stopped in and swung my leg over a Chieftain. I too wanted to love the bike, but I am 5'9" and it felt as though it was a bit cramped to me as well. I also do not care for the seating position, which sits you more straight up (like on a Wing). On my 1600 Nomad and my XCT, my seating position is much more reclined, as though you were riding in an automobile, leaning back with your feet out in front of you. I'm hoping though that some of those cool handlebar features will migrate over to the Vic side. I don't think any bike on the market can currently compete with the luxurious space (rider/passenger/storage) of the Vic XCT, so comparing that to an Indian, HD or whatever is kind of pointless. I do LUV that motor though...and who would not love to have all that torque!