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+--- Thread: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today (/showthread.php?tid=7370)
Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - PowderToastMan_imp - 06-29-2014
This was my first time to ever ride a cruiser, and my first time to ride an American made bike.
My impressions:
It is pretty big and bulky compared to the CB of course. When I first sat down, I was a little worried that I'd have trouble putting my feet so far forward, especially the gear shifting action. But after I first got rolling, I got oriented with that pretty immediately.
It doesn't take off nearly as quickly or as smoothly as the CB in first gear, but it does start to pick up a little in 2nd and 3rd gear. With my usual throttle twist habits, it felt really slow, but I'm sure that if I opened it up a little more it would take off at some point. Hard to fully evaluate this when you just do a few miles around town.
Handling is much easier than I expected for the size and weight, I didn't have any trouble making regular city street turns or the U-turn at the end when bringing the bikes back. Give the bars a little push and it responds in a nice loosey-goosey way, for lack of a better way to describe it. Probably not as nimble in the twisties as the CB, but I'm sure I could handle my usual riding places at a more moderate pace.
When I got back on the CB to come home, that 20 minute ride was enough to disorient me with the location of the foot pegs at first, and the CB felt physically very small, but super nimble and quick. Different strokes, I guess! Gotta say I had a pretty fun time.. if I won the lottery or doubled my salary overnight, I'd love to have one I suppose.
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - Jim21680_imp - 06-29-2014
Pretty awesome...I'm very happy to see the Indian name revived.
I did just learn that it's Polaris that's building these things now, but I'm totally fine with that.
I'd love to see them give Harley Davidson some good competition, as that is always a good thing.
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - Randy B - 06-29-2014
I was going to go to this, but I'm otherwise unavailable.
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - redbirds_imp - 06-29-2014
They're nice looking bikes and seem to carry on the look that Indian may have had if they had not gone bankrupt. A local pharmacy owner has one and loves it. For the money, a better buy than a comparable Harley.
Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - Elipten_imp - 06-29-2014
I have never ridden a cruiser style bike. Not sure about the feet forward thing.
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RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - PowderToastMan_imp - 06-29-2014
(06-29-2014, 05:56 AM)Randy B_imp Wrote: I was going to go to this, but I'm otherwise unavailable.
I was wondering if you would have wanted to do this if available, so I would have checked with you, too.
They seem pretty cool about letting people do more extended demo rides, so give 'em a call when you get better!
I might do that and see if I can get a little twisties action in.. a lot of the people there suggested getting on the freeway to open it up a little more, but I'd still prefer the hills and curves.
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - Tortuga_imp - 06-29-2014
(06-29-2014, 08:03 AM)Elipten_imp Wrote: I have never ridden a cruiser style bike. Not sure about the feet forward thing.
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I rode a few Harley's, Fat Boy, Electra Glide, and a piglet.
Nice fun for an hour or so, wouldn't want to own one. Same reason I don't have a pet dinosaur....
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - VTR1000F_imp - 06-30-2014
I sometimes ride my father´s genuine ´41 Chief with three speed transmission and leaf spring front suspension:-) I would like to give a new Indian a try - that would be hard in my part of woods...From the videos and pistures I´d say they nailed it with the look and proportions of the new Chieftain..
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - Jim21680_imp - 06-30-2014
Just did some Googling around for old Indian pictures, as I've never seen a leaf spring front suspension. (That's pretty creative!)
Cool bikes for sure....and is that a dual-sprocket trans drive I see? Wow! You don't see that anymore.
http://blacktop-motorcycle.com/?p=631
RE: Test rode a new Indian Chieftain today - VTR1000F_imp - 06-30-2014
primary drive consists of 4 row primary chain with simple tensioner, secondary drive is provided via regular chain. Check out Indian Power-Plus which used rear leaf spring suspension. It was too complicated and expensive so Indian returned for hard tail construction for all 20s and 30s.
yeah and second sprocket on the transmission is for kickstarter.