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The local Indian dealer had a fleet of bikes for demo rides for today and tomorrow so I got to ride a Springfield Dark Horse and a Chieftan Dark Horse.
The adjustable ride modes (std, tour and sport ) worked well on each bike and the suspension and seats were excellent on both bikes also.
Not sure if the handlebars were adjustable on the Springfield, the reach to the bars was a bit of a stretch, otherwise it was a lighter and more nimble ride than the Chieftan.
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RE Indian rides: Excellent to learn about the decent experience.
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(10-29-2019, 02:00 PM)Mscb1100_imp Wrote: The local Indian dealer had a fleet of bikes for demo rides for today and tomorrow so I got to ride a Springfield Dark Horse and a Chieftan Dark Horse.
The adjustable ride modes (std, tour and sport ) worked well on each bike and the suspension and seats were excellent on both bikes also.
Not sure if the handlebars were adjustable on the Springfield, the reach to the bars was a bit of a stretch, otherwise it was a lighter and more nimble ride than the Chieftan.
Those Springfield "ape hangers" are new for 2020. Going slow would be OK, but on the highway you must feel like a parachute?
2020
2019
The Indians are sharp looking, most reviews are favorable I'd say.
ACK
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Luckily on the Springfield I rode had regular bars, but still a stretch to reach them, especially with stretched out floorboards with forward controls.
Warning, if you get to ride one start off in the standard mode for traction control, the sport mode had 100% torque and hp availability at 25% throttle opening.
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I rode one of the Scouts at an Indian demo days a couple years ago. Can't say I'd ever see having one in my garage. Didn't ride the big ones as that style of bike just doesn't appeal to me.
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(10-29-2019, 11:24 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: I rode one of the Scouts at an Indian demo days a couple years ago. Can't say I'd ever see having one in my garage. Didn't ride the big ones as that style of bike just doesn't appeal to me.
My impression after test riding a Scout, great motor looking for a proper platform.
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Makes for a great fashion showdown against a HD.
The engine art is amazing.
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In 2018 I demo'd all the Indians except the Roadmaster. I liked the Scout the best but I agree with redbirds that the chassis was not up to the motor. I also rode the Dark Horse. The thing I did not like about the Indians is in the details. If you inspect them closely, wire looms are visible or covered in ugly, "after-thought" plastic covers. The area behind the headlight on the Dark Horse is awful. There's no reason for all the plastic covers everywhere except that the wiring is exposed all over the place otherwise. The lack of attention to detail was off-putting to me. It's OK for Polaris to make snowmobiles that way, but not motorcycles.
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Have to agree on that. Even the CB1100 has many of the wiring bits tucked away. Too bad regarding the Indian models. Maybe they will improve on that.
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I was lusting for the FTR 1200 when the prototype came out. Then the production model was released, mild disappointment. Then I saw one in person, major disappointment. Throw in the $17k asking price and it's not even on the radar.
