2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review

April 12, 2014

2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review

On the very first evening of our journey, down a foggy coastal Florida backroad, tree branches drooping down overhead, I got the feeling. A distinct oneness with the bike, the road, and the unknown miles to come. The golden Indian on the Chieftain’s tank stared outward, stonefaced and resolute. 3600 miles, 14 days……. it would be a special ride, of that I was sure.

It’s one thing to derive impressions of a new motorcycle from a brief encounter under ideal conditions, like the model launches that bike journos attend. That’s like a “hot date”. It’s quite another to spend 14 consecutive days in the saddle, developing a relationship with a motorcycle over 3600 miles. We did just that for our 2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review, starting in Orlando on March 21st and riding the Southern States to arrive in Los Angeles on April 4th, 2014. We saw temperatures ranging from 3 to 35 degrees, pouring rain, high winds, open roads and epic traffic jams. We did day long interstate runs at 85mph, pulse pounding rollercoaster rides on tight desert backroads, and rode our favorite pockmarked segment of Route 66.

Although we can’t confirm it, we believe we’re the first (non-Indian employed) people to have ridden the 2014 Indians Coast to Coast across America. Our pal Shawn Fechter at EagleRider hooked us up and got a new Chief Vintage and a Chieftain for us to ride from EagleRider Orlando to their HQ in Los Angeles, as part of our Low-Coast Coast To Coast Hire Special. This motorcycle got ridden hard, make no mistake. (Note: we have well over 100,000 miles of experience riding Harley Davidson motorcycles in America, including several Coast To Coast rides. We’ve owned Harleys, love them for what they are and have no bias against them, nor do we look at them (or any other motorcycle brand) through rose-coloured glasses. And it’s logical to think that some HD riders might be tempted to move to an Indian. Therefore we do draw comparisons between these two iconic American motorcycle brands in this review).

It’s great to see the iconic, American Indian Motorcycle brand active again. After going bankrupt in 1953, the memory of Indian stayed strong in the imagination of motorcyclists the world over. The brand was relaunched in 1999 and struggled with quality and management issues, until it was acquired by the Polaris group in 2011. Polaris, a Minneapolis based manufacturer, manages Victory amongst other brands. Victory motorcycles have a reputation for being high quality performance cruisers, but have struggled image-wise versus Harley Davidson as they have no brand history. Before riding the Chieftain, we wondered: would this bike possess the performance DNA of the Victory bikes, AND an increased cool factor? Let’s find out! Here is our 2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review:

2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review

ENGINE:

Let’s get this one out of the way: the 111 cubic inch (1819 cc) motor in the Indian Chieftain absolutely trounces any stock Harley Big Twin we’ve ever ridden. The acceleration, even in top gear at 70 mph, is very impressive, requiring no downshifts to hit triple digits speeds before you think to look at the speedometer. Executing an emergency pass while next to a tractor trailer that suddenly started shedding retread rubber in West Texas, I was amazed at how quickly the Chieftain hit the ton, even with 225 pounds of meat popsicle onboard and fully loaded panniers. The motor feels refined, not rough, and does not generate intolerable amounts of heat. Riding through El Paso, the ambient temperature was 95 degrees, and I never was distracted by heat from either the motor or the exhaust. I found this very impressive; a bone stock, freight train of a motor that inspires hooliganism, but doesn’t roast you or feel like it’s going to shake itself out of the frame, with a deliciously deep tone coming from an EPA approved exhaust. How exactly Indian does it, I don’t know, but we sure are glad they did!

Of course, with such a fun, big mill, one has the temptation to thrash it often, which kills fuel economy. Combine the Chieftain’s thirstiness with a 5.5 gallon tank (touring Harleys have a 6 gallon tank), and you’ll be gassing up more than you expected. The Indian rider’s Harley mounted friends may lose patience as the Chieftain needs to pull in for gas 50-60 miles earlier, again, depending on how often you trash the thing.

HANDLING:

We have very deep experience riding heavy, domestic brand long wheelbase cruisers with floorboards (or as they’re otherwise known, touring Harleys!) They are very enjoyable to ride, so long as you respect the limitations of their performance envelope. To ride one of these bikes at anything approaching a brisk pace, you need to be very smooth, know just how much ground clearance you have left, and stay on your chosen line to avoid upsetting the chassis. This is due to a combination of factors including (but not limited to) basic design, chassis rigidity, and the suspension components used.

Mounting up on the Chieftain, I had similar expectations of the handling; big heavy bagger, floorboards, don’t overdo it. So I was literally shocked by what the Chieftain’s handling was really like: taut, poised, responsive, balanced, confidence inspiring. Really, the complete opposite of what I was expecting based on my experience riding Harley baggers. The Indian Chieftain outhandles any Big Twin Harley has ever made, period, end of story. There’s little to no fork dive, no hint of flex in the suspension even when you dig hard into the throttle in an 80 mph sweeper (yes, in West Texas the speed limit is 80 mph). If you push a Harley tourer, it taps you on the shoulder and says “you really shouldn’t be doing this” fairly early in the game. You wish you could get more out of it……where on the Indian Chieftain, I found myself riding it like a sportbike, lightly trail braking into corners, getting the bike upright and onto the gas hard. Like I’d ride a sportsbike! Mid-corner, if there was debris in the road, just think about picking up your line, adjust and then fall right back in, the bike just carves. I relished every opportunity to get the Chieftain over on its side – AND I never touched down the floorboards! Not sure how Indian does this, it seems a bit magic. If you like twisties as much or more than you like cruising, you will absolutely love this bike. One look at the headstock area provides a clue as to why the Indian has such great handling: the lower fork clamps is beefy and extremely rigid looking, like something you’d see on a sportsbike. Compare just this one component to the same piece on a touring Harley, the difference is quite shocking.

2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review

GEARBOX

Neutral was incredibly easy to find on the Chieftain, and shifting under even fast, hard acceleration was much smoother and took less time between gears than most touring Harleys we’ve ridden. Harleys shift with a “THUNK”, sportbikes with a “Click”, the Indian was somewhere between (Tim did find neutral difficult to find at a stop on the Chief Vintage he was riding, and found the gearbox to be quite tight – not sure if this was a setup or manufacturing issue, and we didn’t have time to find out.) I was glad that unlike some other nostalgia flavoured cruisers, Indian didn’t include a heel & toe shifter, a setup which is at best a nod to simpler, cruder mechanical era of motorcycling, and at worst is a clunkier, slower way to shift that limits where you can place your feet on the left floorboard. The single shift arm was set up with plenty of clearance for large motorcycle boots.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES

The suspension on the Indian Chieftain could almost be described as “European” in feel. The ride is firm and controlled, it eats up the bumps and you keep going. We did find that while riding Route 66 through western Arizona into California, where the road is pretty bad, that the ride on the Indian could feel a bit choppy, more so than on Harleys we’ve ridden on the same bit of road. We’ve always thought that Harleys offered a “Cadillac Ride Quality” versus other bikes, with lots of soft fork travel. Many people find this pleasant, part of Harley Davidson’s unique feel. Of course, the tradeoff is that soft suspension does not inspire handling confidence at higher speeds. Indian has decided to go for a firmer ride and superior handling, so on bad roads, you’re going to feel it more than on a Harley.

We’ve always found that to ride Harleys properly, you need to balance front brake use by applying the back brake too, otherwise you’ll get excessive fork dive. This was not the case with the Indian, you could grab a big handful of front brake and the bike just slowed down without excessive dive. We’re assuming the brakes are linked as the bike has ABS; the ABS activation is subtle to the point where we didn’t feel it kick in over 3600 miles, despite several unexpected short, hard stops – including one where we got the front tire to chirp. These are excellent, unobtrusive and confidence-inspiring brakes.

2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review

RIDER COMFORT and ACCOUTREMENTS:

The vintage look, black leather saddle of the Indian Chieftain is super comfortable once broken in. Initially, it felt a bit firm, without much padding, reminding us a bit of the aftermarket Corbin saddles we’ve used in the past. To be honest, we don’t really like super cushy saddles. After about 1,000 miles, the saddle was more compliant, but still provided a firm platform which reinforced the overall feeling of being connected to the bike, in control. The large fairing, fixed to the forks not the frame, provided excellent wind and weather protection, and the electronically adjustable windscreen is a luxury we wish all touring bikes had. On cold mornings, we cranked it up and stayed out of the wind. In the searing temperatures of El Paso Texas, we set it in the downmost position and got great windflow right into helmet face level.

The bars stretch out very wide, and in our opinion could pull back a little more than their stock position. We suspect that the wide bars in part contribute to the feeling of excellent balance at slow speeds; I was less worried about dropping the Indian (even at low speeds on broken shale_ than any other bike I’ve ridden. The low center of gravity and long wheelbase just add to the feeling of comfort and confidence you get riding the Indian Chieftain. This bike has Cruise Control, which works well, although we found it to be slightly less smooth to use than the current Harley Davidson Cruise module.

There’s a saying: “There is no such thing as a perfect motorcycle” – and unfortunately, the Chieftain’s audio controls ensured this old maxim stayed true, both aesthetically and functionally. Huge chrome pods sit near both bar ends, comically oversized. In the setting sun, they cast a bright reflection, like a mirror shining directly in your face (late in the day, we started riding with a thumb over the tops of the control modules so we weren’t blinded). Our Chieftain’s audio controls were among the worst we’ve ever used –  the buttons far too small, hard to press and lacking in response, and laid out in a confusing manner. The text on the buttons, which have a rubberized texture, is written in white lettering, which rubbed off and became illegible within the first few days of our ride. Sadly, the superb electrically adjustable windscreen controls are on the left pod and the button used to raise and power it required so much force that it caused physical pain to my left thumb. Seem like we’re nitpicking about these controls? Well, the rest of the bike is so spot on mechanically and aesthetically, that it just puzzles us –  how was this critical element of the tactile interface bungled? in 3600 miles, I used the radio once or twice, and I love listening to music on long rides. That says it all about the audio controls, really. We hope these controls are redesigned by Indian in future model years.

AESTHETICS AND DESIGN

The front fairing of the bike is a bold design, referencing the steamliner age of locomotives. Unlike the anonymous Batwing fairing, the Chief’s calls attention to itself, and takes a bit of getting used to. At first glance, we weren’t crazy about the look of the fairing, but grew to love it. The locomotive metaphor works, as this bike just chugs and pulls with real force. The Indian logo and Chief graphic are tastefully used throughout the bike; it would have been easy to overdo it and make the bike gaudy, but the brand visuals are tastefully integrated with the bike. You get a real sense of pride riding this bike, it feels classy, and turns heads. Pride of ownership will be strong with whoever plunks down money on the Chieftain.

The remote locking panniers look beautiful and work well, although they hold a bit less than you’d think given their size. This is down to their sculpted shape, and the electric locking mechanism, which is incorporated into the top lid, and protrudes down into the case, limiting the height of available storage. Still, it’s nice to be able to lock the panniers, hear the satisfying clunk when you press the remote lock, and know that you’re not going to have them open at speed on the highway.

IN CONCLUSION

In case it didn’t come across in the review, we LOVED THIS BIKE. It was truly a sad moment when we handed it back to EagleRider in Los Angeles after 3600 hard miles. The handling, braking, and that brilliant engine really impressed us, as did the overall design and aesthetics of the Chieftain. The only black marks the bike receives are the reduced fuel economy and range versus a touring Harley, and the audio controls. We didn’t experience the slightest glitch during our coast to coast ride – for a first model year bike to deliver on this level is hugely impressive. As standard, this bike is more expensive than most Harley Big Twins, but you get what you pay for, and the platform is so complete mechanically and visually we can’t see the need to spend much money on aftermarket accessories, except perhaps for an exhaust and stage one kit. You could spend thousands of dollars on a new Harley and trust us, it will never handle as well as the Indian Chieftain.

We’ll continue to ride Harleys, our fondness for their unique feel and personality remains undiminished. But our preferred long distance touring cruiser is now unquestionably the Indian Chieftain – a result we would never have predicted before riding this bike across America. We can’t wait to see how Polaris will grow the Indian brand over time, given how exceptional this motorcycle is already. Thanks for reading our  2014 Indian Chieftain Coast To Coast Ride Review!

(Interested in hiring an Indian Motorcycle to do some touring in America? Several hire locations are currently available, contact us for details!)

Ride safe,

Jim McDermott
The Lost Adventure, Ltd.

Posted in

19 Comments

  1. John Heavener on July 3, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    Thank you for a great review, I just re-discovered the Indian and the Chieftain is now among my top choices. I have ridden the Victory Vision Tour and was not impressed. I can’t wait to try the Chieftain.

    It would have been nice to know what your average range was on a tank of gas.

    Regards

    John H.
    Manassas, VA

    • Jim on July 3, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks for the kind words, John. Honestly our mileage average was not indicative of what either bike’s gas mileage or range truly was – we were riding in areas where the limit was 75-80 mph, and we kept the bikes at probably 10 mph over the limit most of the time. At those speeds, fuel economy takes a big hit. We’d guess that 150 miles would be about the range you’d see under normal use until the fuel light came on, perhaps a little more. Hope that helps!

  2. Don on August 27, 2014 at 12:52 am

    Great writeup. Can you make similar observations about the Vintage? Curious about the difference in handling due to the difference in steering head angle. Also curious if the
    Ergonomics are significantly different between bikes. There have been comments that the Chieftains seat to handlebars and floorboards is a little tight. As though designed for shorter or smaller riders.
    Thanks again for the well written article!

    • Tim Orr on September 8, 2014 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Don
      having ridden both bike I couldn’t feel any noticeable difference in the handling other than slightly heavier steering on the Chieftain which I put down to the fairing. Im 5’11 and found both bikes a good fit. If anything the Chief felt like a fraction to much of a stretch to the bars like it would suit a slightly taller rider.
      Glad you enjoyed the article.
      Cheers

  3. James on September 17, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    I’m 6′ and 225lbs I found the riding position for the Chieftain to be very comfortable willing to spend all day in the saddle. Having spent equal time on a HD street Glide and the Chieftain I’ll take the Chieftain every time. The HD seemed to wear me out but the smoothness of the Indian was greatly noticeable. At parking lot speeds the Indian handles better than many smaller motorcycles.

    • Tim Orr on September 17, 2014 at 6:06 pm

      Couldn’t agree more James. I’m 180Ibs and 5’11 and my comments would be the same

  4. Tom on October 26, 2014 at 5:24 pm

    Hello: My name’s Tom and I live in San Diego right now. Thanks for the excellent unbiased review. I just bought a used/starter bagger last year after taking 25 years off. As I tell everyone, it’s more fun than I remember! I want to take longer trips now so I’m thinking of buying a ’14 Chieftain. I just need the “invisible” paint option so my wife doesn’t notice it in the garage some day!

  5. Johnnie Hunter on December 2, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    Thanks guys, great write up! I test drove the Chieftain today and shook hands with the dealer subject to him giving me a good deal on the numbers (which he did tonight). I hope to take delivery in the next couple of weeks.
    Regards
    Johnnie Hunter
    Strathaven
    Scotland

    • Tim Orr on December 3, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      Enjoy Johnnie and Let us know how you get on.
      Cheers
      Tim

  6. Dan Beeler on May 8, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    Thanks. Great read.

  7. Bill on May 13, 2015 at 7:45 pm

    Test rode an chieftain today. The ride was smooth and comfy. I was expecting a little more ump low end plenty on top end. Roadking owner.

    • jesse on July 12, 2015 at 3:15 am

      Hey Mate, First one i rode had the factory pipes, the next couple had some free-er breathing pipes and it transformed the bike. low end was significantly better and that translated to better drive out of corners improving steering and the ability to stand the bike upright with the throttle…. meaning you were more inclined to lean it over more. These bikes NEED pipes.

  8. Will Calhoun on August 5, 2015 at 3:59 am

    Test rode a Chief Vintage and a Chieftain. One question I have. Does anybody wanna buy my 2013 Road Glide Ultra? The torquiest and smoothest bike I’ve ever ridden.

  9. Damon on February 26, 2016 at 7:39 pm

    Fantastic review, guys! Thank you so much. I’m on the fence about the Chieftain vs Street Glide, but this review seemed very fair and balanced. I didn’t see any comments on the storage? Were you able to get everything you needed in those saddlebags? Thank you again.

    • Tim Orr on April 13, 2016 at 6:10 pm

      Hi Damon
      Glad you found the article helpful. We will be publishing a Street Glide, Chieftain comparison soon.
      Cheers
      Tim

  10. Dennis on March 25, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    There’s been a lot of complaints on the net about the motors on the new Indians making a claking noise .Did you have that problem

    • Tim Orr on April 13, 2016 at 6:36 pm

      I’ve personally ridden two from coast to Coast and in March had over 20 bikes with me also riding Orlando to LA. Haven’t had any issues with the motors in fact surprisingly little in the way of any issues at all.

  11. Carlos Cadena on June 10, 2016 at 3:06 am

    Very helpful and fantastic review, thanks guys.

    Cheers from Mexico

  12. Pete on October 10, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    As a U.K owner of a Chieftain for the last 6 months, these are my thoughts on riding the Indian.
    Power and torque is ok. Even with a properly set up stage 1 it could still do with more go! Loads of thumping noise from those 2 pots does not equal more mph!
    Two up with luggage you do sometimes wish more is available for those overtakes. Front brakes, are poor. What power there is, compresses the overly soft front suspension, but not really slowing the bike down.
    Not good when entering a bend and coming of the brakes with the machine pogoing up!
    Don’t believe me, well go on line to Racetech and do the front sting rate calculation against what you have as stock and what you should have based on Racetech’s superb experience in this field!
    The rear brakes are very good. The rear suspension is a joke to the point of being dangerous. And yes it is pumped to the correct air pressure.
    Paintwork and chrome is perfect, as is the style. Cruise is awkward to operate.
    Screen is excellent as is sound quality from the onboard speaker system.
    Lights are fine, and mpg averages around 40 mpg at 80mph cruising. Reliability and dealer network here in Suffolk England is first class.
    Overall, a great bike that’s sadly let down by cheap budget suspension front and rear, and poor braking power at the front.
    If budget allows, I’ll get the front end addressed by respringing it to the correct spec inc oil and damping,and get MCT suspension in Stowmarket to get a Wilbur’s rear unit custom made to fit in place of the stock unit.
    My bikes done 5,000 miles and despite the critism, love it.

Leave a Comment





You may also like...

Get your eats on Route 66!

The Hairy Bikers - love them or hate them they certainly know how to plan a good road ...

5 Hotels To Die For!

For the majority of my hotels when going to coast to coast I'll stick to the small cheap ...

5 Bars to wet your whistle!

I love a good bar to wind down in at the end of the day on the road ...