2016 Indian Chieftain Dark HorseThe venerable Indian Chieftain was released in 2014. With a mind to connect stylistic lines from the past and the expectations of modern riders, the Chieftain has done quite well for Indian Motorcycle. At the time, the Chieftain stood as a fine representation of what Indian is about as a brand, but since then, they’ve taken a few healthy steps forward.If you’ve been keeping your finger on the pulse of things, you might have noticed that cruiser manufacturers have turned to a darker hue. The matte-black club look is in, but more accurately, it always was in the more discerning circles. Those aesthetics qualities of more black and less chrome have been pulled out of the subcultures and pushed into the limelight – something that we appreciate.
Enter the 2016 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, which takes brings this blacked-out look to the Chieftain. The designers did a fine job of utilizing the shiny bits well. All eyes are directed to the Thunder Stroke 111 engine, which produces 119 ft/lbs of torque. This powerplant is found in all of Indian’s larger bikes and from there, every contour line will tell the tale, letting the chrome work do some accent work, giving each line a bit more drama.The standard Chieftain will set you back $22,999; however, the Chieftain Dark Horse has an MSRP of $21,999. You’ll save a bit of change but get a whole lot more when it comes to looks.All of the features from the Chieftain are present as well, and there is a full line of matching accessories. However, there are a couple minor changes. First off, a much more compact windscreen can be found on the Chieftain Dark Horse, along with the absence of crash bars.Some might say that this is a push to appeal to the younger demographic of riders that happen to go in for the blacked-out, raw look. And the solo seat certainly suggests that this bike is supposed to be about you, a full tank of gas and the open road. With the chrome subdued, the Chieftain Dark Horse is looking like quite a contender for the cruiser market, one that is shifting into a bit more aggressive postures when it comes to styling.
2016 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse Specs;
MSRP: $21,999
Engine Type: Air/Oil-cooled, 49° V-Twin
Displacement: 111 cu. in. (1811cc)
Bore and Stroke: 101mm x 113mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Torque: 119.2 lb-ft @ 3,00 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate
Final Drive: Belt
Frame: Cast aluminum
Front Suspension: Telescopic fork, 46mm diameter, 4.7 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Single shock 4.5 in. travel, air adjustable
Front Brake: Dual 300 mm floating rotor with 4-piston calipers, ABS
Rear Brake: Single 300 mm floating rotor with 2-piston caliper, ABS
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!
The standard Chieftain will set you back $22,999; however, the Chieftain Dark Horse has an MSRP of $21,999. You’ll save a bit of change but get a whole lot more when it comes to looks.All of the features from the Chieftain are present as well, and there is a full line of matching accessories. However, there are a couple minor changes. First off, a much more compact windscreen can be found on the Chieftain Dark Horse, along with the absence of crash bars.Some might say that this is a push to appeal to the younger demographic of riders that happen to go in for the blacked-out, raw look. And the solo seat certainly suggests that this bike is supposed to be about you, a full tank of gas and the open road. With the chrome subdued, the Chieftain Dark Horse is looking like quite a contender for the cruiser market, one that is shifting into a bit more aggressive postures when it comes to styling.
