2025 Indian Sport Chief RT First Look [10 Fast Facts]

February 2, 2025

MotoAmerica’s King of the Bobbers (KOTB) racing series has sparked a revolution, showing cruiser riders that speed isn’t just for sport bikes. Building on this trend, the 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT takes the cruiser concept and adds sporting capability without losing its cruiser essence. Let’s rundown what Indian did to the Sport Chief to make it a Sport Chief RT this year.

The 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT is powered by the muscular Thunderstroke 116 engine. The 1890cc V-twin cranks out 115 ft-lbs of torque at just 3300 rpm, and you have three modes at your disposal—Sport, Standard, and Tour.

The suspension is upgraded. The inverted KYB fork is lighter than the standard Chief’s cartridge-style fork. Unfortunately, the fork is non-adjustable. The rear gets a pair of Performance Adjustable Piggyback Rear Shocks by Fox with 23-position clickers for a tailored ride. Rear wheel travel is extended to 3.9 inches, giving the Indian Sport Chief RT more cornering clearance—a must for sport riding. The longer travel lifts the seat height to a still-manageable 27.4 inches.

The 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT gets its own ergonomics. Indian installs its thicker 2-up High Bolster step seat, giving the rider a bit more leg room to the forward-mounted controls. The handlebar has an MX-inspired bend and is mounted on six-inch risers, with optional 10-inch risers available.

A quarter-fairing protects the rider from the high-speed windblast. The fairing is enhanced by a 6.5-inch windscreen.

With higher performance comes enhanced deceleration capabilities. Up front are a pair of radially mounted Brembo four-piston calipers working on 320mm discs. The rear 298mm disc is grasped by a two-piston Brembo caliper. ABS is standard.

Metzeler Cruisetec tires take care of traction duties. A 19-/16-inch wheelset is employed. Sport Cast Black aluminum wheels get the nod on the 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT.

Plenty of electronics enhance the riding experience. Indian’s sophisticated Ride Command software is inside a four-inch round touchscreen dash. Other features include cruise control, keyless ignition, LED lighting (Pathfinder adaptive lighting is optional), and a powered USB port.

Yeah, it’s a bagger. Hard side cases mean you can tour on the 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT. The cases are locking and hold 37 liters. You can have the cases color-matched, or with a textured black finish.

Here is the 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT pitch from Indian Motorcycle VP Aaron Jax: “When we launched Sport Chief, we raised the bar for performance cruisers. After observing the aftermarket landscape, our product team saw an opportunity to design a motorcycle that came standard with high-quality factory components that were traditionally aftermarket add-ons. With Sport Chief RT, we’re adding custom-inspired componentry to create the ultimate package for riders looking to enhance style and add storage.”

Three color choices await 2025 Indian Sport Chief RT buyers. The standard color is Black Smoke, with Sunset Red Smoke and Heavy Metal offered at a $500 premium above the $22,499 base MSRP. Check with your local Indian dealer for availability.

2025 Indian Sport Chief RT Specs

ENGINE

Engine type: Thunderstroke 116 49-degree V-twin
Bore x stroke: 103.2 x 113mm
Displacement: 116ci (1890cc)
Peak torque: 115 ft-lbs @ 3300 rpm
Fueling: Closed-loop w/ 54mm throttle body
Exhaust: Dual exhaust
Transmission: 6-speed
Clutch: Wet multiplate
Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS

Frame: Steel tube w/ cast aluminum rear subframe
Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable KYB inverted 43mm fork; 5.1 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Fully adjustable Fox piggyback-reservoir shocks; 3.9 inches
Wheels: Sport Cast Black
Front wheel: 19 x 3.5
Rear wheel: 16 x 5
Tires: Metzeler Cruisetec
Front: 130/60 x 19
Rear: 180/65 x 16
Front: 320mm semi-floating disc w/ radially mounted Brembo 4-piston calipers
Rear: 298mm floating disc w/ Brembo 2-piston caliper
ABS: Standard