Cruiser Motorcycle Reviews | Rider Magazine

2023 Indian Pursuit Elite and Chieftain Elite | First Look Review

Rider Magazine Staff — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:01:00 +0000

Following the announcement last November of the 2023 Challenger Elite, Indian Motorcycle recently announced the release of the new Indian Pursuit Elite and the return of the Chieftain Elite. Like other bikes in the Elite lineup, both bikes will be limited in production and feature premium options. These new bikes in the 2023 Indian Motorcycle lineup will begin shipping to dealers in spring 2023.

The Chieftain Elite was the first bike in Indian’s Elite program, introduced for the 2018 model year. Aaron Jax, vice president of Indian Motorcycle, said the idea was to create an offering that was “not just limited in quantity, but exclusive in nature with custom details straight from the factory.”

“Today, with jewel-like finishes, our Elite line of baggers and touring models truly represent the best-of-the-best and deliver a statement like nothing else on the road,” Jax said.

2023 Indian Pursuit Elite

There will be only 150 units available worldwide of the Indian Pursuit Elite, a touring bike that Indian says is “designed for riders who value the journey as much as the destination.”

The Indian Pursuit Elite has electronically adjustable rear suspension preload from Fox that is managed from the bike’s infotainment system. Braking comes from radially mounted Brembo 4-piston calipers biting dual semi-floating 320mm discs up front and a 2-piston caliper and floating 298mm disc in the rear.

The bike rides on 5-spoke precision-cut wheels (19 inches in the front, 16 in the rear) with tire pressure monitoring and wrapped in Metzeler Cruisetec tires. It’s powered by a liquid-cooled 108ci PowerPlus V-Twin making a claimed 122 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm and mated to a 6-speed gearbox and slip/assist clutch.

The Indian Pursuit Elite offers Smart Lean Technology using a Bosch IMU to manage traction control, ABS, and torque. Backlit switch cubes improve the rider’s ability to see the bike’s controls at night, and the Pathfinder Adaptive LED headlight combined with Pathfinder S LED driving lights and saddlebag lights deliver improved visibility. Both rider and passenger get a heated seat with adjustable controls on the seat and infotainment system.

The Indian Pursuit Elite is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen powered by Ride Command and offers Apple CarPlay integration, turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, one year of Ride Command+ connected features, and more. The bike’s Powerband Audio includes built-in amplifiers, a nine-band equalizer, and 16 speakers.

Offering more than 35 gallons of remote-locking storage, riders can keep all cargo protected inside weatherproof saddlebags and trunk, and for those looking to achieve further customization, a quick-release low-profile trunk is available as a color-matched accessory.

The 2023 Indian Pursuit Elite comes in premium Super Graphite Metallic and Black Metallic paint with Shadow Bronze Chrome accents. Color-matched Elite badging and premium components complete the bike’s design. Pricing starts at $39,999.

Story continues below 2023 Indian Pursuit Elite photo gallery.

2023 Indian Chieftain Elite

Limited to only 175 units globally, the 2023 Indian Chieftain Elite features what the company says is “meaner and more aggressive styling with custom-inspired details straight from the factory.”

The Chieftain Elite bagger features Indian’s most powerful air-cooled engine, the Thunderstroke 116, which delivers a claimed 126 lb-ft of torque. While this is the same mill as the 2022 Chieftain Elite, the standard Chieftain is powered by a 111ci engine making a claimed 119 lb-ft of torque. The 2023 Chieftain Elite’s open fender showcases a new 10-spoke precision machined front wheel. Similar to the Indian Pursuit Elite, the wheels are 19-inches in the front and 16-inches in the rear with tire pressure monitoring and shod in Metzeler Cruisetec tires.

Like other Chieftain models, rear cylinder deactivation improves rider comfort when riding through slower traffic, while three selectable ride modes – Tour, Standard, and Sport – allow riders to adjust the bike’s throttle response to match their riding style.

The 2023 Chieftain Elite has a 46mm inverted fork and air-adjustable single rear shock. Stopping power comes from dual 4-piston calipers and 300mm floating discs up front, with a 2-piston caliper and 300mm floating disc in the rear. ABS is standard.

From a style perspective, the Adaptive Pathfinder LED headlight and rear saddlebag LED lights on the 2023 Chieftain Elite provide good visibility at night, as well as some head turns. An adjustable tinted flare windscreen raises or lowers to the rider’s preferred position with the push of a handlebar-mounted button.

Like the Indian Pursuit Elite, the 2023 Indian Chieftain Elite features the 7-inch touchscreen display powered by Ride Command with Apple CarPlay, GPS with navigation, and Ride Command+ features, like live traffic and weather overlays, and a vehicle locator feature. The bike has backlit switch cubes, an integrated PowerBand audio system, keyless ignition, and weatherproof and remote-locking saddlebags with more than 18 gallons of storage. For riders looking to personalize their ride, color matched accessories are available, including a quick-release low-profile trunk, as well as lower fairings.

The new Chieftain Elite’s paint scheme features Super Graphite Smoke complemented by premium Shadow Bronze chrome finishes and Indian Motorcycle headdress floorboards. Pricing starts at $35,499.

For more information, visit the Indian Motorcycle website.

See all of Rider‘s Indian coverage here.

The post 2023 Indian Pursuit Elite and Chieftain Elite | First Look Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.

Custom BMW R 18 B ‘Heavy Duty’ Unveiled at Daytona Bike Week

Rider Magazine Staff — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 17:29:28 +0000

The custom BMW R 18 B ‘Heavy Duty,’ designed by Fred Kodlin and his son Len, was unveiled at this year’s Daytona Bike Week. The bike features modifications to the frame, the addition of an air suspension system, a custom paint job by tattoo artist Marcel Sinnwell, and adaptations to the body that serve both for function and, in the case of the winglets, strictly for the sake of form. For more information, read the press release from BMW Motorrad below.

Anyone who talks about the U.S. customizing scene mentions Fred Kodlin almost in the same breath. For more than 40 years, he has dedicated himself to customizing motorbikes, from radically modified creations to sophisticated new designs. Since the 1990s, he has been incredibly successful with his custom bikes and was able to win various important Daytona shows regularly. He was the very first non-U.S. citizen to be inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame.

For the first time, Kodlin has now set about customizing a BMW together with his son Len: the BMW R 18 B. “The R 18 B Heavy Duty was a real father-son project,” said the boss of Kodlin Bikes in Borken, Germany, happily. “There was a lot of creative input from Len, which also goes to show that the next generation at Kodlin Bikes is already in the starting blocks.”

Massive BMW R 18 B Chassis Technology Adaptations

The biggest challenge in customizing this year’s crowd puller at the Daytona Bike Week in Florida was undoubtedly the frame. “We have completely remanufactured the upper tubes to lower the fly-line and thus the seat height of the R 18 B,” explained Fred Kodlin. “We also redid the steering head and the triple clamps so that the caster fits despite the changed steering angle and so that the bike rides well.”

The result was the R 18 B Heavy Duty, a bike in typical Kodlin style. Viewed from the side, the fly-line drops sharply to the rear from the chopped windshield taken from the Original BMW Motorrad Accessories range and finally runs harmoniously into the side cases made by Kodlin out of glass fibre-reinforced plastic and the low rear end. From the top, the R 18 B Heavy Duty is characterized by a strong waistline in the seat area and a flowing connection to the side cases.

Finally, the technical chassis highlight is an air suspension system at the front and rear, supported by a compressor placed barely visibly behind the left side case. This allows the R 18 B Heavy Duty to be lowered and raised in a fraction of a second. This is both as useful as it is spectacular: To park, lower the chassis, and it rests on hidden support points letting the bike crouch just a few centimeters above the asphalt, waiting for the next ride.

Extensive BMW R 18 Body Modifications

The Kodlin team also delved deeply into the subject of body construction for a good three months. A completely new sheet metal tank was created – longer than the original, flowing in shape and with indentations on the sides. The connection of the tank and rear frame was also modified for this purpose. The original mobile phone charging compartment, on the other hand, has been taken over from the R 18 B.

A front spoiler, including a three-color underfloor lighting system – a popular feature, not only in Daytona – and a front fender are also made of sheet metal, the fender fitting snugly around the 21-inch front wheel. Finally, Kodlin created a corresponding counterpart for the rear wheel from two R 18 B rear fenders joined together, in which the rear and side indicator lights are integrated in a very discreet manner.

The two side covers made of sheet metal, which form a smooth transition to the side cases, are completely custom-made. Speaking of side cases, R 18 B loudspeakers by Marshall and an amplifier are fitted inside. Kodlin’s attention to detail is also evident in the aluminum milled hinge panels of the cases in the style of the original R 18 B components.

The so-called winglets above the cylinders are another design element. They are also made of metal but do not fulfil any function in the actual sense. Rather, they underline the design of the R 18 B Heavy Duty and make it appear unmistakable, especially when viewed from the front. The customizing job is rounded off by a seat made by Kodlin and an instrument cover with covers made of Alcantara and imitation leather, as well as specially made handlebars and a self-created exhaust system.

Elaborate Paintwork by Tattoo Artist Marcel Sinnwell

Marcel Sinnwell has painted other Kodlin showbikes in the past, but these days, he only rarely picks up a spray gun for very special jobs. For example, when he paints yachts or an R 18 B Heavy Duty.

For this project, the color gradients were completely airbrushed with translucent paint. The inspiration for this was the mixing of color pigments in the paint and especially the way form streaks in the milky basecoat when first stirred. The result goes along very well with Daytona Bike Week, where complex and colorful paint schemes are more than just good form.

Additional design touches on the R 18 B Heavy Duty are provided by hand-painted pinstripes and an airbrushed pattern on the rear fender that combines Kodlin and “100 years of BMW Motorrad.” The brake calipers, gearshift, and foot brake levers and footrests, however, are BMW Motorrad standard components that have been color-matched.

BMW R 18 B: The Perfect Bike for Customizing

But Fred Kodlin by no means laid his hands on all the assemblies and parts. He said what was a particularly positive surprise for him was the bolts. “They are all made of stainless steel, with a nice Torx head,” he said. “That’s not the way it is on other bikes. The basic bike and especially the engine are very, very cleanly finished. All the electrical cables are already nicely hidden, so we didn’t have to do anything to the engine.”

For this reason, numerous R 18 B components were deliberately not replaced but at most modified. For example, the shortened hand levers and handlebar end weights. Likewise, the engine remained unchanged from a technical point of view. Only the cylinder head covers, belt cover, and intake snorkel were painted in metallic black.

Cruise control with distance control, reverse gear, and eCall have remained unchanged. These are absolutely unique features of the BMW R 18 B in the cruiser world, where these functions are not offered by any other manufacturer.

The post Custom BMW R 18 B ‘Heavy Duty’ Unveiled at Daytona Bike Week first appeared on Rider Magazine.

Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders: Seat Heights 30-30.9 Inches

Rider Magazine Staff — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:38:59 +0000

2022 Honda Navi. Photo by Drew Ruiz.

Walking into a dealership as a shorter rider, or as someone who just wants a smaller ride, can feel a little limiting. You stroll by impressive and imposing machines that you might admire but don’t want to fight with as your main bike. You might find one or two models off in the back that are a comfortable fit, but you’re disappointed that there aren’t any more options to choose from. Luckily, options for smaller motorcycles are growing, and we’ve compiled those options into two Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders list.

In our first Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders post, we focused on bikes with seat heights under 30 inches. That seat height limit meant almost all the models on that list were cruisers, and while we certainly enjoy cruisin’, we like a little variety too. With this second Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders post, we’re excited to include some sportbikes, minimotos, and an ADV. And while the seat heights may be taller than on the first list, many of the models on this list weigh and cost less than the shorter-seated cruisers.

This list consists of motorcycles with a seat height between 30.0 and 30.9 inches. When possible, we’ve included a link to our test ride review, so you can get a sense of how each bike performs in action. We’ve also included the 2022/23 model year’s U.S. base MSRP (as of publication), claimed wet weight, and seat height. On models with options to lower the seat height or suspension, we’ve listed the standard and lowered seat heights. You can also click on a model’s name to go to the manufacturer’s webpage for a full list of specifications and details.

The models in this list are arranged by seat height, with the first model having the shortest seat height and the last model having the tallest seat height in the list.

Honda Grom

$3,499

30.0-inch seat

223 lb

Read our 2022 Honda Grom First Ride Review

Honda Navi

$1,807

30.0-inch seat

234 lb

Read our 2022 Honda Navi First Ride Review

Royal Enfield Meteor 350

$4,899

30.1-inch seat

421 lb

Read our 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Road Test Review

Triumph Speed Twin 900

$9,895

30.1-inch seat

476 lb

Read our 2019 Triumph Street Twin (former name) First Ride Review

BMW G 310 R

$4,995

30.9-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.3 inches)

362 lb

Read our 2018 BMW G 310 R First Ride Review

BMW F 900 R

$8,995

32-inch seat (optional lower seat to 31.1 inches and lower suspension to 30.3 inches)

465 lb

Read our 2020 BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR Road Test Review

BMW F 750 GS

$9,995

32.1-inch seat (optional lower seat to 31.1 inches and lower suspension to 30.3 inches)

493 lb

Read our 2019 BMW F 850 GS and F 750 GS Road Test Review

CFMOTO Papio

$2,999

30.5-inch seat

251 lb

Read our 2022 CFMOTO Lineup First Ride Review

Ducati Monster Plus

$12,995

32.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 31.5 inches and lower suspension to 30.5 inches)

366 lb dry

Read our 2021 Ducati Monster First Ride Review

Honda Monkey

$4,249

30.5-inch seat

231 lb

Read our 2019 Honda Monkey First Ride Review

Benelli TNT 135

$2,699

30.7-inch seat height

266 lb

CFMOTO 300SS

$4,499

30.7-inch seat

364 lb

Read our 2022 CFMOTO Lineup First Ride Review

CFMOTO 650NK

$6,499

30.7-inch seat

454 lb

Read our 2022 CFMOTO Lineup First Ride Review

Ducati Scrambler Icon

$10,995

31.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.7 inches)

408 lb

Read our 2023 Ducati Scrambler Range First Look Review

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle

$12,195

31.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.7 inches)

408 lb

Read our 2023 Ducati Scrambler Range First Look Review

Ducati Scrambler Nightshift

$12,195

31.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.7 inches)

421 lb

Read our 2023 Ducati Scrambler Range First Look Review

Honda CBR300R

$4,899

30.7-inch seat

354 lb

Read our 2023 Honda Returning Models First Look Review

Honda Super Cub C125

$3,849

30.7-inch seat

238 lb

Read our 2019 Honda Super Cub 125 ABS First Ride Review

Indian FTR

$13,499

30.7-inch seat

514 lb

Read our 2022 Indian FTR S First Ride Review

Indian FTR Sport

$15,749

30.7-inch seat

522 lb

Read our 2023 FTR Sport First Look Review

Moto Guzzi V7 Stone

$9,190

30.7-inch seat

492 lb

Read our 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone First Ride Review

Moto Guzzi V7 Special

$9,590

30.7-inch seat

492 lb

Read our 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Special First look Review

Moto Guzzi V7 Special Edition

$9,990

30.7-inch seat

480 lb

Read our New and Updated 2023 Moto Guzzi First Look Review

Yamaha YZF-R3

$5,499

30.7-inch seat

375 lb

Read our 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 First Ride Review

Yamaha MT-03

$4,999

30.7-inch seat

373 lb

Read our 2020 Yamaha MT-03 First Ride Review

Kawasaki Ninja 400

$5,299

30.9-inch seat

362 lb

Read our 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 ABS First Ride Review

Kawasaki Ninja 400 KRT Edition

$5,499

30.9-inch seat

362 lb

Read our 2023 Kawasaki Returning Models First Look Review

Kawasaki Z400 ABS

$5,399

30.9-inch seat

364 lb

Read our 2019 Kawasaki Z400 ABS First Ride Review

Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber

$10,490

30.9-inch seat

463 lb

Read our 2017 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber First Ride Review

Suzuki SV650

$7,399

30.9-inch seat

432 lb

Watch our 2017 Suzuki SV50 Video Review

The post Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders: Seat Heights 30-30.9 Inches first appeared on Rider Magazine.

Indian Challenger RR – 2022 King Of The Baggers Race Replica

Rider Magazine Staff — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0000

The Indian Challenger RR will be built to the same specifications as Tyler O’Hara’s King Of The Baggers championship-winning Challenger.

When you’ve got to have the baddest bagger on the block, Indian Motorcycle is now offering the Indian Challenger RR to the public. It’s built to the same specifications and by the same hands as the bike Tyler O’Hara raced to the 2022 King Of The Baggers championship.

Just 29 will be built, a nod to O’Hara’s #29 championship-winning bike, and they’re a near duplicate of the bike O’Hara rode during the 2022 season, including a hot-rodded V-Twin that likely produces in excess of 170 hp.

“Originally, the thought of roadracing baggers was perplexing to many, and even downright offensive to some road racing purists,” said Gary Gray, Vice President of Racing, Technology, and Service for Indian. “But in just three short years, King Of The Baggers has emerged as the hottest thing in motorcycle racing as these bikes have rapidly evolved in their sophistication, and we thought it would be awesome to give people the opportunity to own the bike that holds the crown.”

As you might expect with a race-tuned bagger, this motorcycle is not street legal, but it is a true racebike that will get your blood pumping on the track. As Gary Gray said, “Put in the right hands, it will reach the podium in MotoAmerica’s Mission King Of The Baggers race series.”

Those courageous enough to own one will have to fork up $92,229, which sounds like a lot until you take a look at the extensive list of components and R&D that have gone into making the Challenger the class of the KOTB field.

Indian Challenger RR Specifications

S&S 2-1 race exhaust
17-inch race rims
Dunlop race tires
S&S billet adjustable triple clamps
Ohlins FGR250 forks
TTX Ohlins rear shock
S&S chain drive conversion
Carbon fiber saddlebags
Fiberglass rear fender
Saddlemen raised race seat
S&S adjustable fairing mount
Aero headlight insert
Aero windshield
S&S belly pan
S&S rear set foot controls
S&S camshafts
112 CID big bore cylinder/piston kit
S&S air intake system with 78mm throttle body
CNC ported cylinder heads
S&S Billet adjustable rockerarms
Hayes rear caliper, EBC rear rotor, and SBS pads
Brembo M4 front calipers, 330mm rotors, and SBS pads
S&S automatic chain tensioner
Maxx full adjustable ECM
AIM DL2 data logger/dash
Quickshifter kit
S&S billet clutch cover
S&S adjustable handlebars
S&S race modified swingarm

To learn more about the Indian Challenger RR, visit Indian’s website.

The post Indian Challenger RR – 2022 King Of The Baggers Race Replica first appeared on Rider Magazine.

2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse

Rider Magazine Staff — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s have partnered up to create a special Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse. Limited to only 177 units, this hand-painted motorcycle takes inspiration from Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey and was co-developed with Klock Werks Kustom Cycles.

A key feature that makes this motorcycle unique is the paint, which is Super Graphite Metallic with real Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey mixed in. The iconic whiskey brand further touches this bike in the Jack Daniel’s design elements throughout, such as Jack Daniel’s branding on the front and rear fenders, on the solo seat, and on a Montana Silversmiths Badge with each bike’s serial number. The Jack Daniel’s signature can also be found etched into the exhaust and on the rear fender.

“The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse is yet another powerful and dynamic representation of the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail that is core to both of our brands,” said Aaron Jax, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. “This time, we decided to pay homage to Jack Daniel’s iconic Old No. 7 – the most iconic of Jack Daniel’s whiskeys – pairing it with the Chief Bobber Dark Horse. Both products are timeless American originals that share a combination of no-nonsense simplicity and premium quality.”

The whiskey-inspired styling is paired with the Indian “I” painted on the tank, and the Thunderstroke 116 engine features non-machined highlighted cylinders and heads and Cloud Silver-painted rockers and pushrod tubes for a vintage raw metal appearance. The bike is also equipped with white center rims, a tinted Klock Werks flared deflector, and a Pathfinder adaptive LED headlight, which monitors the bike’s lean angle to optimize nighttime illumination when cornering. The bike comes with three ride modes, a 4-inch TFT display with Ride Command, turn-by-turn navigation, ABS, cruise control, keyless ignition, and other premium features.

“At Jack Daniel’s we live by the motto, ‘Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can’,” said Greg Luehrs, Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships for Jack Daniel’s. “Indian Motorcycle shares that philosophy, which is why this partnership has been such a success.”

The 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse retails for $24,499. Visit Indian’s website or your local dealer for more information.

The post 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse first appeared on Rider Magazine.

2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 | Video Review

Greg Drevenstedt — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 19:35:45 +0000

The 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is adds a cruiser to the company’s 650 Twin lineup, which includes the Continental GT cafe racer and INT650 roadster. (Photos by Brandon Bunch and Josh Shipps)

Built on the 650 Twin platform, the new Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 cruiser joins the INT650 roadster and Continental GT cafe racer in the company’s 2023 lineup. We traveled to India for the global press launch to get a first ride on Royal Enfield’s latest model.

The 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is powered by an air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel-Twin that makes a claimed 48 hp and 39 lb-ft of torque. It has styling that leans more British classic than American traditional. Chrome is found only on the dual exhausts and mirrors, while most other finishes are black or satin silver. It’s available in standard trim as well as with Solo Tourer and Grand Tourer accessory packages.

Check out our video review below and read our 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 first ride review.

2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Specs

Base Price: $7,269 (estimated)
Website: RoyalEnfield.com
Warranty: 3 yrs., unltd. miles w/ roadside assistance
Engine Type: Air/oil-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, SOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 648cc
Bore x Stroke: 78.0 x 67.8mm
Horsepower: 46.4 @ 7,250 rpm (factory claim)
Torque: 38.6 lb-ft @ 5,650 rpm (factory claim)
Transmission: 6-speed, cable actuated slip/assist wet clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Wheelbase: 59.1 in.
Rake/Trail: 27.6 degrees/4.7 in.
Seat Height: 29.1 in.
Wet Weight: 531.3 lb (90% fuel, factory claim)
Fuel Capacity: 4.1 gal.

The post 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 | Video Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.

New Buell Super Cruiser to Debut at Daytona Bike Week

Rider Magazine Staff — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:43:49 +0000

Buell’s new Super Cruiser, created in partnership with Roland Sands.

The new Buell Super Cruiser, a model designed by Roland Sands Design that was first revealed at a private event on February 10, has already gotten a heap of attention. Now, fans will be able to gawk at this new model in person at Daytona Bike Week. Featuring Buell’s 175-hp V-Twin in an FXR-inspired chassis, the Super Cruiser is set to go into production in 2025. Luckily, you don’t have to wait that long to see it in person at Daytona Bike Week.

Buell’s Hammerhead and 1190 SX models will also make an appearance in Daytona, as well as the updated 1190 SuperTouring modular superbike.

Read the press release below for more information.

Grand Rapids, MI, February 28, 2023 – Buell Motorcycles and Roland Sands Design have announced the first public preview of the 2025 Buell Super Cruiser. Making its East Coast debut at Daytona Bike Week, Friday, March 3 – Sunday, March 12, 2023, the Super Cruiser will star in Buell’s lineup along Destination Daytona’s main drag, showing off their high-performance, American-made superbikes and touting their latest updates.

The Super Cruiser, first revealed at a private event on February 10 at the Roland Sands Design facility in Long Beach, CA, has been well-received by both the media and fans. As eager riders continue to place unprecedented preorders on the Buell website, the Super Cruiser is exceeding expectations and generating significant buzz.

“It’s the design of this bike that’s got everyone going crazy,” said Buell’s CEO, Bill Melvin. “The response we’ve seen so far is overwhelming. It’s clear there’s a tremendous demand for a high- performance cruiser, and we’re thrilled to meet it. We always knew a Buell cruiser would be big, but it needed Buell features and had to be the highest-performing American production bike ever made. Lucky for us, we were the ones who innovated the kick-ass technology of the 1190 platform. So, we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just needed to take what was already ideal and build a cruiser around it. Refining things like steering angle, rake, wheels, tires, brakes, and chassis – Roland Sands was the genius to pull all that together.”

Of course, Buell’s Daytona lineup would be incomplete without its flagship bikes, the Hammerhead and 1190 SX, featuring small but important improvements since last year. Notable changes include carbon bodywork, tires and throttle-body balancing refinement.

Also on display will be the latest refinements to Buell’s 1190 SuperTouring modular superbike, slated for 2025 production. “The ST provided a great opportunity for us to hear and engage with our fanbase,” said Jacob Stark, Buell’s Engineering Specialist. “It led to exploring new ideas, experimenting, and using the ST platform to stretch our comfort zone.”

The refined and updated Buell 1190 SuperTouring.

Created in collaboration with award-winning designer J. Ruiter to thrill supersport fans and tourers alike, the SuperTouring is the world’s fastest adaptive motorcycle, easily converting to a track bike in under an hour. Its latest modifications include a new modular front faring with headlamp assembly, higher handlebars, foot-forward controls, and a new seat and bags.

“We can’t wait for Bike Week 2023. Buell is back and building a strong reputation as a small, responsive company building bikes to order and providing a unique customer experience,” said Melvin. “We’ve tuned our approach to match customer feedback and will continue making the changes that deliver the best riding experience possible.”

The post New Buell Super Cruiser to Debut at Daytona Bike Week first appeared on Rider Magazine.

2023 Indian Sport Chief | First Ride Review

Paul Dail — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:35:31 +0000

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief is the first derivative of the new Chief platform and features the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116. (Photos by Garth Milan)

Racing up to the blind rise on the 2023 Indian Sport Chief, I roll off the throttle slightly, and the pleasing roar of the engine lowers to more of a threatening growl. As I crest the hill, there’s a moment of weightlessness, and I see a line of about a dozen other riders, all on the same performance cruisers, gliding down the roller coaster-like drop and blasting back up the sweeping left on the other side. It looks almost as if they are defying gravity – or getting ready to launch into the air. It’s a quick flash of a scene, a rush of exhilaration that makes me feel younger than my years, and I roll on the throttle again. The big Thunderstroke 116 responds without hesitation, pulling me forward as if it can read my mind and knows that, in that moment, all I want to do is catch up and take off into the sky with them.

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief: A New Take on a Familiar Favorite

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief was definitely a head-turner when we rolled through the city streets of Austin.

The first Indian Chief, offering 61 inches of displacement, was released a little over 100 years ago. At the February launch for the Sport Chief, Brandon Kraemer, Indian’s VP of product and motorcycle electrification, said that Charles Franklin, who also designed the Scout, had a goal in mind when he developed the Chief.

“His goal was to take what was great about the Scout and basically make it a little bigger and a little more capable, a little more powerful,” he said, “and ultimately they did that.”

Kraemer continued to say that 100 years later, Indian “rebirthed that, with what you see here as the basis of the new Chief platform.”

The accessory 10-inch Moto Handlebar Risers contribute to what Indian calls a “meaner and badder” look.

He said that the Chief bridges the gap between the Scout and the heavier, more expensive Chieftain or Challenger ranges. Kraemer called it “a great canvas.”

In 2021, we tested the new 2022 Indian Super Chief Limited, an up-spec, touring-ready version of the new Chief platform that included the standard Chief, the Chief Bobber, and the Super Chief, all of which feature the air-cooled Thunderstroke 111 49-degree V-Twin. The Dark Horse versions of the Chief and Chief Bobber and the Limited version of the Super Chief boast the Thunderstroke 116, which makes a claimed 120 lb-ft of torque at the crank compared to the 108 lb-ft of the 111 engine.

The Dark Horse/Limited models also have a 4-inch round touchscreen TFT instrument panel as an upgrade from the traditional analog gauge on the regular models, as well as standard ABS, an $800 option on the base models.

“We wanted to focus on a really flexible design that we could take to many different places,” Kraemer said of the Chief base, adding that the Sport Chief was the “first derivative coming out of the all-new platform.”

Taking It Up a Notch

Kraemer said that while the 2022 Chiefs were largely targeted after the bobber segment, “we always knew we were going to go after the performance segment second.” Enter the 2023 Indian Sport Chief.

I didn’t take full advantage of the extra 1 degree of lean angle with the 2023 Indian Sport Chief, but it was nice knowing I could if needed.

“Going back to what we originally set the Chief architecture up for, we definitely have it in our wheelhouse,” Kraemer said and mentioned the obvious rival in this category, the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. “That’s what we’re going after.”

In our review of the 2022 Indian Super Chief Limited, we said that the new “Chief lineup is more stripped-down and elemental, reflecting contemporary tastes. Like their ancestor, the new Chiefs draw inspiration from the modern-day Scout, with a shortened wheelbase and exposed twin laydown rear shocks rather than a single shock hidden behind bodywork. They’re also much lighter.”

We appreciated that the new rear dual shocks reduced the wheelbase and added agility but felt the 3 inches of resulting rear travel (down from 4.5) was a design compromise – “overall the ride is much firmer and less forgiving.”

Like the Dark Horses and Super Chief Limited, the 2023 Sport Chief is an up-spec model with the Thunderstroke 116 engine, the 4-inch touchscreen TFT display, and standard ABS. Its suspension and brakes get a major upgrade over previous Chief iterations, including the same front end as used on the Challenger bagger, with a 43mm KYB inverted fork offering 5.1 inches of travel and a pair of Brembo 4-piston calipers biting 320mm rotors.

The 2023 Sport Chief features the air-cooled Thunder 116, making a claimed 120 lb-ft of torque … which also makes for a whole lot of fun.

When it comes to rear suspension, Kraemer said when they created the new Chief models, one thing they focused heavily on is what Indian calls the “Signature Line,” which runs from the steering stem all the way down through the axle.

“The rear shocks are a big part of that, having that continuation of that consistent line.” Much like the cross-pollination evident in the front end, Kraemer cited the Scout as inspiration for the rear suspension, but he also said the company recognized that on a heavyweight cruiser, customers are going to want to customize.

“And we are too,” he said. “Having outboard rear shocks makes it really easy to jack the bike up and change the suspension, or you can lower it as well if you want to go that route. Obviously we’re going higher with the Sport Chief.”

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief will come in four colors, including the Ruby Smoke (left) and Black Smoke (right).

Along these lines, the Sport Chief has new piggyback Fox shocks with adjustable preload that bump travel up by an inch (to 4 inches) and lean angle up by 1 degree (to 29.5 degrees).

From a visual standpoint, a new quarter-fairing also sets the Sport Chief apart from the other models, combined with a new moto-style bar with a machined triple clamp and 6-inch machined riser. A solo gunfighter seat with 2 more inches of bolster than the standard Chief is complemented by mid-mount foot controls.

The solo gunfighter seat with the higher bolster offered a comfortable ride, although the mid-mount foot controls sometimes made things feel a little cramped.

GEAR UP

Helmet: Arai Contour-X
Jacket: Highway 21 Motordrome
Gloves: Highway 21 Hook Glove
Pants: Highway 21 Blockhouse Jeans
Boots: Highway 21 Low Primary Engineer

The bike features cast wheels (19 inches in the front, 16 in the rear) wrapped in Pirelli Night Dragon tires, a 4-gallon fuel tank, a bobbed rear fender, dual exhausts, LED lighting, keyless ignition, cruise control, and three selectable ride modes: Sport, Standard, and Tour.

Where the Rubber Meets the Texas Roads

We tested the 2023 Indian Sport Chief on a 120-mile mix of Austin city streets, interstate, and winding Texas Hill Country roads. The pace was brisk where traffic would allow, and except for some patchy spots of construction around town, the conditions were perfect for trying out this new performance cruiser, especially rolling through Hill Country and the short side jaunt we took on a narrow road with some nice twisties.

The first thing I noticed when firing up the Sport Chief was the pleasing rumbling of that blacked-out Thunderstroke 116. We started our ride with some laps around the city, but it wasn’t until we hit the interstate that I really got a taste of what this bike wanted to do. Not to anthropomorphize too much, but I daresay the Sport Chief was just as eager as I was to open it up a little more than permitted by the stop-and-go of city driving.

Despite the stop-and-go of riding in and around Austin, which ramped up the feeling of heat from the exhaust, it’s a cool town where you feel even cooler riding a bike like the Sport Chief.

The second thing I noticed was that round touchscreen TFT. Although it’s not new – at least to the lower-spec versions of the Chief – it’s still pretty to look at, much cooler than a rectangular display. Kraemer said it is important at Indian to keep adding tech without taking away from style, which he called “critical” to the company’s customers. “And it’s not easy, by the way, to find a round touchscreen.”

Previously only available on the Dark Horse versions of the Chief and Chief Bobber and the Super Chief Limited, the 4-inch round touchscreen TFT instrument panel is standard on the Sport Chief.

Riders can use the display to cycle through multiple interfaces, including two different gauge configurations, bike and ride information, and turn-by-turn navigation with connected features like weather and traffic overlays. Riders can also pair their smartphones to the panel via Bluetooth or USB and access music and phone information through the Ride Command system.

Once we got rolling, some of the unavoidable potholes and bumps of city riding were a little more jarring than I would’ve expected given the new suspension, and even with rear-cylinder deactivation, there was still some serious heat coming off the exhaust. But once we got outside of town and off the interstate into Hill Country, the Sport Chief really shone. And in this case, some of the positive response I experienced from the bike was directly related to that new rear suspension.

This was my first time traveling the Texas Hill Country on a bike, and the 2023 Indian Sport Chief made me want to do it again.

Changes to suspension subsequently alter the bike’s geometry. The new taller shocks not only give more lean angle but also pivot the front end and result in a slightly tighter rake of 28 degrees (from 29) and shorter 4.4 inches of trail (from 5.2). Kyle Goede, product manager for the Super Chief, said the reason they did this was for “flickability.”

“[It’s] a little bit easier to maneuver,” he said, adding that it was important when developing the bike to think about its performance aspect.

And Indian nailed it with that one. For a bike with a wet weight of 685 lb, it handled in the corners like a much lighter motorcycle. It was almost effortless. I can admit that I’m probably in the category of “most riders” and didn’t take advantage of the full increased lean angle, but it didn’t take much more than a bit of countersteering or shifting of my upper body to carve out a nice apex.

New piggyback Fox shocks bump travel up by an inch and lean angle up by 1 degree over the previous Chief models. Up-spec 24-click adjustable versions are available as an accessory.

Speaking of those apexes, although I might’ve been more conservative in my cornering, when I came out of them and wanted to catch up, a twist of the throttle brought an immediate but steady and strong response. And as the speedometer climbed, the engine purred with a surprising smoothness, likely the result of the V-Twin’s counterbalancers.

One area where the ride felt a little rougher was at the top end of some of these speeds, but that had more to do with the accessories on the bike I was riding than the engine. There are several accessories for the Sport Chief that are also compatible with other bikes in the Chief lineup, including the Fox piggyback rear shocks (and an up-spec 24-click adjustable version), 10-inch risers, the quarter-fairing with a low (4 inch) or tall (9 inch) forward windscreen, an extended reach or reduced reach seat, the Chief Syndicate Seat and Syndicate Low Profile Passenger Backrest for two-up riding, and the Chief Pathfinder 5 3/4-inch adaptive LED headlight.

The solo gunfighter seat on the 2023 Indian Sport Chief has two more inches of bolster than the standard Chief model, which Indian reps said would “keep you from falling off the back, because you’re going to want to ride this fast.”

The bike I was riding had the 10-inch riser and the matching taller windscreen. While this riser indeed contributes to a look that Dan Peterson, PGA lead, called “meaner and badder,” it also led to a little less control than the 6-inch riser offers and less wind protection at higher speeds, even with the taller windscreen. However, even Peterson said the windscreens are “as much about style as they are protection,” so this was to be expected.

And from a comfort standpoint, I was happier to have the 10-inch riser. With my 32-inch inseam and the mid-mount foot controls, I felt a little cramped at times along the ride, even with the more open ergonomics.

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief features a new quarter-fairing (seen here with the low windscreen) that is also compatible with others models in the Chief platform.

When it came time to slow it down, the dual Brembo components up front put the “sport” into the Sport Chief with very little convincing required. And the standard ABS was definitely appreciated, especially when I came around a corner on that narrow, twisty side road and encountered a short stretch where the road surface went from asphalt to a patch of concrete that had been smoothed over by obvious years of seasonal high water. Fortunately, there was a sign warning of the upcoming slick crossing and I had already applied some braking, but I have a feeling if it weren’t for the ABS, I might’ve locked it up and dumped the bike off the short drop-off into the rocky riverbed … and felt like an idiot.

The upgrade in braking power from the single-disc setup of the previous Chiefs to the pair of Brembo 4-piston calipers biting 320mm rotors was noticeable and appreciated.

But once again, the Sport Chief did what a performance cruiser is meant to do: It performed. And as we wound our way back to the hotel at the end of the day, even after we had to plunge back into the stop-and-go for the last stretch, it was a performance that I didn’t want to end. I may not be the 25-40 age bracket West Coast customizer this bike is primarily geared toward, but that day, I sure felt like it.

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief comes in Black Smoke, Ruby Smoke, Spirit Blue Smoke, and Stealth Gray starting at $18,999.

2023 Indian Sport Chief Specs

Base Price: $18,999
Price as Tested: $19,929
Website: IndianMotorcycle.com
Warranty: 2 yrs, unltd. miles 
Engine Type: Air-cooled, transverse 49-degree V-twin, OHV w/ 2 valves per cyl.  
Displacement: 116 ci (1,890 cc)
Bore x Stroke: 103.2 x 113.0mm  
Horsepower: 76 hp @ 4,200 rpm (rear-wheel dyno, 2021 Thunder Stroke 116)
Torque: 106 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm (rear-wheel dyno, 2021 Thunder Stroke 116)
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated wet assist clutch 
Final Drive: Belt  
Wheelbase: 64.6 in.
Rake/Trail: 28 degrees/4.4 in. 
Seat Height: 27 in. 
Wet Weight: 685 lb
Fuel Capacity: 4.0 gal.

The post 2023 Indian Sport Chief | First Ride Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.

2023 Indian Sport Chief | First Look Review

Rider Magazine Staff — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 18:36:20 +0000

Indian Motorcycle has announced details of the 2023 Indian Sport Chief, a bike the company says is its most aggressive iteration of the legendary Chief.

From a visual standpoint, a new quarter-fairing sets the Sport Chief apart, combined with a new moto-style bar with a machined triple clamp and 6-inch riser. Indian says this new bar, mid-mount foot controls, and a solo gunfighter seat put riders in a “commanding yet comfortable” riding position.

The suspension and brakes of the Sport Chief get a major upgrade over previous Chief iterations. Indian bolted on the same front end as used on the Challenger bagger, including its 43mm KYB inverted fork and pair of Brembo 4-piston calipers biting 320mm rotors, which replace the Chief’s underwhelming single-disc setup.

Indian must’ve been listening when we said the 2022 Chief’s chassis was so solid and stable that it made us wish for more than just 28.5 degrees of lean angle and 3 inches of rear travel, because the new piggyback FOX shocks bump travel by an inch and lean angle by 1 degree.

Ola Stenegärd, director of Industrial Design for Indian Motorcycle, said that with the Sport Chief, the company wanted to maintain “the same care-free attitude and American muscle but elevate it even further with componentry that not only delivers a style and attitude that exudes performance but raises the bar entirely for performance cruisers.”

The Sport Chief features cast wheels (19 inches in the front, 16 in the rear) wrapped in Pirelli Night Dragon tires, a 4-gallon fuel tank, a bobbed rear fender, dual exhausts, LED lighting, keyless ignition, and three selectable ride modes: Sport, Standard, and Tour.

The new Sport Chief will boast the same blacked-out Thunderstroke 116 motor of the Dark Horse versions of the Chief, Chief Bobber, and Super Chief Limited, making a claimed 120 lb-ft of torque. When we tested the various iterations of the Chief in May 2021, the Thunderstroke 111 on the standard models offered ample power, but the 116 on the Dark Horses was even more satisfying.

As with the Dark Horse models, the Sport Chief offers a customizable 4-inch touchscreen powered by Ride Command that can also be accessed via handlebar controls. Riders can cycle through multiple interfaces, including two different gauge configurations, bike and ride information, and turn-by-turn navigation with optional connected features like weather and traffic overlays. Riders can also link up to a smartphone via Bluetooth or USB to access music and phone information, and incoming calls will appear and can be accepted or declined directly through the Ride Command system.

The Sport Chief is available in Black Smoke, Ruby Smoke, Stealth Gray, and Spirit Blue Smoke starting at $18,999. We’ll soon be taking it for a ride, so stay tuned for its road test report.

Read our 2023 Indian Sport Chief First Ride Review

Visit Indian’s website for more information.

The post 2023 Indian Sport Chief | First Look Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.

Buell Super Cruiser Designed by Roland Sands Unveiled at VIP Party

Rider Magazine Staff — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 19:14:15 +0000

Buell Motorcycle is making a turn away from its sportbike heritage with its upcoming Buell Super Cruiser, a club-style hot-rod cruiser designed by Roland Sands and that leans on the heritage of Harley-Davidson’s vaunted FXR chassis originally created by Erik Buell. The bike was unveiled Feb. 10 at an excusive party at the Roland Sands Design complex in Long Beach, California, attended by Kevin Duke, the editor-in-chief of our sibling publication, American Rider.

The Super Cruiser concept began with a conversation between Buell’s CEO Bill Melvin and noted customizer Roland Sands. It only took seeing a sketch from Sands for Melvin to approve the concept and greenlight a prototype built around Buell’s existing sportbike powertrain.

“The FXR was our muse for this bike,” Sands told Duke. “To the core V-Twin customer, the FXR really represents the core of motorcycling, and that was an aesthetic we borrowed for this bike. It’s honoring the fact that Erik Buell was involved in designing that bike (the FXR), and that gives us the leeway to build this with Buell.”

Sands roared the Super Cruiser in front of the attendees at the unveiling, brapping Buell’s 175-hp V-Twin in celebration.

Roland Sands unveils the Buell Super Cruiser at the Roland Sands Design complex in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Kevin Duke)

“When Bill first approached us about building a high-performance cruiser using the Buell motor, it was as if the bike designed itself,” said Sands, who is no stranger to building sport-focused cruisers. “Considering the history of Buell and the market’s need for a truly high-performance cruiser and the build quality of the existing Buell chassis parts, motor, and rolling kit, the project was a natural fit.”

“I’ve been working on projects like this for 20-plus years,” Sands continued, “and this is the first time we’ve been able to build a performance cruiser without the typical V-Twin performance compromises of weight and motor width and length.”

Although the Super Cruiser is only in its developmental stage, Buell reps are excited to bring it to production for 2025.

“The design lends itself to the West Coast scene, where customization is part of bike culture,” said Melvin. “And Roland was enthusiastic about incorporating Buell technology into that culture, creating the fastest, coolest cruiser on the market.”

The Super Cruiser uses a new steel-tube frame wrapped around Buell’s liquid-cooled V-Twin engine, adding up to 175 hp in a package weighing just 450 lb.

Combined with Buell’s existing inverted fork, aluminum swingarm, wheels, and the company’s unique perimeter front brake system, the result is a machine that Sands said is unapologetic in its aspirations to be a high-performance bike.

“To me, this is what’s badass right now – this profile, this style of bike,” he told Duke. “It stops, it goes, it wheelies, it goes around corners really well, it’s comfortable, and it’s a gas. You just jump on the bike and immediately feel tougher – it’s pure attitude. When you sit on the bike, it makes you feel like a badass, and that means something.”

Melvin chimed in that building a cruiser was something Buell always contemplated. “The market is full of American manufacturers known mostly for big, heavy bikes – not fast, hot ones like the famous V-Twins of the 1930s. Our Buell Super Cruiser will be the hottest bike on the market. Period.”

For more information, visit the Buell Motorcycle website.

The post Buell Super Cruiser Designed by Roland Sands Unveiled at VIP Party first appeared on Rider Magazine.