Ok, so, to be 100 % upfront, I own a 2021 108 cubic-inch Challenger that I have made my own with a special paint job, two-inch suspension lift and a bunch of things to make it fit like a glove for me, so‘ may’ have a bias... but I was still very interested to ride the stock new bike with its bigger engine and new electronic features. I wanted to see what Indian had done and whether the upgrades actually make a difference.
BIG-CHESTED, MUSCLE CAR PRESENCE I really like the style and target market of the Challenger. I think it’ s a great crossover between youthful, flexible body silliness, to more a more‘ mature’, stiffer body silliness. It has a real grunty look, with the fixed fairing, electronic windshield, and the running lights up the front – a big-chested, muscle car-kinda presence. The Challenger is not a light sports bike, obviously, but it’ s not as heavy or cumbersome as it looks either. Yes, full of fuel it hits the scales at a hefty 388kg, but with things like the battery very low( behind the front wheel), there are design features that bring the centre of gravity down to make it more nimble than you
might expect. Tight carpark manoeuvres are actually really simple – I was able to do circles or figure of 8s very easily. U-turns with feet up on the foot plates are also very easy with the assistance of the rear brake to aid balance.
THE NEW MOTOR The new PowerPlus 112 cubic-inch( up from 1768cc to 1835cc) engine is very keen to please. It’ s got lots of torque, but it also likes to rev, and, yes, it is grunty. It can be ridden right down to 1500rpm, then throttled up to the red line. It is just as happy pottering around at those low revs as it is zooming up to the high RPM, easily breaking the speed limit in second gear, less alone the other four. The liquid cooled, 60 ° American v-twin, with its four-valve overhead cam heads, is not the quietest motor out there. The cam chains and running gear do make a bit of a rattle and certainly aren’ t as quiet as a Japanese machine, but it’ s not trying to be one of those anyway. It’ s American and proud of it.
HANDLING With a slightly steeper 25 ° steering angle, it does feel more sporty than a traditional, lazy bagger. That steering angle and the rev’ able
84 KIWI RIDER