Indian Chief Vintage First Ride Review

How does it ride?

The Indian Chief Vintage is a supremely comfortable and plush motorcycle to ride. But, only on the highways because riding this behemoth inside the city and through traffic, with its length and all that weight, can be quite an ask. The Chief Vintage weighs a colossal 379kg, dry. Once you’re on the highway though, its good weight distribution makes it as easy a bike to ride as any in a straight line. With a well-cushioned leather seat and a wide handlebar that’s easy to reach, the Chief Vintage is certainly a capable mile muncher. And to make things easier still, it is also equipped with cruise control.

The 1811cc V-Twin engine is superb too. It is all about low and midrange torque. It is refined and the throttle response is beautifully calibrated. Twist the light throttle and the 379kg is ready to glide over smooth, bumpy or even potholed roads. The suspension setup is outstanding and for curious minds, the Chief Vintage gets 94mm front forks, yes 94mm! The peak torque of almost 140Nm arrives as low as 2600rpm, and honestly, this is all the revs you will ever need on the Vintage. Rev it higher and vibrations get the better of the motorcycle. And you.

Now, if you must ride the Chief Vintage within city confines, a word of caution: wear something thick else the hot air from this big engine might leave with you with baked thighs. It would be a good idea to avoid hilly terrain on the Vintage as well. Why? Because its lean angles are close to zilch. Tip it over even a wee bit and you will end up scraping something. And it’s not a pleasant feeling. Just to give you an idea, I’d rather ride the Vintage from Mumbai to Delhi than from Mumbai to Goa.

The massive windscreen meanwhile is pretty usable and saves you unwanted windblasts at speeds. It’s a pretty tall thing so make sure it’s clean every time you take the Vintage out because it is your only window to the road ahead. To haul it down, the Chief Vintage gets dual 300mm discs at the front and the same sized single disc at the rear. The setup lacks bite but at least there’s an anti-lock braking system (ABS) as standard.

Anything else should I know?

The attention to detail on the Indian Chief Vintage is simply outstanding. Every component has been crafted with near perfection and if you look closely, you’ll notice quality parts all round. And the sheer size of these components makes the Chief Vintage a treat for the eyes. In terms of design, the Vintage is a marriage between old-school design and modern technology. This American motorcycle has all the design elements to wow you. It has modern bits too like keyless start, cruise control and tank mounted information display. The display throws up info like odometer reading, dual trip meters, digital tachometer, fuel range, average fuel indicator and gear position indicator. Additionally, there’s a clock, battery voltage display, low engine oil pressure indicator and then some more.

You should also note that it’s better to hit a gym soon after you book the Indian Chief Vintage. Because you’re going to need a lot of leg and shoulder strength to haul it around then be it taking it off the stand or hanging U Turn or even pulling out of a parking. This one’s a bagger so it comes two leather saddlebags as standard with good luggage carrying capacity.

Why should I buy one?

One word: Exclusivity. Not many would buy one for it isn’t exactly very practical. Even though you might find a couple in your city, chances are, each time you pass by, hundreds of heads are going to turn and many a smartphones pulled out. It’s also great as a touring motorcycle – comfortable, quiet and torquey. Just remember to stay away from tight winding roads.

Where does it fit in?

At Rs 36.60 lakh (on-road Mumbai), the Indian Chief Vintage competes with the Harley-Davidson Street Glide and a 1BHK apartment in Mira Road. Also, if your family is against the idea of buying a motorcycle, you can buy an entry-level luxury car for this money as well. But no car or apartment will ever give you the sort of satisfaction, pride and the thrill of adventure that a motorcycle like the Chief Vintage will.

Photography by Kapil Angane