Rennie Scaysbrook | October 29, 2019
Indian Motorcycle has today unveiled its brand new Challenger bagger series, a three-pronged attack on the category with the $21,999 Challenger, $27,499 Challenger Dark Horse and $27,999 Challenger Limited.
Three new Challengers bolster Indian’s line-up for 2020.
Indian’s new PowerPlus liquid-cooled 60° motor will power all three variants, with other shared components being the cast aluminum chassis, and suspension, consisting of inverted 43mm front forks and a single, hydraulically-adjustable FOX rear shock.
The brakes and bodywork are the same across all models, with Brembo donating in their twin M4.32 front calipers matched to Indian’s ABS system. The fairing is fixed to the chassis and holds in place a three-position adjustable windscreen and adjustable air vents, and LED lighting front and rear will help guide you at night.
Indian Challenger Limited.
Also included across all three bikes are electronic cruise control, a long-haul seat, keyless ignition, and weatherproof saddlebags with over 18 gallons of storage space.
“The Indian Challenger delivers a new level of performance for riders who understand that the seemingly small details make a huge difference,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President of Indian Motorcycle. “Our mindset was to leave no stone unturned and deliver a bagger that exceeds the standards in categories like power, handling, comfort, and technology.”
If you move up to the Challenger Dark Horse, you’ll get Indian’s Smart Lean Technology, basically, a system that works in conjunction with the Bosch IMU to mitigate the traction control, ABS, and Drag Torque Control application. You will also get Ride Command with navigation, weather and traffic overlays (the base Challenger does have Ride Command, but it’s only phone integration and key vehicle data). Also added are premium blacked-out finishes included painted dash and paint matched center console, remote-power locking saddlebags, contrast cut wheels with tire pressure monitoring and red pinstripe, puddle light, a front headdress that lights up, and premium engine badging.
Indian Challenger Dark Horse.
The Challenger Limited takes it another step with a bit more chrome, gloss paint, rear fender close-outs, and Highways handlebars.
Indian has also made two accessory kits for the Challenger series. The first is the Rouge Collection, which adds blacked-out styling with the black Stage 1 slip-on muffler and black PowerPlus Stage 1 air intake. You also get a gloss black mid-rise handlebar, a tinted curved windshield and gloss black front highway ’bars add a premium blacked-out finish.
The second aftermarket kit is the Challenger Tour Collection, which gives you a 16-inch windshield, quick release passenger sissy bar, passenger backrest, and passenger floorboards, an extended reach seat, rider backrest pad, highway ’pegs and a heel shifter. You can also upgrade the Indian Challenger’s sound system with the PowerBand Audio Plus system, which boosts the output by a massive 50 percent over the Challenger’s stock audio system.
Indian Challenger base model.
“While we are grounded in our iconic history, we are focused and driven to break new ground and establish a higher standard for riders; and the Challenger is a testament to that,” said Steve Menneto, President of Indian Motorcycle. “The amount of technology and level of detail packed into this bike is incredible, and it’s something we’re extremely proud of.”
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