Indian Motorcycle just unleashed its most aggressive iteration of the Chief to date: the new Sport Chief. Indian says “the 2023 Sport Chief raises the bar for American V-Twin performance cruisers through premium performance-oriented componentry and timeless, American styling.”
“Since launching in 2021, the reimagined Indian Chief has garnered incredible feedback from riders all around the world,” said Mike Dougherty, President of Indian Motorcycle. “With the introduction of Sport Chief, the 2023 Indian Chief lineup is more diverse than ever– offering a wide range of performance and styling options to meet each rider’s unique personality and riding preferences.”
Designer Genes
When designing Sport Chief, Indian Motorcycle set its sights on performance. They chose utilizing the finest components from proven brands. With KYB inverted front forks, also featured on Indian Challenger models, Sport Chief offers superior handling and ride performance. The Sport Chief’s dual-disc, four-piston, semi-floating caliper, radial-mounted Brembo brakes deliver confidence-inspiring stopping power. Its piggyback rear FOX shocks increase travel to four-inches and increases lean angle to 29.5 degrees. The result is an Indian Chief that begs for more aggressive riding. It also provides the confidence and capability to take the riding experience to another level.
“In 2021, we celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Indian Chief with a lineup that pays homage to the glory days of American motorcycling,” said Ola Stenegärd, Director, Industrial Design for Indian Motorcycle. “With Sport Chief, we 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.”
Stylin’ N’ Profilin’
Featuring a simplistic steel-tube frame, Sport Chief preserves the Indian Chief’s mechanical styling. A blacked-out Thunderstroke 116 motor delivers 120 ft-lbs of torque. Up front, a stylish new Quarter Fairing, moto-style bars with machined triple clamps, and six-inch risers set the Sport Chief apart from the rest of the Indian Chief lineup. The bike’s mid-mount foot controls and a solo gunfighter seat make for a commanding, comfortable riding position. Sport Chief features sport cast wheels wrapped in Pirelli Night Dragon tires. It also packs a four-gallon fuel tank, bobbed rear fender, dual exhaust, and LED lighting. It also runs a keyless ignition and three selectable ride modes, including Sport, Standard and Tour.
Ride-enhancing technology comes standard with the four-inch touchscreen powered by RIDE COMMAND. Accessible via handlebar controls or the digital touchscreen display, riders can cycle through multiple interfaces. Riders can also control their music within the RIDE COMMAND system once their phone is paired via Bluetooth or USB. Riders can also access phone information as well. Incoming calls can be accepted or declined directly through the RIDE COMMAND system.
The Personals
For riders looking to personalize their bike, Indian Motorcycle offers an array of accessories that enhance the bike’s performance, comfort, or personal style.
Pricing for the 2023 Sport Chief starts at $18,999. It’s available in Black Smoke, Ruby Smoke, Stealth Gray, and Spirit Blue Smoke. Sport Chief will begin shipping to Indian Motorcycle dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada in March 2023. Riders can learn more at their local Indian Motorcycle dealership, by visiting here, or by following along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
