Retro cruiser steers clear of chrome for convincing post-war look
For a company that’s built around its heritage and the 125-year-old reputation of its name, Indian’s 2026 lineup so far hasn’t leant too heavily into its history – focusing on the liquid-cooled Scout and PowerPlus-driven ranges – but the new Chief Vintage wholehearted summons the spirit of Indian past with a look that’s straight out of the 1940s.
The deeply-valanced fenders, black-painted suspension, bars, headlight bowl and exhaust, plus dull silver rocker covers and pushrod tubes reminiscent of the rough cast aluminium of old Indians all combine into a convincing retro style that simultaneously manages to be one of the more subtle in Indian’s catalogue.
Powered by the air-cooled, OHV ThunderStroke 116 V-twin – that’s 1890cc in metric terms – that predates the brand’s more modern liquid-cooled, DOHC designs, the Chief Vintage isn’t intended to break any new ground in terms of performance. Indian puts the focus on torque, with 156Nm on tap at 3,300rpm, while power, as confirmed in the bike’s approval documents, is a more subdued 62.4kW at 4,000rpm. There’s a touch of 21st-century tech in the cylinder deactivation system, which cuts off the rear cylinder when the bike’s up to temperature and idling, helping keep heat away from the rider, but otherwise the Chief Vintage revels in its old-school appeal.
The chassis is shared with the other Chief models, with a relaxed 29-degree rake and long 1626mm wheelbase, with twin rear shocks and non-adjustable telescopic forks, while the single 298mm front disc is one clear visual clue that this isn’t a real 1940s Indian. With 327kg to haul to a halt, it’s got its work cut out, but there’s a similarly large rear rotor to help out. Onboard there’s another nod to modernity; the circular instrument isn’t a traditional dial but a colour TFT screen, complete with app-based functionality for navigation and media.
How much to travel back to Indian’s 1940s heyday? Prices start at $31,995 AUD.
