Indian Motorcycle knocked it out of the park two years ago with the new Indian Chief. Powered by the company’s 1,890 cc Thunderstroke 116 V-twin motor, the updated Chief combined minimalistic styling with modern tech and even threw in twin rear shocks to entice the Dyna crowd.
Now the American marque has expanded the Chief line further, with the addition of the 2023 Indian Sport Chief. The Sport Chief takes the base model Chief, and upgrades it with some key performance tweaks and a hefty dose of West Coast ‘club’ style. In short, it’s an out-the-box performance cruiser that gets its inspiration directly from the custom cruiser scene.
“In 2021, we celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Indian Chief with a lineup that pays homage to the glory days of American motorcycling,” says Indian Motorcycle’s design chief, Ola Stenegärd. “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.”
To better match the Thunderstroke engine’s 162 Nm of torque, Indian started with the Sport Chief’s suspension and brake package. The front end wears the upside-down KYB forks from the Indian Challenger, with a pair of piggyback Fox shocks which raise the rear by 25 mm over the base model Chief. Extra travel equals extra lean; the Sport Chief’s good for 29.5 degrees on each side.
A pair of four-piston Brembo brake callipers do duty up front, gripping 320 mm discs. The Sport Chief sticks with the Chief’s 19F/16R wheel size combo but features more aggressive-looking alloy hoops. They’re wrapped in Pirelli Night Dragon rubber.
The biggest visual hit comes from the Sport Chief’s new quarter fairing. It’s a dead ringer for the many aftermarket options you’ll typically find on ‘club-style’ bikes, with air scoops on the side adding to the bike’s performance vibe. Taller and short windscreens are on offer too.
Just behind the fairing sits a set of moto-style handlebars, mounted on extended 6” risers—another common mod. Combined with the deeply-scooped ‘gunfighter’ seat, the whole setup creates a purposeful riding position for more spirited riding.
Modern amenities include the Chief’s fully-connected 4” touchscreen dash, a keyless ignition, ABS, three rider modes, a USB charge port and full LED lighting. The Sport Chief comes in matte black, matte red and gloss grey.
It’s hands-down the best-looking Chief in the range, and should be a total hoot to ride, too. If you feel like it needs more tweaking, aftermarket accessories include even swisher Fox shocks (that are also adjustable), longer 10” handlebar risers, and various seat, luggage rack and luggage options. But the only thing we’d really want to change is the exhaust.
For more information on Indian Motorcycles in South Africa visit: www.indianmotorcycle.co.za
