10 Things We Like About The Indian Roadmaster

Arguably one of the very best heritage tourers, packing gorgeous retro style and modern tech

Indian has established itself as an authority in recreating classic charm in motorcycling. Rather, it will be safe to say that Indian know how to create retro-styled modern machines that not only give superior performance, but are also beauty to behold, better than anyone. In this article, we will talk about one such beauty from Indian - the Roadmaster. Since its launch in 2017, this classic beauty has been the American dream of every heritage touring bike lover. But amazing looks is not the only thing it has going for it, here are 10 things that we love about the Indian Roadmaster.

Looking at the data from manufacturers website, we have put together a list of ten best things about the Indian Roadmaster

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The Roadmaster is a beauty to behold. Garnished with classic styling from front to back, this luxurious touring motorcycle upholds the heritage of American motorcycling history. The Roadmaster is available in three style variants: base, Dark Horse, and Limited. All these variants comes with classically designed batwing fairings and valanced-style fenders. Indian is offering exclusive color palettes for each of these style variants, and each color with chrome accents amplifies the retro charm by several degrees. However, the top-spec Dark Horse is all blacked-out. Adding more appeal to the look, the Indians' signature warbonnet ornament is placed on the fender. Behind the fairing is a classic teardrop-style fuel tank, followed by rider and passenger seats, equivalent to premium sofas. On the back, the Roadmaster has two side cases and one top case, providing a high-capacity luggage solution.

Model

Variant

Price

Indian Roadmaster

Base Model

$31,499

Dark Horse

$31,999

Limited

$31,749

The most incredible part of the design is its super-efficient wind protection. The wide, batwing-styled fairing is equipped with an adjustable, tall windshield that can be operated with just a push of a button. At the lower front, there is another fork-mounted fairing with adjustable vents. This fairing deflects air on the sides, which is extremely useful to protect your legs from freezing in cold temperatures. And for summer, there are adjustable vents that allow the rider to tailor airflow on the legs, floorboard, and engine.

The Roadmaster can compete head-to-head with its competitors when it comes to rider comfort and riding experience. Indians' engineers designed this machine mindfully to provide an equal level of comfort for both driver and passenger. They are pampered with plush, wide seats with backrests. The seats are heated, and there is independent heat adjustment for both. The passenger seat comes with a standard arm rest and can be enhanced with optional accessories.

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When you sit in the saddle and look at the instrument panel, for a moment you will feel like you are looking at the dashboard of a premium car. Except there is no steering wheel. The 7-inch touch screen with two analog gauges and fifteen LED telltale indicators makes the cockpit quite exceptional. The touchscreen is powered by Indians' exclusive RIDE COMMAND which features live weather and traffic, destination search, vehicle health monitor, and vehicle Apple CarPlay.

If you look at the sides of the engine, you will find a 116 emblem. This ensures that this bike is powered by Indian's tried and tested Thunderstroke 116 engine, which performed superbly on the Chieftain. The 1890-cc air-cooled engine has been claimed to produce 126 lb-ft of torque. On the Chieftain, this engine produced around 84 horsepower, but Indian has not officially disclosed the horsepower count of the Roadmaster. Equipped with electronic fuel injection, this engine delivers exceptional low-end torque and smooth acceleration across the rev range. The engine power is controlled by a 6-speed gear box that works in tandem with a wet, multi-plate, assist clutch system to provide a smooth shifting experience.

Engine Type

Liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 1890 cc (116 cu in) V-twin

Fuel System

Closed loop electronic fuel injection

Transmission

6-speed; Wet, Multi-plate, Assist Clutch

Torque

126 lb-ft.

When you are paying $31,000 for a motorcycle, you should expect a bunch of rider assistance features that make your ride easy and fun. In this regard, the Roadmaster stands parallel to the BMW K 1600 GTL or Harley-Davidson Street Glide. The rider gets to choose from three ride modes, namely tour, standard, and sport. The sport mode is surprising on a touring bike considering the size and weight, and this mode is characterized by sharp throttle response. The standard mode changes the bike's behavior to be a little more well-mannered, but the best of all is the tour mode, which makes engine performance and throttle response perfect for almost every riding condition. The 1890 cc can get really hot in traffic and on hot summer days. To save riders, the Roadmaster is equipped with rear cylinder deactivation. This system turns off the rear cylinder when the engine gets hotter than its operating temperature and when the bike is stopped.

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The Roadmaster weighs a massive 909 pounds with a full tank. This number is higher than its closest competitors, the H-D Street Glide, BMW K1600 GTL, and Honda Gold Wing. But that doesn't make it any slower or clumsier than its competitors. The first reason is its incredibly low seat height of 26.5 inches, which is lower than H-D, BMW, and Honda machines. This enables riders of almost every height to access the motorcycle easily, and also allows the rider to firmly step on the ground in slow-moving traffic and while standing still. The superbly designed aluminum frame makes this bike incredibly stable at highway speeds and agile while you quickly change direction. The upright riding position and reaching handlebars allow the rider to have better control and less fatigue. The wheels are equipped with a 300 mm dual disc at the front and a single disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS. This setup offers excellent stopping power in all riding conditions.

Overall Height

55.7 in./1,415 mm

Overall Length

104.6 in./2656 mm

Overall Width

40.2 in./1022 mm

Ground Clearance

5.5 in/140 mm

Seat Height

26.5 in./673 mm

Wheelbase

65.7 in./1668 mm

Weight (Dry/Wet)

877 pounds/909 pounds

Luggage space on touring bikes is nothing uncommon, but when it comes to the Roadmaster, it beats almost all the competition in its segment. Featuring one top case and two saddles, this motorcycle can accommodate 36+ gallons (137 liters) of luggage space. These storage spaces are weatherproof and have a remote locking feature. So, next time, you can add a few more days to your tour itinerary.

If the valance fenders highlight the heritage charm of this bike, then the thick tires on alloy wheels add further confirmation of its classic DNA. But cosmetic enhancement is not the purpose of these tires. The Roadmaster didn't get the Pirelli tires that we can see on the Super Chief, but what we have here is no less efficient. The Roadmaster has Metzeler Cruisetec 17-inch front and 16-inch rear tires, which are designed perfectly to provide excellent grip and road feel in dry, wet, and cold conditions.

Indian is offering a high degree of customization for the Roadmaster. These customizations are not limited to cosmetic enhancements; rather, you can add performance enhancing packages, storage and luggage add-ons, comfort add-ons, safety equipment, electronics, wheels, tires, suspension, and many more. You will find a 3D customization section on the manufacturer's website where you can virtually add items to your preferred model from a hugely populated catalog to check the look and price estimation.

Mainak is an automobile enthusiast with a special love for motorcycles. He has been riding for the last ten years and has written about almost all the big names out there on two and four wheels. And when he is not writing, he is traveling somewhere with his two-wheeler buddy.