The American Bike Built For Long Summer Days
It is very romantic to think of a cross-country ride in summer when there is so much light available, but with summer also comes incredible heat, and nothing ruins the vibe quicker than an engine that doubles as a furnace. Those massive V-twins whose torque we enjoy when loaded up are also incredibly potent leg heaters when ambient temperatures climb past 90 degrees. Touring should never feel like an endurance test, and manufacturers of touring motorcycles are actively looking for solutions to this problem.
Air-Cooled Tradition Is At The Heart Of The Heating Matter
We all know that heavyweight tourers need to double down on torque, which is why large-displacement, air-cooled pushrod engines were the driveline of choice in this segment. There are few things in the automotive world that look more attractive than the cooling fins of an air-cooled V-twin parked outside a diner, but the rear cylinder never gets enough airflow, even on the move.
Motorcycle manufacturers have come up with fixes like rear-cylinder deactivation, deflector shields, and even liquid-cooled heads, but it has not always proven to be enough. When your big V-twin is trapped behind a wide front fairing, it is never going to get a lot of cool air—especially at non-highway speeds—and this remains a major problem.
King Of The Baggers Racing Drove Liquid-Cooled Touring Innovation
There’s a good reason why most modern motorcycle engines are liquid-cooled. Not only does it help the rider stay cool, but it also allows for tighter tolerances inside the engine, leading to better efficiency, higher power output, and improved reliability. Nowhere in the world are these things pushed to the limit more than in motorcycle racing. MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers championship separates the contenders from the pretenders when it comes to the performance of touring motorcycles in the American context, and it is from this most unlikely place that some of the best touring tech originates.
How Indian’s Race-Winning Liquid-Cooled Engine Made It To Your Driveway
Indian chose to compete in the King of the Baggers with a fully liquid-cooled engine, and the results have been great. It was only a matter of time before this race-derived engineering made its way into road-going production models. The PowerPlus series of engines reads like any modern motorcycle engine, featuring liquid cooling, overhead camshafts, and a short-stroke design. At the same time, it has retained relentless roll-on torque and great outright performance, but the best thing about it is that it doesn’t let you lose your cool, no matter the situation.
The Indian Chieftain PowerPlus 112 Delivers Ultimate Summer Freedom
Indian decided to pull no punches with its liquid-cooled engine offering for its touring lineup. The biggest displacement option is the PowerPlus 112 engine in the Chieftain. Indian decided not just to shoehorn it into the old chassis, but to develop a whole new motorcycle under the skin—though you wouldn’t know it just by looking at it. The engine is unlike anything Indian — or any American brand — has built before. Here’s what 112 cubic inches of liquid-cooled V-twin actually means on a 95-degree day.
A $31,999 Starting Price Commands A Premium In The Bagger Segment
The Chieftain is not an affordablemotorcycle when compared to its peers; in fact, it is the most expensive one among them. It is available with three engine options, with the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 carrying a base price of $29,749. Then there’s the smaller of the two liquid-cooled PowerPlus engines that has a base price of $28,999. The biggest PowerPlus 112 option has a starting price of $31,999, but this is mitigated by the generous amount of standard equipment; the options list is, well, optional.
America’s Largest Liquid-Cooled V-Twin Enables All-Day Riding In Comfort
American brands have always chosen air cooling for the largest-displacement V-twins that power their touring products. There is no real advantage to this other than living up to the expectations that buyers of these products have. Indian has covered all bases by offering the air-cooled Thunderstroke and the liquid-cooled PowerPlus engines for the Chieftain. This particular one here, the Chieftain 112, is the largest-displacement liquid-cooled American V-twin available today, and it quietly challenges Harley-Davidson.
It displaces 112 cubic inches—that is 1,834 cc—from two cylinders placed in a 60-degree V, has a compression ratio of 11.4:1, and generates 126 horsepower and 133 pound-feet at 3,600 RPM. This is put down through a six-speed gearbox and final belt drive to the wheel. Despite its liquid cooling and short-stroke design, it feels every inch a traditional large-displacement American V-twin, just with more revs available. The liquid cooling and electronics allow you to ride at 80 miles an hour all day long.
A Modular Cast Aluminum Frame Delivers Unmatched Chassis Rigidity
The Chieftain PowerPlus 112 uses a modular cast aluminum frame, with the engine serving as a stressed member, tobalance comfort, capability, and confidence. This is completely different from the cradle frame that houses the Thunderstroke engine, meaning that this is, in fact, an entirely different motorcycle that simply happens to share the same name as the Chieftain Thunderstroke.
Look closer, and you’ll notice 43 mm inverted telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock with linkage at the rear. The rear has a hydraulically adjustable remote preload dial, and there is 5.1 inches of travel available at the front and 4.5 inches at the rear. Dual 320 mm semi-floating front discs are paired with radial Brembo calipers at the front, along with a 298 mm rear rotor, to handle braking duties. Cast alloy wheels with a 19-inch front and 16-inch rear are wrapped in Metzeler tubeless tires, with a radial at the rear. This unique layout means that the Chieftain PowerPlus rides and handles like a much more modern and lighter machine than one would expect on the highway, allowing for some fun in the twisties as well.
A Long 65.7-Inch Wheelbase Maximizes High-Speed Highway Stability
The Chieftain is a full-size bagger with a length of 98.5 inches and a width of 41.9 inches, but the seat height is a very low 26.5 inches despite the monoshock. The wheelbase is also a very long 65.7 inches, and it weighs 842 pounds in running order. It can hold six gallons of fuel. The low seat and narrow V-twin engine allow for confident flat-footing for most riders, and the long wheelbase makes it very stable on the highway.
Standard Radar Safety And Apple CarPlay Modernize The Cockpit
Indian still sticks to a part-analog instrument cluster. At the center of the cluster is a 7-inch TFT touchscreen that is glove-compatible but looks a little dated, something we noted in our review. It is flanked by analog speedometer and tachometer gauges that have LCD displays in them. Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, and navigation are standard features. There are also connected services like bike locator, OTA account sync, and bike health diagnostics.
The Chieftain gets a ride-by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU. It has three ride modes, dynamic traction control, ABS with cornering functions, electronically linked brakes, hill-hold assist, cruise control, and rear-cylinder deactivation that kicks in when you are stopped at idle.
It has luxury features such as an electrically adjustable windshield, keyless ignition, remote saddlebag locking, blind-spot and rear-collision warnings, and all-LED lighting. You can also upgrade the audio system to a PowerBand system with up to 800 watts. The PowerBand system has a Dynamic EQ that changes with the speed of the vehicle, but it increases the base price to $33,499.
The Liquid-Cooled Engine Wins On Heat, But Loses The Thunderstroke’s Soul
The Chieftain PowerPlus 112’s curb weight is more than the competition even though it has an aluminum chassis; this means any low-speed maneuvering will be a task. Indian also does not offer reverse assist, not even as an option. Its immense dimensions coupled with its weight make it intimidating. Also, the seven-inch TFT screen feels a little dated because competitors now offer screen sizes of over 12 inches, and the layouts look and feel a lot cleaner and more modern.
What is also intimidating is the pricing: there are brands and products that carry more recognition, badge value, and a reputation for longevity than the Chieftain, and at its current price on paper, it will be a hard sell. Finally, the liquid-cooled engine lacks the exhaust note and character of the low-revving, torquey Thunderstroke air-cooled engine, although it delivers more than just great sound.
Established American, Japanese And European Rivals Challenge On Price And Heritage
Baggers might cost as much as midsize cars, but they are also extremely profitable, which is why all the manufacturers that can partake in the segment put their best foot forward here. Anyone in the segment has to measure itself against the $25,500 Honda Gold Wing, which is built for riders who plan to keep it forever. Adding the automatic gearbox adds just another $1,000 to it. This is one of the smoothest, most reliable engines in the segment and is feature-packed.
Another terribly popular competitor is the Harley-Davidson Street Glide. The base price is quite low at $24,999, making it worth every penny. But once you’ve added basic options for the pillion and the paint job, that brings you closer to $28,000. That still measures up favorably to the PowerPlus 112. Although the Milwaukee-Eight engine is not wholly liquid-cooled (only the cylinder heads are), it offers a more traditional experience. It also has the largest display of the lot at 12.3 inches.
BMW throws its hat into the ring with two different models. There is the K 1600 B at $25,075; this is possibly the smoothest engine on a motorcycle you’ll ever experience, and also might be the best value in the segment. There are even options like a two-way quickshifter and auto-leveling suspension. If you are on a budget, the R 18 B at $20,375 makes a strong case for itself. It uses BMW’s largest boxer-twin engine, but thanks to the size and weight, it does not have the performance of the other products here.
Source: Indian USA
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