The Touring Motorcycle Built For Riders Who Spend All Day On The Highway
Ah, the American interstate road system! Where would we be without you? Thanks to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and his Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, we now have standardized, high-speed highways that not only allow for efficient transportation of goods, but also for fast military and civilian transportation as well. And, of course, leisure travel is now also open to anyone with a personal car or motorcycle.
Those of us born long after the fact, though, can’t possibly conceive of how bad the road system was before the American highway was built. Small, local, poorly kept roads with traffic jams and non-standard signage were the only way to get across vast distances of the U.S. Fortunately, along with new interstates, came better, faster methods of transportation. And because motorcycle riders needed bikes that could keep up with state-of-the-art cars and trucks, powerful touring machines slowly began to emerge as the ultimate way to tour.
Why Touring The Country Is Living The American Dream
Sometimes people forget how massive America is. Multiple European countries could fit inside its huge territory without breaking a sweat. And it would take a lifetime to see everything that’s worth seeing. But those of us that are fortunate enough to be able to tour it on a motorcycle, are the lucky ones. Because there’s nothing quite like seeing America on top of a bike. And it just so happens that a classic American bike manufacturer may have the best motorbike for the job.
Indian’s Big Touring Bikes Do It Best
In case you weren’t aware, America has two mainstream motorcycle manufacturers. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle. And while Harley has plenty of touring choices, Indian’s offerings tend to be a little more modern. Its big, liquid-cooled V-twins are ideally built for riders looking to crush massive highway miles in great comfort, and without a single moment of boredom.
The Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus 112 Is The Ideal Highway Motorcycle
Starting MSRP: $35,499
Today’s rider looking for a highway touring machine is awfully spoiled when it comes to available options. Chief among them is Indian Motorcycle’s Roadmaster PowerPlus 112. It is a feature-rich, ultra-powerful performance beast whose engine is named after Indian motorcycles produced from1916 to 1924. In fact, the famous Burt Munro utilized a PowerPlus engine to achieve his speed record, back in 1967. These days, riders can expect a smooth, comfortable, modern, and stylish ride that they’d wish would never end.
American Heritage In Modern Style
And speaking of style, Indian Motorcycle’s entire lineup of bikes is a testament to what modern V-twin bikes can look like. Say what you will about Harley-Davidson, but their reliance on heritage branding is a crutch that Indian simply doesn’t need to abide by. Sure, the Roadmaster PowerPlus has classic bagger looks, but they are much more subdued, streamlined, and modern when compared to something like the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Limited. You can certainly see a hint of the past in the Roadmaster, with its 3-dimensional Indian Chief head on the front fender, but everything else about it is as modern as it gets. And that includes the engine.
Indian’s PowerPlus 112 Engine Is A Legitimate Beast
Inside the Roadmaster PowerPlus thumps the heart of a winner. The engine that propels the motorcycle is a bona fide racer, derived from the bikes that compete in the King of the Baggers Championship. The PowerPlus comes in two different engine configurations. The 108 cu-in (1,768cc) engine is great as it is, but the larger, 112 cu-in (1,834cc) version gets you a couple more ponies. And it’s really the one to get if you’re planning on doing some serious highway work. It comes standard in several Indian motorcycles, but when coupled with Roadmaster’s features, it becomes an unbeatable road package.
The Roadmaster PowerPlus 112’s Performance Is Top Notch
The PowerPlus 112 engine is a thing of modern scientific beauty. Yes, it won Indian the 2024 King of the Baggers Championship. But that doesn’t mean its only purpose is high-performance racing. It’s just as comfortable pulling a loaded Roadmaster with two riders and baggage for thousands of miles with zero trouble. And unlike Harley’s Milwaukee-Eight, the PowerPlus 112 looks great from all sides.
But it’s the specs that really matter, and the PowerPlus 112 specs speak for themselves. The 60-degree, liquid-cooled V-twin pushes out 126 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque. And to make things easier on long-distance rides, Indian also included a six-speed transmission. The engine features four valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lash adjusters, and hydraulic camshaft chain tensioners, which keep everything reliable and easy to maintain.
All-Day Touring Features Are Next Level
While the engine does all the work for you, it’s the premium features that keep you going all day long. Fortunately, the Roadmaster PowerPlus 112 is packed to the brim with the good stuff. Safety is front and center, with the Blind Spot Warning system. There are several levels and settings that can be switched on or off, and both the screen and the mirrors have the ability to flash a light to indicate an approaching vehicle.
Coupled with the Tailgate and Rear Collision Warning systems, this makes the Roadmaster a very safety-conscious tourer. Other modern electronic features are focused on making the admittedly heavy bike easy to manage, like the Bike Hold Control and the Electronically Combined Braking.
Comfort, Storage, and Audio Features Are As Premium As They Come
Other features make the Roadmaster PowerPlus 112 an even more ideal highway machine. With the Powerband Audio package, you can listen to your favorite tunes via speakers located in the upper fairing, saddlebags, and the trunk. And speaking of storage, the bike allows for hauling 36+ gallons of your stuff, in remote-locking, all-weather hard cases, and lower fairing compartments. And if you want to pick up the pace a bit, the rear trunk is removable with a quick-release system.
To make things easier when it comes to inclement weather, Indian included heated seats for both the rider and the passenger. You can also adjust the windscreen electronically. Different ride modes keep things interesting as you crisscross different types of roads. And the large seven-inch display offers turn-by-turn directions, phone connectivity, and Apple CarPlay integration. There’s truly nothing that the Roadmaster PowerPlus 112 doesn’t have, leaving you with no excuses not to choose it as your next highway touring machine.
Source: Indian Motorcycle, Harley-Davidson, Federal Highway Administration
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