I ride this bike. I have the 2023 Chieftain Darkhorse in Sagebrush smoke.(Matte Green) It's all most people want in a motorcycle and more. Does get a bit warm being an aircooled engine so if you are planning on a lot of traffic riding consider the Challengers watercooling instead. If like me it's for country riding with little or no traffic then it's the perfect motorcycle.
Beautiful bike. I love the way Indian have the gauges and screen sorted. That small pocket behind the screen is for your phone with a charging socket. The rumble note of that engine lets you know that bike is alive and kicking with character.
Great Video, I just subscribed, I am 5'4 and I have a 2018 Chieftain classic and put on the reduced reach seat and have the mid-rise bars on mine too and this bike fits me perfectly and with a 27.5" inseam the chieftain isn't as wide as the streetglide, and the Chieftain is a better ride and best bang for your buck, fyi I have never had an issue with this 2018 and I bought it new, thumbs up to the shorties out there ....
@@paulh6101 I have had zero issues with my bike, I put on the reach kickstand which is a little easier then the stock stand, still a reach though, cost of the seat I suggest you contact your local dealer for pricing, I bought mine with the bike and had the dealer install it, I then had a motorcycle seat company make some mods to fit me a little better
If you were given the choice between a cheiftain or a streetglide, which one are you going with? I'm digging the look of the chieftain and that ruby smoke is to die for.
I don't think you can go wrong with either, but my personal preference is the Chieftain. I know for some, dealer access might be an issue, since H-D dealers are more prevalent in the US, but the Indian dealership has a good reputation in my area.
Yeah, I definitely also preferred the Cheiftain over the Challenger. It's been a couple years since I rode the Challenger, but I just preferred the whole fairing setup and the ride too on the Chieftain.
Good and thorough review video, man. One thing that surprises me is the primitive look of the bike's screen. I was in an Indian dealership about a month ago and saw a Chief on the floor. That bike had a color touchscreen and, while smaller than the screen on the bike you rode, it was much better, visually. Odd they wouldn't put that level of aesthetic on a much more expensive model. Oh well...cool windshiled, though. :)
Thank you! I rode the new Chief a few months ago, and the screens looked comparable to me. Might be the video, though it's been a few years since they've updated it. They used to boast that is was the biggest screen on a touring bike, but bigger is not always better.
Good review man! We're about the same height so I appreciated you mentioning about the reach to the forward controls, and the wind buffeting. I love the Ruby Smoke color too! Btw, I was also at the 2021 IMS show in Sonoma but ran out of time to try the Chief. I'm definitely planning to test ride this year when they are back in Sonoma in Oct. Good stuff! Sub'd!
Thank you! The schedule for 2022, says they're going to be in San Mateo for the next event. I liked the demo route in Sonoma, so hopefully this being in a more city-centric location won't put a damper on rides. 🤞🏽
In my experience, buffeting is worse with the windshield higher. My current bike is a H-D Dyna Switchback and the fairing I have on there now has a fairly high windshield, so I'm getting used to the feeling. Still don' t like it - LOL
I ride this bike. I have the 2023 Chieftain Darkhorse in Sagebrush smoke.(Matte Green) It's all most people want in a motorcycle and more. Does get a bit warm being an aircooled engine so if you are planning on a lot of traffic riding consider the Challengers watercooling instead. If like me it's for country riding with little or no traffic then it's the perfect motorcycle.
Beautiful bike. I love the way Indian have the gauges and screen sorted. That small pocket behind the screen is for your phone with a charging socket. The rumble note of that engine lets you know that bike is alive and kicking with character.
I think I prefer the gauge cluster on Indian touring bikes better, too. Thanks for the info.
Great Video, I just subscribed, I am 5'4 and I have a 2018 Chieftain classic and put on the reduced reach seat and have the mid-rise bars on mine too and this bike fits me
perfectly and with a 27.5" inseam the chieftain isn't as wide as the streetglide, and the Chieftain is a better ride and best bang for your buck, fyi I have never had an issue
with this 2018 and I bought it new, thumbs up to the shorties out there ....
Good to know about the width. Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching!
How's the reliability been? How is the reach to the kickstand? How much does a reduced reach seat go for?
@@paulh6101 I have had zero issues with my bike, I put on the reach kickstand which is a little easier then the stock stand, still a reach though, cost of the seat I suggest you contact your local dealer for pricing, I bought mine with the bike and had the dealer install it, I then had a motorcycle seat company make some mods to fit me a little better
If you were given the choice between a cheiftain or a streetglide, which one are you going with? I'm digging the look of the chieftain and that ruby smoke is to die for.
I don't think you can go wrong with either, but my personal preference is the Chieftain. I know for some, dealer access might be an issue, since H-D dealers are more prevalent in the US, but the Indian dealership has a good reputation in my area.
Why don't you ride in top gear? The highest gear I see on the gauge is 4th. High RPMs on Indian v-twin not good.
This is the same model i rode at IMS in OC, Socal. Mine had the speakers on the bags. I really liked the ride and prefer it over the Challenger.
Yeah, I definitely also preferred the Cheiftain over the Challenger. It's been a couple years since I rode the Challenger, but I just preferred the whole fairing setup and the ride too on the Chieftain.
Good and thorough review video, man. One thing that surprises me is the primitive look of the bike's screen. I was in an Indian dealership about a month ago and saw a Chief on the floor. That bike had a color touchscreen and, while smaller than the screen on the bike you rode, it was much better, visually. Odd they wouldn't put that level of aesthetic on a much more expensive model. Oh well...cool windshiled, though. :)
Thank you! I rode the new Chief a few months ago, and the screens looked comparable to me. Might be the video, though it's been a few years since they've updated it. They used to boast that is was the biggest screen on a touring bike, but bigger is not always better.
@@thatoneguymoto Seems easy to read.
That's not primitive.
Good review man! We're about the same height so I appreciated you mentioning about the reach to the forward controls, and the wind buffeting. I love the Ruby Smoke color too! Btw, I was also at the 2021 IMS show in Sonoma but ran out of time to try the Chief. I'm definitely planning to test ride this year when they are back in Sonoma in Oct. Good stuff! Sub'd!
Thank you! The schedule for 2022, says they're going to be in San Mateo for the next event. I liked the demo route in Sonoma, so hopefully this being in a more city-centric location won't put a damper on rides. 🤞🏽
Excellent review my friend
Thank you! ✌🏽
you were unhappy with buffeting but you did not put the windshield up. ??
In my experience, buffeting is worse with the windshield higher. My current bike is a H-D Dyna Switchback and the fairing I have on there now has a fairly high windshield, so I'm getting used to the feeling. Still don' t like it - LOL
Sweet bike 👀👍
Is that ruby smoke or sunset red smoke?
Ruby smoke
Where are u riding at its beautiful
Where are u riding at? It’s beautiful
Sonoma, CA
👌🏽👌
I thought the chieftain was liquid cooled
You're absolutely correct, it is liquid-cooled. Thanks for the correction! ✌🏽
Thunder stroke 116 is considered an air-cooled motor.
Challenger liquid cooled😁
its air/oil cooled engine same as my 111
No, it's air and oil cooled @@thatoneguymoto