I like the bike and not a fan of Harley as a business but I do own 2 I don’t like everybody saying how much better than Harley they are if it’s that great the bike itself will prove that. I would personally buy one I’ll wait and buy a used one
Hey IBR, It was great to meet you at the demo. Excellent review on the Sport Chief. That sport mode on that 116 is pretty aggressive. You didn’t break any rear tires loose on the demo like me did you? Lol 😂 🏍️💨
I'm coming from sport bikes and really wanted to like the Indian. Ive test rode both the low rider s and chief bobber and sport chief. For some reason the indian just felt really cheap compared to the low rider. Not sure why but I did really want to like it.
I have 3kms to travel to get to my local Harley shop, over 200kms to get to an Indian shop. I’ll stick with my 23 low rider. I like the more minimalist look of the low rider to.
You don't seem to understand the term "linear." They point is if you give 5% throttle you get a 5% increase in power. 10% throttle 10% increase in power etc. If an engine "comes kicking out of the pack," it's not linear. Similarly, if your engine feels lazy until 8k rpm, then rips your arms off, the power is not being delivered linearly. The reason linear power is better is that it's much easier to control when the power to the rear time is proportional to your throttle inputs. Sport modes do the same thing mechanical throttle cams used to do. They pull the throttle cable further at small openings so the power comes on harder. Say 15% power at a 5% throttle opening. Good to wheelie, but terrible for people who want to control their bikes. Kids seem to think bikes that jerk when they touch the throttle are cool. They just have no idea how to ride yet. The torque at your rear tire comes from your gear selection, just so ya know ;)
In standard mode, I mentioned the power didn’t feel linear at all. I really had to twist that throttle to get any response in the engine. In sport mode , it wasn’t linear either. The power kicked much more even at a little flick of the throttle but tapered off.
Even if the two bikes were even Harley would still get the Nod IMO because of both Dealer support (#of them) and aftermarket parts support. I also didn't like what Polaris did to the Victory brand and their dealers. Will Polaris keep the Indian brand going? who knows?
I have to test ride one of these to form an opinion, but on looks alone, the Sport Chief looks like if Honda made a bike to compete with the Harley LRS. Not a fan.
@@wellsbibo6175 Low IQ take you have being that Unruh in German literally means "an unruly or quarrelsome person". Doesn't surprise me that someone of your low intelligence would choose a Harley over an Indian either.
Sport modes are a scam. It’s just messing with your throttle response. If you got 1% twist = 1% throttle opening and 50% = 50% you’d have a great responsive bike. Sport modes just set 10% twist gives you 15% and so on. Or the other modes don’t give you one-to-one and the sport mode does. Drove around in rain mode on a Harley and switch it to normal and you get the same effect.
I’ve tried out a lot of sport modes on different bikes but on the sport chief it’s super aggressive. I would say it had more torque than my stage 2 low rider s
Yeah sorry that the demo ride wasn’t as aggressive as I would’ve liked. It was my first Indian demo ride event and I thought it would be a little more sporty
@@IronBornRider Not so much your fault, more the ride leader. The best demo rides I've been on are when dealers participate at rallies. During Bikes, Blues, & BBQ 2022 the Indian dealer let us take the bikes out solo, without a leader or group. So you could really experience the machine in the way you would ride it.
I get why people like them but Indians just don't do it for me. They always feel to me like they are trying to recreate the Harley instead of creating their own thing. I know both companies have stolen from each other over the years but to me the Indian has always felt like it is trying to emulate Harley in every way not the other way around.
I get that sentiment. The sport chief definitely seems like Indians version of the low rider s, has all the goodies but just seems like a knock off. I guess it’s still good for Harley to have competition
I understand why people say that, but let’s be real. How many ways can you design a cruiser before it’s no longer a cruiser? Across the board, a cruiser is a cruiser. They all look the same regardless of brand. Just like all super sports look the same. There’s only so many small differences you can make before it’s no longer in the (insert category) anymore. And if you don’t think Harley has taken notice and is emulating Indian, take a look at the Chieftain, the Challenger and then go look at the new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide. But I can’t blame Harley for going the Challenger route on their Road Glides, they were losing tons of customers to the Challenger. They had to throw the 121 on it because that liquid cooled 108ci power plus was eating their lunch. And even now the 121ci CVO only beats the 108 in torque figures by 11 ft-lbs. which to the average rider isn’t even noticeable. However, the one thing no one seems to point out is that with the return of Indian, we are finally starting to see Harley do something different instead of getting exciting paint jobs, adding $1,000 and calling it new every year. Indian has brought innovation back to the cruiser market and I’m here for it.
@@myronmosley2167 agree that ultimately competition benefits the consumers. I honestly don’t mind “knock offs” either, I think it pushes brands to keep innovating
Have this bike. LOVE IT!
That sport mode is nuts!
I like the bike and not a fan of Harley as a business but I do own 2 I don’t like everybody saying how much better than Harley they are if it’s that great the bike itself will prove that. I would personally buy one I’ll wait and buy a used one
Indian all day, everyday. This is my next bike once I get more miles on my Bobber.
Indian is making great bikes
Agreed
Dang that’s my local Indian dealership
Hey IBR,
It was great to meet you at the demo. Excellent review on the Sport Chief. That sport mode on that 116 is pretty aggressive. You didn’t break any rear tires loose on the demo like me did you? Lol 😂 🏍️💨
It was great catching up with you Nick! I didn’t break any tires loose lol
Is this the Fredericksburg, VA store? I was just there yesterday and thinking about getting one.
not sure I agree with your description of "linear" power delivery...
I'm coming from sport bikes and really wanted to like the Indian. Ive test rode both the low rider s and chief bobber and sport chief. For some reason the indian just felt really cheap compared to the low rider. Not sure why but I did really want to like it.
I don’t think you’re alone on that sentiment. I’ve heard this before from others.
I would not buy a new model bike of any description . Need to wait a year or two to see how the experiment turns out.
Good rule of thumb
I have 3kms to travel to get to my local Harley shop, over 200kms to get to an Indian shop. I’ll stick with my 23 low rider. I like the more minimalist look of the low rider to.
The dealership support is a big factor for sure
Is it faster than your low Ryder
It did feel faster than my 2020 low rider, especially on sport mode. But I don’t know if it was a drastic difference
Doesn’t matter … it looks better and is better value. Harley give you nothing …
You don't seem to understand the term "linear." They point is if you give 5% throttle you get a 5% increase in power. 10% throttle 10% increase in power etc. If an engine "comes kicking out of the pack," it's not linear. Similarly, if your engine feels lazy until 8k rpm, then rips your arms off, the power is not being delivered linearly. The reason linear power is better is that it's much easier to control when the power to the rear time is proportional to your throttle inputs.
Sport modes do the same thing mechanical throttle cams used to do. They pull the throttle cable further at small openings so the power comes on harder. Say 15% power at a 5% throttle opening. Good to wheelie, but terrible for people who want to control their bikes. Kids seem to think bikes that jerk when they touch the throttle are cool. They just have no idea how to ride yet.
The torque at your rear tire comes from your gear selection, just so ya know ;)
In standard mode, I mentioned the power didn’t feel linear at all. I really had to twist that throttle to get any response in the engine. In sport mode , it wasn’t linear either. The power kicked much more even at a little flick of the throttle but tapered off.
I wanted to see you just burn past those guys in front of you had to been driving you nuts
Yes!!! Going 30-35mph on a demo ride doesn’t make a whole lotta sense
I just wish Indian would be honest and call it Indian low rider S
Even if the two bikes were even Harley would still get the Nod IMO because of both Dealer support (#of them) and aftermarket parts support. I also didn't like what Polaris did to the Victory brand and their dealers. Will Polaris keep the Indian brand going? who knows?
You HD fanboys always go back to the same two things. The bike is hands-down better than the Low Rider S and you still complain.
@@joevsfoodexactly, Harley fanboys love their dealerships. 😂.
I have to test ride one of these to form an opinion, but on looks alone, the Sport Chief looks like if Honda made a bike to compete with the Harley LRS. Not a fan.
Keep riding your tractor tech bud light bike.
@@UnrulyRider Lol ok Mr. Unruly.
@@wellsbibo6175 Makes more since if you knew my last name is Unruh.
@@UnrulyRider Sure, but it doesn’t make it any less stupid.
@@wellsbibo6175 Low IQ take you have being that Unruh in German literally means "an unruly or quarrelsome person". Doesn't surprise me that someone of your low intelligence would choose a Harley over an Indian either.
What happened to victory is the one thing that’s keeping me from buying one
Uhh i'm pretty sure Indian aren't going away dude. It's a safe purchase imo, Scout has been huge for them.
Sport modes are a scam. It’s just messing with your throttle response.
If you got 1% twist = 1% throttle opening and 50% = 50% you’d have a great responsive bike.
Sport modes just set 10% twist gives you 15% and so on. Or the other modes don’t give you one-to-one and the sport mode does.
Drove around in rain mode on a Harley and switch it to normal and you get the same effect.
I’ve tried out a lot of sport modes on different bikes but on the sport chief it’s super aggressive. I would say it had more torque than my stage 2 low rider s
Its just like putting a throttle controller on your car. You dont get any extra power you just get different throttle response.
Very lazy riding... was hoping for some pulls, or at least push it in a corner or two. Boring test rides are the worst.
Yeah sorry that the demo ride wasn’t as aggressive as I would’ve liked. It was my first Indian demo ride event and I thought it would be a little more sporty
@@IronBornRider Not so much your fault, more the ride leader. The best demo rides I've been on are when dealers participate at rallies. During Bikes, Blues, & BBQ 2022 the Indian dealer let us take the bikes out solo, without a leader or group. So you could really experience the machine in the way you would ride it.
But but but that’s not a Harley
That’s ok with me lol
But but nobody cares because Indian are a far superior motorcycle. Sorry but but about that.
I get why people like them but Indians just don't do it for me. They always feel to me like they are trying to recreate the Harley instead of creating their own thing. I know both companies have stolen from each other over the years but to me the Indian has always felt like it is trying to emulate Harley in every way not the other way around.
I get that sentiment. The sport chief definitely seems like Indians version of the low rider s, has all the goodies but just seems like a knock off. I guess it’s still good for Harley to have competition
I understand why people say that, but let’s be real. How many ways can you design a cruiser before it’s no longer a cruiser? Across the board, a cruiser is a cruiser. They all look the same regardless of brand. Just like all super sports look the same. There’s only so many small differences you can make before it’s no longer in the (insert category) anymore.
And if you don’t think Harley has taken notice and is emulating Indian, take a look at the Chieftain, the Challenger and then go look at the new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide. But I can’t blame Harley for going the Challenger route on their Road Glides, they were losing tons of customers to the Challenger. They had to throw the 121 on it because that liquid cooled 108ci power plus was eating their lunch. And even now the 121ci CVO only beats the 108 in torque figures by 11 ft-lbs. which to the average rider isn’t even noticeable.
However, the one thing no one seems to point out is that with the return of Indian, we are finally starting to see Harley do something different instead of getting exciting paint jobs, adding $1,000 and calling it new every year. Indian has brought innovation back to the cruiser market and I’m here for it.
@@myronmosley2167 agree that ultimately competition benefits the consumers. I honestly don’t mind “knock offs” either, I think it pushes brands to keep innovating
@@myronmosley2167 good response, Indian are doing what you'd hope as an alternative to HD but still want a legit quality American cruiser bike.