2024 Indian Chieftain, Dark Horse, Limited Buyer’s Guide

Indian’s Chieftain bagger takes a page from the brand’s past, with full bodywork and the signature headdress fender light, but slims it all down and updates the entire package with tech amenities to create a modern-day machine. The Chieftain’s fork-mounted fairing bears a slight resemblance to the competition’s Street Glide, but Indian has streamlined the bike’s bodywork significantly over the years; gone are the frumpy, valanced fenders and boxy side bags. The current-gen Chieftain now sports slammed saddlebags and trimmer fenders to expose a blacked-out 19-inch front hoop, while handy onboard convenience goodies include a 7-inch touchscreen display, 100 watts of built-in audio, a power windshield, and selectable ride modes.

On the base-model Chieftain, your powerplant of choice is an air-cooled 49-degree Thunderstroke 111 V-twin, good for a supposed 119 lb.-ft. of torque, with a 19/16 cast wheel combo and a big LED headlight leading the way. The more premium Chieftain Dark Horse trim is covered in darker finishes and rocks the brawnier Thunderstroke 116 engine, said to pump out 126 lb.-ft of torque, while also piling on navigation features, power-locking saddlebags, and electronically adjustable rear suspension preload. The Limited version offers the same larger engine and tech features, but dresses them up in chrome finishes and premium metallic paint. In good news for your wallet, Indian opted not to offer the ultraexclusive $35K Chieftain Elite trim for the 2024 model year.

MSRP for the base-model Chieftain is listed at $23,999, though you can only get that in Black Metallic. The more powerful and tech-laden Dark Horse version offers the Thunderstroke 116 mill, more Ride Command features (with GPS and Bluetooth) and starts at $29,999 in Black Smoke; other color options are available for an extra $750. The Limited trim will run you $28,999 and up, depending on your choice of Black Metallic, Maroon Metallic, or Spirit Blue Metallic. Upgrading either the Dark Horse or Limited with the Powerband Audio package adds another $250.