While HD has come a long way in modernizing and improving their overall touring bikes, they don't offer a true liquid cooled balanced and blueprinted engine for baggers like Indian and that is a show stopper for me.
I've owned a dozen HD's (mostly CVO's) over the years. I recently got my first Indian, a 2024 Pursuit Limited. In my opinion the Indian is superior in every metric. There is however a learning curve. The Indian wants to be ridden at higher RPM's in spite of it's ample torque and HP. (It thinks it's a sports bike) I ride exclusively in sport mode. It's a beast! That said, I only have 1200 miles on it so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
It's a pro-choice world and what better choices to consider then between these two American stalwarts. I gotta think that Polaris would have not gotten into the street market (w/Victory or Indian) if it wasn't for the success of Harley-Davidson. I contend that due to the success of H-D and its profitable business model is the reason we can have this head-to-head comparison. The Motor Company is out front and in the lead in the heavy weight tourer segment & kudos to Polaris for taking up the challenge and pursuing this market. I also find it noteworthy that BMW, in addition to its tour-de-force K-1600 series, has also targeted H-D with its own heritage R-18 model line. On the other hand, IMHO, Yamaha did rather blundered with its under-appreciated Star Venture Transcontinental & Eluder models. All-in-all I say the return of Indian to challenge Harley is nothing but beneficial to all of motorcycledom. Furthermore more it's not what you choose to ride but that you choose to ride! Kudos to your presentation and good luck with your YT channel.
Both beautiful bikes. I’m glad Harley modified their design a bit because I thought they looked a little clunky. I’d buy either! But I think, because of the number of aftermarket ideas available I’d get a Harley. That being said, if I bought an Indian, that’d help them grow and finally get more after market places
Traded my RGS for a Chieftain. Hope to get an Elite one day. I enjoyed my HD but was disappointed in their suspension. I spent several thousand dollars on different aftermarket shocks. Although there were some slight improvements, Indian stock suspension beats anything available for HD. 2" in the rear is a poor excuse. Hopefully HD comes out with something better. A 50% improvement doesn't say much.
Absolutely man. When the RGST came out with I test road one, it was terrible compared to any Indian I've ridden. Compared to my challenger, absolute slouch, felt like tipping a damn cow😂 Thanks for commenting brother!
Hi from Australia. I ahd a Chieftain Icon Dark Horse, went to a '22 Road King Special, which was awesome with 131 engine and CR512 cam, but suspension sucks. Now waiting for my 2024 Challenger Elite to arrive from USA, 1 of only 6 for Australia this year. Good video, but needs volume badly, far too quiet. Cheers, Mojo from Down Under
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Not funny at all. Why would I buy a bike that creaks plastic every time I open the gas lid. The motor is good, the plastic parts sucks. For the money, I’m sticking with my Harley.
I have a streetglide am shopping for a new roadglide or indian pursuit one thing I have found out even if you are 6" 2" you will need new bars on the indian. And as my girlfriend pointed out when traveling there are about 196 indian dealers compared to 496 harley
The difference is, Harleys break down more often and need the dealer support. Indians do not. By the way, the 2024 RG models are having TONS of issues. Good thing you guys got so many dealers so your bikes can sit there broken an not ridden.
Good video, although I could not finish since audio is only on one speaker. I had the issue below and used Garage Band to correct, if you have an Apple. Take care!
I think Indian is a pretty good motorcycle the biggest problem with Indian is not very many dealers around on the road I see harley davidson every where I only see Indian once in a while on the road I would have given Indian motorcycle a good look if there was dealers around so having said that Harley Davidson motorcycle got my business I can't say I would have for sure got a Indian but it would have been a strong consideration if there were reputable dealers around
Fortunately, Indians are overall very reliable, unlike HD. So dealers aren't typically needed. If your bike isn't breaking down, and you can do your own maintenance, why would you need a dealer??
does anyone know if indian is planning to date a new challenger and when? I read comments about a new engine but I can't find anything online. Thank you
Not happening. They've already been forced to neuter 24 and up bikes. 23 and below you can still add performance packages and tunes, they are unable to do so for 24 up because of EPA compliance. No bigger engines coming. They use like a 112 for KotB racing but that's not street legal and won't be in the foreseeable future either.
Comparing 23 HD. 2024 touring models come standard with 117. The sales numbers prove what we want. Indian makes a great bike, but you can’t build the history HD has carried. Glad both are still making good bikes.
They didn't have the 24 specs released at the time, but the Indian is still a better package. I have always loved Harleys too, I'm just not blind when another company is doing it better.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Having a CZcams named after a bike wouldn’t show bias at all. It’s ok to like your purchase, but there’s a reason HD sells 10:1 against Indian.
@@DarkHorseParatrooperBy the way, your bias shows at the start of the video, besides the channel name, you claimed Indian as the oldest American motorcycle. 15 times that name plate has changed hands, I know this bc Highside/Lowside podcast used it as a trivia question. Indian isn’t a company, or American heritage. No kid grew up with an Indian on the wall. I like them all, but I hate bias and your bias shows.
The cooling is for rider comfort, not modern performance. Indian full liquid cooling is for modern engine performance. Hence, one reason why the Challenger puts down more power and is more reliable.
The argument about why hd not going fully water-cooled is evidence of lack of experience with hd design and products. I came open minded to this video as I've owned a victory xc and now own a rgl but the bias is evident. Does the Indian perform better? Sure. Just not in sales. I have plenty of gripes with hd. For sure. But I have much bigger ones with Indian. The I've common thing they both have in common is they both hate their customers.
No lack of experience with HD design bud. They used outdated tech, as they have for years, and refused to update their builds because they had no serious competition.. until now with the return of indian, being built by a competent company that's making great bikes.
I like both, but this video is wildly inaccurate. CVO gets 115 hp, and more torque is along side of a pursuit in terms of packages. You compared specs of an older ultra limited Harley to a new challenger. Wasn’t even a road glide 😂. All 24 models get the 22 inch display, 117 engine, 105hp/130 torque. Street or road glide. You are right they should have consolidated engines to just one, and they did. Road glide is 26k MSRP, Challenger is 32k, Pursuit is 34k to 40k, and a CVO is 44+. All great bikes, personally think the pursuit is in the best market value.
Specs came right from HD guy. If they're "innaccurate" blame HD. They hadn't announced 24 HD models until months after this was made, it was a comparison with 23s. Which indian 23 to 24 are identical, before you complain about that too.
Both Indian and Victory were made by Polrise,alas they dropped Victory ,bang for buck the Victory was a far better Bick in my personal view over Harley and Indian
Do you have an Indian? I'm not sure why there are people that think the victory line was better, it really wasn't. Indians definitely offer more, and feel quite good. Never been impressed by any victory I've ridden... which is probably why Polaris killed it, it could never compete with HD. Indian can.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper nope, but my family are in the 6 th generation of motorcycles from late 1800's through 2 world wars , to my grandkids to day,I have been riding 50 plus years owned about 30 motorcycles riding a FFHTk 107 m8 ultra limited in my old age, and you question my views
Ur not bias or anything lol as am I. However I know the challenger is a great bike. I will point out only 1 disagreement I have. Harley’s infotainment is better in my opinion. Car play doesn’t cut out like it does on the challenger. Blue tooth doesn’t cut out like it does on the challenger and the Apple glass screen on the Harley is far superior to the challenger screen. Now that said for the money we pay for these things Indian and Harley they need to give more options stock. This shit is getting ridiculous. We all need to band together and not buy the new models until they do. I work too damn hard for my money for them to give me a product they know should be better.
Most people aren't having issues with the Challenger infotainment stuff. I've had the chance to play with the HD touch screen quite a bit, it's not as responsive from what I've seen or as intuitive. Thanks for commenting. You're right they are getting ridiculous. I noticed indian started removing standard stuff like puddle lights from their challengers, they took off heated grips from the roadmaster if I recall too, and they've definitely downgrade the stock sound system on the bikes from what it used to be unless you purchase the upgrade. It's soo greedy.
Oh by the way brother, how's the sound quality? Someone told me on a previous draft of this video the sound was really low so I reuploaded it after trying to fix.
@DarkHorseParatrooper sounded great. I liked the video. Yeah harley is doing the same. They keep calling me asking me if I want to upgrade. I'm like as soon as you have a product worth what you charge ill be first in line
Lol right? Though you'd want the dark horse or limited so you get all the performance features and quality of life stuff like electronic locking saddlebags.
Actually... Indian does have a sport bike, the FTR 1200. And both advertise these as "performance baggers." The only one thats actually performance is the Indian. Sorry to burst your bubble champ.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Not a fan of the Sportster S, but it performs better than the FTR. More hp & torque throughout the range, look at dyno comparisons. I rode both before buying my 890R. Neither felt “sporty”, with the Sportster S having horrible ergos and that fat front killing the lean. The FTR ergos were off for a sport naked. Both have fantastic motors, but passed on both.
@@freebehindbars8654 The problem with the Sporster S, other than the horrible ergonomics, is that it committed the greatest sin of all by being hideous.
will never buy neither HD or Indian i am looking at a Gold Wing a cruiser that will last lifetime way better ride and comfortability than HD or Indian or any other motorcycles
That's funny. You've never ridden the Challenger. It's a thousand times more fun. Nobody that's ridden a goldwing and a challenger would tell you otherwise. 😂
@@DarkHorseParatrooper i have rode tested challenger many many times and also HD RG i am not one of those that will buy the bike based on others opinion challenger is a bit better than HD Rglide but would never buy neither one of mentioned above GWing is the dady of them all go and test ride urself
I don't believe you've test rode a challenger or a road glide. What I do know, is you'll get mocked relentlessly for having a goldwing if you're not 60+, and regarless of ridicule, you'll at some point regret getting it vs an actual badass Bagger. But you do you baby boo.
It’s great Indian came back now Harley can’t slack so much. Competition is good for consumers!
While HD has come a long way in modernizing and improving their overall touring bikes, they don't offer a true liquid cooled balanced and blueprinted engine for baggers like Indian and that is a show stopper for me.
Best comparison 👌 I have seen so far awesome 👌 job well done 👏
Glad you liked it!
Love those American made Indian motorcycles❣️
They just keep getting better and better 👍
I've owned a dozen HD's (mostly CVO's) over the years. I recently got my first Indian, a 2024 Pursuit Limited. In my opinion the Indian is superior in every metric. There is however a learning curve. The Indian wants to be ridden at higher RPM's in spite of it's ample torque and HP. (It thinks it's a sports bike) I ride exclusively in sport mode. It's a beast! That said, I only have 1200 miles on it so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
The Challenger is closer to a Goldwing than a HD. I tried all three and settled on the Challenger. Not that the Challenger doesn’t have its issues.
Nobody cares about goldwings... what's wrong with you 😂
@@DarkHorseParatrooper yeah, the sales of Goldwings prove that.
It's a pro-choice world and what better choices to consider then between these two American stalwarts. I gotta think that Polaris would have not gotten into the street market (w/Victory or Indian) if it wasn't for the success of Harley-Davidson. I contend that due to the success of H-D and its profitable business model is the reason we can have this head-to-head comparison. The Motor Company is out front and in the lead in the heavy weight tourer segment & kudos to Polaris for taking up the challenge and pursuing this market. I also find it noteworthy that BMW, in addition to its tour-de-force K-1600 series, has also targeted H-D with its own heritage R-18 model line. On the other hand, IMHO, Yamaha did rather blundered with its under-appreciated Star Venture Transcontinental & Eluder models.
All-in-all I say the return of Indian to challenge Harley is nothing but beneficial to all of motorcycledom. Furthermore more it's not what you choose to ride but that you choose to ride! Kudos to your presentation and good luck with your YT channel.
Both beautiful bikes.
I’m glad Harley modified their design a bit because I thought they looked a little clunky.
I’d buy either!
But I think, because of the number of aftermarket ideas available I’d get a Harley.
That being said, if I bought an Indian, that’d help them grow and finally get more after market places
Traded my RGS for a Chieftain. Hope to get an Elite one day. I enjoyed my HD but was disappointed in their suspension. I spent several thousand dollars on different aftermarket shocks. Although there were some slight improvements, Indian stock suspension beats anything available for HD. 2" in the rear is a poor excuse. Hopefully HD comes out with something better. A 50% improvement doesn't say much.
Absolutely man. When the RGST came out with I test road one, it was terrible compared to any Indian I've ridden. Compared to my challenger, absolute slouch, felt like tipping a damn cow😂 Thanks for commenting brother!
Spot on owned 5 new Harley’s driving an Indian as of two years ago and love it !!!
Hi from Australia. I ahd a Chieftain Icon Dark Horse, went to a '22 Road King Special, which was awesome with 131 engine and CR512 cam, but suspension sucks. Now waiting for my 2024 Challenger Elite to arrive from USA, 1 of only 6 for Australia this year. Good video, but needs volume badly, far too quiet. Cheers, Mojo from Down Under
You'll love the Challenger, best bikes made by anyone period.
Really enjoy my Challenger , it’s a handful if you’re not paying attention. Lots of power
Couple accidental burnouts and wheelies have happened over the years 😁
The Indian is Great, but the Road Glide is better. I’ve ridden both and own a Road Glide.
You should be a comedian, that's funny!
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Not funny at all. Why would I buy a bike that creaks plastic every time I open the gas lid. The motor is good, the plastic parts sucks. For the money, I’m sticking with my Harley.
Great comparison
Thanks for watching.
I have a streetglide am shopping for a new roadglide or indian pursuit one thing I have found out even if you are 6" 2" you will need new bars on the indian. And as my girlfriend pointed out when traveling there are about 196 indian dealers compared to 496 harley
The difference is, Harleys break down more often and need the dealer support. Indians do not. By the way, the 2024 RG models are having TONS of issues. Good thing you guys got so many dealers so your bikes can sit there broken an not ridden.
Good video, although I could not finish since audio is only on one speaker. I had the issue below and used Garage Band to correct, if you have an Apple. Take care!
Must be your setup. It's not the video.
I mean no disrespect but this comparison is a paper challenge. Ride them both.
I have... the HD is not as good. I know many guys that have come off HD baggers after riding the Challenger as well.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Interesting, we do too and our experiences arent as conclusive and one sided.
I think Indian is a pretty good motorcycle the biggest problem with Indian is not very many dealers around on the road I see harley davidson every where I only see Indian once in a while on the road
I would have given Indian motorcycle a good look if there was dealers around so having said that Harley Davidson motorcycle got my business I can't say I would have for sure got a Indian but it would have been a strong consideration if there were reputable dealers around
Fortunately, Indians are overall very reliable, unlike HD. So dealers aren't typically needed. If your bike isn't breaking down, and you can do your own maintenance, why would you need a dealer??
@@DarkHorseParatrooper WOW
You need to pull your head out of the sand
does anyone know if indian is planning to date a new challenger and when? I read comments about a new engine but I can't find anything online.
Thank you
Not happening. They've already been forced to neuter 24 and up bikes. 23 and below you can still add performance packages and tunes, they are unable to do so for 24 up because of EPA compliance. No bigger engines coming. They use like a 112 for KotB racing but that's not street legal and won't be in the foreseeable future either.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Thanks for the info
Comparing 23 HD. 2024 touring models come standard with 117. The sales numbers prove what we want. Indian makes a great bike, but you can’t build the history HD has carried. Glad both are still making good bikes.
The bias is obvious lol. You really need to do the 2024 comparison.
They didn't have the 24 specs released at the time, but the Indian is still a better package. I have always loved Harleys too, I'm just not blind when another company is doing it better.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Having a CZcams named after a bike wouldn’t show bias at all. It’s ok to like your purchase, but there’s a reason HD sells 10:1 against Indian.
@@DarkHorseParatrooperBy the way, your bias shows at the start of the video, besides the channel name, you claimed Indian as the oldest American motorcycle. 15 times that name plate has changed hands, I know this bc Highside/Lowside podcast used it as a trivia question. Indian isn’t a company, or American heritage. No kid grew up with an Indian on the wall. I like them all, but I hate bias and your bias shows.
hello not using a 2024 harley front fender 2023, 2024 harley heads water cooled 117 in
The cooling is for rider comfort, not modern performance. Indian full liquid cooling is for modern engine performance. Hence, one reason why the Challenger puts down more power and is more reliable.
@DarkHorseParatrooper Only uneducated bikers refuse to acknowledge the advantages of water cooling its superior engine temperature control.
The argument about why hd not going fully water-cooled is evidence of lack of experience with hd design and products. I came open minded to this video as I've owned a victory xc and now own a rgl but the bias is evident.
Does the Indian perform better? Sure. Just not in sales.
I have plenty of gripes with hd. For sure. But I have much bigger ones with Indian. The I've common thing they both have in common is they both hate their customers.
No lack of experience with HD design bud. They used outdated tech, as they have for years, and refused to update their builds because they had no serious competition.. until now with the return of indian, being built by a competent company that's making great bikes.
I like both, but this video is wildly inaccurate. CVO gets 115 hp, and more torque is along side of a pursuit in terms of packages. You compared specs of an older ultra limited Harley to a new challenger. Wasn’t even a road glide 😂.
All 24 models get the 22 inch display, 117 engine, 105hp/130 torque. Street or road glide. You are right they should have consolidated engines to just one, and they did.
Road glide is 26k MSRP, Challenger is 32k, Pursuit is 34k to 40k, and a CVO is 44+. All great bikes, personally think the pursuit is in the best market value.
Specs came right from HD guy. If they're "innaccurate" blame HD. They hadn't announced 24 HD models until months after this was made, it was a comparison with 23s. Which indian 23 to 24 are identical, before you complain about that too.
Both Indian and Victory were made by Polrise,alas they dropped Victory ,bang for buck the Victory was a far better Bick in my personal view over Harley and Indian
Do you have an Indian? I'm not sure why there are people that think the victory line was better, it really wasn't. Indians definitely offer more, and feel quite good. Never been impressed by any victory I've ridden... which is probably why Polaris killed it, it could never compete with HD. Indian can.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper nope, but my family are in the 6 th generation of motorcycles from late 1800's through 2 world wars , to my grandkids to day,I have been riding 50 plus years owned about 30 motorcycles riding a FFHTk 107 m8 ultra limited in my old age, and you question my views
@@DarkHorseParatrooperthat power plus engine was meant to be a Victory 2nd engine and was patent as such.
Ur not bias or anything lol as am I. However I know the challenger is a great bike. I will point out only 1 disagreement I have. Harley’s infotainment is better in my opinion. Car play doesn’t cut out like it does on the challenger. Blue tooth doesn’t cut out like it does on the challenger and the Apple glass screen on the Harley is far superior to the challenger screen. Now that said for the money we pay for these things Indian and Harley they need to give more options stock. This shit is getting ridiculous. We all need to band together and not buy the new models until they do. I work too damn hard for my money for them to give me a product they know should be better.
Most people aren't having issues with the Challenger infotainment stuff. I've had the chance to play with the HD touch screen quite a bit, it's not as responsive from what I've seen or as intuitive. Thanks for commenting. You're right they are getting ridiculous. I noticed indian started removing standard stuff like puddle lights from their challengers, they took off heated grips from the roadmaster if I recall too, and they've definitely downgrade the stock sound system on the bikes from what it used to be unless you purchase the upgrade. It's soo greedy.
Oh by the way brother, how's the sound quality? Someone told me on a previous draft of this video the sound was really low so I reuploaded it after trying to fix.
@DarkHorseParatrooper sounded great. I liked the video. Yeah harley is doing the same. They keep calling me asking me if I want to upgrade. I'm like as soon as you have a product worth what you charge ill be first in line
😂😂😂😂😂😂
It was Victory before it became Indian... just say'n 😏
😂 Completely different bikes dude. Only thing they share are some nuts and bolts, and the company that owns them.
$22k Challenger vs. $50k CVO. I'll take two Challengers.
Lol right? Though you'd want the dark horse or limited so you get all the performance features and quality of life stuff like electronic locking saddlebags.
not the same weight
They are close enough.
Harley davidson and indian does not make a sport bike . You want a fast bike buy a sport bike.
Actually... Indian does have a sport bike, the FTR 1200. And both advertise these as "performance baggers." The only one thats actually performance is the Indian. Sorry to burst your bubble champ.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper Not a fan of the Sportster S, but it performs better than the FTR. More hp & torque throughout the range, look at dyno comparisons. I rode both before buying my 890R. Neither felt “sporty”, with the Sportster S having horrible ergos and that fat front killing the lean. The FTR ergos were off for a sport naked. Both have fantastic motors, but passed on both.
@@freebehindbars8654 The problem with the Sporster S, other than the horrible ergonomics, is that it committed the greatest sin of all by being hideous.
will never buy neither HD or Indian
i am looking at a Gold Wing
a cruiser that will last lifetime
way better ride and comfortability than HD or Indian
or any other motorcycles
That's funny. You've never ridden the Challenger. It's a thousand times more fun. Nobody that's ridden a goldwing and a challenger would tell you otherwise. 😂
@@DarkHorseParatrooper
i have rode tested challenger
many many times
and also HD RG
i am not one of those that will buy the bike based on others opinion
challenger is a bit better than HD Rglide
but would never buy neither one of mentioned above
GWing is the dady of them all
go and test ride urself
I don't believe you've test rode a challenger or a road glide. What I do know, is you'll get mocked relentlessly for having a goldwing if you're not 60+, and regarless of ridicule, you'll at some point regret getting it vs an actual badass Bagger. But you do you baby boo.
@@DarkHorseParatrooper
yeah yeah
@@DarkHorseParatrooper I’ve tested a 2021 challenger and a 22 goldwing. Goldwing any day of the week over the challenger.