2018 Big Dam Bagger Shootout: Indian Chieftain Dark Horse vs. Harley-Davidson Road Glide vs 

The Vaquero at half the price (buying one as a leftover) of the other bikes was a no brainer for me. I sat on almost all those and the fairing rolled right into the lowers and it looked so much more “finished “. Throw on a nice seat and taller windshield and comfort is great. You can do just slip ons since the cat is in the stock slip ons. The throttle by wire lag can be fixed with a throttle mod. Dollar for dollar it’s the Vaquero. Unless you want to visit the repair shop a lot. Then it’s HD lol

The Kawasaki hands down. Price, reliability, and just looks damm good. Next time get actual riders not writers !!

In Canada the Vaquero is $18,000 out the door. The Harley street glide and road glide are $28,000 out the door. The BMW is over $32,000 out the door. The Eluder is $29,000 out the door. The Vaquero is $10,000 or more cheaper then all the other bikes. That’s not even in the same league. The other bikes have better build quality and more toys because they cost $10,000 more then the Vaquero. The Vaquero has adjustable suspension, linked ABS, cruise control, stereo, and everything else you need at a best bang for the buck price. Hard to beat it for the money. My 2014 Nomad 1700 has the same motor and tranny as the Vaquero and I have 164,000km on it so far with no problems. You won’t be able to say that about some of the other bikes in this test. Ride safe.

In my price range, I’m going with the Vacquero and adding all the bells and whistles while still saving a TON of $$.

I have cruise, adjustable windscreen and can flip my Chieftain around like my sportbikes. Love it.

You can find the Vaquero for $10k brand new. Thats a winner in my book. Ivans Flash Tune really wakes it up as well AND you dont need valve checks on it.

I pick the Vaquero as the winner. Why the Vaquero? 1. Price 2. Water cooled 3. Technology ahead of Harley and Indian 4. Cheap to upgrade. 5. $350 ECU flash by Ivan in NY. 6. Extended warranty only 700 bucks for six years 7. Looks as good as any of the others 8. My money is on the Kawasaki.

Spent a whole 2 seconds on the guzzi and 13 minutes talking about the same old harleys....

I absolutely love the looks and ride of the K1600 B and own a H-D Street Glide BUT @longhaulpaul got 100,000 miles plus on the Yamaha Star Venture. (Eluder) and didn't get valves checked until like 50k miles, which were fine and needed no adjustments and had zero issues with the mc for 100k. In my opinion, and correct me if I'm wrong but there isn't a touring bike out there besides the Honda Goldwing, that'll give you that comfort and peace of mind for long distance "Touring". If you haven't already, check his 100,000 vid out. Bike still sounds brand new after 100k. Wow!!

The Vaquero is a great motorcycle. I'm surprised it isn't so popular. I like the aesthetics of it over the 2 HDs; no, I'm not trying to start a war, but the 2 HDs seemed small to me (I like all HDs, by the way). Also the Vaquero will wake up when you throw some AF into it. Such a pity to not see Kawa's former ingenious 2053cc V-Twin engine in the Vaquero. The Eluder? It's really growing on me. Indian really raising the bar, very glad for them.

Tried most of them but settled for a road king. I know it wasn’t tested but I absolutely love it.

Take the Vulcan, get the ECM Ivanized at less than $400 and it will outperform or match the 2 harleys and be $10,000 cheaper

You should have Ivan flashed your Vaquero. It makes it a whole different bike. For look, it has all of those bikes beat. IMHO.

Where's the Gold Wing if you're going to do a ride review do it with all the best bikes don't leave one out a great one... you do it every time because you want the Harley and be on top so you leave out the Goldwing

Took me minute to ponder the absence of the Honda F6b 1800 but then it dawned on me, this was a battle of 2nd best bagger, it was already assumed the F6B was the undisputed king. Well done, had me wondering for a sec.

I'm a sorta old dude. I started riding in the dirt in 1969. Never been without a bike since. All kinds of bikes-loved and hated every one of them. Bagger versitility is the closest I've come to satisfaction. My bike is a 1998 Honda Valk bagger. 1520cc Power: 100.00 HP(@ 6000 RPM) Torque: 95.9 ft.lbs(@ 5000 RPM). Six cylinders, six carbs, six into six exhaust. Big? Yup. Heavy? Yup. Unsophisticated by today's standards? Yup. But it's got soul, it's a beast and a blast to ride. I'd change the pegs to be higher and further back, I'd change the seat height up by 2", I'd have a bigger tank for better range, I'd get rid of all that rusty chrome and powder coat , anodize, and stainless EVERYTHING I could black, and I'd add a sixth gear. Other than that Brunhilde is perfect. I find the new bikes competent but a bit vanilla...

Where is the Goldwing on this one.

I'll take my Cali 1400 Touring over the MGX-21 any day. Stable as hell at speed, and at 2 mph. Great classic look, too.

I agree on that Streetglide windscreen. I own a Chieftain and love the adjustable windscreen.

Vulcan with the best price and common it's kawasaki! That bike will last longer than most of them.

The only one in this group that even fits someone over 6’ is the Eluder. The rest require lots of add ons to make them comfortable.

Most uninformative comparison I've seen. Almost everyone had conclusive decision. They were saying idiotic things like if I was going to buy one it would be this but if I wanted one to put miles on it would be this. What don't you so called experts get? When we watch a review we want to see acceleration tests, we want to know how each one handles, we want to know how their brakes are. Being that they are baggers we want to know about storage and comfort and we want reasons for your opinions. To be honest all these manufacturers are stupid for letting you take these bikes because you're really not doing anything but going for a ride because as far as a comparison goes after watching this I still have no idea which is the better bike. Thanks for waisting 16 minutes.

Wow, you guys.... This... Video review thing... You're leaving a lot to be desired. Presentation of neither the bikes nor the testers was present, in no form or way were there any sort of systematic breakdown of neither models nor opinions of the reviewers, bunch of random shots and a "okay that's day one complete!" thrown in somewhere - with a terrible summary situation at the end of the video..... You've got to rethink this RU-vid-thing, maybe hire someone who understands the format.... Just a tip....

I find it strange you didn`t discuss purchase price. Kawai does what the other bikes do for 8-10k less. You said yourself, Kawi has good power, better ride with more travel than the Harleys. 10K less than the Harleys. Liquid cooled .4 valves/cylinder. Great warranty. The resale thing does not hold water. I have been pricing new and used Harleys for the past 30 years. You lose just as much at resale as with metrics. New The Kawi will be worth 5k lless after purchase and so will the Harleys, maybe even more.

The Eluder is the way to go, the engine will last forever.

I know it’s not a full on touring bike but I have put so many miles on Kawasaki’s Concourse and I just love these bikes. My first one was the first year 1986. I bought it used (1992) with 8200 miles on it. When I sold it, it had 378,788 miles on it and the guy rode off on it. The things I had to do to it were. I replaced the timing chain once and the tensioner. Two times I thought the clutch was going bad and both times it was this star shaped washer. Oneof the fingers on the sringsteel washer breaks off and the clutch will slip every once and a while. The first time I bought the friction rings and the steel plates and made a tool to hold the flywheel from turning. When I got the clutch apart everything was in good shape so I replaced the old parts with the new parts and put the old parts in a plastic bag with some oil and kept them. That was at about 140K. The next time was at 295K I took the clutch apart and it was that washer again. So for shits and giggles I checked the thickness of a new friction plate and it was 0.217 then the old plates and they were 0.217. That shocked me I checked all of my old plates and one was 0.215 and one was 0. 214. I had to replace one relay for the lights and then brake pads and oil and filters adjust valves and tires. I sold it in 2008 a bought a 2005 Concourse with 8700 miles on it. That bike had been sitting for a year or two so I took it for a test ride and could tell the carbs needed to be cleaned out. I trailered it home. I live up in the mountains of California in a small town called Twain Harte about 16 straight north of Yosemite. I was working at Gallo as a maintains mechanic on the swing shift. So my bikes get a work out running from 4500 feet above sea level to under 100 feet. The first bike I rode much harder hitting 100 plus almost every day riding to and from work. The 2005 bike I rode a little less aggressively may be 85 to 90 most times and once in a while 100 or more mph. I am 69 years old now and have slowed it down on the street and keep the faster stuff for my RX7 and the race track. So the 2005 bike I have 55 k on it now. I had to change some O-ring’s because of coolant leaking and I had a radiator hose pop off and had to fix that on the side of the road once. I pulled the carbs out and cleaned the pilot jest and was good to go. Other than that Oil changes, plugs, set the valves, one set of brake pads and tires. And one windscreen (Dam Owl) that’s it. I have taken me bikes camping and it held all that I needed to camp for two or three days. They get around 42 mpg if you ride like a sane man and I have gotten 50 mpg once trying very hard riding like my grandma. I got 37 mpg riding like an insane man like a stupid kid. I love these bike because they ride great they handle good (not like a sports bike) and best of all both of these bikes I picked up for $3500 each. So till me were else you can get a bike that has all that and can get hundreds of thousands of reliable miles for so little.

Guys should have added the new 2018 gold wing - this test is incomplete without that bike. Since now it is available for testing

Is there a full dresser version of this shoot out eg Road Glide Ultra, Gold Wing, Star Venture TC etc. Thanks

I love the fact that all these giant engine V-twins got outrun by the little Moto Guzzi. 😆

As a person seriously mulling over my purchase options, I have ask "Where was the Goldwing?" Seems incomplete without it. I was hoping to see how it stacked up here. Why was it omitted from this comparison?

Long live Victory 😭

Want to see 2018 Gold wing in group test why not wait for one so its a true test ???????????????

12:58 - 13:02 “That’s a lot of cubic hairs!” 😂😂😂

Is the HP on the Eluder real or a misprint? 75hp with a 1850cc motor?

Wtf was the bmw doing on this list?

Thanks for the video. I see a lot of comments asking for the Goldwing. It would make sense to have it here. My 2015 F6b sits next to my 02 Harley Night Train in the garage. I bought the F6b after testing the Road and Street Glides, for much less $ than the HDs. Pros: cost, motor performance and reliability, baggae space, handling. Cons: super windy, so much plastic, cheap paint, horrible comfort on long distances causing more pain than my NT ever has, jerky shaft drive, no infotainment, no 6th gear. Looking to trade it in. Indian and Harley are at the top of my list, and now I’ll have a look at the Yamaha.

Absolutely NO QUESTION if I liked the video, this is awesome... I am in the market for three of the bikes you guys rode... BMW K16B Road Glide Star Eluder NOW...number one looks goes for the Eluder, second the Road Glide and third the K16B, but according to all reviews read, the Eluder was a mistake by yamaha in many ways and that scared me as many people are saying the depriciation is going to be HUGE, the Road Glide is the REALLY NICE being a Harley, but TOO expensive and little technology comparing to the others, and BMW the techiest, power, comfort, but do not look like a bagger, even though I am a sports bike guy, but I am now 52 years of age and I want a CHANGE. Dificult choices to make...I love the ELUDER, I like the Road Glide and I care for the BMW, but that does not solve my problem... Thanks a lot guys... LCL

👍🏿 How was the mileage on them? I had a 2016 Victory Magnum but I totaled it. I now have an 2017 Indian Chieftain with the 116 motor, intake and exhaust. It sounds great and it gets up and goes but I have yet to do a road trip. I am hoping you guy get a chance to review the 116 motor.

I'll be happy to have a race with my "mini van" Chieftain against any sport bike around. Five hundred miles first one there and the rider can walk 100 feet at the end wins.

you're not going to see the goldwing here because the first one who chose anything other than the cadillac would destroy the reputation of the channel

That Guzzi is interesting and weird at the same time. High speed instability? Mama Mia!

No goldwing, subpar video, and unnecessary politicization. I’ll stick with fort nine and revzilla.

Why no Goldwing?

2018 K1600 GTL here, the gearshift assist pro works quite well on upshift and downshifts for me. Just let 100% off the throttle when downshifting. (Doesn't matter throttle on upshifts, but its at the most fun at redline and WOT!)

Would love to see the new Gold Wing run against this group, shame they couldn't get a press bike to you for this.

why no goldwing?

Interesting how a lot of you 'the badge' makes the difference on what you would buy verses what is the better bagger when actually riding it and what is most versatile bike.

You guys just missed out the new GoldWing 2018

why 2 harleys? same bike ,different fairing. I don't see the reasoning here. the eluder looks like a big man's bike. harleys has old school dimensions. the Vaquero is the only one that is a good value. 10k cheaper.

i dont get the hate for this video if you want a performance bagger go with bmw , stylish bagger? road glide or street glide , want a nicer suspension bagger ? chieftain dark horse all around bagger feel? the eluder, got no money? go for the kawasaki want something different? MGX-21

The beautiful Yamaha Eluder for me😋

Hopefully you can do a full dresser version of this video with equivalent versions, thanks

Wow never thought I'd hear a reference to Guam in a bagger comparo.

They are all drag queens so my only question is which one has the best corner clearence?

My father has an F6b, nearly half of our club has vaqueros. I've ridden both, and still bought an eluder

Been riding many many years had all kinds of bike hate to say it but Harley-Davidson has the best dealer Network anywhere when you're touring is awful nice to know

These are baggers so bagger riders should be the test group not sport bike riders. You wouldn't have bagger riders come test sport bikes would you! To me this Channel misses the mark

7. Kawasaki - tried it and the turbulence over top the windshield at my height of 6.2 ft is atrocious 6. H-D Street Glide - everybody has one 5. Moto Guzzi - it's a little out there styling wise 4. Indian - torque monster 3. H-D Road Glide - Harley's best mile eater IMO 2. Yamaha - that is one heck of a couch and I can not wait to take it for a test ride once the snow melts 1. BMW - I want it all and this bike has it all, Grand America in black please.

What?? Inferior suspension on a Harley?? Ya don't say.... but after all, how important is suspension on a long-haul motorcycle anyway? 🙄

I WOULD BUY THE ELUDER FOR EATING MILES & ISN'T THAT THE REASON YOU BUY A BAGGER ? THE ONLY BAGGER THAT COULD CHANGE MY MIND MIGHT BE THE NEW GOLD WING !

afraid of the Honda bagger?

My only complaint with the review is that the Vaquero is 7k less than the cheapest bike. Of course its not going to be refined as much.

Why can't Harley fix that damn suspension when the Harley guy chose the Indian I said wow

Having owned the Street Glide, I can attest to it having the shitiest suspension of any bike I've ever owned. For $24k, it ought to have a better ride quality. I traded my SG in on a Venture so I'm partial to the Eluder, but the Beamer is the best bike here.

Low light right from the beginning.....rode only at night?

I think it's not fair to bring a dark horse, then you complain that it doesn't have a passenger seat!!! U should have brought the chieftain!

Which bike is the biggest? For a tall person

Where’s the gold wing?

What's going on with the camper at 9:12? It's too short of an overhang to be a 5th wheel, but it doesn't look like a bumper-pull either. What would you do with a little bitty overhang like that? Not bashing, I've just never seen one like that before.

No Gold Wing in the mix?🙄 Come on!

Kawasaki is the best bang for the buck, but the Yamaha is the best in the Class.

Lines are getting blurred .. I'm old school bikes with fairings and hard bags were tourers .. baggers are windshield and bags usually soft bags sometimes hard .. Article was informative, glad you included some bike that are usually overlooked

Reasons I'd have a hard time with the BMW. I hated my F6B seat and the Beemer seat looks almost the same. It only comes in black. Few dealers to find a deal, few dealers to get service if you needed it on the road. I think it comes down to the Yamaha and Street Glide. Low seating position means a TON to rider and passenger. Yamaha's reliability is a big plus, HD's dealer network, unbelievable modificability factor, and resell probably make it tough to not buy one.

I have an Electra Glide and a road star, buddy I've got a chub for that eluder, I know I "shouldn't" but Damn it's bad ass lookin

Motorcycle.com... while the video is much appreciated, it was missing the major player in the segment... the Honda Goldwing! Why? On a side note, glad to hear the Yamaha did as well as it did. Thanks guys.

Good job guys on putting together info about these bikes. I gotta love the comments. Can’t test em all guys, good job Sean with a little education about the dams background. Also love your real world body type. Beautiful motorcycles, wish I could replace my st1300.

Toss up between the BMW 1600B and the Harley Street Glide. Those two are the best out of the group. Power, looks, and overall cool factor.

If it was my money... one selling point is if I am out and about somewhere in America, hundreds of miles from home and have bike trouble, where is the nearest dealership? how far is it to tow it? will they be open? will they have parts available or do I have to wait days? do they have experienced mechanics on staff?

Ummm, so what's the final score out come on your "scoring"? I'm personally a Harley fan and LOVE my 2019 Ultra Limited but i have to agree with the last person that left a comment. .. "Where is the Honda Goldwing"? It surely would have done well here

BMW should not have been included in this lineup. It is a sport touring motorcycle not a true bagger. Just because it has bags doesn’t make it a bagger. 😉

I really liked the BMW when I test road it but I just didn't feel like I would want it all the time for touring. I have always been a Harley guy and still am I went with a road Glide Ultra. But it always comes down to what you like. I like all the bikes and wish I could afford them all! But if I could have a second bike it would be the BMW 1600 B! Great Video!

You know what I find funny. The Vaquero hasn't been changed since it's introduction. What 2011? I've searched the Used Market for most of these Bikes. The Kawi.s are hard to find. Cost of ownership is minimal compared to the others. Kawasaki tends to keep things on an even keel. It's the cheapest yet hangs right there with the others and the list of standard equipment is higher than HD. I've priced both a SG and RG with the same equipment. It's a significant amount different. What more could you ask for?

This video was better, with more character than most of the other recent ones. Keep it up.

Wow, really two Harley's and no Goldwing. I will go back over to the other mags.

That BMW is a beautiful machine. Fit, finish, technology and comfort. I've never been so comfortable and it's not as heavy as many bikes in its class.

Only one question... Where is the new 2018 Gold Wing Standard... It belongs in this shootout just like the K1600b, the Eluder and Vaquero...

Can we get a 2020 updated version of this? Include the Indian challenger, Yamaha Eluder, and the new Goldwing???

Really need the Goldwing

Man really enjoyed this comparison, tend toward touring models of these, just bought the now extinct "Ultra Classic".

Yes, Where is the Honda.

How far do you consider far...to the point that you would need a "touring" bike?

By the way, which gear are you using on the Vaquero for roll-on throttle response.

Where's the Goldwing?

Baggers? What about 2018 Goldwing?

I liked the Eluder over the rest from a styling perspective, probably would enjoy the flat 6 of the goldwing if it was apart of the test. Don't think I like the BMW approach to a bagger style bike, the Indian fairing I find just ugly can't get beyond that fairing but it does ride great. Harley shouldn't have such a hard time in a comparison of baggers, and that is part of the problem that they are missing on the engineering and development part of motorcycles. Really no need to mention Kawasaki or Motto Guzzi.

I want them all! I ride an HD Road King and really enjoy that bike. But I think that if I was going for another bagger I'd prob start looking at the K1600B. Lots of hills + tight and twisty riding were I live ... bet that'd be the bike for that terrain.

Should have waited for the new Goldwing Bagger

They didn't tell me how the coffee maker, trolling motor and fish finder worked on these barges!

Hardly mentioning the Moto Guzzi is really idiotic. Why bring it along then?

It does seem that the eluder got quite a bit of attention when it came to weeding out the best picks. I'd love to see more about the Yamaha