The Harley Street Glide is the Pinnacle of Batwing fairing bikes but the Indian Chieftain and Roadmaster are both viable options and we will compare these two bikes to see which one is the best alternative to the Harley Street Glide.
Preference is an individual’s choice. I’ve owned a Honda, Suzuki, Victory, Street Glide and Ultra Limited. All that matters is that you’re on 2 or 3 wheels and you’re riding safely. Get the Indian if you like the Indian. The the Harley if you like the Harley. Get whatever you like and can afford. Stop running your mouth and start running your bike - enough said.
Great review. I bought my first Indian this year. It’s a 2023 Chieftain dark horse and I am in heaven. I considered the road master but I just wanted a stripped down version. I’m not at the point where I feel I need large storage and I didn’t want to take it on and off. The real clincher was about color. I wasn’t in love with the colors of the road masters. I figured for my very first Indian I needed to love the color. You can’t go wrong with either of these bikes. I ride mine rain or shine and I always have a smile 😊on my face
I own a 2022 Roadmaster Limited. I agree with just about everything you said about the Roadmaster. I personally originally wanted a Vintage Chief. ( I just love that old school look)... But I paid up because of exactly what you said about your "honey".. I bought the Roadmaster because I wanted my wife to be comfortable. Everything you said about the Roadmasters performance is dead on. It's smooth. It's powerful. Two things though, that I wish Indian would do different. 1- The compartment on the dashboard that has the connection for your phone is way to small for most phones. It's equipped with Apple Car Play, but the only connection for that is in that compartment. And If you're smart and have any kind of case for your I-Phone, it will NOT fit in that dinky compartment. and 2- You are exactly right about the seats.. They are FIRM....... And they don't offer a softer touring type seat that has Heat/Cool function. When I first bought my bike, I wanted them ( the dealer) to switch out the seats and trade me for the bigger, softer seats... But then I learned that I was going to forfeit the heat/cool function, and my wife and I decided to stay with the seat it already had on it. There are many days that we travel pretty much ALL day on our Roadmaster. There are a few days / moments when we are really glad we have the heat/cool seats... But there are MANY days after riding all day that our butts are wishing we had a softer seat. We're just training ourselves at this point to make more frequent stops... "Butt Breaks" we call them. But on a scale from 1 to 10 ( 10 being the highest rating), I give my 2022 Roadmaster Limited an overall rating of 9.9
'21 Roadmaster Icon. We bought it to do two up riding, and have gone out to Big Bend, up to Sturgis, ton of Hill Country rides. We just liked the old school looks better, although the Dark Horse was a little more nimble with the larger front wheel during test rides a couple years ago. Only thing i felt the need to do was put some highway pegs on for me, and add the arm rests onto the back for the wife. Otherwise stock. Looks great, sounds great, zero issues. We love it.
I had a 2016 Roadmaster and it was great. I rode a ‘22 Roadmaster with the newer fairing and it sucked. The air on the rider was huge compared to my ‘16. This was the deciding factor on my ‘22 Challenger purchase. That said, last weekend I upgraded to a ‘23 Pursuit Darkhorse Premium in Stealth Grey - totally in love!!
That was good comment, I haven't ride the new fairing. I have low mileage '18 RM , I just keep it and update it, I like to be different. HD is like disco music for me.
I bought a ghost grey dark horse chieftain summer 2021 as my everyday transport, love the looks, the engine and the bike, great review would recommend either!
We have a 2021 Roadmaster dark horse, I have been riding street bikes since 1976, this Roadmaster {once off the kickstand) is one of the best handling, comfortable and easiest bikes I have ever ridden. If you enjoy riding the twisties in the mountains, you will love the sport mode.
I loved both of these bikes when I test rode them. I ultimately bought a roadmaster limited because I do want it for longer rides and love the extra storage and the extra features you discussed. All of that said, I talked to myself about the choice between models, priced them, looked at options and otherwise equivocated for a couple years before pulling the trigger. The final criteria for me was the fact that the tour-pack is removable if I want a lighter feel to the bike. Indian says quickly, I don't know that it is that quick, but it can be taken off or added in under 1/2 hour, so I suppose that may count. Both are awesome bikes and are so well balanced that they feel lighter than their curb weight.
I love my Indian Roadmaster, but it does put of much more heat than any Harley I have ever owned. That is my only complaint with my Indian. I feel the heat on my left thigh. I do take the lower fairings off in the summer.
I have owned two RoadMaster “Pursuit” and one Chieftain. For myself it just depended on what mood I was in when I owned them. I now ride a Challenger and its night and day difference. The 108 PP is the game changer.
Glad I found this video, in the process of buying either a Chieftain or most likely the road master. I love the olive drab coloured Cheiftain, but will go the Road master as I want the additional bells and whistles. Trading off the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, so this'll be an experience. Ditching the gravel for the tarmac.
I think some of the more premium Indians have same sort of shock absorption in the floorboard. On my pursuit it feels springy and I think that's what eliminates the vibration
I have a 2022 Roadmaster Darkhorse love the bike but the issue here in the UK is the dealers, also how many miles would you expect to get out of the rear wheel bearings?
890-lbs! That's ridiculous! My BMW R1150-RS is 350-lbs lighter, and can run rings around either bike. Better engineered, non-vibrating, more comfortable, better handling, easy to maintain, and reliable, with detachable hard bags and ABS. I've put 170,000 trouble-free KM on my bike, and it still looks and runs like the day it rolled out of the showroom. You can buy several brands of cars for the same money that handle much better, are more comfortable, and can carry more than either of those bikes. Thanks for the review. More reasons why neither of these vibrating over-priced bikes make any sense...
BMW…😂😂😂. American men don’t ride fugly crotch rocket styled touring bikes. Does yours feature the milk crate looking bags? Might be the perfect bike for your cat to nap on. Maybe you should try a little vibration from a v-twin between the legs, you might enjoy it.
@@seeda3473 Aside from demonstrating your clear ignorance about how BMWs are NOT 'crotch rocket styled touring bikes', or what our touring bags even look like, you've shown how experiencing v-twin vibrations between your legs is so important in the kind of bike you ride... The rest of us ride what we ride because we appreciate the engineering quality and pure riding enjoyment they provide.
Dont get the debate over harley vs indian. You buy an indian to get more for your bucks, i get it. But the thing is that you dont have an Harley. Period. Probably honda, bmw or yamaha handle best than harley..... but you dont own an harley.
You say that like owning a Harley is a life requirement lol ive had several brands, currently have a 21 Chieftain Darkhorse and love it. Variety is the spice of life.
@@Hudama100 I think you dont understand my point here. People try hard to convice each other witch brand is better. My point is most people buying harley for the brand and everything is related for. Its like buying new Balance shoes and try to convince me that its a nike. And saying that brand dosent matter its just hypocrite.
If the brand is the most important thing then buy the Harley and take pictures of yourself standing next to it in your matching jacket. Don't ride it tho. Might get the brand dirty
I've noticed it's always the Indian riders comparing their bike to the Harley and not the other way around. The inferior product compares itself to the superior product. Jordan would never compare himself to Lavar Ball, but Lavar always compares himself to Michael Jordan. Pick and choose what you're going to pick and choose. That's it, that's all!!
Thing is, if someone wants a Harley that’s what they will buy no? My Indian dealer has more used Harley trade ins in his showroom than he has new Indians. What does that tell you? Brand loyalty will cause many to miss out on a lot of nice things in life but to each their own..
