Indian Motorcycle has debuted its second PowerPlus powered model with the new Indian Pursuit bringing an even more touring focussed ride over the Indian Challenger.
New for 2022, the 1768cc Indian Pursuit builds upon the Indian Challenger platform with more touring amenities and a strong focus on the latest technology.
Priced from $40,995 the Pursuit is a clear departure from what the brand has previously offered with the Roadmaster and comes in at a full $3000 cheaper to boot. The new bike steps away from the old-school charms of the air-cooled Roadmaster in favour of a more modern riding experience thanks to the latest in water-cooled engine technology and infotainment. That means the Pursuit rolls away with a suite of three rider modes each set up with their own distinct personality thanks to differing throttle maps and traction control settings.
Whether Indian plans to keep both models selling alongside each other long-term is yet to be revealed, but Indian Motorcycle Australia and New Zealand's Nolan Howard says that there has been no indication from Indian Motorcycle HQ that the Roadmaster is going anywhere.
"Both the Roadmaster and Pursuit are classified as touring models. At this stage, we are continuing to sell both, and there has been no indication from the USA that the Roadmaster would cease production," he said.
"One of the main differences is the air-cooled Thunderstroke vs the water-cooled PowerPlus engine. This, alongside different accessories and styling choices, allows riders to tailor their rides to suit their riding."
The Pursuit itself shares its platform with Indian’s cool as hell bagger, the Challenger, with the most notable additions being more pillion comfort and a large rear trunk which boosts luggage capacity to 133 litres to fill up with odds and ends.
Up the front is a chassis mounted fairing in the same vein as the Challenger’s, with electronically adjustable windscreen and vented lower fairings which Indian says provide superior protection from the elements and a heightened level of flexibility to adjust to varying weather and temperature conditions.
Integrated into the fairing is a set of driving lights, while the rider scores extra creature comforts in the form of heated grips and a new Heated Touring Comfort seat.
At the heart of the Pursuit is Indian Motorcycle's latest V-twin powerplant, the PowerPlus engine. Coming in at a capacity of 1768cc, the liquid-cooled V-twin delivers a stump-pulling 90kW (121 hp) and 178Nm of torque.
Overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder deliver incredible V-twin performance and power from a powertrain that features a six-speed transmission, an assist clutch to reduce clutch effort and hydraulic valve lash adjusters and camshaft chain tensioners for low maintenance and reliability.
Keeping the rider informed, the Pursuit comes equipped with Indian’s glove-friendly, Ride Command seven-inch touchscreen display which offers Apple CarPlay®, GPS with turn-by-turn navigation and a multitude of bike data to customise your view.
In the braking and handling department, the Pursuit is top-notch as well. All-new electronically adjustable rear suspension preload is supplied by Fox, which allows riders to adjust their preload for optimal comfort and handling under varying conditions. This is managed from the bike’s infotainment system. The new electronic preload is also available as an accessory upgrade for all Indian Challenger models.
Race-spec radially-mounted Brembo brakes provide powerful and progressive stopping power, while Metzeler Cruisetec tyres offer up great traction and unbeatable line holding.
In addition, both models offer intuitive Smart Lean Technology, which keeps riders confidently grounded by utilising a Bosch IMU to add cornering control to the dynamic traction control and ABS for precise cornering, maximised braking, and maximised acceleration.
The Pursuit is a big step forward in big American V-twin touring bikes, with the first examples expected to arrive in New Zealand dealers (barring any Covid-related shipping delays) around April or May 2022.