Indian 2025 Chieftain and Roadmaster - Bigger Engines, Fork Mounted Fairings
For 2025, Indian Motorcycle says it is "pushing American V-twins forward" with new Chieftain and PowerPlus and Roadmaster PowerPlus and PowerPlus 112 ci engines - the "fork-mounted fairing models expand the PowerPlus family, building on the performance-oriented, American V-Twin style originally established with the Indian Challenger."
With Big Twin sales still softer than Indian needs them to be, leveraging the popularity of the versatile 'Challenger' platform is a healthy sign that Polaris prepared to be, and capable of being responsive and in a position to embrace 'track to street' trickle-down.
The new PowerPlus 112 ci engine is the one that powered Indian's 2024 King Of The Baggers Championship efforts, one that "delivers both high horsepower and high torque. Powered by our steadfast commitment to innovation and driving the V-Twin category forward, Indian Motorcycle's expansion its PowerPlus family with the Chieftain PowerPlus and Roadmaster PowerPlus. In addition, the company is introducing a 112 ci version of the PowerPlus engine after two years of developing and refining it through the Indian Motorcycle Racing program en route to the team's 2024 King Of The Baggers championship."
Fork Mounted Fairing PowerPlus Chieftain and Roadmaster
As with the Indian Challenger and Indian Pursuit chassis-mounted fairing models, the new PowerPlus fork-mounted fairing models "combine a classic muscular American V-Twin style with rider-assist technologies never before offered in an American V-Twin motorcycle.
"Meanwhile, the new PowerPlus 112 engine expands on the unparalleled performance of its 108ci predecessor – going beyond the power limitations of traditional V-Twin motors to deliver more consistent, sustainable power, with instant acceleration and effortlessly sustained high speeds within every gear throughout the range."
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| Pursuit Dark Horse |
Aaron Jax, Vice President, Indian Motorcycle is quoted as saying: "More than a decade ago when we relaunched Indian Motorcycle, we made a commitment to innovation, just as our original founders did back in 1901. Innovation powered their success, and it is still driving us today; and the expansion of our family of performance-oriented PowerPlus models is a perfect example.
"From liquid-cooled motors and mono-shock rear suspension to the advent of modern performance baggers with the Indian Challenger, we were first to market in the V-twin category with these advancements. It's all part of our ongoing commitment to innovating with features and options that enhance the riding experience for our customers and for generations of riders to come."
'Chiseled Lines'
The new Chieftain PowerPlus and Roadmaster PowerPlus are described as wearing "aggressive and chiseled lines that are a visual representation of their high-performance hearts. Their compact stance makes each model look smaller, lighter, nimbler and more athletic. The new fairing's design is sleek and aerodynamic, offering improved handling and stability at high speeds to provide superior control when compared to previous Chieftain and Roadmaster models." Additional new features include a new LED headlight with integrated daytime running lights around its center.
New PowerPlus 112
The PowerPlus 112 delivers a claimed 126 horsepower and 133 ft-lbs of torque in a contemporary design of high revving, liquid-cooled engine with overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder with optimized acceleration across the rev range. It is claimed the engine reduces the perceived need to keep constantly changing up that push rod V-twins ask of the rider, with "unrivaled passing power in every gear."
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| PowerPlus 112 engine |
Powering the Indian Motorcycle factory race team, the PowerPlus 112 helped deliver the 2024 King Of The Baggers championship and is now available across the PowerPlus family, including Chieftain, Challenger, Roadmaster and Pursuit.
Technology
For 2025, the PowerPlus lineup will debut a host of new Rider Assist features that are aimed at improving rider awareness and enhancing rider convenience. These new Rider Assist features will be bundled with previously offered SmartLean Technology and come standard on vehicles with the PowerPlus 112 engine and include bike hold control, electronic combined brake system, blind spot warning, tailgate warning, rear collision warning, 7" display powered by Indian's RIDE COMMAND software and features suite and advanced infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity.
Select PowerPlus models also include RIDE COMMAND+ connected services, offering GPS navigation with turn-by-turn mapping, Apple CarPlay, live traffic and weather overlays, intuitive destination search and more (including next-level bike information sharing, control and connectivity with features such as Bike Locator Bike Health). Three Ride Modes, keyless ignition, USB charging and remote locking saddlebags are standard.
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| Challenger Limited |
Roadmaster PowerPlus and Indian Pursuit offer electronically adjustable rear suspension preload via the in-dash seven-inch, a stitched ClimaCommand heated seat and grips are a luxury that spoils riders when in extreme weather conditions.
There is a slew of accessory upgrades that emphasise rider and passenger ergonomics. Riders wanting to improve performance out-of-the-crate can do so with an all-new PowerPlus 112 factory kit that includes high-performance pistons, cylinders, head gaskets and premium badging; there is also a PowerPlus Air Intake and heavyweight stage 1 slip-on exhaust (and exhaust tip options) - "all of which is designed to unleash additional power and enhance mid-range throttle response."
