Anniversary Chief Vintage
Available in 125 individually serialized motorcycles to celebrate the brand's 125th anniversary, Indian Motorcycle's limited edition Chief Vintage was unveiled at the Sturgis Rally to highlight the brand's "foundational role" in the Origins of the rally.
Featuring heritage-inspired paint and an iconic, multi-colored Indian Motorcycle Headdress tank logo, its debut at the 86th annual Sturgis Rally had clearly not been a surprise to a certain other long standing midwestern United States motorcycle brand.
Billed as "tribute to the riders that started it all and the bikes they rode in Sturgis, back in 1938," what eventually became the Sturgis Rally we know today was started as a rider's picnic and Hill Climb Race by local Indian Motorcycle Dealer Clarence "Pappy" Hoel along with the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club.
The new Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition is an exclusive, commemorative piece honoring the origins of America's most legendary motorcycle rally.
"The new Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition draws inspiration from those legendary riders whose passion for the brand sparked what would become the world's largest and most iconic motorcycle rally."
The limited-edition model features a classic two-tone Indian Motorcycle Red and Cream paint scheme and a multi-colored Indian Motorcycle headdress logo reminiscent of the prominent aesthetic featured on Indian Motorcycles of the 1930s.
Serialized badging up to 125 commemorates the brand's 125-year anniversary, while a painted number 56 on the side plate pays tribute to the hand-painted numbers that original racers ran on their bikes in Sturgis, South Dakota, during the rally's earliest beginnings.
"When you look at how far it's come and how much it's grown over almost 90 years, it's amazing to think that it was an Indian Motorcycle dealer and a group of Indian Motorcycle riders that literally started it all," said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle.
"What's even cooler is the fact that back then, it was all based on a simple desire to come together in celebration of a lifestyle and a spirit of freedom that can only be found through motorcycle riding, and it remains the same to this day."
The inaugural gathering in the Black Hills was built around nine riders and attracted approximately 200 spectators. The event combined scenic riding, racing and camaraderie and cemented the brand as a key pillar in the history and origins of America's most legendary motorcycle rally.
The new Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition is based on the 120 ft-lbs. of torque air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin engine. Classic Indian Chief styling with valanced fenders, illuminated warbonnet, wire-spoke wheels, Vintage Espresso Solo Seat, Vintage Handleand heritage-inspired engine finishes such as painted cylinder heads, pushrod tubes and black cylinders speak to the Chief's Heritage.
Three selectable ride modes and a 4-inch Round Touchscreen Display powered by RIDE COMMAND with App Enhanced Navigation, live traffic and weather, Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation speak to contemporary riding experiences and expectations - at a $23,999 starting price.
