Indian Motorcycle Celebrates With the 2021 Chieftain Elite

The 2021 Chieftain Elite is Indian Motorcycle’s exclusive, powerful 120th birthday present to itself. Only 120 lucky buyers will have the opportunity to own one worldwide. (Indian/)

You cannot talk about the American motorcycle experience and not mention Indian Motorcycle. Sure, Harley-Davidson gets all the play, but Indian claims an earlier launch date, and until the middle of the 20th century, it was the brand to which to aspire.

The custom and exclusive touches are subtle but stylish. Indian opted to keep the anniversary ride stealthy. (Indian/)

On Wednesday, it marked its 120th anniversary with the launch of the ultra-exclusive 2021 Indian Chieftain Elite. Conceived specifically to mark the milestone, only 120 Chieftain Elites will be built for the global market. The bike is bedecked with special, Chieftain Elite-only styling touches, more power, and the intangible quality of knowing you’re not likely to ever see someone on the same bike.

The black on silver livery isn’t a haphazard machine-produced addition; it takes more than 24 hours per bike to execute. (Indian/)

The 116 Thunderstroke V-twin pushes out 126 pound-feet of torque and wears an exclusive Slate Smoke finish. (Indian /)

The Chieftain Elite rolls off the line with 126 pound-feet torque under your right wrist. It also comes stock with Indian’s version of parent company Polaris’ 7-inch Ride Command infotainment screen. That means you get Apple CarPlay powering a 400-watt PowerBand audio system.

The Chieftain Elite starts at a reasonable $34,999, but Indian will sell you a nearly endless list of accessories to push that price skyward. (Indian/)

If you are lucky enough to grab a Chieftain Elite, there’s almost no chance you’ll pass another rider on one, no matter where you live. (Indian/)

Getting your hands on one won’t be inexpensive, but the price isn’t out of line with other baggers on the market at $34,999, or $42,999 CAD, to start. Styling cues include special Black Vivid Crystal over Carbon Crystal paint, set off with color-matched badging. The Thunderstroke 116 V-twin gets a special Slate Smoke finish to round out the livery.

The bike is decked out with tech innovations, like Polaris’ Ride Command infotainment system and a fully modern fueling system. (Indian /)

The Thunderstroke 116 V-twin is a stump puller in stock form, but factory speed parts are available to take it well beyond its stock form. (Indian/)

That paint job isn’t some machine-applied palette either. Indian says each bike’s paint process takes more than 24 hours to finish. The Chieftain Elite’s special bodywork is wrapped around lowered suspension, and a special, 19-inch forged front wheel carries on the custom theme.

We love that the paint job is vibrant up close, but reserved and stealthy from a distance. (Indian/)

The forged, 19-inch front wheel is wrapped in a Metzeler Cruisetec tire and hugged by Indian’s iconic fender shape. (Indian/)

RELATED: Motorcycle Reviews And Comparisons

Matching the go with the show, Indian will sell you Stage 1 and Stage 2 performance accessories to deepen the V-twin’s engine note and make it faster. Stage 1 accessories include exhaust header pipes and a muffler, as well as two options to open up the intake. With Stage 1 intake and exhaust mods, you could see as much as an 8 percent power gain. Stage 2 takes that further, opening the engine to add performance cams to the mix.

It wouldn’t be a bagger without luggage capacity. (Indian/)

If you’re happy with the Thunderstroke’s stock output, Indian has developed a laundry list of bags, sissy bars, handlebars, backrests, and a color-matched remote-locking trunk to give your Chieftain Elite its own style.

Ride Command powers a 400-watt stereo featuring Apple CarPlay. (Indian/)

It might have enough power to drag a small moon around, but the Chieftain Elite is set up for cruising comfort. (Indian /)

2021 Indian Chieftain Elite Technical Specifications and Price

Price:	$34,999
Engine:	1,890cc, 49-degree V-twin
Bore x Stroke:	103.2 x 113.0mm
Compression Ratio:	11.0:1
Fuel Delivery:	Closed-loop electronic fuel injection w/ 54mm throttle body
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate, assist
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/belt
Frame:	TBA
Front Suspension:	46mm telescopic fork, 4.7 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Air-adjustable single shock, 4.5 in. travel
Front Brakes:	4-piston calipers, 300mm floating discs w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	2-piston caliper, 300mm disc w/ ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Forged alloy; 19 x 3.5 in. / 16 x 5.0 in. w/ TPMS
Tires, Front/Rear:	Metzeler Cruisetec; 130/60-19 / 180/60-16
Wheelbase:	65.7 in.
Rake/Trail:	25.0°/5.9 in.
Seat Height:	25.6 in.
Fuel Capacity:	5.5 gal.
Claimed Dry Weight:	797 lb.
Warranty:	2 years, unlimited miles
Available:	Now
Contact:	indianmotorcycle.com