ridermagazine.com
2026 Indian Chief Vintage Preview
2026 Indian Chief Vintage in Indian Motorcycle Red
Indian Motorcycle celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2026, and kicking off that milestone is the launch of the new 2026 Indian Chief Vintage. As the name implies, this model pays homage to the Chiefs of the 1940s in its styling while retaining modern Indian components and tech.
Style elements that give the Chief Vintage its throwback appeal include a valanced front fender, a lit headdress ornament, a narrower rear subframe, wire-spoke wheels, a Vintage Solo Seat, and a Vintage Handlebar, as well as the silver-painted cylinder heads and pushrod tubes.
Alongside the Chief Vintage launch, Indian will release a collection of premium accessories for the model. Accessories include highway bars, highway bar lower closeouts, a quick-release low windshield, vinyl saddlebags, premium handle grips, a Classic Solo Seat with matching passenger seat, and a passenger backrest pad.
2026 Indian Chief Vintage in Black Metallic with accessories
The Chief Vintage features modern components borrowed from the other Chiefs in the lineup, starting with the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin that delivers a claimed 120 lb-ft of torque at 2,900 rpm and offers three ride modes (Tour, Standard, and Sport). The bike includes a Chief Stage 1 Slip-On Exhaust, slash-cut exhaust tips, the Thunderstroke Stage 1 High-Flow Air Intake, and the Pathfinder 5.75-inch Adaptive LED headlight.
The bike also includes a 4-inch round touchscreen display with Ride Command, which allows smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth or USB to access navigation, detailed bike and ride info, recent calls, contacts, and text message history. The display offers multiple interface options, including a two-gauge configuration.
The bike’s fuel tank holds 4 gallons, its wet weight is 721 lb, and its seat height is 27 inches. Its 16-inch spoked wheels are wrapped in Metzeler Cruisetec tires. Suspension includes a telescopic fork with 5.2 inches of travel and dual shocks offering 3 inches of travel, and brakes include a single 4-piston caliper up front and a 2-piston caliper in the rear, both pinching 298mm floating rotors.
The 2026 Indian Chief Vintage will be available in Black Metallic or Indian Motorcycle Red starting at $19,999. Visit the Indian Motorcycle website for more information.
Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2026 Motorcycle Buyers Guide
The post 2026 Indian Chief Vintage Preview appeared first on Rider Magazine.