Me, too. I’ve had Indians since they came out in ‘14 and HD since ‘69. I’ve always had both. Right now I have a ‘21 Challenger Dark Horse that, stock v stock, is faster than any stock HD of that era and most showing up at the dealers as we speak. I got a 23.5 RG CVO (an ‘early 24’) that is just now coming out with features that match my ‘21 Dark Horse like Brembos, inverted forks, remote locking bags but not the locking gas cap which my Indian has. All one button, on the bike or the fob. HD, fob only. My DH has a lot of the electronic rider aids just now showing up in the HDs. Many of the HD non-CVO models don’t have many of these design and engineering features still. The windshield is fine and, I think, a touch gimmicky and I move it very infrequently. The old canard re fit and finish is getting old. “Too much plastic!”, they say. Every single plastic part is exactly the same as HD - bags, fairing inner and outer, and side panels. Actually my Indian tank panel is metal and my already-scratched-up ‘23 RG is very soft plastic. If you want flimsy plastic, check out the bags on the ‘24s. They are scary bendy. Every thing else is a matter of design and appeals to your taste or not. I will give HD the nod on paint variety and design with that tempered by the fact that it will cost you big to get it. IIRC, some CVOs costing six grandish? Whatever, it’s pricey. My DH in smoke bronze paint is bullet proof - not a scratch in 3 yrs. My ‘15 RG in flat denim black had a shiny spot for each scuff and it would scratch fairly easily as will all HD paint. I think they may have changed the clear coat formulation since my ‘23 RG seems to so far resist the inevitable ‘spider web’ scratches so common on every HD I’ve owned. With regard to looks, the HD fanbois say nice try but it’s not a RG. Others say too close, it’s a knock off. A schizoid community to be sure. If all you know and love is HD, everything is going to look strange and alien (as do all the other non-HD, non-Indian fixed fairing bikes) and if you can’t clear your head when judging, the judgment is worthless. “Not a Harley” isn’t an evaluation, it’s stating the obvious. I have both and I say without reservation my ‘21 DH is more than a match for my ‘23 CVO in all respects. What they look like is simply what they look like. Dave is not Joe, Sally isn’t Sue but Dave and Sally are trying harder and Joe and Sue are sure taking notice. That’s for the better, of course, for us motoheads. Lastly, if you are a true blue HD acolyte, learn to embrace the suck. The way things are going with HD, it may soon come to pass that Indian will be the sole source of new American V-twin iron as HD goes boutique brand before crashing for lack of customers. Sorry re the length here but half-truths and misconceptions (more by misformation than malintent) are easily uttered but difficult to concisely argue.
Looks and "visible quality" are highly subjective. I'd personally spend my money on something that delivers better performance and features for the money. Indian is where its at. Even their Thunderstroke engine is leagues above the Milwaukee 8 in build/design quality. I've ridden way more Harleys than Indians, and the Indians just feel and perform better. Just my opinion
its faster than the new 23 cvo I rode both! bought the 23 pursuit much better ride and better looking. not to mention the auto locking trunks, auto adjusting rear shock, just a few things! the 23 cvo was nice though but I'm not materialistic so the Harley name didn't matter to me.
@@theinfinitryda you are 100% brand loyal, Little bit plasticky lmao. yes because it is plastic, Your only criticism is plastic. Straight out of the box this bike is far superior to the Road Glide.
@@lucianospalliera1131 never watched his channel before and I can see the loyalty as well. compare a $30k challenger to a $30k road glide. the RG is cheap/featureless and slow. Now as far as aesthetics, remember people also think G-Wagons are good looking(and it has "nothing" to do with the perceived prestige lol)
@@lucianospalliera1131 I think he’s numb to his own bias! Definitely a brand loyalist and you can hear it the whole review. I ride a metric bike but definitely respect Harley and Indian for sure.
If you gave me a HD. I’d sell it or trade it same day. Challenger is a smooth and powerful machine. HDs are obnoxiously loud and slow, top heavy to where they fight you in turns. Challenger turns easy and doesn’t beat you up on long rides. Over all Indian Challenger is hands down is a better machine
I now own a 2021 Indian Challenger Dark Horse. I did have a 2011 Electra Glide Classic at one time and traded in my 2014 Ultra Limited for the Challenger. I agree with the opinion that HD does feel like more of a premium build. The plastics on the Challenger do feel a bit cheesy in comparison to HD. The power train and suspension is what sold me on the Indian. I also like the idea of a completely water cooled engine. And YES! That adjustable windshield is AWESOME!! Do I miss HD as a brand? YES. Do I appreciate the network of HD dealerships if you need one? YES. I still like the looks of the HD baggers. The lower center of gravity and stability at stops is also what helped me decide and go with the Indian. Time will tell if I made the right decision. I’ve only had the Challenger for a few months. For now, I am still getting used to the layout/muscle memory needed when I switched brands and I do enjoy the ride and felt power. Ride safe!!
Your review is just a massive pile of BS that I do believe is paid for by Harley. Every positive argument is counter balance by negative connotation. Let's start with the Cadillac effect of the suspension. Indian is miles away from Harley ST in terms of driving experience. Indian has a cast aluminum frame vs tubular frame. It's much more rigid which transmits no oscillation and no death wobble. Anyone who has pushed a Harley just a bit knows what death wobble implies with your safety. A bike that absorbs all bumps and stays stable is by definition superior. No like to have his back destroyed by a poor suspension and a bad chassy design. With one single tune, a challenger destroys an ST and still thousands less to purchase. Your comparison with the torque could not be further from the truth. Torque access is equivalent or better. I own a Harley, and try many of them. I still love the brand, but the challenger is simply a much better, and a more advanced bike. It is safer, cheaper, faster, runs colder. People will still prefer a road glide and it's perfectly fine. But your pseudo assessment of the bike is simply not true.
I guess we cannot expect an HD Salesman to be truly balanced in comparing HD to Indian. I traded my 21 challenger for the new 24 RG. I wish i had my Challenger back.
The indian has much better engine and suspension than Roadglide. Harley have better paint but thats just about it. The looks is very subjective. The milwaukee 8 engine is so bad engineered that an idiot could done better. No more Harley for me. I wish other Harley owners good luck.
Harleys can last forever but Polaris can’t. They don’t have the aftermarket or parts to keep them going. If something major goes wrong the Indian is done. It’s more of a disposable bike
I guess everyone's different. The things you said are a problem, aren't an issue to me at all. No way would I take a Road Glide over the Challenger. I live around alot of twisty roads, and the Challenger Pursuit handles the curves better than any of the fifteen Harleys I've owned in the past. Everything is obviously a matter of personal opinion.
OMG - It appeared during your acceleration demonstration that you shifted the bike around 3k. No wonder you weren’t impressed. The Challenger is water cooled with a higher red line. Please, if you ever ride another Indian Challenger, don’t short-shift it and rev the bike up to 5.5 before you change gears. 😂
My dad used to drive his manual Cummins pick-up truck, keeping the shifts at like 1500 rpms. I was on his ass for years because the extra stress that lugging the engine puts on a vehicle. He said he got better mileage that way. It doesn't damn matter. Run the engine where it's not struggling. Let it run where it wants to.
I have owed Harley's for years. This year purchased a.Dark Horse Pursuit and I won't go back.I still have my Harley Road glide but Idian ride is Top notch!
I don’t own neither. Looks wise I like the challenger, and the new CVO. The standard road glide is ugly to me. As for fit and finish I’ve seen both bikes. Yea the Challenger has 3 unpainted pieces or so. Not really a deal breaker for me.
I liked it. To me, it’s probably the best riding bagger. I like Harley more as a brand and love how many shops are near me. I can’t see not having a Harley for a number of reasons but I really like the how the Challenger rides and the features it has.
I can see that. I like how it rides. I feel it doesn’t have many more features than the Harley. The suspension is amazing but the cheap feel I just can’t get over.
lol ... so what you're saying is ... The Harley is prettier in terms of it's fit and finish. The Indian is better in terms of function; engine, suspension, windshield, LED lights. this video came off as HD fanboy. I have the same year Indian Pursuit Premium. love the bike, despite some things I'd point out for improvement. to your viewers: If you're looking for a good starting platform to crush miles ... Indian is the better option. if you want to look pretty, throw on a plethora of aftermarket parts, go hang out at dealerships and buy T shirts, or just throw out a lot more money ... get a HD. p.s. there would be no $T if it weren't for the Challenger ...even then, you're going to PAY way more for comparable performance.
It is not the same acceleration as a 117 RG. I just watched a guy who owns a Harley CVO 128 road glide. He said the Indian is better in every category, acceleration, braking, and suspension. The only thing he liked better about the RG was the looks. So this stock Indian is better than a CVO RG and for a ton less money
I test rode a Challenger and liked it better than my Street Glide ST in everything except aesthetics. The reason I won't buy one is because my nearest Indian dealer is 3 hours away. Their dealer network is lacking. On my home on a recent 3-day trip I got a 3-inch lag bolt in my tire on Low Rider ST that broke my rim. I was out in the cuts but Harley dealer was only 30 mins away. The Harley dealer gave me a ride home 2 hours away and then delivered my bike to me, washed with a full tank of gas, on a Sunday, when the repair was finished. I'm not going to get that kind of service with any other brand. Plus the Harleys look and sound better. I'm happy Indian is providing competition though and we as consumers win when manufacturers compete. I hope Indian can expand their dealer network. They should allow any Polaris dealer to sell Indians. Plenty of Polaris dealers around me.
I think not indian beat Harley for years before they went out of business, and if you watch Ridge Roamer channel he explains how Indian sales will probably take over HD by 2029
If the only gripes are the plastic parts and the looks. Then it’s clearly doing something right. As far as switching between ride modes go, everything on the infotainment screen is accessible through the triggers and buttons on the handlebars. It’s designed that way so you don’t have to take your hands off the handlebars while riding to do what you have to do with it. As far as performance goes, the Challenger takes the cake all day. Especially if you’re comparing model to model. Better suspension, a more linear power delivery in the low end and a far superior top end due to it being liquid cooled. The Challenger is pumping out 128 ft-lbs of torque and 122 horsepower from the factory with peak torque at 3800 rpm. The RG peak torque is 3250 rpm. So if you ride the Challenger like a Harley, you won’t get that experience and it will seem a little lacking, but with that liquid cooled engine, you have to ring it out closer to the way you would a sport bike. If you want an Indian that responds closer to what you get from Harley you’ll have to go for the Chieftain, Roadmaster or Springfield lines for baggers and the Chief line for cruisers as they are air cooled engines and are torque heavy similar to the Harley Milwaukee 8’s. Both the Road Glide and the Challenger are great bikes in my opinion and it mostly comes down to personal preference on the aesthetics. However, aesthetics aside, when it comes to the best bang for your buck Indian is going to give you more for your dollar. And obviously Harley takes the cake on the dealership network, but it’s unrealistic to think that a company that’s been recently revived by Polaris is going to catch up to the number of facilities Harley has built up over the years. If you’re not a brand loyal fanboy and you’re biggest reason for not buying an Indian is the dealer network, then I say to you that Indian can’t expand their network if people don’t buy their products. Dealership facilities aren’t cheap and employees don’t work for free. If I could afford it I’d have one of each model bike they make from both Harley and Indian as they all provide completely different experiences from each other.
You might take a second look in front of your hand grips you’ll see toggle switches that will control other options. Something that Harley didn’t do until just fairly recently like making cruise control a stock item.
Even the 2024 Harley is lagging behind . Beyong the GeeWhiz LED infotainment on new Harley the suspension sucks, weight is too high and M8 isn't as reliable.
Yeah to me the Challenger looks way better than Harley's. Now the new CVO street glide looks nice and the CVO Road Glide looks real good from the side but from the front ugh. Fit and fonish is where Indian seems to be addressing in the new 2024 models. Now for power, Indian all day. To get a harley to perform as well as a chalkenger you have to spend some serious coin. The 117 is not even close and you def gotta spend 2k on upgraded suspension. I can spend 35k on a elite and eliminate a lot of the finish complaints and Id have a suspension that can be adjusted from the screen. I personally hate the apple vs android mindset in the biker community, 2 wheels is two wheels. But i will say this Indian and Harley forcing each ither to improve their product is a win for us consumers
If Indian, is such a great bike quit comparing it to Harley. Let the product stand on its own merits. Don't worry if it's any good, it will carve out its own market space. Then you can consider that a "VICTORY" for Indian...
I used to own 7 Harley my last was a 2022 StreetGlide Special and now I have a Challenger Dark Horse and it is way better than the Harley I used to own and nothing plastic about it objectivity is the key when doing a review so I like the harley i owned although couples of small problem that where handle by the warranty However the Challenger offered more on handling and performance to mentioned only these two
My guy is doing a compare and contrast video and he doesn’t even try to be impartial. His bias for Harley is huge. I personally don’t have a bike yet but videos like this would be helpful if people would try and put there bias aside and talk about the machine for what it is. I don’t know how long you’ve been riding but when you’re in fourth at 45mph no one is going to feel snappy torque! I don’t care what manufacturer you ride. Do better man!
I’m not biased at all. I have multiple brands and I am aware of the performance of this bike. To be fair it was my second time riding one and I’ve ridden a bunch of Harley. My initial feeling on the bike went down hill soon as I opened the saddle bags and saw the display. I may not if road it as hard as I could but the finish and quality of the bike alone makes it not a winner for me. There are Indians I like but this ain’t it. The FTR is a killer Indian that I can’t really find a Harley to compare to for that style of riding and I’ll admit that. But the challenger is lacking
IMHO the Challenger is closer to a GoldWing than a HD. When I traded out my HD I was actively looking @ a GoldWing, then I rode the Challenger. I chose the Challenger only because I really didn’t care for DCT on the wing. Both The Challenger and the Wing are light years ahead of HD.
Comfort and rideability creature comforts are important, which one is going to cost the most, which one is high maintenance? These are also qualifying decisions. I like the Road Glide but not if its going to cost me more. Harley doesn't have the competition like automakers do. I don't have either bike but looking at the Indian.
See - I think Harley has cheap finishing parts and you get WAY more function and technology out of an Indian for your money in my opinion. And I own and love my Harley, but those Indians will be a huge consideration for me when I upgrade my Harley.
I do agree with some of your points. Indian Challenger is a good bike - it's finish needs to improve a bit more. Indian feels like BMW in terms of quality - which has been in steady decline in terms of its fit and finish since 2010. It's nice as new, but if you look at the used Challenger, it doesn't feel solid anymore (as with BMW...its feels clunky...and I've owned a lot of BMWs). As with Harley, it has one of the best fit-and-finish in the industry. Yes, Harley has some mechanical challenges, but its buildmanship is well known for the quality - that i give to Harley. BUT, in terms of the package which includes performance and usage, Indian nailed it. It covered all the details that riders look for. It's got performance, its got amenities, its got tech (that riders can use!), and its got the looks. Whether you go with Harley or Indian, my feeling is that you cannot go wrong. Ride what you enjoy the most :D
I’ve owned (and still do) several BMWs. My experience has been BMW has been consistently improving their bikes thru the years. No stagnation going on at BMW by any stretch of the imagination.
I had a 2017 Road King. Blowby on the M8 is directed through the air intake and causes carbon build up on the cylinder heads resulting in loss of compression, loss of horsepower, and reduced engine life. It also leaks down the side of the motor and gunks up the air intake system. Other companies direct it back into the engine to be burned off. Engine oil transfers over to the clutch. Engine oil is filtered AFTER the oil cooler. I cite Harley mechanics Kevin Baxter, John Maxwell, and Doc Harley among others I can't remember. M8 is a poorly designed pushrod motor with lack luster horsepower. Indian Powerplus is a liquid cooled, double overhead cam motor with more horsepower than Harley. Indian has inverted front forks for performance. In the rear is a mono-shock fox suspension. How much does the HD owner have to pay to get that? How many thousands does a HD owner have to pay to fix that engine? How many thousands does a HD owner have to pay to get accessories that are standard on the Challenger? HD is premium in name only.
I've been posting this on many sites and getting very little response, so thank you for getting back to me. I've ridden the RG and loved it. Tried to buy one and was treated horribly by the largest HD dealer in Colorado. They reneged on an accepted offer. Ended up buying a Kawasaki Concours which blows away both Indian and Harley. I've never ridden a Challenger but that engine is something that HD is going to struggle to compete against for years to come. The M8 is just lame. Again, see Kevin Baxter. If I go back to cruiser baggers it will probably be the Indian for the engine, suspension, balance, HP, torque, handling, cornering, electric windscreen and based upon all the comparison videos that extoll the virtues of the Challenger over the RG. The 2024 HG is a perfect example of HD playing catch up. Pitiful. @@theinfinitryda
Mate, that's a higher revving, liquid cooled engine. 40-50 mp/h : put it in second and twist the throttle....it generates power higher up the rev range than an air cooled bike. 😂
Why Harley copy this bike and the controls to the ride command is on the back of the handle bar controllers . The 108ci power plus is a different animal. Sir keep riding your Harley 💯
Yes Polaris isn’t a premium brand either. People who want Lamborghini don’t go buy Fiat and say we want premium and unlike Lamborghini Fiat’s price is better. 🤣🤣
@@theinfinitryda that’s not even an accurate comparison 😂😂 you must be a Harley guy Indian makes a premium enough bike to push Harley 🤷🏻♂️😂😂🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
The Road Glide looks better, and in my opinion is a better bike. However, the new Road Glide CVO sis fugly. I keep thinking that it will grow on me, but it hasn’t. Great video as usual.
Sorry but you lost all credibility with your comments regarding excelleration between the challenger & Harley, having ridden both extensively I can say in all honesty the Indian is on a entirely different level power & speed wise.
As much as I love Polaris. I don’t think their ride command system should be on a 30k+ bike. It’s perfect for my ATV but it’s way too outdated for a road vehicle in my opinion.
@@theinfinitryda the only part of that analogy that makes any sense is Harleys being very unreliable compared to Indian. So if that was your point, I agree with you. Otherwise, Indians have better fit and finish, more features, more power, and more performance overall than the equivalent Harley models. If it wasn't for Indian, Harley would still be selling twin cams and the Harley meatriders such as yourself would be slopping them up. Victory was also much more reliable than Harley, and Polaris has only made improvements since then.
I agree that India made a great bike mechanically, but it looks so plastic and cheap (to me). I am trying hard to get past that because it is a better overall bike-dollar for dollar.
I’m on my second Challenger and obviously love them! You only need Sport mode! By the way, other than paint, the Indian is better in every way! There’s no comparison! The Harley is like riding a 2012 motorcycle or log wagon.
Your definitely un educated on the challenger In so many areas short shifting you don't know that toggles are behind the bars. Definitely not the same as an st. I have harley and Indian and victory the best bike ever...
I really like the Indian challenger better than Harley
Is that what you ride?
Me, too. I’ve had Indians since they came out in ‘14 and HD since ‘69. I’ve always had both. Right now I have a ‘21 Challenger Dark Horse that, stock v stock, is faster than any stock HD of that era and most showing up at the dealers as we speak. I got a 23.5 RG CVO (an ‘early 24’) that is just now coming out with features that match my ‘21 Dark Horse like Brembos, inverted forks, remote locking bags but not the locking gas cap which my Indian has. All one button, on the bike or the fob. HD, fob only. My DH has a lot of the electronic rider aids just now showing up in the HDs. Many of the HD non-CVO models don’t have many of these design and engineering features still. The windshield is fine and, I think, a touch gimmicky and I move it very infrequently. The old canard re fit and finish is getting old. “Too much plastic!”, they say. Every single plastic part is exactly the same as HD - bags, fairing inner and outer, and side panels. Actually my Indian tank panel is metal and my already-scratched-up ‘23 RG is very soft plastic. If you want flimsy plastic, check out the bags on the ‘24s. They are scary bendy. Every thing else is a matter of design and appeals to your taste or not. I will give HD the nod on paint variety and design with that tempered by the fact that it will cost you big to get it. IIRC, some CVOs costing six grandish? Whatever, it’s pricey. My DH in smoke bronze paint is bullet proof - not a scratch in 3 yrs. My ‘15 RG in flat denim black had a shiny spot for each scuff and it would scratch fairly easily as will all HD paint. I think they may have changed the clear coat formulation since my ‘23 RG seems to so far resist the inevitable ‘spider web’ scratches so common on every HD I’ve owned.
With regard to looks, the HD fanbois say nice try but it’s not a RG. Others say too close, it’s a knock off. A schizoid community to be sure. If all you know and love is HD, everything is going to look strange and alien (as do all the other non-HD, non-Indian fixed fairing bikes) and if you can’t clear your head when judging, the judgment is worthless. “Not a Harley” isn’t an evaluation, it’s stating the obvious. I have both and I say without reservation my ‘21 DH is more than a match for my ‘23 CVO in all respects. What they look like is simply what they look like. Dave is not Joe, Sally isn’t Sue but Dave and Sally are trying harder and Joe and Sue are sure taking notice. That’s for the better, of course, for us motoheads.
Lastly, if you are a true blue HD acolyte, learn to embrace the suck. The way things are going with HD, it may soon come to pass that Indian will be the sole source of new American V-twin iron as HD goes boutique brand before crashing for lack of customers. Sorry re the length here but half-truths and misconceptions (more by misformation than malintent) are easily uttered but difficult to concisely argue.
Looks and "visible quality" are highly subjective. I'd personally spend my money on something that delivers better performance and features for the money. Indian is where its at. Even their Thunderstroke engine is leagues above the Milwaukee 8 in build/design quality. I've ridden way more Harleys than Indians, and the Indians just feel and perform better. Just my opinion
We all have our opinions and that’s the good thing. We can share them
its faster than the new 23 cvo I rode both! bought the 23 pursuit much better ride and better looking. not to mention the auto locking trunks, auto adjusting rear shock, just a few things! the 23 cvo was nice though but I'm not materialistic so the Harley name didn't matter to me.
You can’t hide your excitement. Apart from brand loyalty, you would choose this bike, all day.
I honestly wouldn’t. I’m not brand loyal to anyone. I really think it feels cheap and it’s ugly to me. I don’t like the front end
@@theinfinitryda you are 100% brand loyal, Little bit plasticky lmao. yes because it is plastic, Your only criticism is plastic. Straight out of the box this bike is far superior to the Road Glide.
Harleys craftmanship is crap honestly speaking
@@lucianospalliera1131 never watched his channel before and I can see the loyalty as well. compare a $30k challenger to a $30k road glide. the RG is cheap/featureless and slow. Now as far as aesthetics, remember people also think G-Wagons are good looking(and it has "nothing" to do with the perceived prestige lol)
@@lucianospalliera1131 I think he’s numb to his own bias! Definitely a brand loyalist and you can hear it the whole review. I ride a metric bike but definitely respect Harley and Indian for sure.
If you gave me a HD. I’d sell it or trade it same day. Challenger is a smooth and powerful machine. HDs are obnoxiously loud and slow, top heavy to where they fight you in turns. Challenger turns easy and doesn’t beat you up on long rides. Over all Indian Challenger is hands down is a better machine
I now own a 2021 Indian Challenger Dark Horse. I did have a 2011 Electra Glide Classic at one time and traded in my 2014 Ultra Limited for the Challenger. I agree with the opinion that HD does feel like more of a premium build. The plastics on the Challenger do feel a bit cheesy in comparison to HD. The power train and suspension is what sold me on the Indian. I also like the idea of a completely water cooled engine. And YES! That adjustable windshield is AWESOME!! Do I miss HD as a brand? YES. Do I appreciate the network of HD dealerships if you need one? YES. I still like the looks of the HD baggers. The lower center of gravity and stability at stops is also what helped me decide and go with the Indian. Time will tell if I made the right decision. I’ve only had the Challenger for a few months. For now, I am still getting used to the layout/muscle memory needed when I switched brands and I do enjoy the ride and felt power.
Ride safe!!
Well said. 👍🏼 let me know how you like it after having it a while.
Your review is just a massive pile of BS that I do believe is paid for by Harley.
Every positive argument is counter balance by negative connotation. Let's start with the Cadillac effect of the suspension. Indian is miles away from Harley ST in terms of driving experience. Indian has a cast aluminum frame vs tubular frame. It's much more rigid which transmits no oscillation and no death wobble. Anyone who has pushed a Harley just a bit knows what death wobble implies with your safety. A bike that absorbs all bumps and stays stable is by definition superior. No like to have his back destroyed by a poor suspension and a bad chassy design. With one single tune, a challenger destroys an ST and still thousands less to purchase. Your comparison with the torque could not be further from the truth. Torque access is equivalent or better.
I own a Harley, and try many of them. I still love the brand, but the challenger is simply a much better, and a more advanced bike. It is safer, cheaper, faster, runs colder. People will still prefer a road glide and it's perfectly fine. But your pseudo assessment of the bike is simply not true.
My review is my opinion. The Indian felt subpar to the quality and finish of the Harley.
Nailed dude and I also ride a harley
@@theinfinitryda You want some cheese with that whine? Harley is the weaker bike. Harley paid you for this?
I agree..there are all so no cheap parts on the indian.The Indian is way better and looks a lot better than the road glide ST in my opinion.
Indian Challenger review, brought to you by Harley Davidson 🤣
Whatever. I could care less either way because I love the scout. This bike is just subpar
I guess we cannot expect an HD Salesman to be truly balanced in comparing HD to Indian. I traded my 21 challenger for the new 24 RG. I wish i had my Challenger back.
The indian has much better engine and suspension than Roadglide.
Harley have better paint but thats just about it. The looks is very subjective.
The milwaukee 8 engine is so bad engineered that an idiot could done better.
No more Harley for me. I wish other Harley owners good luck.
Harleys can last forever but Polaris can’t. They don’t have the aftermarket or parts to keep them going. If something major goes wrong the Indian is done. It’s more of a disposable bike
@@theinfinitryda you sound like a four-year-old trying to defend your precious decaying Harley lol
@@theinfinitryda ok now this is the dumbest thing I have heard ever lol
I guess everyone's different. The things you said are a problem, aren't an issue to me at all. No way would I take a Road Glide over the Challenger. I live around alot of twisty roads, and the Challenger Pursuit handles the curves better than any of the fifteen Harleys I've owned in the past. Everything is obviously a matter of personal opinion.
That’s true. We all have our likes.
OMG - It appeared during your acceleration demonstration that you shifted the bike around 3k. No wonder you weren’t impressed. The Challenger is water cooled with a higher red line. Please, if you ever ride another Indian Challenger, don’t short-shift it and rev the bike up to 5.5 before you change gears. 😂
Will do. I try not to go into high RPMs on bikes that are selling and not mine.
My dad used to drive his manual Cummins pick-up truck, keeping the shifts at like 1500 rpms.
I was on his ass for years because the extra stress that lugging the engine puts on a vehicle.
He said he got better mileage that way. It doesn't damn matter. Run the engine where it's not struggling. Let it run where it wants to.
The new Indians have counter balances within the bike. It’s also a lighter bike than it’s Harley competitor.
Hmmm
I have owed Harley's for years. This year purchased a.Dark Horse Pursuit and I won't go back.I still have my Harley Road glide but Idian ride is Top notch!
The ride quality is good but the overall finish of the bike I wasn’t a fan of. But it’s an amazing riding bike.
Triggers to change screens and modes are on the rear of the controls.
I found that out on the chief
I don’t own neither. Looks wise I like the challenger, and the new CVO. The standard road glide is ugly to me. As for fit and finish I’ve seen both bikes. Yea the Challenger has 3 unpainted pieces or so. Not really a deal breaker for me.
I liked it. To me, it’s probably the best riding bagger. I like Harley more as a brand and love how many shops are near me. I can’t see not having a Harley for a number of reasons but I really like the how the Challenger rides and the features it has.
I can see that. I like how it rides. I feel it doesn’t have many more features than the Harley. The suspension is amazing but the cheap feel I just can’t get over.
lol ... so what you're saying is ...
The Harley is prettier in terms of it's fit and finish.
The Indian is better in terms of function; engine, suspension, windshield, LED lights.
this video came off as HD fanboy.
I have the same year Indian Pursuit Premium. love the bike, despite some things I'd point out for improvement.
to your viewers:
If you're looking for a good starting platform to crush miles ... Indian is the better option.
if you want to look pretty, throw on a plethora of aftermarket parts, go hang out at dealerships and buy T shirts, or just throw out a lot more money ... get a HD.
p.s. there would be no $T if it weren't for the Challenger ...even then, you're going to PAY
way more for comparable performance.
It is not the same acceleration as a 117 RG. I just watched a guy who owns a Harley CVO 128 road glide. He said the Indian is better in every category, acceleration, braking, and suspension. The only thing he liked better about the RG was the looks. So this stock Indian is better than a CVO RG and for a ton less money
I test rode a Challenger and liked it better than my Street Glide ST in everything except aesthetics. The reason I won't buy one is because my nearest Indian dealer is 3 hours away. Their dealer network is lacking.
On my home on a recent 3-day trip I got a 3-inch lag bolt in my tire on Low Rider ST that broke my rim. I was out in the cuts but Harley dealer was only 30 mins away. The Harley dealer gave me a ride home 2 hours away and then delivered my bike to me, washed with a full tank of gas, on a Sunday, when the repair was finished. I'm not going to get that kind of service with any other brand. Plus the Harleys look and sound better.
I'm happy Indian is providing competition though and we as consumers win when manufacturers compete. I hope Indian can expand their dealer network. They should allow any Polaris dealer to sell Indians. Plenty of Polaris dealers around me.
Harley will always be on top
I agree about Polaris carrying Indian motorcycles. It's stupid not to.
I think not indian beat Harley for years before they went out of business, and if you watch Ridge Roamer channel he explains how Indian sales will probably take over HD by 2029
Love my Indian!
It’s not a bad ride.
If the only gripes are the plastic parts and the looks. Then it’s clearly doing something right.
As far as switching between ride modes go, everything on the infotainment screen is accessible through the triggers and buttons on the handlebars. It’s designed that way so you don’t have to take your hands off the handlebars while riding to do what you have to do with it.
As far as performance goes, the Challenger takes the cake all day. Especially if you’re comparing model to model. Better suspension, a more linear power delivery in the low end and a far superior top end due to it being liquid cooled. The Challenger is pumping out 128 ft-lbs of torque and 122 horsepower from the factory with peak torque at 3800 rpm. The RG peak torque is 3250 rpm. So if you ride the Challenger like a Harley, you won’t get that experience and it will seem a little lacking, but with that liquid cooled engine, you have to ring it out closer to the way you would a sport bike. If you want an Indian that responds closer to what you get from Harley you’ll have to go for the Chieftain, Roadmaster or Springfield lines for baggers and the Chief line for cruisers as they are air cooled engines and are torque heavy similar to the Harley Milwaukee 8’s.
Both the Road Glide and the Challenger are great bikes in my opinion and it mostly comes down to personal preference on the aesthetics. However, aesthetics aside, when it comes to the best bang for your buck Indian is going to give you more for your dollar.
And obviously Harley takes the cake on the dealership network, but it’s unrealistic to think that a company that’s been recently revived by Polaris is going to catch up to the number of facilities Harley has built up over the years. If you’re not a brand loyal fanboy and you’re biggest reason for not buying an Indian is the dealer network, then I say to you that Indian can’t expand their network if people don’t buy their products. Dealership facilities aren’t cheap and employees don’t work for free.
If I could afford it I’d have one of each model bike they make from both Harley and Indian as they all provide completely different experiences from each other.
You might take a second look in front of your hand grips you’ll see toggle switches that will control other options. Something that Harley didn’t do until just fairly recently like making cruise control a stock item.
Got it. I saw that after the fact
Even the 2024 Harley is lagging behind . Beyong the GeeWhiz LED infotainment on new Harley the suspension sucks, weight is too high and M8 isn't as reliable.
False
you didnt see all the controls, huh? lol.. Id say you're really stuck on HD.. lol
Yeah to me the Challenger looks way better than Harley's. Now the new CVO street glide looks nice and the CVO Road Glide looks real good from the side but from the front ugh. Fit and fonish is where Indian seems to be addressing in the new 2024 models. Now for power, Indian all day.
To get a harley to perform as well as a chalkenger you have to spend some serious coin. The 117 is not even close and you def gotta spend 2k on upgraded suspension. I can spend 35k on a elite and eliminate a lot of the finish complaints and Id have a suspension that can be adjusted from the screen.
I personally hate the apple vs android mindset in the biker community, 2 wheels is two wheels.
But i will say this Indian and Harley forcing each ither to improve their product is a win for us consumers
It’s definitely a win. Competition is needed to keep advancing these bikes.
If Indian, is such a great bike quit comparing it to Harley. Let the product stand on its own merits. Don't worry if it's any good, it will carve out its own market space. Then you can consider that a "VICTORY" for Indian...
I wonder if that will ever happen.
I used to own 7 Harley my last was a 2022 StreetGlide Special and now I have a Challenger Dark Horse and it is way better than the Harley I used to own and nothing plastic about it objectivity is the key when doing a review so I like the harley i owned although couples of small problem that where handle by the warranty However the Challenger offered more on handling and performance to mentioned only these two
Everyone had their opinion that’s why so many bikes are available.
My guy is doing a compare and contrast video and he doesn’t even try to be impartial. His bias for Harley is huge. I personally don’t have a bike yet but videos like this would be helpful if people would try and put there bias aside and talk about the machine for what it is.
I don’t know how long you’ve been riding but when you’re in fourth at 45mph no one is going to feel snappy torque! I don’t care what manufacturer you ride. Do better man!
I’m not biased at all. I have multiple brands and I am aware of the performance of this bike. To be fair it was my second time riding one and I’ve ridden a bunch of Harley. My initial feeling on the bike went down hill soon as I opened the saddle bags and saw the display. I may not if road it as hard as I could but the finish and quality of the bike alone makes it not a winner for me. There are Indians I like but this ain’t it. The FTR is a killer Indian that I can’t really find a Harley to compare to for that style of riding and I’ll admit that. But the challenger is lacking
IMHO the Challenger is closer to a GoldWing than a HD. When I traded out my HD I was actively looking @ a GoldWing, then I rode the Challenger. I chose the Challenger only because I really didn’t care for DCT on the wing. Both The Challenger and the Wing are light years ahead of HD.
I can see that
😂 your a lie.. st is slow af compared to a stock challenger… 131ci can’t beat a challenger off the line
Ok. If you say so.
@@theinfinitryda I’ve seen it.. plus there’s plenty of videos online look it up
Comfort and rideability creature comforts are important, which one is going to cost the most, which one is high maintenance? These are also qualifying decisions. I like the Road Glide but not if its going to cost me more. Harley doesn't have the competition like automakers do. I don't have either bike but looking at the Indian.
I am honestly looking at both bikes and I’m leaning towards the Indian. I think I’m going to end up on a pursuit.
👍🏼
Thanks for the video.. Im the owner of this beauty now!!
Nice. 👍🏼
Klockwerks windshield but what size? Love the bike man, congrats. Enjoy!
@lawrencemartins4721 11 inch smoke
How much did Harley pay you to say this? 😂
lol. Nothing. I don’t let anyone pay me to say anything. I can’t be bought
@@theinfinitryda so basically you’re just delusional then? Lol
Love those Indian motorcycles❣️
They just keep getting better and better👍
Here we go again. Do you get paid for each one?
See - I think Harley has cheap finishing parts and you get WAY more function and technology out of an Indian for your money in my opinion. And I own and love my Harley, but those Indians will be a huge consideration for me when I upgrade my Harley.
That’s the beauty of competition between brands
Maybe if you can find a dealership to purchase or even look at one.
There’s not many dealers
I'll take an Indian any day over a Harley.
To each his own
@@theinfinitrydayou're absolutely right
I do agree with some of your points. Indian Challenger is a good bike - it's finish needs to improve a bit more. Indian feels like BMW in terms of quality - which has been in steady decline in terms of its fit and finish since 2010. It's nice as new, but if you look at the used Challenger, it doesn't feel solid anymore (as with BMW...its feels clunky...and I've owned a lot of BMWs). As with Harley, it has one of the best fit-and-finish in the industry. Yes, Harley has some mechanical challenges, but its buildmanship is well known for the quality - that i give to Harley.
BUT, in terms of the package which includes performance and usage, Indian nailed it. It covered all the details that riders look for. It's got performance, its got amenities, its got tech (that riders can use!), and its got the looks.
Whether you go with Harley or Indian, my feeling is that you cannot go wrong. Ride what you enjoy the most :D
Agreed
I’ve owned (and still do) several BMWs. My experience has been BMW has been consistently improving their bikes thru the years. No stagnation going on at BMW by any stretch of the imagination.
This videos header was “Isis better than Harley?” Isis, Islamic jihad, Hasbulla, etc. are not competing with Harley Davidson. Are they?🤔
lol. It was an error. 🤣🤣🤣
The Indian is a far better looking bike than the RG. Hands down the RG is dated. The fairing on the RG is atrocious.
Hey we all have our own opinions that’s why their are so many choices.
I had a 2017 Road King. Blowby on the M8 is directed through the air intake and causes carbon build up on the cylinder heads resulting in loss of compression, loss of horsepower, and reduced engine life. It also leaks down the side of the motor and gunks up the air intake system. Other companies direct it back into the engine to be burned off. Engine oil transfers over to the clutch. Engine oil is filtered AFTER the oil cooler. I cite Harley mechanics Kevin Baxter, John Maxwell, and Doc Harley among others I can't remember. M8 is a poorly designed pushrod motor with lack luster horsepower. Indian Powerplus is a liquid cooled, double overhead cam motor with more horsepower than Harley. Indian has inverted front forks for performance. In the rear is a mono-shock fox suspension. How much does the HD owner have to pay to get that? How many thousands does a HD owner have to pay to fix that engine? How many thousands does a HD owner have to pay to get accessories that are standard on the Challenger? HD is premium in name only.
The Indian is built cheap. How many do you see on the road with 100k miles or even 60k? It’s rare
I've been posting this on many sites and getting very little response, so thank you for getting back to me. I've ridden the RG and loved it. Tried to buy one and was treated horribly by the largest HD dealer in Colorado. They reneged on an accepted offer. Ended up buying a Kawasaki Concours which blows away both Indian and Harley. I've never ridden a Challenger but that engine is something that HD is going to struggle to compete against for years to come. The M8 is just lame. Again, see Kevin Baxter. If I go back to cruiser baggers it will probably be the Indian for the engine, suspension, balance, HP, torque, handling, cornering, electric windscreen and based upon all the comparison videos that extoll the virtues of the Challenger over the RG. The 2024 HG is a perfect example of HD playing catch up. Pitiful. @@theinfinitryda
Road glides just look goofy. They look like the robot from Futurama. I just can't get past it.the challenger has a better looking face.
That’s why looks are subjective. I feel the opposite
I was considering one but now their prices are the same as Harley.
That’s a no go. You’re better off grabbing a Harley-Davidson at that point.
Mate, that's a higher revving, liquid cooled engine. 40-50 mp/h : put it in second and twist the throttle....it generates power higher up the rev range than an air cooled bike. 😂
I know it does
I think it's cool
Why Harley copy this bike and the controls to the ride command is on the back of the handle bar controllers . The 108ci power plus is a different animal. Sir keep riding your Harley 💯
Did you say Harley copied Indian? Look at the history sir.
Looks are subjective and Harley is still in the Stone Age compared to Indian. Indian is superior .
I disagree
@@theinfinitryda Ok
We as consumers would love to have premium bike you can afford unlike your Harley the Indian price is better for what you get all around
Yes Polaris isn’t a premium brand either. People who want Lamborghini don’t go buy Fiat and say we want premium and unlike Lamborghini Fiat’s price is better. 🤣🤣
@@theinfinitryda that’s not even an accurate comparison 😂😂 you must be a Harley guy Indian makes a premium enough bike to push Harley 🤷🏻♂️😂😂🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
The Road Glide looks better, and in my opinion is a better bike. However, the new Road Glide CVO sis fugly. I keep thinking that it will grow on me, but it hasn’t. Great video as usual.
It’s grown on me. I like it now.
Sorry but you lost all credibility with your comments regarding excelleration between the challenger & Harley, having ridden both extensively I can say in all honesty the Indian is on a entirely different level power & speed wise.
Well I haven’t had as much time with the Polaris
As much as I love Polaris. I don’t think their ride command system should be on a 30k+ bike. It’s perfect for my ATV but it’s way too outdated for a road vehicle in my opinion.
The Indian lacks in my opinion
It is MUCH better than the harley. The finish on a harley is NEVER is good as an Indian. Not sure where you got that idea from.
🤣🤣🤣
How much more would these depreciate than a Harley Road glide or street glide
A lot. Lol
@@theinfinitryda Nope
Comment section not what you were expecting? Lol
Harley’s are plastic in the same places you complained about! And more expensive for those same plastic parts!
But Harley does feel cheap
This video is full of meatriding nonsense. "Some people prefer a bad suspension" followed by "you can upgrade a harley to be this good"
It’s not a bad bike it’s just ugly and has a cheap feel. It’s like the Harley is a Lamborghini and this is a ford focus st.
@@theinfinitryda the only part of that analogy that makes any sense is Harleys being very unreliable compared to Indian. So if that was your point, I agree with you. Otherwise, Indians have better fit and finish, more features, more power, and more performance overall than the equivalent Harley models. If it wasn't for Indian, Harley would still be selling twin cams and the Harley meatriders such as yourself would be slopping them up. Victory was also much more reliable than Harley, and Polaris has only made improvements since then.
Bro! Bias review
No way. I’m not bias at all. I ride what I like and say what I feel
I agree that India made a great bike mechanically, but it looks so plastic and cheap (to me). I am trying hard to get past that because it is a better overall bike-dollar for dollar.
I wish it had a better design
Charlotte NC stand up!!!
👍🏼
Good video… 👍🏽
I’m on my second Challenger and obviously love them! You only need Sport mode! By the way, other than paint, the Indian is better in every way! There’s no comparison! The Harley is like riding a 2012 motorcycle or log wagon.
Not anymore they aren’t. And I wasn’t a fan of the screen either. It feels cheap.
He also doesn’t know what he’s talking about the challenger and the 131 Harley are equivalent in the acceleration not the 117 st 😂😂😂
Well sorry I’m not well versed in Polaris. 😬
@@theinfinitryda then maybe do research before misrepresenting things it what’s your supposed to do to have a credible channel
Your definitely un educated on the challenger In so many areas short shifting you don't know that toggles are behind the bars. Definitely not the same as an st. I have harley and Indian and victory the best bike ever...
Well I’m not a big fan of Indian touring bikes
Better than Harley? NO!😂
🤣🤣👍🏼
Bro stating facts the Harley still looks better❤
Facts
And it has a Harley emblem on it. lol
I think the comments contra any criticism you have of the Indian, you want this on a harley , you can change this and that 😅at what cost ?? 😂
Can you elaborate
Harley is all plastic too.
Not exactly