I have ridden and loved Harleys for 25 years. The last one was Road King classic and I really liked it. This year I was very torn between Road King and Springfield. I liked them both and on paper the Springfield looks better in every way. What finally decided was the excellent attitude of the people at the Indian dealership versus the Harley dealership and I also got a much better deal compared to a poor deal offered to me at Harley - in fact I got a new Springfield 2020 that was on display + a series of extras as a gift that if I had bought a Harley - I would have had to pay for them separately. I am really happy with the bike. It feels much lighter and more flexible than the Harley. Very comfortable on long rides and also in crowded urban riding conditions. I don't think I'll be going back to the Road King, i am in love!
I bought a 2019 Springfield and it is the best ride I have ever had, I still own my HD 03'Heritage but until HD can up it's game and stop creating bikes with the built in breakdowns (Stator in the hottest part of the engine or the ridiculous tensioner system and about 10 other problem children) Indian is going to take a big chunk of HD business. All the extras Indian gives you in the price opposed to HD thinking they can continue to live off the name is going to kick HD in the nads. And when HD fan boys start with the "Oh, It's really a Polaris" I say "Oh, your harley is really an AMF" . Go with Indian you will not be sorry
I have a springfield, It has a different riding feel than a harley but I think it's due to the low center of gravity. Going from a Harley to an Indian I've noticed the difference in the ride and it has been something I've had to get use to. All in all though It's worth it in my opinion.
I just bout a 2023 Springfield Dark Horse, and absolutely love it. My second Indian, the first being a 2019 Scout Bobber Icon that I had so much into that people would walk right past my good friend's Softail to compliment mine. The thing with Indian is the fact that Polaris owns it. Polaris makes incredibly reliable machines. Both of these are coming after a Yamaha R1 and an FZR 600 before that. Really wish I'd started out on the cruisers, there'd be a lot less aches and pains these days for sure.
Fair assessments. Beyond specs, the lower weight distribution on the Springfield is a significant upgrade from the HD. And the maintenance schedule doesn’t include separate transmission fluid changes. (It uses 5.5 quarts of semi synthetic oil for both). This is the best bike I’ve owned. Not a knock on Harley or others. But this bike is a great bike as a modern but classic looking cruiser/touring bike!
I've got a 2019 Springfield myself. I absolutely love it. Only things I'm not a fan of are the seat, and the stock windshield (it tends to buffet my helmet quite a bit). I've ridden 200+ miles on a single tank with this, granted due to the seat my back and ass were a bit sore. But I do plan on getting a more comfortable seat in the near future.
Is it comfortable in bumper to bumper traffic and on narrow short pothole filled roads?In countries like india will this bike be easy to drive? Because it weighs 370 kg or more.
@Orion Doublecrossed it is a big bike, 850 lbs. But it is not for stop and go commuter traffic. But for a big cruiser it is pretty nimble and handles well. I'm only 5'6", but the bike works for me.
@@RogueCheddar Oh I see. I wish Indian make a lighter version of these bikes soon for bumper to bumper traffic. It will be great for other countries too which doesnt have wide roads.
Harley should have never gotten rid of the classic for the special which looks like crap imo.I've owned 3 road kings,and think its the best all around bike Harley makes.The Springfield is better looking hands down imo.Haven't ridden one yet,but when I do,if I like it,I'll sell my street glide special and buy one.
I own a 2019 SDH and it is the best most reliable motorcycle I ever owned, I got rid of my headache Harleys all except my 03"Heritage classic (Sentimental). I would never advise someone to by a Harley for many reasons (Over priced, built to fail and lots of shop time, don't argue that point with me you will lose) Indian is a far superior product and in most cases cheaper with a ton of extras Harley tries to upsell you on. With Indian it is time to ride not be stuck on the side of the road or in the shop
That Indian Springfield at 7:08 is gorgeous. Bright shiny blue and silver paint, tons of chrome, and NO FLAT BLACK. Looks like a proper cruiser motorcycle should. This ridiculous blacked out fad needs to end, and it needs to end yesterday. The whole scam came about because of an increase in the price of chrome because of a shortage, and a crazy marketing campaign by motorcycle manufactures that somehow manage to convinced a huge number of motorcyclists they flat black was the latest greatest thing, and they jumped on the manufactured bandwagon, thinking they were so cool. The jokes on you idiots.
I've wondered what's cheaper to manufacture, the chrome or the black, because they charge more for blacked-out paint themes. If it's cheaper for them to paint it black, that's a sweet deal for the manufacturer. Make a bike for less money AND charge more for it because it's "blacked out".
I've ridden the Springfield and ran through some drills with it. I own a police Road King and I have to say the Road King stands way above the Springfield in a rodeo because of the smaller front wheel and the 64 inch wheel base of the Harley. You can carve better corners and have razor sharp wheel placement in a cone course and come out with faster times. However, if you're not doing cone courses and drills, the Springfield is a very practical and capable bike on the highway with the larger displacement, a very comfortable seat and a decent suspension. I do like the small extras that Indian throws in as standard. I could see myself on one for those long rides
I own a 2017 Springfield which I have used for transcontinental touring. Its a great bike. But I have also ridden a family member's Road King and we both agree the bikes are very very different to ride. The Road King with its much more nimble handling lower rake and loud pipes felt like a hot rod. My family member thought the Springfield was a handful in comparison. I love both bikes. And I can do sometimes ride the Springfield really hard on narrow mountain roads which it handles really well. Overall the Springfield feels allot more polished its better put together and if well serviced with the right tyres has extremely good touring and riding stability over poor roads and terrible weather. We are all different. I think you really need to ride both to see what you really like to ride. For me its all about the ride. The features and extras mean very little. cheers
I own a 16. Bought brand new. 65k miles. The thunder stroke 111 is an excellent power plant. Only gripe is electronics. Went thru 2 wheel speed sensors, headlight wiring, gear sensor, and now I have to swap out the wiring harness because of the loss of abs Speedo and a few other things. With these issues the bike never quit running. She's never let me down. But I will be trading after I get her fixed.
You forgot the most important reason of all. There are harley dealerships everywhere. Buddy of mine had an indian, he had a problem with it and the nearest store was over 600 miles away. When im going down the interstate, I always see HD dealership signs way up in the air. When your touring its always nice to see that.
I regularly ride my 2021 Springfield on tight and windy NZ roads after having been a Ducati rider for many years. Apart from the obvious limited cornering clearance and the couple of weeks it took to get used to a longer wheel base and much greater weight, I would say that the handling is superb and without fault. My only issue with the Indian is the high replacement cost of the bits that are getting ground off 😅.
Harley and Indian are both grey in their own right. It just depends on the rider. To the one comment I seen was about the timeline of the companies. Yeah, Harley was a couple years later(1903), but Indian has went out of business several times. I think Polaris buying the name is good. They build a good product. I have ridden several models and still prefer my Road Glide.
I didn't really experience this, but the Springfield has a lot more suspension travel in the back than the Road King does, so I'm guessing it does better. There's an updated video here: ua-cam.com/video/3KqNEOTO8YY/v-deo.html
I own a 19 SFDH and a 20 FLHTK. The Harley fit, finish and quality are better overall. I think you are 100% on the money about the wheel base affecting slow speed stability. It is a great bike. I like the ride modes, tpms, rear suspension is better than the the RK, and the T111 is a great motor. Runs a little hot but in a similar degree to the Harley. My biggest pet peeve is Indian pricing on parts and accessories. I have sticker shock coming out of the Indian dealer. HD is hundred dollar, IND is 200 dollar... it is crazy. Little to no aftermarket support. Still a great bike!
Couple of comments.. yeah, that's a real good lookin' bike. I would agree, as a Harley Heritage owner... the Indian is better looking than the Road King ... as to you're wondering, why you don't see more Indian Springfields on the road.. good question. For me, living in Northwest Louisiana. One trip to the local Harley Dealership, and then take a trip to the local, Suzuki/kawasaki/Indian Dealership... the choice for a Harley would be an easy decision.
I definitely prefer the Springfield. When you remove the saddlebags (which come off easily), you get a very classic and spectacular bike along with a solo seat.
I have a Springfield Darkhorse and I barely ever see other ones. But these days I barely see Road Kings as well. It's all Road Glides and Challengers around me. I guess fixed fairing bikes are the shit. I like mine simpler.
Sales statistics tell a story . Overall you always see far more H.D. than Indian bikes wherever you are. I guess Looking at things from the olde classic perspective, Indian takes the cake in my book. Ihapen to have a 2014 Vintage.
I've got a 22 Springfield dark horse, road a road king, don't like the shorter wheel base at all, which I'm a big dude, always felt like I was sitting on top of the gas tank on every Harley I've ridden
I can definitely see how the Indians are more comfortable for big/tall riders. I'm short, so the Harleys feel a little more comfortable, but not enough to matter to me.
As one who is interested in one of these or a similar bike, I mainly just care about reliability and technical support from the dealer and factory. These are things that can become known only after years and years of ownership, not a ten minute test ride. Can I still get parts for the bike ten years after the purchase? 20 years? Or is their corporate culture such that I am considered to be their best friend right before the purchase, and then just a liability right afterward? Will they make excuses and tell be bullshit when their overly-sophisticated electrical systems start going wonky, as they surely will? Or will they gladly and promptly see to the proper solutions, over and over? None of these things can be examined in a test ride, nor does anyone's impression of the bike matter at all, whatsoever, to me.
I think this is a great comparison. The only thing I wish you covered was the suspension. I’m not too familiar with the Springfield rear suspension but from my understanding it uses air shocks that should be checked before every ride. The Road King uses hand adjustable rear shocks. This wasn’t a deciding factor when I purchased my Road King but I thought it was important to note. Like others when I was deciding between Indian and Harley I wanted an Indian Chief Vintage which was unfortunately discontinued. I was able to get a brand new Road King police which is basically a road king standard with the 114 and it was cheaper than the Springfield. That’s was ultimately the deciding factor for my purchase
The one negative thing I've got to say about Indian motorcycles is that nearly all their models have kickstands that I can't reach, where I can reach all of the kickstands on all Harleys. .. and no, not gonna pay extra just to buy a reduced-reach kickstand accessory.
Interesting. I have a short inseam as well, and had the same trouble with both Harleys and Indians when it came to the kickstand, so took that out of the equation. But it may be slightly worse on the Indian.
Just for the record…the Road King Classic also has a key fob. I have ridden both and considered both options. I went with the Road King due to the dealer network and the fact that Polaris sold out Victory for the Indian brand and many Victory riders were very loyal to the brand. In my unqualified opinion Polaris has many different interests and could be just as fickle with Indian. Harley has motorcycles…they make the motorcycle business work or die trying.
My helmet cam does a terrible job of recording while riding, only picks up the wind. And I have a bad habit of forgetting to record the bike running before I head out on the road. Hope to upgrade my camera soon. Thanks for the input.
I have a 2019 RK. I have ridden the Springfield. The Harley handles better at parking lot speeds. You should ride a RK and feel why you are maybe not comfortable with the Indians handling. Also the RK 107 is peppier than the lazy acceleration of the Indian.
I do not like the Indian front fender... I am also not a fan of the electronic saddlebag locking setup. The Indian saddlebags are not nearly as strong and tight as the HD bags. The HD bags do not rattle and are the best design on the market in my opinion. Again, I need more info on the Indian engine. We all know of the M8 issues.
I thought most of the M8 issues were resolved in 2020 and up - from the little bit of research I've done, that appears to be the same for the Thunderstroke engine. There were some issues up through 2019, but seem to have been resolved since.
@@cruisinwithphil M8 touring engines still suffer from sumping... one fix is to install a shorter sump plug in the case. this engine runs too hot. without aftermarket prevention methods, people are experiencing destroyed engines because of the excessive heat. blowby is a big problem with the M8 because of poor crank case ventilation. oil is entering combustion chamber and coating the piston tops with carbon leading to detonation. lifters are inferior and have poor reliability. oil pump backing plate has a poor leak down percentage. HD increased the allowable percentage without fixing the problem. oil consumption is excessive. piston oil rings are inferior. I could go on and on. now, mind you, I own a Street Glide. and, yes, I have been the victim of the M8 engine. time will tell if HD finally got the oil pump right after I think 8-9 redesigns.
@@timohansson3674 HD has many pluses and minuses... fit and finish and looks are their top pros. the M8 engine works great when working properly. I now own the 107 and decided against the 114. engine displacements are getting way too big for my liking. big cubic inches comes bigger problems. my 107 so far runs great and has PLENTY of power. I have added a few aftermarket prevention mods for now and will be adding a couple more here soon. I should not have to pay additional money to improve the chances that my engine will survive. I have a private sector 5 year extended warranty that far exceeds anything HD offers. if this engine fails, it will be my last HD for sure. fingers crossed : - )
@@richardrussell500 it won’t. The M8 is a fine power plant. Never mind the anecdotal stories you read on forums. Look at all the high mileage M8 touring units on cycletrader.
In comparison, I would rather have The Indian Springfield I think it is much better built and reliability. Harley I do NOT like them anymore reason I have a 2004 ULTRA CLASSIC with SCREEMING EAGLE STAGE IV ---HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY and SERVICE is just NOT dependable and it feels like they’re trying to RIPPED ME OFF . I do not recommend HARLEY DAVIDSON
Always remember when you buy Harley you buy an American icon and you have to live up to it , it does not have to satisfy you. And Harley dealers know this. It translates like this , are you good enough to own a Harley , are you willing to pay homage and be part of a heritage , wear the apparel , talk the talk, make it as loud as possible attracting the attention the Harley culture demands. If not buy an Indian like I did.
Indian isn’t even a company. It doesn’t exist. It’s just a line of Polaris products, essentially. There’s no direct lineage to the former company at all. They’ve blatantly ripped off every H-D model. These new Polaris Indian models have only been around what 10-12 years(?) Compared to H-D. Motorcycles are already a small niche market. That’s why you don’t see too many. If you want aftermarket, H-D is the way to go. Not trying to hate, just stating facts.
Yes, HD has been the consistent face of cruisers for 120 years. (They've had some rough patches as well - cough, cough, AMS...) Yes, Indian was non-existent in the past while Harley stayed in business. But it's tough to argue with the results they are getting now. They are building bikes that surpass Harley in power and features, and in my opinion, look a lot cooler than Harleys. The aftermarket options for Indian have been growing steadily. Still plenty of room for growth in comparison to the Harley, but they've come a long way in 10 years. Harley has had decades to build their fanbase and aftermarket base. You want Indian to match that in 10 years? Indian certainly has based their touring bikes off of the Harleys, that's obvious to see, but the Scout lineup is very unique and not a ripoff of anyone.
@@cruisinwithphil don't even waste your time answering fanboys remarks. No matter what Indian does he's going to like Harley better. you have to laugh at the comment they blatantly rip off every H-D model. Indians has two wheels and a frame. Oh no, they stole that from Harley. Also The FTR and scouts are just like every other Harley. Lastly, Lamborghini is not a company it's just a line product of Volkswagen 😂 not hating just stating facts
@@whitebeltchamp1 wrong, Indian fanboy. Lambo is a wholly owned subsidiary of VW. Two separate entities. Lambos have been built by the same people in the same plant for decades. Indian motorcycles may have some superior attributes over H-D and I’m sure they’re fine machines, but that doesn’t change the fact that its just a recycled brand name. And I never said H-D was better. I was simply explaining the reasons you see more of them. Sorry i hurt your feelings, champ.
@@iuyozx I am not a fan boy I enjoy both Harley Davidson, and Indian. Both companies make amazing American motorcycles. I could care less about lineage. I only care about who makes the better American motorcycle. I just find your remarks "they blatantly rip off every H-D model", ignorant. Also if Polaris or any company buys a brand name, then their the brand name. You didn't like the Volkswagen/Lambo comment? Should I have used Cadillac/GM? Or Lincoln/Ford? Or how about Pepsi/Frito-Lay? No need for apologies, my feelings wasn't hurt. But thank you for your reply.
Nice Polaris at least a harley is a harley Indian motos are just Polaris with an Indian name tag Harleys been doing it longer Indian is just trying to copy harley and putting Polaris tech in it its crap
Oh, go wine to your Hardley stupid buddies. You can thank Harley for building crap that’s why the Japanese started building the Vtwins because people wanted a Reliable V-twins. Last time I checked, it says Indian on the title.
I have ridden and loved Harleys for 25 years. The last one was Road King classic and I really liked it. This year I was very torn between Road King and Springfield. I liked them both and on paper the Springfield looks better in every way. What finally decided was the excellent attitude of the people at the Indian dealership versus the Harley dealership and I also got a much better deal compared to a poor deal offered to me at Harley - in fact I got a new Springfield 2020 that was on display + a series of extras as a gift that if I had bought a Harley - I would have had to pay for them separately.
I am really happy with the bike. It feels much lighter and more flexible than the Harley. Very comfortable on long rides and also in crowded urban riding conditions. I don't think I'll be going back to the Road King, i am in love!
Thanks for the input!
I bought a 2019 Springfield and it is the best ride I have ever had, I still own my HD 03'Heritage but until HD can up it's game and stop creating bikes with the built in breakdowns (Stator in the hottest part of the engine or the ridiculous tensioner system and about 10 other problem children) Indian is going to take a big chunk of HD business. All the extras Indian gives you in the price opposed to HD thinking they can continue to live off the name is going to kick HD in the nads. And when HD fan boys start with the "Oh, It's really a Polaris" I say "Oh, your harley is really an AMF" . Go with Indian you will not be sorry
Love those Indian motorcycles!
They just keep getting better and better 👍
Check out my video on the 2024 lineup! (If you haven't already.)
A longer wheelbase is better for highway speeds which is what a bagger is for
I have a springfield, It has a different riding feel than a harley but I think it's due to the low center of gravity. Going from a Harley to an Indian I've noticed the difference in the ride and it has been something I've had to get use to. All in all though It's worth it in my opinion.
Cool!
I just bout a 2023 Springfield Dark Horse, and absolutely love it. My second Indian, the first being a 2019 Scout Bobber Icon that I had so much into that people would walk right past my good friend's Softail to compliment mine. The thing with Indian is the fact that Polaris owns it. Polaris makes incredibly reliable machines.
Both of these are coming after a Yamaha R1 and an FZR 600 before that. Really wish I'd started out on the cruisers, there'd be a lot less aches and pains these days for sure.
Good stuff!
Fair assessments. Beyond specs, the lower weight distribution on the Springfield is a significant upgrade from the HD. And the maintenance schedule doesn’t include separate transmission fluid changes. (It uses 5.5 quarts of semi synthetic oil for both). This is the best bike I’ve owned. Not a knock on Harley or others. But this bike is a great bike as a modern but classic looking cruiser/touring bike!
Yup!
I've got a 2019 Springfield myself. I absolutely love it. Only things I'm not a fan of are the seat, and the stock windshield (it tends to buffet my helmet quite a bit). I've ridden 200+ miles on a single tank with this, granted due to the seat my back and ass were a bit sore. But I do plan on getting a more comfortable seat in the near future.
Cool!
My stunning 2019 Indian Springfield in steel gray and burgundy metallic, and I concur, Indian Springfield, Cruiser Heaven, all day, every day!
Is it comfortable in bumper to bumper traffic and on narrow short pothole filled roads?In countries like india will this bike be easy to drive? Because it weighs 370 kg or more.
@Orion Doublecrossed it is a big bike, 850 lbs. But it is not for stop and go commuter traffic. But for a big cruiser it is pretty nimble and handles well. I'm only 5'6", but the bike works for me.
@@RogueCheddar Oh I see. I wish Indian make a lighter version of these bikes soon for bumper to bumper traffic. It will be great for other countries too which doesnt have wide roads.
@@oriondoublecrossed An Indian Scout or FTR would be great for commuting in heavy traffic, nimble scoots for the commuter hooligan.
Harley should have never gotten rid of the classic for the special which looks like crap imo.I've owned 3 road kings,and think its the best all around bike Harley makes.The Springfield is better looking hands down imo.Haven't ridden one yet,but when I do,if I like it,I'll sell my street glide special and buy one.
Me personally I think the RK is a better ride than the Springfield, now that I've ridden both. Springfield looks cool, but doesn't have that "feel".
@@cruisinwithphil
I'll know immediately if the RK is a better ride.Thanks👍
I own a 2019 SDH and it is the best most reliable motorcycle I ever owned, I got rid of my headache Harleys all except my 03"Heritage classic (Sentimental). I would never advise someone to by a Harley for many reasons (Over priced, built to fail and lots of shop time, don't argue that point with me you will lose) Indian is a far superior product and in most cases cheaper with a ton of extras Harley tries to upsell you on. With Indian it is time to ride not be stuck on the side of the road or in the shop
I got the Springfield 111, and I love it.
I have a 2016 Springfield and love it.I looked at and even road the road glides they were hard to find the foot controls.
That Indian Springfield at 7:08 is gorgeous. Bright shiny blue and silver paint, tons of chrome, and NO FLAT BLACK. Looks like a proper cruiser motorcycle should. This ridiculous blacked out fad needs to end, and it needs to end yesterday. The whole scam came about because of an increase in the price of chrome because of a shortage, and a crazy marketing campaign by motorcycle manufactures that somehow manage to convinced a huge number of motorcyclists they flat black was the latest greatest thing, and they jumped on the manufactured bandwagon, thinking they were so cool. The jokes on you idiots.
I've wondered what's cheaper to manufacture, the chrome or the black, because they charge more for blacked-out paint themes. If it's cheaper for them to paint it black, that's a sweet deal for the manufacturer. Make a bike for less money AND charge more for it because it's "blacked out".
Agreed, I miss chrome
I've ridden the Springfield and ran through some drills with it. I own a police Road King and I have to say the Road King stands way above the Springfield in a rodeo because of the smaller front wheel and the 64 inch wheel base of the Harley. You can carve better corners and have razor sharp wheel placement in a cone course and come out with faster times. However, if you're not doing cone courses and drills, the Springfield is a very practical and capable bike on the highway with the larger displacement, a very comfortable seat and a decent suspension. I do like the small extras that Indian throws in as standard. I could see myself on one for those long rides
I’ve always love the Indian Springfield
I own a 2017 Springfield which I have used for transcontinental touring. Its a great bike. But I have also ridden a family member's Road King and we both agree the bikes are very very different to ride. The Road King with its much more nimble handling lower rake and loud pipes felt like a hot rod. My family member thought the Springfield was a handful in comparison. I love both bikes. And I can do sometimes ride the Springfield really hard on narrow mountain roads which it handles really well. Overall the Springfield feels allot more polished its better put together and if well serviced with the right tyres has extremely good touring and riding stability over poor roads and terrible weather. We are all different. I think you really need to ride both to see what you really like to ride. For me its all about the ride. The features and extras mean very little. cheers
Thanks for the input. I recently got a chance to ride a road king, and you're right, they are very different. Thanks for commenting!
I own a 16. Bought brand new. 65k miles. The thunder stroke 111 is an excellent power plant. Only gripe is electronics. Went thru 2 wheel speed sensors, headlight wiring, gear sensor, and now I have to swap out the wiring harness because of the loss of abs Speedo and a few other things. With these issues the bike never quit running. She's never let me down. But I will be trading after I get her fixed.
All those electronics issues would make me think twice, maybe (hopefully) they resolved that since.
The indian is more user friendly for tall people, more legroom and better ergonomics than Harley.
Totally agree.
You forgot the most important reason of all. There are harley dealerships everywhere. Buddy of mine had an indian, he had a problem with it and the nearest store was over 600 miles away. When im going down the interstate, I always see HD dealership signs way up in the air. When your touring its always nice to see that.
Definitely a consideration.
Absolutely agree. As often as HD has breakdowns you need those repair shops every 100 miles.
@@chiefjoseph8154LOL
Or maybe it's because Harley breaks down more often, but Indiana doesn't and doesn't need spare parts every 100 miles 😂
I regularly ride my 2021 Springfield on tight and windy NZ roads after having been a Ducati rider for many years. Apart from the obvious limited cornering clearance and the couple of weeks it took to get used to a longer wheel base and much greater weight, I would say that the handling is superb and without fault. My only issue with the Indian is the high replacement cost of the bits that are getting ground off 😅.
Harley and Indian are both grey in their own right. It just depends on the rider. To the one comment I seen was about the timeline of the companies. Yeah, Harley was a couple years later(1903), but Indian has went out of business several times. I think Polaris buying the name is good. They build a good product. I have ridden several models and still prefer my Road Glide.
as harley did too.
HI @cruisinwithphil Phil. How do you compare their performance & comfort level on bumpy roads or running on potholes?
I didn't really experience this, but the Springfield has a lot more suspension travel in the back than the Road King does, so I'm guessing it does better. There's an updated video here: ua-cam.com/video/3KqNEOTO8YY/v-deo.html
I’ll take the Road King classic!
I do own an Indian and love the RK. It’s kinda hard to find one major advantage over the other. I’ve ridden both and to me it’s really preference.
I'm learning that as well. There's not a right or wrong between Indian and Harley, despite what some say.
I own a 19 SFDH and a 20 FLHTK. The Harley fit, finish and quality are better overall. I think you are 100% on the money about the wheel base affecting slow speed stability. It is a great bike. I like the ride modes, tpms, rear suspension is better than the the RK, and the T111 is a great motor. Runs a little hot but in a similar degree to the Harley. My biggest pet peeve is Indian pricing on parts and accessories. I have sticker shock coming out of the Indian dealer. HD is hundred dollar, IND is 200 dollar... it is crazy. Little to no aftermarket support. Still a great bike!
Lots of good insights.
Couple of comments.. yeah, that's a real good lookin' bike. I would agree, as a Harley Heritage owner... the Indian is better looking than the Road King ... as to you're wondering, why you don't see more Indian Springfields on the road.. good question. For me, living in Northwest Louisiana. One trip to the local Harley Dealership, and then take a trip to the local, Suzuki/kawasaki/Indian Dealership... the choice for a Harley would be an easy decision.
I definitely prefer the Springfield. When you remove the saddlebags (which come off easily), you get a very classic and spectacular bike along with a solo seat.
Nice video keep up the good work Phil
Thanks
My road king and dads came with keyless
I have a Springfield Darkhorse and I barely ever see other ones. But these days I barely see Road Kings as well. It's all Road Glides and Challengers around me. I guess fixed fairing bikes are the shit. I like mine simpler.
The Springfield DH is a great looking bike!
Sales statistics tell a story . Overall you always see far more H.D. than Indian bikes wherever you are. I guess Looking at things from the olde classic perspective, Indian takes the cake in my book. Ihapen to have a 2014 Vintage.
I've got a 22 Springfield dark horse, road a road king, don't like the shorter wheel base at all, which I'm a big dude, always felt like I was sitting on top of the gas tank on every Harley I've ridden
I can definitely see how the Indians are more comfortable for big/tall riders. I'm short, so the Harleys feel a little more comfortable, but not enough to matter to me.
@@cruisinwithphil no hate on Harleys, I also got a lifetime power train warranty and 3 year bumper to bumper, major selling point
As one who is interested in one of these or a similar bike, I mainly just care about reliability and technical support from the dealer and factory. These are things that can become known only after years and years of ownership, not a ten minute test ride. Can I still get parts for the bike ten years after the purchase? 20 years? Or is their corporate culture such that I am considered to be their best friend right before the purchase, and then just a liability right afterward? Will they make excuses and tell be bullshit when their overly-sophisticated electrical systems start going wonky, as they surely will? Or will they gladly and promptly see to the proper solutions, over and over? None of these things can be examined in a test ride, nor does anyone's impression of the bike matter at all, whatsoever, to me.
I think this is a great comparison. The only thing I wish you covered was the suspension. I’m not too familiar with the Springfield rear suspension but from my understanding it uses air shocks that should be checked before every ride. The Road King uses hand adjustable rear shocks. This wasn’t a deciding factor when I purchased my Road King but I thought it was important to note. Like others when I was deciding between Indian and Harley I wanted an Indian Chief Vintage which was unfortunately discontinued. I was able to get a brand new Road King police which is basically a road king standard with the 114 and it was cheaper than the Springfield. That’s was ultimately the deciding factor for my purchase
The one negative thing I've got to say about Indian motorcycles is that nearly all their models have kickstands that I can't reach, where I can reach all of the kickstands on all Harleys.
.. and no, not gonna pay extra just to buy a reduced-reach kickstand accessory.
Interesting. I have a short inseam as well, and had the same trouble with both Harleys and Indians when it came to the kickstand, so took that out of the equation. But it may be slightly worse on the Indian.
@@cruisinwithphil I had a Scout for a while. I could reach that one. It was a great bike but not suitable for longer distance rides (small gas tank).
@@debborich Agreed
Just for the record…the Road King Classic also has a key fob. I have ridden both and considered both options. I went with the Road King due to the dealer network and the fact that Polaris sold out Victory for the Indian brand and many Victory riders were very loyal to the brand. In my unqualified opinion Polaris has many different interests and could be just as fickle with Indian. Harley has motorcycles…they make the motorcycle business work or die trying.
That is a good point. Polaris is protected because they are diversified. Indian, on the other hand...
Better by far to cut the music soundtrack and go instead with the music of that engine
My helmet cam does a terrible job of recording while riding, only picks up the wind. And I have a bad habit of forgetting to record the bike running before I head out on the road. Hope to upgrade my camera soon. Thanks for the input.
I have a 2019 RK. I have ridden the Springfield.
The Harley handles better at parking lot speeds. You should ride a RK and feel why you are maybe not comfortable with the Indians handling. Also the RK 107 is peppier than the lazy acceleration of the Indian.
I really want to own ...sont have enough 😢 money to buy my dream bike the springfield
Doing all the 2024 lineup videos I've been doing, I have 3 or 4 bikes I want to buy, definitely don't have the money for that...
I just got a Springfield dark horse. 3000 off and extras. Have been wanting one for a long time.
I do not like the Indian front fender... I am also not a fan of the electronic saddlebag locking setup. The Indian saddlebags are not nearly as strong and tight as the HD bags. The HD bags do not rattle and are the best design on the market in my opinion. Again, I need more info on the Indian engine. We all know of the M8 issues.
I thought most of the M8 issues were resolved in 2020 and up - from the little bit of research I've done, that appears to be the same for the Thunderstroke engine. There were some issues up through 2019, but seem to have been resolved since.
@@cruisinwithphil M8 touring engines still suffer from sumping... one fix is to install a shorter sump plug in the case. this engine runs too hot. without aftermarket prevention methods, people are experiencing destroyed engines because of the excessive heat. blowby is a big problem with the M8 because of poor crank case ventilation. oil is entering combustion chamber and coating the piston tops with carbon leading to detonation. lifters are inferior and have poor reliability. oil pump backing plate has a poor leak down percentage. HD increased the allowable percentage without fixing the problem. oil consumption is excessive. piston oil rings are inferior. I could go on and on. now, mind you, I own a Street Glide. and, yes, I have been the victim of the M8 engine. time will tell if HD finally got the oil pump right after I think 8-9 redesigns.
@@richardrussell500 Thats why I will never buy a Harley Davidson. Expensive crap.
@@timohansson3674 HD has many pluses and minuses... fit and finish and looks are their top pros. the M8 engine works great when working properly. I now own the 107 and decided against the 114. engine displacements are getting way too big for my liking. big cubic inches comes bigger problems. my 107 so far runs great and has PLENTY of power. I have added a few aftermarket prevention mods for now and will be adding a couple more here soon. I should not have to pay additional money to improve the chances that my engine will survive. I have a private sector 5 year extended warranty that far exceeds anything HD offers. if this engine fails, it will be my last HD for sure. fingers crossed : - )
@@richardrussell500 it won’t. The M8 is a fine power plant. Never mind the anecdotal stories you read on forums. Look at all the high mileage M8 touring units on cycletrader.
In comparison, I would rather have The Indian Springfield I think it is much better built and reliability. Harley I do NOT like them anymore reason I have a 2004 ULTRA CLASSIC with SCREEMING EAGLE STAGE IV ---HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY and SERVICE is just NOT dependable and it feels like they’re trying to RIPPED ME OFF . I do not recommend HARLEY DAVIDSON
Always remember when you buy Harley you buy an American icon and you have to live up to it , it does not have to satisfy you. And Harley dealers know this. It translates like this , are you good enough to own a Harley , are you willing to pay homage and be part of a heritage , wear the apparel , talk the talk, make it as loud as possible attracting the attention the Harley culture demands. If not buy an Indian like I did.
Indian isn’t even a company. It doesn’t exist. It’s just a line of Polaris products, essentially. There’s no direct lineage to the former company at all. They’ve blatantly ripped off every H-D model. These new Polaris Indian models have only been around what 10-12 years(?) Compared to H-D. Motorcycles are already a small niche market. That’s why you don’t see too many. If you want aftermarket, H-D is the way to go. Not trying to hate, just stating facts.
Yes, HD has been the consistent face of cruisers for 120 years. (They've had some rough patches as well - cough, cough, AMS...) Yes, Indian was non-existent in the past while Harley stayed in business. But it's tough to argue with the results they are getting now. They are building bikes that surpass Harley in power and features, and in my opinion, look a lot cooler than Harleys. The aftermarket options for Indian have been growing steadily. Still plenty of room for growth in comparison to the Harley, but they've come a long way in 10 years. Harley has had decades to build their fanbase and aftermarket base. You want Indian to match that in 10 years? Indian certainly has based their touring bikes off of the Harleys, that's obvious to see, but the Scout lineup is very unique and not a ripoff of anyone.
@@cruisinwithphil don't even waste your time answering fanboys remarks. No matter what Indian does he's going to like Harley better. you have to laugh at the comment they blatantly rip off every H-D model. Indians has two wheels and a frame. Oh no, they stole that from Harley. Also The FTR and scouts are just like every other Harley. Lastly, Lamborghini is not a company it's just a line product of Volkswagen 😂 not hating just stating facts
Springfield is better bike all the way around and that is coming from a harley guy like me.
@@whitebeltchamp1 wrong, Indian fanboy. Lambo is a wholly owned subsidiary of VW. Two separate entities. Lambos have been built by the same people in the same plant for decades. Indian motorcycles may have some superior attributes over H-D and I’m sure they’re fine machines, but that doesn’t change the fact that its just a recycled brand name.
And I never said H-D was better. I was simply explaining the reasons you see more of them.
Sorry i hurt your feelings, champ.
@@iuyozx I am not a fan boy I enjoy both Harley Davidson, and Indian. Both companies make amazing American motorcycles.
I could care less about lineage. I only care about who makes the better American motorcycle. I just find your remarks "they blatantly rip off every H-D model", ignorant.
Also if Polaris or any company buys a brand name, then their the brand name.
You didn't like the Volkswagen/Lambo comment?
Should I have used Cadillac/GM? Or Lincoln/Ford? Or how about Pepsi/Frito-Lay?
No need for apologies, my feelings wasn't hurt. But thank you for your reply.
Nice Polaris at least a harley is a harley Indian motos are just Polaris with an Indian name tag Harleys been doing it longer Indian is just trying to copy harley and putting Polaris tech in it its crap
Hey, nice AMF... :)
Oh, go wine to your Hardley stupid buddies. You can thank Harley for building crap that’s why the Japanese started building the Vtwins because people wanted a Reliable V-twins. Last time I checked, it says Indian on the title.