Who Makes The Best West Coast Performance Cruiser, Harley-Davidson or Indian?
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- Harley-Davidson’s Low Rider S and Indian Motorcycle’s Sport Chief are each manufacturer’s take on the West Coast scene, but which is best? We grabbed the keys to the pair of performance cruisers and went for a ride to find out, with a quick stop at the 2024 Born-Free Show.
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Low rider s performance options to increase torque and hp are key. Better looking too
Indian has plenty of performance options as well. Big bore kits, cams, throttle bodies, supercharger kits, intakes, exhausts, etc.
You can make 130whp with the 116 thunderstroke without going big bore, and now theres even a 131ci Indian big bore kit!
@@NicePantsLancelol sure 👍🏿
As well as the ability to install a 131 or 135 which can also be upgraded 🍻
@@palmettolowlife1996Scouts go 9s with boltons and cams
They go deeper into the 9s with the big bore
10s with boltons
@@Wes.jumpssscouts dont need power and they go 9s in 1/4 mile
74 hp? Needs a little help. I'll stay with my Low Rider S 117. LRS is better looking, especially the engine, and has everything I wanted in a big cruiser.Just wish it had a long fender like my '79 FXEF. Even got 49 mpg riding 2 up in the mountains. Love this bike.
If you compare Cycleworld dyno sheets, the Harley 117 only makes more power and torque above 4300rpm. The indian 116 makes pretty much the same power and torque up until that point. If you aren't revving your Harley 117 past 4300rpm on a regular basis, then its the same grunt you'd get from the Indian 116
@@FrankBonessa I have a 2022 FXLRST, I couldn’t believe it I got 52 mpg riding through northern Arizona a few weeks back, I had to check it with my buddy and sure enough 52 mpg.
@@waydel1 impressive for sure.
@@NicePantsLanceSo, if I don’t actually ride the bike, and barely twist the throttle, they make the same power. Is that the argument you really wanted to make brotha? Haha enjoy
I ride a 2022 FXLRST and the mids don’t bother me at all. I rode baggers for years with floor boards never again for my riding. I am 5’11” tall, yes it felt cramped at first but now I love them.
Agreed. I have a 32" inseam and prefer the mids as well. An aftermarket seat helped a little too, but I don't get the complaints. Likely it's those who have been doing the barcalounger position for years.
Ya’ll need to do this on the new Scouts and the new Sportsters
That Indian exhaust looks like someone born with two right arms
Test rode the Sport Chief today and was not as impressed as I was expecting.
Like they said, it's vibey.
Preferred the new Sport Scout. Way better engine.
Now wait until Indian puts their water-cooled Power Plus engine in it... No contest on power.
Harley tester talked about the engine!
Indian tester , in response, didn’t say anything - rubber mounted? Solid mounted ? Counter balancers ? No counter balancers ?
I guess it doesn’t matter much - looks like Indian lost everywhere anyway 🤔
I have a 2023 sports chief with 14,000 miles on it and I love this bike so far but I do have some aftermarket parts on it The front is 2 inch lifted. and upgrade the cams and two to one exhaust
The thing I like about the Indian is it is going to keep Harley on there toes and make them keep stepping up.
I bought the indian sport chief with stage 1. 8-12 + hp, 10-15 lbs overall weight reduction.I love it.
That low rider S looks incredible.
Been riding for 30 plus years. Test rode both of these and also the Indian 101 sport chief. I’ve had many different motorcycles and have a few I keep. The low rider S is hands down the most fun and better motorcycle. Like you said - they’ve have more time to test and develop the low rider S. The low rider model itself, how long has it been around? Harley Davidson is the king here and although Indian is great at imitation it can’t beat the HD.
You mean 101 sport scout
@@jocoloco1320 probably. It was 101 something. Didn’t leave too much of an impression so I couldn’t exactly remember.
The Harley hands-down is the better motorcycle. And cooler looking 🍻
@@Wes.jumpss nobody agrees with you. 😂
I agree with him💁🏻♂️@@mrdude3540
I guess this is the first test between Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson, where Indian actually loses... On objective criteria. Hats off to Harley-Davidson. Anyway, when it comes to aesthetics... I prefer Indian Motorcycle. Well done guys!
My horsepower inc built 1999 dyna has 111hp and 129ftlbs torque at the wheel out of what was originally an 88" twin cam but has a 95" kit
That HPI TC probably cost as much as a whole softail too lol
@user-eq4ne1xv5d lol nah spent about 7k in total that's with suspension and everything it absolutely rips tho been riding it for 7 years but the last year or so I haven't rode as much as I'd like to I'm honestly debating on selling it and getting back on the dirt and getting another 450 motocross bike a new Honda or Yamaha 450 but I hate to sell the dyna best street bike I've ever had. But im definitely dying to get back to moto and at the moment Definitely don't have the funds to have both so I'm not sure what I wanna do
You buy a Harley. You disassemble half of it. You buy a whole Japanese bike price worth of performance upgrades. You install them. You get the power it should have had from factory.
@@exothermal.sprocketI don't think there's a Japanese air/oil cooled pushrod v twin on the market.
@@johncarl5505 There's more of those than people who understand grammar and metaphors.
I just wish the Sport Chief had, at least, a 5-gal Fuel Tank. Thats why i lean my interests to the Lowrider-S. Less times to pull over, during a trip.
I can't belive has more ho and torque while weighing virtually the same too! And the same price wow! Choices, choices, choices...
I'm so conflicted between these two bikes. Looking to purchase a bike in the upcoming months and it's a really rough decision. Leaning more towards the LRS because of dealer network and potential resell value
Also the plethora of aftermarket parts for customizing the LRS
Better resale? Are people buying Harley's today with a WOKE company?
If you can find a LRS for msrp then get it. Most can’t. I don’t think the sport chief is that far behind and at least it’s available with fair pricing. Throw a set of 585 cams and a 2-1 exhaust on the Indian and I guarantee you it’ll mop the floor with that Harley.
@@brettcloud8550 wait. The FXLRS is due for major overhaul upgrades from the factory. If I were to bet i would think 2025 or 2026.
@@Ramibiker2023chief Do same with HD 117 and adios mf.
Low Rider s all day! Choice is pretty clear listening to these guys.
Great video guys. Very well done. Definitely made in California.
That Indian is on some sloth style, especially the heinous fairing. I've also not seen any on the road at all but then again all I ever see is baggers, HD or Indian. Harley cats where I'm at don't even buy the LRS much less than that a splurtchurf. Fuck a 1/4 mile time, 29° of lean? All that suspension and no height to use it, not that most would even push hard in the turns. Either way, atleast both companies are trying. With a handful of changes both scoots can be shredders.
Finally! I've been waiting for this comparison for so lang now..
Interesting...I rode both and the SC felt more powerful despite the numbers and the handling wasn't close for me. I bought a '23 SC and with exhaust, intake, and tune it rips. Both cool bikes, but my impressions when riding both were much different.
Waiting on the super cruiser
That 1/16 faring on the Harley is hilarious 😂😂😂
I really wish Indian would stop trying to make a copy to each model Harley makes and just do their own thing.
Customers want a "non-Elton John" option
Hahah that is like saying Indian should make cars and nothing on two wheels , maybe Harley Davidson should stop worrying about making pride glides and woke cycles
I’ve had both Indian by far
@@deangelisstudio1 no not what I am saying. Look at Victory. They had their own style. It wasn’t carbon copies. I can look at an Indian and pick out the exact bike style they try copying. Go back into your own history and evolve something original. I think that would be way cooler.
@@AlexUllerifollowing the popular style of the time is what they are doing Victory made "chopper" styled bikes something Harley attempted and failed breakout etc. That was the trend 10-20yrs ago. Now it's club and baggers, just because Harley just kept making the same bikes with no updates other than ci doesn't mean everyone is copying them. If you put a victory next to a Indian the styling cues flow over. Do the fairings look similar of course there are only so many ways to keep them aerodynamic etc. Both companies have some learning, refining and the competition only makes it better for us as customers.
@AlexUlleri The only similarities of the two brands is they have two wheels, You can not change the dynamic of a motorcycle, Just like cars planes and trucks they always will have the same shit!
LRS is the way to go....
Would rather have the low rider st version personally. Either way my 2011 dyna street bob has the 110 tire shredder on it making 106hp/122tq so there's ZERO reason for me to part with it for one of these two bikes.
Keep your dyna. Nothing wrong with them. If it breaks, REBUILD
Fluff piece for HDs move to Thailand
😘
Indian wins in aesthetics. Love the thunder stroke sound and style hope they can improve performance
Cycle world dyno'd the 116 indian chieftain limited at 85hp in 2021? Is it really down 10hp since the then?
EPA
Lol, every European and Japanese manufacturer is up.
Look at where they make power. If you compare the hd 117 with the indian 116, they both make the same power and torque until they get to 4300rpm. Virtually the same
Indian's baggers (Springfield, Chieftan & Roadmaster) use a different tune on the 116's than the Chiefs. I don't know why.
I see HD is paying the so called journalists again. You guys are full of it with these numbers. No way Indian is that much lower than Lowrider. Vibrations on Indian are bad and Harleys are adding character. Lol what a joke.
LRS has a sage 1 kit, chief is stock
@@brocklndrsthe LRS looks completely stock. Definitely the standard air filter and exhaust.
Kind of like what Dodge and Chrysler do in MotorTrend. Truck of the Year BS. 👍
On the Indian, you had it in the wrong mode...put it in normal, not sport, if you want smooth
your all videos are really impressive & interesting
Very interesting conclusions. I own the 2023 Sport Chief & my friend has the 2023 Lowrider S & we agree after riding both that the Indian is slightly better in almost every single way, even in torque & power so I'm not sure the numbers are accurate at the wheel. The reality is they are extremely similar bikes & both well made motorcycles & I guess the rider experience is too subjective to bank on. DEFINITELY go test ride both before buying either to see for yourself, and remember that things like stock seats & pipes are RARELY what you end up with, unless you live in Commiefornia.
Indian is light years beyond Harley specially in visual appeal.
Harley just can’t compare to Indian anymore.
I never understood the new Chief line up, it feels low effort as if the bean counters had more input than the engineers. I do like their instrumentation but that does not make up for the rest of it. I remember when they first came out and many were a bit annoyed at the shock setup and it seemed a real step down from the Chieftain line. When it comes to the next size down, the Scout line up is just amazing as compared to Nightster and Sportster models
What you are saying makes no sence the dealers can't keep those bikes on the show room and barely to none in the use market. Those bike are well made and super simple to maintiain, they run super strong the Video is total BS from Harley guys putting down their main competitor!
For it's Indian Scout bobber the one and only that I would have ❤❤.
Great video
Great video. How are y’all recording both GoPro audio feeds together?
When I heard the comments on the HP and the performance of the Brembo brakes, I thought, "I must have been spoofed, the account must be Cycle Werld". But I checked and it is Cycle World. What a pathetic star of affairs.
There is nothing club style about either of them. These scream cafe racer style.
I have a 2023 Chief Dark Horse and Love it, especially the round TFT display and Sport Mode, but the stock exhaust note sucks.
That Indian looks like it has a long reach to the bars. You look uncomfortable stretching to the bars.
Go indian.
It would have been good to have the new Buell in this comparison too.
There's no new Buell. It isn't out yet.
The Buell is more comparable to the Ducati XDiavel, Rocket 3, and Vmax. Its a high revving high horsepower compact cruiser
Performance wise the new Buell seems to be more like a VMax or Diavel but visually I’d put it with these bikes. Probably similar customers too.
It would be fun to add the new BMW R12 Cruiser.
5:41 i dont mind wearing something that bulky if its cheap....would a life jacket give the same protection???? LOL
👌👍💪
Why it took you so long?
The Indian hands-down is the better motorcycle & cooler looking 🍻
No.
@@mr.b3168Yes
@@mrdude3540 nah.
@@mr.b3168 yah
Nope.
Four minutes in and I just can't... These guys might have moto-journalism skills (maybe, I don't know,) but their delivery is robotic and riddled with cliche. Every other word comes out like a fax machine- maybe they need to practice or do something to get more comfortable? But it's not there yet.
The Indian wins on looks, for starters.
the only thing I like on the Indian are the brembo's
Harley uses brembo aswell
16:30 plastic pieces? Wtf are you smoking? That's painted metal parts..
test rode both of them and ended up with the lowrider s. At 6'2 225lbs and the ergonomics on the sport chief had me leaning forward a lot in an unnatural way.
Are you keeping the bike stock? Cause you can get taller risers and different bars
That slight lean forward is what makes the Indian better for carving twisty roads
I find the Indian better looking
Buell Super Cruiser
678ibs???? that is why sportsters are the only harleys i want to ride
FXLRS > sport chief
I love when people say west coast club style look. It was never ment to be a look. It's the result of making the bike handle better. Better lean angle and rider position little bit of wind protection. That's the point of taller suspension, moto style bar and fairing.
Sounds lil biased
Good to see you're sporting the Air-Bag Vests. 👍
as far as the Bikes, The Polaris wins on Tech, but it's a Slug power wise.
The H-D 117 is classic, but H-D at the moment is Limp-wristed and WOKE...So I'll pass on Both
So you just follow TikTok trends? Haha lame. better get rid of everything you own if you’re gonna cry over corporate policy.
@@Boom-ou1vb
I don’t have TikTok on my phone that’s China crap , an Indian died years ago. Indian is a Bought , name by Polaris and as long as they employ American worker’s I’m good with with them no matter what they’re called.
I’m a Harley guy, but looks wise, I think Indian Sports Chief is a better.
No way.
I cannot stand the oversized pipes crap. It looks stupid AF....
What the Buell Super Cruiser?
Super Cruiser is not in production yet.
h-d lighter faster at straights ,have more lean clearance it dosent necessery mean it be faster in corner cos resultsnt cog tore size and profile hiton this aswelll and from your talking it looks like indian can be slightly fadter actuallly in corner when ypu say its only 9 pound heavier but feel like ypu mist put much more effort to force him to change direction it mean it proabbaly have higher cog in results acumulate more corner speed 👌🏻its not me class bike but if im must choice than 🤔 whatever-for me draw 👍🏻☕️
Can we all agree the Buell Super Cruiser vs these two is what we really want to see?
Not at the price point of what the buell is set at
Not 5 7
I've never seen both bikes loose a comparo before.
That Dyno numbers aren't making sense for Indian sport chief, both power plant are similar in HP . You can tell this guys are Harley FanBoys😊
Huh? Numbers don't lie.
The Harley has stage 1 as stock. You let that 116 breathe and you’ll see higher torque figures on the 116
@@Ramibiker2023chief soooo indian should make it stock from the get go then.
@@mr.b3168 epa restrictions. Harley gets around that with their “aftermarket” screaming eagle accessories. So you’re not comparing apples to apples here. The 116 has more potential than that
HP is torque multiplied by revs. You can have low torque and stupid high horses
Their hd fanboys
Lovely
I am not against the gears but should we really gear up like a spaceman or a hockey player to ride a motorcycle?
Doesn't it bothering and make us not to pickup our bike when going anywhere?!
I am minimalist in that matter
stock dyno for sport chief 73 hp was it ?? My god thats low. If HD pulled that we would never hear the end of it along with the DEI 😂
The 116ci is pretty dated, where as Harley just made a new engine. Im sure Indian will come out with an improved version soon. They always have to compete with HD
Yeah it did 73hp and like 104trq 😅😂 my 1999 dyna built of course has 111hp and 129lb torque
@@NicePantsLanceThe M8 117 came out in 2018. And even in the Low Rider S it came out in 2021.
so not sport chief but benchwarmer chief
Until HD fires the CEO and half the board, we won't hear the end of what they're doing.
i hate to say it...But..who cares?
Harley DEIvidson kept upping that M8 until they had 1 cc more displacement and that magically givew it +20 hp over the Indian.
4 valve heads also
It’s who makes the *better* cruiser. (Copy editor on vacation?)
Harley needs less models. They should sunset the S and only make the ST with easy off fairing. Then a center cooled 117ci street bob at $12k msrp.
Btw there are 11,000 new hd in dealers right now. 3000 2024 road glides.
Harley needs more models. They need to Bring back the Vr1000! Revamped and modernized to compete with the Hammerhead.
Give us a 143 low Rider S and 143 Road King to compete with the Super Cruiser and Rocket 3.
Finally release the Bronx to compete with the Xsr900.
But no. Instead of the Harley community demanding and boycotting for that. You're all boycotting over this "woke" bullshit 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
I would guess these bikes cost around ~$14k if they didn't say the price. I just don't get why people spend so much for these brands. It's outrageous.
Excellent commercial for Harley Davidson! I hope they paid you well! 👍 not biased in the slightest!!
For sure 😂 These guys are a joke.
It's biased because the Harley is just a way better motorcycle in almost every objective metric. More power, less weight, better brakes and suspension, more lean angle, better aftermarket support and dealer network. Looks way better too.
@@Ozmeister666typical biased response 😂 the Low Rider S is 680lbs wet, and the Sport Chief is 685lbs wet. 5lbs is literally indistinguishable. So the Low Rider can lean only 1.8 degrees more than the Chief, but the Chief has more ground clearance than the Low Rider. Once again, indistinguishable unless you scrape peg with every turn. The Low Rider has 300mm brakes in the front and 292mm in the rear, and the Chief has 320mm in the front and 300mm in the rear 😂 so yeah, Indian has the better brakes. The Low Rider has single cartridge forks in the front, and a monoshock in the rear. The Chief has KYB adjustables up front, and DUAL Fox adjustables in the rear. Indian has far better suspension. Also, if you compare Cycleworld dyno tests, the Harley 117 only makes more power and torque above 4300rpm. The Indian 116 makes pretty much the same power and torque up until that point 😂
Only difference really is that when you buy the new Harley, you run a high chance of needing your engine replaced before you hit 10k miles 😂
That wrinkle Paint Job is discusting sorry Harley fanboys
These two bikes are stupid and overpriced, personally i would rather a street bob
Its really just a question of whether your gay or not.
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