Indian unveils the 2022 Pursuit Dark Horse and Pursuit Limited
Indian Motorcycle pulled the wraps off an all-new premium touring bike, based on their popular Challenger platform. Claiming “The next generation of American touring performance for riders who want the most capable touring machine”, the Indian Pursuit Dark Horse and Pursuit Limited models enter the Indian family of tourers with prices starting at $30,000 base.
While the Roadmaster and Chieftain tourers remain true to the classic air-cooled, pushrod American touring road bike, running their Thunderstroke 116 V-twin mill in both model lines, the new Indian Pursuit bikes utilize the Challenger’s PowerPlus liquid cooled 108 V-twin with single overhead cams for a more modern powerplant. Priced right in the middle of their aforementioned tourers, the Pursuit line seems to be aimed at the long-distance, luxury touring rider who prefers modern tech, components and comfort over tradition, and who might not automatically look to an American tourer for their needs.
The Pursuit models come in a Dark Horse version, meaning blacked out engine, casings, rims, bars and exhaust, whereas the Limited gets chrome pipes, cylinder heads, engine casings, air cleaner cover, bars and mirrors, among other bits. These are strikingly sharp looking bikes. And of course, each offers available Indian Premium Packages to further kit them out for the cross-country rider in you.
We sampled the Challenger for a day back at Daytona Bike Week in 2020, and were quite impressed with the new machine and mill. Making 122 hp and 128 ft lbs of torque, the PowerPlus engine positions Indian’s Challenger and now Pursuit bikes as their most powerful tourers, even rivaling Harley’s M-8 117 in power and torque. An electronically preload-adjustable Fox single-shock rear suspension, inverted front forks, Smart Lean Technology with a Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit all allow the rider to custom tune traction control, ABS and even torque to their own liking.
The Indian Pursuit saddle gives both the rider and passenger heated pads via adjustments at each seat or from the 7-inch RIDE COMMAND+ Infotainment touchscreen up in the dash. The wrist also gets adjustable heated grips and keyless remote ignition. With nearly 36 gallons of remote-lockable storage (we like that feature) and a 6-gallon tank for petrol with a low rider seat height of just 26.5 inches, the Pursuit is a true long-distance “road warrior.” Weighing in at 912 lbs fully fluid/fueled, it’s a lot of motorcycle, to be sure. Running on Brembo brakes fore and aft and rolling on Metzeler Cruisetec rubber, with adjustable windscreen and lowers and of course cruise control, Indian spared no expense to insure this interpretation of the ultimate American motorcycle tourer is primo.
Some of the options in the $3000 Premium Package for both models can also be added individually as we understand, such as the touchscreen electronic adjustment for the rear Fox suspension. And of course, Indian offers a full line of accessories and farkles to dress out the Pursuit to one’s heart desire, so long as your pockets run deep. The Challenger with the PowerPlus engine has really exceeded expectations in the burgeoning “performance bagger” category, even giving H-D stiff competition in MotoAmerica’s “King of the Baggers” racing series. It’s a proven and popular mill. If all these are any indication, Indian has another winner in the Pursuit models.
For more on the 2022 Indian Pursuit machines, click here:
*All photos by Indian Motorcycle.
To me this is the nicest looking Indian motorcycle produced in recent years. They have created a New/Traditional touring motorcycle style. Your review has me looking forward to a demo ride at the next opportunity. Thank you Road Dirt for my first look and review of this bike.
Thank you Will. Hoping they’ll have one down at Daytona we can sample.