First Ride Review: 2017 Indian Roadmaster Classic

My legs were still a little wobbly as I stepped down the rickety ramp of the vintage DC-3 that Indian Motorcycle chartered to haul us test riders from Palm Springs, CA, to Lake Havasu, AZ, for the first press ride of the year. But man, what a treat! The aviation equivalent of riding in a souped-up hot rod set the theme for a one-day jaunt along Historic Route 66 aboard the new-for-2017 Roadmaster Classic, Indian’s flagship touring rig revamped with a touch of Chief Vintage leather and fringe.

So if you're wondering what sets this new Classic apart from the Roadmaster that was introduced back at the 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, there's no getting around the simple fact that this update is a styling exercise. Like the Roadmaster, the Classic is based off of the Chieftain touring platform with no chassis or powertrain revisions. But that's okay—nothing was really needed in those departments. What the Classic brings to the Indian marketing table is that "leather passion" that they hope will bridge the gap between a long-haul motorcycle with modern amenities and a bike that throws you back to '47 when Indian first introduced the Roadmaster name. Product Manager Josh Katt explained how the vintage leather look is such a huge part of the passion that Indian riders have for the brand and that was a missing element in their flagship motorcycle.

There’s no question about it. Size intimidates. If you’re used to riding small bikes, sportbikes or even a mid-sized cruiser, walking up to the new Classic might make you think twice before throwing a leg over the saddle. A fully dressed Roadmaster is a substantial machine with capacious storage bins, a tall trunk, and a wheelbase that measures 65.7 inches axle to axle. Those valanced fenders come down over the tires and wheels making the stance look even longer and lower than it actually is.

But like the other two models on this platform, the new Roadmaster Classic doesn’t feel at all like a big bike once you lift it off of the kickstand. Getting acclimated in the Desert Tan saddle happens quickly, proving how well-mannered and friendly this bike really is. Historic Route 66 is not only scenic but also provides a nice variety of high-speed curves, long straights, and even sections of tight twisty turns with several elevation changes. Some of our photo stops required repeated U-turns along the narrow two-lane road; a good test of the bike’s low-speed maneuverability, which is uncommonly good. And moving along at speed, the Classic remains stable and smooth with impressive power coming from the Thunder Stroke V-twin. While it might not have quite the punch of Harley’s new Milwaukee-Eight mill, you can always break open the piggy bank to add some performance parts like the Indian intake/exhaust combo and Stage 2 cams.

Our ride took place on a cold winter day, giving us a chance to test the standard equipment heated grips and seat. Grip temperature responds quickly and is easily adjustable on the fly thanks to a large switch located on the top of the tank, and the seat warms quickly to one of two selectable levels controlled by a slightly harder-to-find-while-riding toggle below the left edge of the seat (there are two toggles, one for rider and one for passenger).

Priced at $26,999 for the Thunder Black version (add another thousand for two-tone colors) the Classic comes with all of the premium touring features of the standard Roadmaster including keyless ignition, power adjustable windshield, air-adjustable rear suspension, tire pressure monitoring system, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, 100-watt audio system with Bluetooth/USB input and smartphone compatibility, and an analog/digital dash with a glove-friendly and customizable Ride Command control center with GPS navigation that keeps rider informed of engine and trip status.

It's sort of ironic that this ride took place on the very same day that Indian parent company Polaris announced that it would be winding down its Victory Motorcycles operation. In spite of that heartbreaking news, the atmosphere and attitudes among the Indian staff couldn't have been more upbeat. After briefly touching on the subject, Indian Marketing Director Reid Wilson assured us that Indian will now be getting into new segments and launching new products very soon. Does that mean we can expect to see a genuinely new Indian model and not just a styling update in 2017? Our fingers are crossed.