2021 Indian Vintage/Vintage Dark Horse

Indian’s fully retro, totally voluptuous V-twin comes closest to the company’s first relaunch designs from 2014, with plenty of good old American V-twin power to go along with the good looks. Air-cooled V-twin, whitewall tires under valanced fenders, a leather seat with conchos—this is as old school as it gets.

The Indian Vintage and Vintage Dark Horse are two sides of the same coin, with really only a color change to distinguish them. Both bring traditional cruiser styling front and center, with spoke wheels, big swoopy fenders, genuine leather saddlebags, floorboards, and miles of chrome (except on the Dark Horse) to take you back in time. Both are powered by the air-cooled Thunderstroke 111 V-twin which Indian claims will churn out 119 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm.

Neither the Vintage or Vintage Dark Horse receive any updates for 2021.

The Vintage has an MSRP of $20,499 and comes in two color options: Crimson Metallic or Deep Water/Dirt Track Tan. For the Vintage Dark Horse, you just take the base model, strip off the windshield, driving lights, and saddle skirt, and price it $1,000 less and there you have it. It’s available only in black for an MSRP of $19,499.

If you’re looking for an apples-to-apples competitor in this year’s cruiser market, good luck; there simply ain’t one. You can maybe come close to the retro vibe with Harley’s Road King or Heritage Classic, but for genuine leather saddlebags with conchos, whitewall tires, and valanced fenders? Not happening.

The Vintage and Vintage Dark Horse are both equipped with Indian’s reliable Thunderstroke 111, an 1,811cc powerplant that was good for 74.19 hp at 4,360 rpm and 106.18 pound-feet of torque at 2,410 rpm on our in-house dyno.

An aluminum frame and a long wheelbase give the Vintage its stability, while the wide handlebar provides good leverage when entering the turns.

The 300mm dual-disc front brakes, single 300mm disc rear, and ABS help slow the Vintage and Vintage Dark Horse.

We haven’t yet compiled data for real-world mpg averages.

With a low and wide saddle, roomy floorboards, and spread-out handlebars, the Vintage(s) should fit most riders easily.

The Vintage and Dark Horse may look like they’re straight from 1940, but their three ride modes, cruise control, and keyless ignition all remind you that modern electronics have their place.

The Vintage and Vintage Dark Horse both offer a 24-month warranty with unlimited mileage.

The level of detail and quality on the Vintage is truly impressive when you factor things like the opulent chrome trim on the fenders, headlamps, and shield, the dished leather saddle complete with skirts and bags with conchos, and those cool whitewall tires.