Indian Motorcycle has finally revealed the all-new Indian Challenger bagger, a motorcycle which looks like a familiar, big all-American touring motorcycle. The highlight though is the all-new PowerPlus engine, which is expected to give the new Indian Challenger a level of performance and aggression that will likely endear the new Indian bagger to a lot of big cruiser lovers. The new 1,769 cc, liquid-cooled, 60-degree, v-twin engine that puts out 121 bhp of maximum power at 5,500 rpm and 173.5 Nm of peak torque at 3,800 rpm.
The 2020 Indian Challenger features a new, 1,769 cc, v-twin engine putting out 121 bhp and 173.5 Nm
The new powertrain also features a six-speed transmission with what Indian calls "true overdrive" and an assist clutch to reduce clutch effort, and hydraulic valve lash adjusters and camshaft chain tensioners for a low maintenance, reliable powerplant. The PowerPlus features overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, and riders can customise the bike's throttle mapping by selecting one of three ride modes, including Rain, Standard, and Sport - said to offer three distinct performance personalities.
The Challenger is offered in a choice of three variants - standard, Dark Horse, and Limited
The Challenger is offered in a choice of three variants - standard, Dark Horse and Limited, with the Dark Horse and Limited variants equipped with Indian Motorcycle's Smart Lean Technology, which uses a Bosch inertial measurement unit (IMU) to add cornering control to the dynamic traction control and ABS, as well as Drag Torque Control.
The Indian Challenger is a bagger, and sports a frame-mounted fairing, similar to the Harley-Davidson Road Glide, and there's a power adjustable windscreen just like on the Indian Chieftain line. There's also the same touchscreen infotainment screen and Ride Command system on the Dark Horse and Limited variants with a faster processor, and weather and traffic info, along with Bluetooth and USB mobile pairing.
The Indian Challenger has a frame-mounted fairing with a round headlight, flanked by LEDs
Visually, the face has a striking new design, with one central round light and LEDs on either side, and intake vents on the outside. The Challenger comes with ABS, cruise control, keyless ignition and hard saddlebags with 68 litres of storage space. Additionally, the Challenger also offers a wide range of factory accessories, including performance add-ons like slip-on mufflers and stage 1 air intake. We can expect the new Indian Challenger to be launched in India sometime in the first half of 2020.
