Motorcycle specifications Indian 1811 CHIEF DARK HORSE 2019 The ashy taste of Wabash

america beats to the rhythm of custom bikes. Huge, rebellious or ostentatious, these metal and nostalgic fat-bikes are part of the identity of the biker in suit by day and/or studded leather by night. Each manufacturer has its own speciality: stripped-down, dark versions, with lower prices and less equipment. At Indian, this role is played by the Dark Horse.

a stripped-down version of the Chief? Not at all. Above all, an ideal basis for customization. Closely derived from the Chief Classic, its depth is striking. The first thing that catches our eye is the exuberance of black. Tank, skirts, headlight covers, engine, rims, forks, mirrors, handlebars... it's everywhere. Only the exhausts, the edges of the twin's fins and a few chrome parts have managed to escape this cloak. Let's stay with the visuals for a moment, to see the shiny black highlights on the engine, exhausts and saddlebags.
A lick of paint and that's it? No, Indian let its engineers work into the night to work out the Dark Horse's contours and ambitions. If we saved weight... by removing the additional headlights, passenger equipment and a few trinkets, this Indian is 13 kilos lighter. Spoked rims are replaced by spoke models.

at 2,000 euros less than its Chief sibling, the owner can dip into the accessories catalog and choose from some forty temptations. Unless, that is, you're tempted by a nice custom paint job or a totally nocturnal look.
Between the running boards, the beefy ThunderStroke 111 twin is less conspicuous here, but still very much in evidence. What an organ! Metal sculpted from a crucible of history and ego. Power is reasonable, torque monstrous. An Indian is neither driven nor piloted. It's enjoyed between piston strokes with the velvety smoothness of a Dakota tribe.
Except that in 2019, the technical situation is changing. The twin can now deactivate its rear cylinder to reduce heat when the cruiser is 'paused'. So much for comfort; let's move on to dynamism. With a choice of three mappings, you can tailor-make your cruising. In 'Tour', 'Standard' or 'Sport' mode, the Chief can now change its face. Map details at the bottom of the page.

after the personal styling exercise, cruising becomes a must, without the need or desire to provoke the Chief Dark Horse chassis. An aluminum frame, with 46 mm forks, 300 mm brake discs and 4-piston calipers at the front. Same diameter at the rear, with 2-piston calipers. Stripped-back but not stingy, this Indian offers cruise control, keyless start, ABS, and a name that's steeped in motorcycle history.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos

engine mapping:

- Tour" mode offers progressive acceleration for optimum smoothness of ride.
- Standard" mode features responsive throttle control and balanced, progressive power delivery.
- Finally, "Sport" mode offers instant throttle response and aggressive power delivery for even more pronounced acceleration.