Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/617259
31 THUNDER PRESS www.thunderpress.net wind-in-your-face ride. Although more than a novelty, the temptation to run it up and down at intersections while garnering the attention of fellow Sturgis riders was too great for the showoff kid in me to resist. Once you fi re up the ignition by pushing the big black button in the middle of the tank console (it's a key- less system working in conjunction with a proximity fob), a litany of bells and whistles come to life but quickly disappear after the bike conducts a systems check. On the inner face of the fairing, the instrument panel pres- ents an easy-to-read speedometer and tachometer with a fuel level gauge built into the tach. Between the speedo and tach is the info center that pro- vides the time, ambient air tempera- ture, radio information, odometer, fuel range, gear indicator (1–6) and tire pressure monitoring all accessed by a trigger on the backside of the left-hand switch module. But the clear plastic face that covers the entire instrument cluster causes a tremendous amount of glare in bright daylight that renders the information readout indecipherable. Other controls are presented in a no-nonsense fashion and include cruise control, windscreen height tog- gle and all the switches for the AM/ FM stereo (with weather band). The stereo also includes a media player and Pandora capabilities. While no one predicted that Indian would attempt to meld a fair- ing and hard bags with the company's iconic look, they surprised everyone when they accomplished just that. And although the saddlebags leave a little to be desired in the appearance department, they are roomy and serve the purpose of baggage storage well. These panniers remain a simple one- hand operation with a push-button release and a lift lip on top center. But the slickest feature of these spacious bags has to be the remote locking capability activated by a toggle on the dash. The electric lock mechanisms are housed in each bag's lid and take up little space. Once again, the prox- imity fob comes into play when using this feature. My only gripe about this bike would be the overkill on badging with at least two dozen "Indian" or "war bonnet" insignias ranging from seat conchos to fl oorboard inserts to engine castings. When asked what was new for the 2016 Chieftain, the Indian representa- tive answered, "Not much other than some new paint schemes." (I test rode the Star Silver and Thunder Black model that carries a MSRP of $24,199, the only two-tone and also the highest- priced paint offering.) But that's not to say the innovative minds at Indian are taking a respite. After position- ing themselves well in the American bagger market, they refocused their direction and the results were a recently-released cruiser, the Chief Dark Horse, the liquid-cooled, 69 cubic inch Scout and the very brand- new Scout 60. And I'm sure there are many more ideas being bandied about to address the projected needs of the consumer. As far as the Chieftain, it was a hit when fi rst released and remains so due to Indian's ability to breathe life into an iconic, history- rich (and almost dead) marque with enough engineering updates to fi re the imagination and capture the attention of today's modern motorcyclist—the best of both worlds. 4 An ample saddle for both operator and passenger A push-button starter along with a toggle that locks the saddlebags electronically is fea- tured on the tank's console Wing-swept turn signals, recessed running lamps and a beautiful chrome nacelle highlight the Chieftain's fairing Although an elegant display, the instrument panel readouts can be lost in bright light due to glare from the plastic shield that covers the unit