Chief Dark Horse

The Chief is Indian Motorcycle's flagship — a name that has meant the same thing since 1922: a big American V-twin with unmistakable presence. The first Chief was designed by Charles B. Franklin, creator of the famous Scout, as its larger, stronger sibling with a 998 cc twin. Just a year later came the Big Chief, enlarged to 1,200 cc, which became the backbone of the range in the era when Indian and Harley-Davidson fought for the title of the world's largest motorcycle maker.

In the 1940s the Chief gained its most famous signature — the deep skirted fenders that made it one of the most elegant motorcycles ever built. After the Second World War the Chief was the only model Indian still produced, carrying the marque to its bitter end in 1953. Those final 1,300 cc Chiefs are among the most prized American classics today.

When Polaris revived the brand, the Chief simply had to return. It did in 2014 — a modern Chief powered by the Thunder Stroke 111 paid tribute to the skirted classic, while Classic, Vintage and Dark Horse variants covered everything from nostalgia to blacked-out minimalism.

In 2021 an all-new generation arrived for model year 2022: a lean, raw Chief on a steel-tube frame that took the name back to its roots — a big engine, two wheels and nothing extra. Today's family spans the stylish Chief Bobber, the touring-ready Super Chief and the muscular Sport Chief, while the Chief Vintage with its quick-release bags keeps the look riders fell in love with eighty years ago.