Comparing Harley-Davidson Street Glide and the Indian Chieftain
With Indian Motorcycles nipping at Harley-Davidson's sales, the battle of the Baggers is on.
Comparative King
Cycle World magazine pitted the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special against the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse in a road trip show-down. With the 'king of the road' distinction up for grabs, who makes the better touring machine?
Photos courtesy of Cycle World
Touring Supremacy
The comparative cross-country trek was a bit of déjà vu. Back in 2014, Cycle World took the newly-engineered 'Polaris' Chieftain on a head-to-head (or fairing-to-fairing) ride with the revamped Project Rushmore Street Glide Special. As with this latest 2018 battle for touring supremacy, there were pros and cons to each machine, and lots of room for debate.
Wide Open Sales
Harley-Davidson accounts for half of all domestic motorcycle sales annually. Since the acquisition by Polaris Industries in 2011, Indian Motorcycle has been working to cleave away a portion of the national market share — and they are doing well. Yet, wipe away the brand names for a moment, and one is left with two equally capable machines meant to conquer America's wide-open spaces.
Legacy Machine
The Street Glide is the quintessential American motorcycle. With decades of history on its side, it is one of the Motor Company's best-selling machines. First introduced in 2006, it can trace its roots back fifty-plus years — possibly even to the 1958 Duo Glide. The Street Glide Special is at the apex of that legacy, and the pinnacle of design for Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles.
Chief Production
As the name suggests, the Dark Horse is a maverick waiting for an opportunity — possibly even a second chance. The Indian Chieftain can trace its lineage to the 1922 Indian Chief. Despite being a premier brand, the fate of Indian Motorcycle was sealed when they opted for military contracts and not civilian dealer support in 1916. Plagued by dwindling sales, production of the Chief ended in 1949, and all production ceased in 1953.
Digital Evolution
Despite having their roots in the first part of the twentieth-century, both machines are laden with technology from fender to fender. The shared list is extensive and includes color screens, satellite navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. According to Cycle World, preference is given to the Chieftain's interface as it is “a complete rethink of what that system should be on a motorcycle, not simply an evolution of what’s always been there.”
Rat Pack Tech
With Hunter S. Thompson flair, Spenser Robert of Cycle World recounts the entrance to 'Sin City.' Aboard the Baggers, “Las Vegas has a similar feel — historic and sentimental but laced with technology. With machines capable of “hauling camping gear and gobbling up miles, the experience of rumbling down the Vegas Strip with a whiff of Rat Pack debonair and modern tech was too perfect.”
Neck and Neck
The Street Glide and the Chieftain share a common DNA, making the task of ranking them even more difficult. Both are based on old-fashioned designs — almost museum-worthy to some. The V-Twin was born in an era when getting across the vastness of America was a common problem. Yet, this is a shared strength. Both machines provide a connection to what is “still a good problem to solve.”
Unbroken Lineage
In the end, the conclusion was more about brand loyalty and looks, rather than performance and creature comforts. The Street Glide's glittery bodywork has “swagger and glints with mid-century charm.” The Chieftain, with its “rounded heads and comb-over fins,” is a resurrection of American lore. For most, the Street Glide is still better looking. It is pure and classic, with an unbroken lineage.
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