Indian Rolls Out Its Chief Series Lineup for 2025

Indian has rolled out its Chief family for 2025, and big news for the new model year is a newbie in the form of the Sport Chief RT, a variant of the existing Sport Chief. Also joining Indian’s big cruiser series is the Super Chief Dark Horse, but it’s just a trim that essentially replaces the base Super Chief. Returning Chief models include the base-model Chief and its Chief Dark Horse sibling, the Chief Bobber and Bobber Dark Horse, Super Chief Limited and Sport Chief base model, with the lineup now counting eight models (or four base models with two trims each).

We don’t see any major upgrades or revisions however; all carryover bikes in the Chief series are rolling into the new year with the same elements as before. We’re talking 4-gallon tanks, bobbed rear fenders, twin outboard preload-adjustable rear shocks, dual exhaust, LED lighting, and keyless ignition for every model, new or returning. In the engine room, the only two Chief models still equipped with the air-cooled Thunderstroke 111 mill are the base Chief and the Chief Bobber; all other Chief models get the burlier Thunderstroke 116 (1,890cc) powerplant, as well as the 4-inch TFT display powered by Ride Command.

Like we said, top-line news is the new Sport Chief RT, which adds saddlebags, a new seat, and Bluetooth audio to the Sport Chief model. Indian chose to keep the fork-mounted quarter fairing from the standard bike rather than fitting a bigger one, à la Harley’s Low Rider ST, which holds a larger FXRT-inspired frame-mounted fairing to distinguish it from the Low Rider S. And although the Indian Sport Chief RT’s plastic is certainly robust, it’s still the spec as the base bike, with the moto-style bars on 6-inch risers also being shared on both. The RT brings the same 4-gallon tank and 43mm inverted fork, and power comes courtesy of the unchanged 1,890cc Thunderstroke 116 motor packed into a steel-tube frame. Like other 116-engine-equipped models, the Sport Chief RT also has throttle-by-wire, cruise control, ABS, and rear-cylinder deactivation, and Indian’s Ride Command system with 4-inch TFT touchscreen makes the cut as well. Three selectable ride modes, cruise control, keyless ignition, ABS, LED lighting, and a USB charging port are standard.

Related: 2022 Indian Chief First Look and Gallery

Like the base Sport Chief, the RT also rolls on 19-inch front and 16-inch rear cast alloy wheels with Metzeler Cruisetec tires and is stopped by Brembo brakes, and fits a pair of Performance Adjustable Piggyback shocks from Fox (adjustable for compression and rebound damping via 23-click twist knobs) out back.

OK, so what’s different?

Well, you have the all-new 2-Up High Bolster Seat, giving the RT a more aggressive look with its 5 inches of bolster and additional padding. The tweaked seating position is complemented by new forward-positioned controls, though Indian says all 2025 Sport Chief models now come standard with forward controls, so again, no appreciable difference from the base model. A more concrete change appears with Indian’s all-new PowerBand Audio Bluetooth speaker, which packs two 2.5-inch midrange speakers, one 4.5-inch subwoofer, and two tweeters for 90 watts of audio. A pair of new hard saddlebags also distinguish the RT from the standard Sport Chief, adding style and more than 10 gallons of storage. Pricing for the 2025 Sport Chief RT starts at $22,499, and the model will be available in Black Smoke, Sunset Red Smoke, and Heavy Metal ($22,999) when it hits dealers in February. The standard Sport Chief also returns for 2025, unchanged, and will retail for $19,999 in black, and $20,499 for white, maroon, or green.

The Super Chief Dark Horse is also a newcomer to the Chief line, but it’s simply the base model glammed up with a glossy black-out treatment from tip to tail. All mechanics are unchanged, and so the Super Chief now comes in two flavors, Limited or Dark Horse, both powered by the Thunderstroke 116; there is no more Super Chief standard. Both bikes run with the Ride Command–enhanced 4-inch touchscreen, ride modes, cruise control, keyless ignition, and USB charging. The Super Chief Limited is available in Black Metallic, Spirit Blue, and Sunset Red Metallic and starts at $21,999; the Super Chief Dark Horse has an MSRP of $21,999 and is available in Black Smoke and Moss Green Smoke.

Related: 2022 Indian Chief Dark Horse First Ride Review

The Indian Chief goes heavy on iconic American V-twin style with a straightforward steel-tube frame, solo seat, and mid-mount pegs. The least expensive Chief is powered by the smaller air-cooled Thunderstroke 111 engine and analog instrument gauges but still comes with ride modes, cruise control, ABS, and LED lighting as standard equipment. For Black Metallic you’ll pay $14,999; Heavy Metal Smoke is $15,499.

The Dark Horse variant of the base Chief gets an upgrade in the form of the bigger Thunderstroke 116 engine, as per Indian convention, and also rolls with the 4-inch TFT touchscreen display powered by Ride Command. Otherwise it’s dimensionally the same as the Chief, with a 19/16 wheelset, 46mm fork, 64-inch wheelbase, and ride modes, ABS, and cruise control. You’ll pay more for the Dark Horse though; it rings in at $18,499 to start and is available in Black Smoke, Blue Dusk, and Sunset Red Smoke.

The only other Thunderstroke 111–powered bike in the Chief lineup is likewise equipped with analog gauges versus the touchscreen display, and is the next lowest priced model in the series. The Bobber departs from the other Chiefs by dint of its wheel sizes and ergonomic layout, with 16-inch wire hoops at both ends, forward controls, and a set of mini-ape handlebars (as well as fork covers). But as with the other bikes, the main components are unchanged, with a 4-gallon tank, 64-inch wheelbase, 46mm fork, 27-inch seat height, and included ride modes, cruise control, ABS, and LED lighting as standard. MSRP is $17,499 for Black Metallic and $17,999 for Nara Bronze Smoke.

If you want the upgraded Chief Bobber, you’ll need to request the Dark Horse trim. The higher-priced Chief Bobber Dark Horse still runs with 16-inch spoke wheels, forward controls, and mini-apes, but adds the burlier Thunderstroke 116 powerplant and the more fully featured modern 4-inch touchscreen with Ride Command as standard equipment. Pricing starts at $19,999 for Black Smoke, whereas Storm Gray or Maroon Metallic will cost you $20,499.

Head over to indianmotorcycle.com for more info.