Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

• Table of Contents
• 1. Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 2. Detailed Specs Comparison: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 3. Design: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 3.1 Design: Harley Davidson Road Glide
• 3.2 Design: Indian Chieftain
• 4. Engine and Performance: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Harley Street Glide
• 4.1 Engine and Performance: Harley Davidson Road Glide
• 4.2 Engine and Performance: Indian Chieftain
• 5. Comfort and Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 5.1 Comfort and Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Road Glide
• 5.2 Comfort and Ergonomics: Indian Chieftain
• 6. Technology and Features: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 7. Pros and Cons: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 7.1 Pros and Cons: Harley Davidson Road Glide
• 7.2 Pros and Cons: Indian Chieftain
• 8. Colors and Cost: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain
• 9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• 9.1 Which is More Comfortable: the Harley Davidson Road Glide or the Indian Chieftain?
• 9.2 What are the Key Differences between the Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain?
• 10. Which is Better: the Harley Davidson Road Glide or the Indian Chieftain?

1. Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

Touring bikes are the most comfortable motorcycles for long-distance rides due to their built-in storage, large fuel tank capacities, powerful and torquey engines, and windshields. Despite being bulky, touring motorcycles are fitted with large displacement engines to ensure better cruising and touring performance. Any motorcycle can be transformed into a touring bike by adding aftermarket parts, but factory-made touring bikes are quite popular these days.

Harley Davidson and Indian are popular American motorcycle brands known for their high-quality cruisers, baggers, and touring bikes. The Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain are among the best touring motorcycles. Both touring bikes are fitted with stock fairings, hard saddlebags, and an infotainment system with a display screen and speakers for a better touring experience. This article provides a detailed comparison between the Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain.

2. Detailed Specs Comparison: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

2022 Harley Davidson Road Glide		2023 Indian Chieftain
Identification
Harley Davidson	Maker	Indian
Road Glide	Model	Chieftain
2022	Year Model	2023
Touring Bike	Motorcycle Type	Bagger-Style, Touring Bike
FLTRX	Model Code	N22TCBAABA
$21,430	Base Price	$22,499
Engine and Performance
1,753 cc (107 cu in)	Displacement	1,811 cc (111 cu in)
Milwaukee-Eight® 107 V-Twin	Engine Design and Type	Thunderstroke 111 V-Twin
Air-Cooled	Cooling System	Air-cooled
Two	No. of Cylinders	Two
Four	Valves Per Cylinder	Two
93 hp at 5,020 rpm	Horsepower	N/A
150.5 Nm at 3,250 rpm	Torque	161.34 Nm at 3,000 rpm
4.37 in	Stroke	4.45 in
3.94 in	Bore	3.98 in
Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)	Fuel Injection System	Closed Loop Fuel Injection / 54 mm Bore
10:1	Compression Ratio	9.5:1
Six-Speed	Transmission	Six-Speed
Belt	Final Drive	Belt
Mechanically Actuated, 10 Plate Wet with Assist & Slipper Clutch	Clutch	Wet, Multiplate, Assist Clutch
43 mpg	Fuel Economy	N/A
Dual Tapered Mufflers	Muffler	Cross-Over, Dual Tapered Mufflers
Two-Into-One-Into-Two Chrome Exhaust	Exhaust	Split Dual Exhaust
Mild Steel Tubular	Frame	Cast Aluminum
Electric	Starter	Electric
Yes	Fairing	Yes
Frame-Mounted, Shark-Nose Fairing	Fairing Style	Streamlined, Fork-Mounted Fairing
Small, Fairing-Mounted	Windshield	Small, Fairing-Mounted
Braking
Dual 300 mm Discs, Four Piston Caliper	Front	Dual 300 mm Discs, Four Piston Caliper
Single 300 mm Disc, Four Piston Caliper	Rear	Single 300 mm Disc, Two Piston Caliper
Optional	ABS	Standard
Yes	Electronic Linked Braking (ELB)	No
Suspension
49 mm Dual Bending Valve	Front	46 mm Telescopic Fork
Low, Hand-Adjustable	Rear	Single Shock absorber with Air Adjust
4.6 in	Front Wheel Travel	4.7 in
2.1 in	Rear Wheel Travel	4.5 in
Tires and Wheels
Dunlop® Harley-Davidson Series	Tires	Metzeler Cruisetec
Enforcer II Cast Aluminum	Wheels	10-Spoke Cast Black
Dimensions and Weight
6.8 in	Trail	5.9 in
26°	Rake	25°
6 gal	Fuel Tank Capacity	5.5 gal
5.5 in	Ground Clearance	5.1 in
38.6 in	Width	40.3 in
51.6 in	Height	51.6 in
95.7 in	Length	98.7 in
25.9 in	Seat Height	25.6 in
64 in	Wheelbase	65.7 in
855 lbs (387.82 kg)	Wet Weight	823 lbs  (373 kg)
820 lbs (371.95 kg)	Dry Weight	791 lbs (359 kg)
31°	Lean Angle (Right)	31°
29°	Lean Angle (Left)	31°
2.3 cu ft	Luggage Capacity	2.43 cu ft

3. Design: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

3.1 Design: Harley Davidson Road Glide

The Harley Davidson Road Glide is one of the most comfortable and stylish touring bikes in the Harley Grand American Touring lineup. It has both a modern and classic look with its aggressive shark-nose fairing design and chrome finishing. The Harley Road Glide has a wide, heavy front end due to being fitted with crash bars, two Stylish LED headlamps, and frame-mounted fairing that stays fixed in place even while turning the handlebars. Two of the analog gauges are handlebar-mounted and two small analog gauges are mounted to the fairing, along with a display screen, two speakers, and a small windshield. The chrome side mirrors are attached to mid-mounted, pulled-back handlebars. The Harley Road Glide is also fitted with a narrow, chopped front mudguard and a wide, full-sized rear mudguard with a small tail/stop light, rear turn signals, license plate holder, and saddlebag brackets. It comes with a single-piece rider and passenger saddle capable of two-up riding.

3.2 Design: Indian Chieftain

The Indian Chieftain is a modern bagger-style motorbike with chrome and blacked-out parts. It is fitted with a round headlamp enclosed in a streamlined, fork-mounted fairing with a small windscreen. The fairing is wide enough to cover the handlebars’ grips, able to also function as hand guards. The Indian Chieftain also comes with a flat, step-up seat capable of two-up riding. It comes with vintage-styled front and rear mudguards. The Indian Chieftain also comes with an infotainment system powered by Ride Command, including a seven-inch touchscreen, analog gauges, and two high-output speakers. The chrome side mirrors are mounted to the low-mounted, swept-back handlebars.

4. Engine and Performance: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Harley Street Glide

4.1 Engine and Performance: Harley Davidson Road Glide

The Harley Davidson Road Glide is powered by a 1,753 cc air-cooled, Milwaukee-Eight® 107 engine capable of a torque of 93 hp at 5,020 rpm and a horsepower of 150.5 Nm at 3,250 rpm. The Milwaukee-Eight® 107 V-Twin engine has a compression ratio of 10:1 and provides smooth torque and power delivery. However, due to being a heavyweight motorbike, the Harley Road Glide does not have a quick throttle response. It is fitted with a six-speed transmission and a mechanically actuated clutch with assist and slipper functions for smooth gear shifts and clutch operation.

For reliable braking, the Harley Road Glide comes with 300 mm dual front discs and a single 300 mm rear disc brake with four-piston front and rear calipers. However, the ABS is an optional feature and can be installed for $819. To improve rider safety, the Harley Road Glide comes with Electronically Linked Braking (ELB) that prevents the wheels from locking when the brakes are applied suddenly to ensure the rider maintains balance. It also comes with standard cruise control for a better cruising experience on highways and open roads.

4.2 Engine and Performance: Indian Chieftain

The Indian Chieftain is equipped with a larger and more powerful engine than the Harley Road Glide. The 1,811 cc air-cooled, Thunderstroke 111 engine is capable of a torque of 161.34 Nm at 3,000 rpm. The Indian Chieftain is also fitted with a six-speed gearbox that drives the rear wheel via a belt drive. The Thunderstroke 111 engine ensures refined and smooth power delivery due to its improved piston design.

The Indian Chieftain received major updates in 2019, including a lighter overall weight, smaller overall size, three switchable riding modes, and a rear cylinder deactivation system. The rider is assured a relaxed cruising experience with a slow throttle response when switched to tour mode. For a fast riding experience with quick throttle response, the rider can switch to sport mode and standard mode for normal riding conditions. The rear cylinder deactivation system helps shut down the rear cylinder as soon as the motorcycle stops to maintain engine temperature while riding through slow-moving traffic. The rear cylinder restarts as soon as the motorcycle starts to accelerate.

The Indian Chieftain is fitted with dual 300 mm front discs and a single 300 mm rear disc with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, along with standard ABS and cruise control features.

5. Comfort and Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

5.1 Comfort and Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Road Glide

Photo Credit: @blackgoldhd

The Harley Davidson Road Glide has comfortable riding ergonomics due to its mid-mounted pulled-back handlebars within the comfortable reach of the rider. The rider can comfortably rest their feet on forward-mounted floorboards. The pulled-back handlebars position, a low seat height of 25.9 inches, and forward-mounted floorboards ensure a relaxed riding position on long-distance rides. The Harley Road Glide’s adequate legroom and handlebars position are ideal for both taller and shorter riders. However, it has a wet weight of 855 lbs due to being built with heavy metallic parts and a bulky front end which makes handling tough for beginners. It is not a beginner-friendly touring bike due to being difficult to maneuver at low speeds.

5.2 Comfort and Ergonomics: Indian Chieftain

Photo Credit: @bikedeadline

The Indian Chieftain and the Harley Road Glide have almost similar riding styles and ergonomics. The Indian Chieftain is fitted with mid-mounted, swept-back handlebars within comfortable reach of the rider. It has a low seat height of 25.6 inches and also comes with forward-mounted floorboards. The swept-back handlebars, low seat height, and forward-mounted floorboards ensure adequate legroom and a relaxed riding position. The Indian Chieftain comes with better-performing, longer-wheel travel suspensions, ensuring comfortable rides on smooth and bumpy roads. However, it has a low ground clearance of 5.1 inches which makes it difficult to go over big bumps. The Indian Chieftain is 32 lbs lighter than the Harley Road Glide due to being built with a lightweight aluminum frame.

6. Technology and Features: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

2022 Harley Davidson Road Glide		2023 Indian Chieftain
Technology and Features
Optional	ABS	Standard
Standard	Electronic Linked Braking (ELB)	No
Standard	Cruise Control	Standard
✕	Riding Modes	(Sport, Tour, Standard)
✕	Rear Cylinder Deactivation	✓
Handlebars and Fairing-Mounted	Gauges	Fairing-Mounted
✓	Speedometer	✓
✓	Clock	✓
✓	Tachometer	✓
✓	Fuel Gauge	✓
✓	Low Fuel Warning	✓
✓	Trip A & Trip B	✓
✓	Odometer	✓
✓	Gear Indicator	✓
✓	Passenger Seat	✓
Infotainment
Boom!™ Box 4.3	System	Ride Command
✓	Display Screen	✓ (7 in)
✓	Speakers	✓
✓	Bluetooth	✓
✓	AM / FM	✓
✓	USB Connection	✓

7. Pros and Cons: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

7.1 Pros and Cons: Harley Davidson Road Glide

Harley Davidson Road Glide Pros	Harley Davidson Road Glide Cons
Comfortable ergonomics	Smaller rear wheel travel
Ideal touring bike	Inadequate horsepower
Relaxed riding position	Not beginner-friendly
Stock saddlebags, crash bars, and floorboards	Difficult to maneuver at low speeds
Stock shark-nose fairing	ABS is optional
Stock infotainment system with a display screen and two speakers	Smaller windshield
Stock cruise control	Heavyweight
Comfortable for taller and shorter riders

7.2 Pros and Cons: Indian Chieftain

Indian Chieftain Pros	Indian Chieftain Cons
Powerful and torquey engine	Low ground clearance
Comfortable ergonomics	Starter switch problem
Modern bagger-style look	Gear indicator failure
Low seat height	Mufflers overheat
ABS and cruise control are standard	Faulty circuit breakers
Comes with three riding modes and a cylinder deactivation system	Electrical system failure
Stock saddlebags, fairing, and floorboards	Engine stalls out
Stock infotainment system	Poor-quality clutch cables
Comes with a touchscreen and two speakers	Heavyweight

8. Colors and Cost: Harley Davidson Road Glide Vs. Indian Chieftain

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

9.1 Which is More Comfortable: the Harley Davidson Road Glide or the Indian Chieftain?

Both the Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain have comfortable ergonomics and are ideal touring bikes. Both motorcycles are fitted with swept-back handlebars, forward-mounted floorboards, and have low seat heights ensuring an upright riding position and relaxed ergonomics. Both motorcycles can be comfortably ridden by taller and shorter riders. However, the Indian Chieftain is more comfortable and easier to handle due to being 32 lbs lighter than the Harley Road Glide. It is also more fun and well-rounded bike with a stock seven-inch touchscreen, a standard ABS, cruise control, rear cylinder deactivation system, and three switchable riding modes.

9.2 What are the Key Differences between the Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain?

Key Differences between the Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain
2022 Harley Davidson Road Glide	2023 Indian Chieftain
Frame-mounted shark-nose fairing	Front fork-mounted, streamlined fairing
Dual headlamps	Single round headlamp
1,753 cc (107 cu in)	1,811 cc (111 cu in)
Milwaukee-Eight® 107	Thunderstroke 111
Less powerful and torquey	More powerful and torquey
ABS is optional	ABS is standard
High ground clearance	Low ground clearance
Fuel tank capacity of 6 gal	Fuel tank capacity of 5.5 gal
Wet weight of 855 lbs	Wet weight of 823 lbs
Stock crash bars	No crash bars
Smaller rear wheel travel	Longer rear wheel travel

10. Which is Better: the Harley Davidson Road Glide or the Indian Chieftain?

The Harley Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Chieftain are aesthetically appealing, bagger-style motorcycles designed to provide excellent cruising and touring experiences. Both motorcycles come with a stock infotainment system with dual speakers, an interactive display screen, multiple gauges, a USB connection, and keyless ignition. For a comfortable touring experience, both motorcycles are fitted with stock hard saddlebags, floorboards, and fairings. The Harley Davidson Road Glide only has electronically linked braking and cruise control as standard features. Meanwhile, the Indian Chieftain is equipped with several standard ride-assist features, including an ABS, three switchable riding modes, cruise control, and a rear-cylinder deactivation system. However, Harley Road Glide is the more popular touring bike due to its being more reliable. It can be transformed into an ideal touring bike by installing a few aftermarket parts, including a large windscreen, rider and passenger’s backrests, luggage racks, and sissy bars.

Photo Credit: @aeharley , @indianmotorcycleofseva