Indian Chief Dark Horse: Specs, Features, Background, Performance, & More

The Indian Chief Dark Horse is a fun-filled, fast ride designed to cater to the needs of riders. This cruiser is not only reliable for daily commutes but will get you across interstates in case you want to escape the stress of daily life. The Dark Horse is a one-of-kind ride as not all motorcycles are suitable for long-distance trips.

The Dark Horse gets its styling from the Indian Chief Classic, but it possesses the same Thunder Stroke 116 engine that powers the Indian Roadmaster. With the 1890 cc engine, six-speed transmission, agile handlebars, comfortable saddle, and four-gallon fuel tank, the bike performs beyond expectations on long motorcycle roads and highways.

It is a pleasure to ride and own this bike. With the new technological upgrades in the 2022 model, Indian Motorcycle Company has outdone itself.

In this article, we will discuss the specs, features, and performance of the Indian Chief Dark Horse in detail. Read on to see if this motorcycle deserves a place in your garage.

The Indian Motorcycle Company launched three distinct cruiser lineups in 2016: the Indian Scout Sixty, Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, and Indian Chief Dark Horse.

The Scout Sixty was a lightweight cruiser and the Chief Dark Horse was a heavyweight cruiser. The Chieftain Dark Horse was a tourer equipped with motorcycle luggage and a wide fairing.

According to test riders and reviewers, the Indian Dark Horse is a variant of the Chief Classic. The Chief Classic featured chrome accents while the Chief Dark Horse was given a blacked-out treatment to suit its “dark” identity.

The design team removed the heavy mud guards, analog fuel gauge, passenger seat, oil cooler, and driving lights. However, the team added an advanced touchscreen with digital functions to improve the cruising experience.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse is yet to undergo any mechanical changes during its six-year-long production run. The black smoke paint scheme was launched every year without fail.

The 2021 model was not launched because the Chief Dark Horse was unable to meet the emission laws. As a result from April 2020 till August 2021, new Dark Horse motorcycles were not available for sale.

Eventually, engineers managed to tweak the Chief Dark Horse’s exhaust system to meet the emission rules. In 2022, the Chief Dark Horse made a comeback with a better exhaust, technology, paint jobs, and no raised price.

The Chief Dark Horse boasts a superior quality build and a modern frame design. There is nothing old-school or outdated about this stunning black beauty.

The 2022 model is available in three distinct color schemes: gray, black and jade.

This bike lacks chrome accents but boasts highly-finished blacked-out parts.

The flat handlebars add to the modern look and feature a four-inch touch screen.

The design team has removed the extra large bulky mudguards to create a sleeker look. The solo leather seat complements the elegant cruiser lines on the tank. The cut-short front and rear fenders, integrated tail light, large LED headlight, and thick beefy tires conform to the modern style theme of the Dark Horse.

The Chief Dark Horse features an LED headlight and tail light for maximum visibility. The bike also features brake lights and turn signals to reduce the risk of collisions.

The Chief Dark Horse features a powerful Thunder Stroke 116 engine. The motor displaces 1890 cc and produces a maximum horsepower of 79 hp and a maximum torque of 162 Nm at 2900 rpm. The engine’s performance is impressive and guarantees a thrilling ride.

The six-speed transmission is smooth and delivers the engine’s power to the rear wheel in an efficient manner. If you rev the engine in second or third gear, you can attain high speeds.

The clutch is precise, allowing quiet and smooth gear transitions. The dual exhaust fulfills its purpose of increasing the outflow of gases for bigger power outputs. The rhythmic exhaust note helps rider stay content and relaxed throughout a ride.

The Dark Horse is anything but lightweight but you hardly notice the motorcycle’s heft when it starts moving. The flat handlebars, large fork, and long wheel base and trail make it a nimble ride when going in straight lines but also handles well when turning corners.

The front suspension is well-damped and supported by the rear dual shocks with adjustable preload. Due to the Chief Dark Horse’s suspensions, you will enjoy a plush riding experience regardless of the conditions of the road and weather.

The Chief Dark Horse’s front brakes are a bit soft. A rider needs to adjust his/her riding style to utilize both front and rear brakes for maximum stopping power.

The Pirelli Night Dragon tires are durable and offer maximum traction on slick roads and sharp corners. The machine highlighted cast black wheels look stunning and give the bike its authoritative look.

The plush rider seat, flat handlebars, and mid-mounted foot pegs make for a comfortable ergonomic design. The low seat height inspires confidence by keeping a low center of gravity. Due to its exceptional comfort, riders use this everyday cruiser for long hauls.

At the Dark Horse’s handlebars is a touchscreen that provides necessary information to the rider about the vehicle, riding conditions, road maps, navigation, ride modes, and bluetooth connectivity. Now you won’t have to stop just to get your phone out and take a call. You can conveniently operate your phone through this touchscreen.

The bike also features a cylinder deactivation system that shuts down the rear cylinder when your bike is at rest. The keyless ignition and cruise control makes it easier to ride this heavyweight bike.

The instruments include a speedometer, fuel gauge, trip meter, odometer, clock, gear position indicator, tachometer, and compass.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse is a mid-sized cruiser. On an empty tank, it weighs 647 lbs. On a full tank, it weighs 670 lbs.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse has an estimated horsepower of 79 hp.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse can attain a top speed of 100-115 mph.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse was priced at $17,499 in its debut year. The price rose to $17,999 in 2019. The latest 2022 model of the Indian Chief Dark Horse is also available at $17,999 and riders find it a bit expensive, but the features of the bike are worth the price.

The Indian Chief Dark Horse is a fun ride with a torquey engine, comfortable rear shocks, modern styling, all-black look, a raked-out front fork for stability, and thick tires. The front brakes are a bit soft but the large rear disc brake provides much needed stopping power. The touch screen display and high-tech features that allow riders to control the functions of the motorcycle make this bike a superb ride.

If you want an American cruiser that is not built by Harley Davidson, then the Indian Chief Dark Horse is perfect for you.

When you own a bike like the Chief Dark Horse, you want to get the most out of your cruiser. The Dark Horse has proven to be a reliable urban motorcycle. With this beast waiting in your garage, going to work everday is going to be fun. But you can also enjoy some freedom with this bike as your ride.

To make your naked cruiser a tourer, you only need a few add-ons. This may include a  fairing,  crash bars,  backrest,  sissy bar,  luggage racks, and  saddlebags.

Once you mount the right  aftermarket parts to your Indian Chief Dark Horse, hit the roads and explore beautiful camping sites for a life changing experience.