Indian Pursuit Limited Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide

Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles are two of the oldest motorcycle companies and have been rivals since 1903. Both motorcycle companies have had their ups and downs, but have managed to build a strong reputation of building reliable, durable, and stylish motorcycles. Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles are the only American motorcycle companies to survive two World Wars and economic crises. After Polaris purchased Indian Motorcycles and Harley Davidson appointed new management, both motorcycle brands gained worldwide popularity due to their effective global marketing plans and innovation.

The Indian Pursuit Limited and the Harley Davidson Road Glide are bagger-style touring bikes with stock hard saddlebags, a wide fairing, a windscreen, crash bars, and floorboards. Both motorcycles are ideal for comfortable long-distance, two-up riding. However, the Indian Pursuit Limited is a slightly better touring bike due to being fitted with a trunk offering more storage capacity and a comfortable passenger seat with a backrest and armrest. The Indian Pursuit Limited is also fitted with a more powerful and torquey engine. However, due to being fitted with heavier parts, a large trunk, and a bigger engine, it is heavier than the Harley Road Glide. This article is a detailed comparison between the Indian Pursuit Limited and the Harley Davidson Road Glide.

The Indian Pursuit Limited is a heavyweight bagger, ideal for touring and long-distance rides due to being fitted with a midsize windshield, hard saddlebags, a large trunk, a comfortable passenger seat, backrest, armrests, and luggage rack. It is fitted with a step-up seat that offers lumbar support for the rider. The Indian Pursuit Limited also has bolder lighting due to its large, round headlamp, stylish front indicators, and two premium driving lights integrated into the lower fairings. It also has two additional storage compartments in the fairings for storing gloves, sunglasses, and mobile phones. The Indian Pursuit Limited is fitted with chrome crash bars for engine and frame protection and a blacked-out, liquid-cooled radiator behind the front wheel. The teardrop-shaped, chrome side mirrors are attached to low-mounted, pulled-back handlebars. The Indian Pursuit Limited also comes with chrome dual tapered mufflers, floorboards, and sport contrast cutwheels wrapped around Metzeler Cruisetec® tires.

The Harley Davidson Road Glide is a vintage, bagger-style touring bike with modern features, including a frame-mounted shark-nose fairing with stylish twin headlamps, a small windshield, analog gauges, dual speakers, storage compartments, a small display screen, and pulled-back, buckhorn handlebars with chrome side mirrors. The Harley Road Glide is also fitted with a single-piece step-up seat capable of comfortable two-up riding. The dip in the seat offers lower back support for the rider. The Harley Road Glide has a blacked-out frame and chrome finish; the engine guard, front forks, dual tapered mufflers, an air breather, cylinder heads, and handlebars being the only parts covered in chrome. The Harley Road Glide also comes with forward-mounted floorboards so that the rider can comfortably place their feet. The chopped front and rear fenders with a small LED tail/stop light and rear turn signals. The Harley Road Glide also comes with stock hard saddlebags with a storage capacity of 2.3 cu ft.

The Indian Pursuit Limited is powered by a 1,768 cc liquid-cooled, PowerPlus® 108 V-Twin engine capable of a torque of 173.54 Nm at 3,800 rpm and a horsepower of 122 hp. Though there is a slight difference in engine size, the Indian Pursuit Limited produces 29 hp more horsepower and 23.04 Nm more torque than the Harley Road Glide. The liquid-cooled system has better thermal efficiency, manages engine temperature more effectively in various riding conditions, and improves fuel efficiency. The Indian Pursuit Limited also comes with several standard features, including an ABS, cruise control, traction control, and a rear cylinder deactivation system for a better and safer riding experience.

Despite being a heavyweight motorcycle with a wet weight of 912 lbs (413 kg), the Indian Pursuit Limited has a quick throttle response. With its throttle response and traction control, the rider can switch between three riding modes, including Rain, Sport, and Standard depending on the road conditions and personal preferences. For a comfortable touring and cruising experience, the Indian Pursuit Limited comes with a six-speed constant mesh transmission, belt drive, and standard cruise control.

The Indian Pursuit Limited also comes with high-output speakers and an infotainment system with an LCD screen, Navigation, Bluetooth, and USB connection. It has an adjustable electronic windscreen that can be raised to reduce turbulence while cruising on highways.

Due to being fitted with a frame-mounted fairing, the Indian Pursuit Limited’s front end does not have an uneven distribution of weight while turning corners. With a lean angle of 31°, the rider can easily turn tight corners without scraping the floorboards against the ground. The Indian Pursuit Limited is also fitted with high-performance, hydraulically adjustable, FOX single shock and a 43 mm inverted telescopic fork. The front suspension has a wheel travel of 5.1 inches and the rear suspension has a wheel travel of 4.5 inches.

The Harley Davidson Road Glide is fitted with a 1,753 cc air-cooled, Milwaukee-Eight 107, V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 93 hp and a torque of 150.5 Nm. The Harley Road Glide has a wet weight of 855 lbs which makes handling a bit difficult for newer riders, especially when traveling at lower speeds. It also cannot accelerate quickly due to being a heavyweight motorcycle. However, the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine ensures smooth power delivery at all gear levels. The Harley Road Glide’s six-speed transmission and the assist and slipper clutch ensure smooth gear shift and clutch operation.

The Harley Road Glide is fitted with cruise control and electronically linked braking (ELB). The ELB ensures that the wheels don’t lock up when the brakes are suddenly applied in an emergency so the rider can maintain the balance. However, braking can be improved by installing an optional ABS feature for $819. For a comfortable touring experience, the Harley Road Glide comes with a front dual-bending valve and hand-adjustable rear shocks. However, the rear suspension has a wheel travel of 2.1 inches, making long-distance rides slightly uncomfortable.

The Indian Pursuit Limited is an ideal touring bike that does not require upgrades and customization. It is fitted with standard ride-assist and safety features to ensure a safer riding experience, stock luggage capacity, and wind protection. The Indian Pursuit Limited has forward-mounted floorboards that provide adequate legroom for both average and taller riders. Its seat height of 26.5 inches, low-mounted and swept-back handlebars, and adequate legroom ensure a relaxed riding position.

For a fun riding experience when traveling long distances, the Indian Pursuit Limited comes with an infotainment system powered by the Ride Command+ which includes tire pressure monitoring, Apple CarPlay, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, weather, and live traffic overlays.

The Harley Davidson Road Glide is known for its comfortable riding ergonomics due to its swept-back, buckhorn handlebars being within comfortable reach of the rider. There is a dip in the rider’s seat which offers a low seat height of 25.9 inches. The forward-mounted floorboards also ensure adequate legroom for shorter and taller riders. The handlebars’ position, forward-mounted foot controls, and low seat height ensure an upright back position. However, the Harley Road Glide is not an ideal motorbike for beginners due to being a heavyweight vehicle. It is also difficult to maneuver at low speeds and ride through traffic due to its heavier front end.

The Harley Road Glide can be transformed into an ideal touring bike by adding a few aftermarket parts, including a large windscreen, luggage racks, sissy bars, and backrests.

The Indian Pursuit Limited and the Harley Davidson Road Glide are comfortable bagger-style touring bikes with low seat heights, adequate legroom, and relaxed riding positions. Both motorcycles are widely popular among motorcycle enthusiasts due to being suited for touring and long-distance rides. However, the Indian Pursuit Limited is better for touring due to being fitted with an electronically adjustable windscreen and a large trunk with an integrated passenger seat, backrest, and armrests. It is ideal for long-distance travel and offers a comfortable two-up riding experience.

The Indian Pursuit Limited and the Harley Davidson Road Glide are bulky, bagger-style touring bikes with stock aggressive-style, shark-nose fairings, windshields, hard saddlebags, and crash bars. Both motorcycles are best-suited for comfortable touring and long-distance rides. The Harley Road Glide’s low seat height of 25.9 inches, buckhorn handlebars, and adequate legroom make it a good choice for shorter and taller riders. However, for better two-up riding, the Indian Pursuit Limited comes with a more powerful and torquey engine and a trunk with an integrated passenger seat. It is also equipped with several standard ride-assist and safety features, including an ABS, cruise control, traction control, three riding modes, a rear cylinder deactivation system, and a heated seat and grips. However, the Indian Pursuit Limited costs $8,569 more than the Harley Road Glide.