Indian Motorcycle is betting big on the touring category with the new Pursuit, which will be available in both Limited and Dark Horse trims.
Powered by the stout PowerPlus engine, Indian claims the new Pursuit is “the most capable and refined American touring machine on the road.” The PowerPlus 1768cc v-twin is liquid-cooled and provides massive power (121 horsepower and 131 foot/pounds of torque) compared to traditional air-cooled v-twins in the cruiser category. Pricing and details can be found on Indian’s website. Here is the full press release followed by a video from Indian:
Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today unleashed the next generation of American V-Twin touring performance with the launch of the Indian Pursuit. Featuring the liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine, seamless ride-enhancing technology, a chassis-mounted fairing, and loads of touring amenities, the 2022 Indian Pursuit stakes its claim as the most capable and refined American touring machine on the road.
The Indian Pursuit builds on the successful platform launched with the Indian Challenger that took American V-Twin performance and handling to a new level. The platform, built around the liquid-cooled PowerPlus motor, introduced a world-class level of sophistication from its lightweight cast aluminium frame, chassis-mounted fairing, premium running gear and state-of-the-art electronics.
The Indian Pursuit is packed with unparalleled comfort and performance and was thoughtfully engineered for discerning riders who value the journey as much as the destination. Available in two premium models for international markets, riders can select an offering to fit their personal style.
“Touring bikes are one of the ultimate expressions of freedom – enabling unforgettable experiences through longer escapes and epic adventures on the open road,” said Mike Dougherty, President for Indian Motorcycle. “With Pursuit, we’ve expanded on the unparalleled sophistication of the PowerPlus motor to deliver a class-leading, fully-loaded touring machine that combines top-tier performance with unparalleled comfort and advanced tech features, delivering an American V-twin touring experience unlike any other.”
At the heart of the Pursuit is the smooth and high revving Indian Motorcycle PowerPlus engine, a 1768cc, liquid-cooled V-twin that delivers a class-leading 90kW (121 hp) and 178Nm (131 ft-lbs) of torque. Overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder deliver incredible V-twin performance and power from a powertrain that features a six-speed transmission with true overdrive, assist clutch to reduce clutch effort, and hydraulic valve lash adjusters and camshaft chain tensioners for a low maintenance and reliable powerplant. In addition, the Indian Pursuit features a refined PowerPlus calibration, which improves low-speed drivability and further enhances the rider experience.
Riders can customise the bike’s throttle mapping to suit their riding style, or the conditions, by selecting from three ride modes, including Rain, Standard and Sport. Each mode has been engineered with its own distinct traction control settings to match its throttle mapping and provide maximum confidence to the rider.
The Indian Pursuit is designed for optimal comfort on long, epic journeys. The chassis-mounted fairing provides for lighter steering and is less affected by the wind. The adjustable windscreen and vented lower fairings provide superior protection from the elements and a heightened level of flexibility to adjust to varying weather and temperature conditions. Premium style integrated driving lights in the lower fairings improve visibility at night and in colder weather, heated grips keep riders’ hands warm while the Pursuit’s new Heated Touring Comfort seat delivers unprecedented comfort. In addition, a premium cargo trunk and spacious saddlebags combine for more than 133 litres of power-locking storage – allowing riders to pack everything they need for longer rides.
Keeping the rider informed, the Pursuit comes with a glove-friendly, industry-leading seven-inch touchscreen display powered by RIDE COMMAND. With RIDE COMMAND, the touchscreen display offers Apple CarPlay®, GPS with turn-by-turn navigation* and a multitude of bike data to customise your view.
The Indian Pursuit features an all-new electronically adjustable rear suspension preload from Fox®, which allows riders to adjust their preload for optimal comfort and handling under varying conditions. Whether riding solo, two-up or carrying more cargo – the electronically adjustable rear suspension preload is managed from the convenience of the bike’s infotainment system. The new electronic preload is also available as an accessory upgrade for all Indian Challenger models.
Race-spec radially-mounted Brembo® brakes provide powerful and progressive stopping power, and performance touring Metzeler® Cruisetec® tyres offer supreme traction and unbeatable line holding. In addition, both models offer intuitive Smart Lean Technology, which keeps riders confidently grounded by utilising a Bosch® IMU to add cornering control to the dynamic traction control and ABS for precise cornering, maximised braking, and maximised acceleration.
Indian Pursuit riders looking to further personalise their ride can do so with two kit options for their Hard Lower Fairings, a set of Mitered Mid-Rise Handlebars, LED lighting options, and various soft luggage pieces. To further utilise the space within the Pursuit’s Hard Lower Fairings, riders can add additional storage compartments or integrate an Indian Motorcycle PowerBand Audio Kit. When fully upgraded with PowerBand Audio, riders will experience surround sound with four points, including front fairing, lower fairings, saddlebags and cargo trunk. The Indian Motorcycle Mitred Mid-Rise Handlebars not only add a stylish custom look, but also place the upper controls in a comfortable, elevated position. Riders can also add LED lighting for enhanced visibility, including an Adaptive LED Headlight option that automatically optimises where light shines based on the bike’s lean angle. And finally, riders can choose from four versatile pieces in the Spirit Lake Luggage Collection for protected, organised gear that’s easy to attach and detach from the bike.
The Indian Pursuit Limited will be available in Black Metallic and the Indian Pursuit Dark Horse will be available in Black Smoke and Silver Quartz Smoke. For pricing and availability in your region, please contact your local Indian Motorcycle press contact.
Note: Images show the North American model and may have accessories fitted. International models may vary.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu.
*navigation may not be available in all countries.
Does it include a fold-up electric dual-sport in one of the bags? If not, forget it.
Beyond a certain threshold of mass doesn’t a cage make more sense?
Does the sale include the 115# rear passenger? If no, forget it.
Gross. In every sense of the word.
I can’t stand that they call themselves America’s “first” motorcycle company. It’s BS and I think I’ll sue them into oblivion.
Harley considers themselves a “Motor Company”, so maybe it’s not so misleading – though there have been a couple hundred US motorcycle manufacturers before 1998 when Polaris started manufacturing motorcycles under the “Victory” brand and 2013 when they started manufacturing under the “Indian” brand (even though they aren’t from India…)
A British loudspeaker company is called “PMC” which stands for professional monitor company, as if their hundred or so competitors are not.
I will still take the looks of my 2012 Cross Country Tour over the ugly Indian fairing. Victory is still going strong…really wish the brand would come back with an exciting middle weight ADV bike.
Why not put this engine in the Springfield model?
Why are we always forced to chose between form and function when we can have both?
I went to an Indian demo ride not too long ago and rode a Challenger. The fit and finish was poor, the motor was unremarkable, and it felt as lumbering and ungainly as you’d expect something with that weight and wheelbase to feel. If this suits you, more power to you, but I don’t get it.
I demo’d the latest FTR. Really kind of boring. I thought it was going to be aggressive and hooligan-ish. The thing felt like an old BMW R1200RT, quiet and soft and noticeably fat and heavy. If you want something that is exciting or ferocious, look elsewhere.
I remember the years of hype after they produced the dirt track bike. We’re gone make a street version!
Then they released the FTR. No they didn’t. And it’s looking like they never will.
KTM still makes a street legal item in their EXC line that is as close to the real thing as they can get away with. It can and has been done for a long time. Why must everyone else think that some body work and an ad campaign is all that is necessary.
I guess an image is all that most buyers ever want. Or the market wouldn’t be the way that it is.
It’s relatively easy for KTM because they are already making volume in off road bikes. All they did was add road equipment to the dirt bike, knowing it had a customer.
Indian could’ve probably done it if they believed there were enough markets where the 750cc engine (or whatever they could safely stroke it to) would be compelling in a variety of platforms. This assumes that the 750 race shop engine’s design can even achieve street able longevity, performance and emissions standards.
We can envision it in “middleweight” bikes of various flavors but we must remember that the FTR is he first non-cruiser they’ve made. Such things are just beyond their brand scope right now.
Buyers want performance, reliability and style. The existing FTR delivers that.
BTW, I’m interested in your (Mick) opinion of the Aprilia SXV bikes. They’re basically twin-cylinder mx bikes. Seems like a canvas for this mythical multi cylinder super light you’re always asking for.
I was thrilled to see the SXV bikes come out. It was unfortunate that they had reliability issues, and that they killed them rather than address those issues. I was set to buy the updated model.
In the end they never became a benchmark that I was hoping for. Nor did they start a trend to explore the no bikes land between 250ish pound dirt bikes and what is now quickly becoming 500ish pound street bikes.
Polaris has been making Harley clones for about thirty years or so. Making a street bike that is as close to the dirt track bike as they could get away with would given them a unique product. One that would remind people that Polaris is a company that makes performance products.
Instead they did another Harley clone by slapping some bodywork on their Sportster.
So here we are watching them try to get people to buy their Harley from the snowmobile company in Minneapolis rather than the motorcycle company in Milwaukee.
Being from Minnesota, I wish them well. I just wish, well…
Love it!
Personally, I really like my ‘12 Road King Classic. No touch screen( hate em), infotainment or a bunch of other gadgets. Does have cruise, ABS, Brembos on the front, throttle by wire and detachable windshield. All I need. Even though it weighs 800lbs, it handles and brakes very well. For the riding I do with it, can’t think of a better bike to do it on. Bikes like this Indian, regardless of make, are too much for my taste.
I agree 100%. Today’s latest and greatest tech too quickly becomes yesterday’s outdated junk. My ‘07 Road King suits me just fine, no gadgets, just a fine classily styled motorcycle that has been rock solid reliable and has taken me all over the US and Canada.
When I see these gadget all I can think about is that I get a new laptop every three years. I keep bikes forever.
Love those Indian motorcycles!
They just keep getting better and better!!
My 1979 CX500 weighed 450# and served as my touring/go anywhere bike back in the early 80’s. At the time I never thought that my skinny 120# bum needed anything bigger to haul me around (I did eyeball my buddies R100RS that weighed 50# more, though). Even though my current touring bike weighs 800#, I sometimes opt to do all-day rides on my 250 dual sport. It can be done amigo…
Both the CX500 and R100RS are right around 500 lb wet, the RS being around 50% more powerful. I get it though. My K75S weighs 20 pounds more than those with 5 hp more than the R100. My bike is a “bagger” too as I’ve loaded it up and done some pretty good distances in comfort and speed – power for pound, my bike is more powerful than this Indian!
If you consider dollars per pound, it is very cheap. But when you write the check you’ll realize it is very expensive. And when you ride it you’ll realize it is very heavy as well.
Craigslist is loaded with low mile baggers for cheap money. That tells you something. I’m surprised Indian has made this thing.
Nice bike, but … too big and $$$!
My minimal bagger is a used ($4000) 2006 Sportster 1200 Custom. Got decent saddle bags, windshield, crashbars, sissy bar and tool bag. Works for me.
I know a lot of readers here complain about the oragami/insectoid/insert-tired-adjective-here styling of many modern bikes, but the bagger class of motorcycle has always taken the ugly-stick award in my opinion. This one looks better than most in the class, but what a low bar to start with.
Lose 75kg(of course a fantasy) add 30HP (doable-if KTM can get 180 claimed from 1290cc so can Indian and Harley?)
They should make a 1200cc engine in this configuration and sell the touring equipment as an option, lose some of that weight.
By the time most guys can afford one they can’t hold it up anymore (The motorcycle too).
Yeah, it’s sad!
True. Youth is wasted on the young. Wealth is wasted on the old.
Maybe this Indian Pursuit suggests pursuit of youth.
Maybe it’s referring to a pursuit of H-D in the class.
open front fender? NOPE.
Does it have a reverse gear? A slight incline in the wrong direction would be challenging considering the weight.
I’ve seen that play out a few times. Had to help a guy push his bike backward when he couldn’t do a 3-point turn around on nearly flat ground. What if I hadn’t been there?
He’d have gotten off and pushed? Been there done that with Adventure bikes due to my stubby inseam.
No, he’d have dropped it for sure if he had tried that. He simply wasn’t strong enough to manage his bike.
Good grief. He must have wanted a particular bike pretty bad buy a bike he couldn’t manage at a standstill.
I think it’s pretty common. Purchase with style in mind, ignoring use case. I see lots of guys riding baggers that I don’t think could move their bike backward on even the slightest incline.
Do people still buy these things?
It amazes me that any company would bring a new bagger to market when you see these things sitting on showroom floors or on craiglist or marketplace for months on end. I guess you don’t need to sell a ton of them (pun intended) when prices will soon be flirting with 40K. It also seems like a marketing gamble given the fact that people do not freely roam around the country like they did say two or three years ago…..
I think more people are traveling the country now. The pandemic caused a huge acceleration in retirement. I know several working people that took advantage of remote work and have been traveling in vans and light rv’s.
I know that I am about the last guy on earth to understand anything about this market. But Pursuit? It just doesn’t look like anyone’s first choice of a piece of equipment to go chase someone down with. Boy would they be embarrassed if you did.
Maybe they’re referencing “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (for some, I guess, but this is not my kind of motorcycle)
I agree with Mick and was thinking what a weird name too.
Looks to be very well-equipped, except they forgot the other two wheels!
Good one. I wish that they would put on a third wheel, at least.
Can an adventure tourer be far behind?
I think an ADV bike would be far ahead!
This is not my style of bike, but this engine is a gem in the Challenger.
Between the engine and Indian’s excellent electronics package, this bike should be a very good touring bike for the people who want this sort of thing.
I test rode the Challenger and was impressed. The package worked quite well excluding a sensitive throttle response, thus was the first year production and I’ve since been informed that issue has been resolved. The Pursuit is a natural extension in the line up and it will certainly impress. Big touring comfort requires tunes and road info /gps. Although the weight is abundant the low CG and sturdy chassis hide it well. The level of performance from this engine is perfect for serious touring.
Seriously nearly 600 pounds heavier than my KTM, 400 pounds heavier than my K75S. I’m sure this thing is a dog and handles terribly with all that weight. Ugly as all get out!
I’ve ridden a Challenger, and it handled quite nicely, especially considering the size and weight.
For the target demographic, this should be a terrific motorcycle. My not being in the target demographic does not lessen the desirability of the bike.
I’m not into this gigundo behemoth B-29 bomber motor rolling pimp-wagon stuff, but the lines are clean. I wish they would scale it down 67% to give us a light version with the full dress package and a posh ride. Also nix the 50 lbs of super duper home entertainment screens and system crap – easier to use cell for nav & tunes.
Need a DCT version.
912 wet lbs is more than my old man legs can deal with, but it’s a nice looking package I have to admit. At some angles the fairing looks odd, but I usually have to stare at something a lot before I warm up to it. I think it could compete w/HD, but at $30K msrp I dunno that’s a lot of lettuce.
Seriously, can you imagine riding this in a hilly city or town? No reverse gear! I had a 4-door 1983 Honda Accord until I got T-boned 17 years later in 2000. The car, before air bags, weighed 2,100 pounds. It also had a 1,800 cc engine. Different strokes for different folks. This one is not for me.
A very nice overall big tourer package of a motorcycle…except for the barn door-ish influence of the fairing.
It looks promising. I have been hoping for a true six speed over drive. Harley sixth gear gets a little vibration once I get over 70 mph. All the cars and trucks are going 80mph. It would be nice if I didn’t feel as if it was struggling.