Calling it the “pure, essential touring machine”, Indian unveiled the new Springfield model earlier today. In many ways similar to the existing Chief, including the Thunder Stroke 111 engine, the Springfield offers quick-remove convenience by allowing the rider to take a tourer and quickly strip it down to a naked cruiser. The Springfield will be priced at $20,999 in Thunder Black and $21,549 for Indian Motorcycle Red (pictured). Here is the press release from Indian.
MINNEAPOLIS (March 3, 2016) — Indian Motorcycle®, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced the new 2016 Indian Springfield™. Named after the birthplace of Indian Motorcycle and designed for a pure riding experience, the Indian Springfield is a soulful and versatile new addition to the 2016 lineup. It features true, authentic American craftsmanship, superior refinement and only the most essential touring features for the ultimate in open road touring without distractions.
Inspired by the rich heritage of Indian Motorcycle, the Indian Springfield offers classic styling blended with thoroughly modern technology for a purist’s take on both touring comfort and urban versatility.
The Indian Springfield can be quickly converted into a cruiser with the quick-release windshield and saddlebags removed, or transformed into a high-capacity touring model with Genuine Indian Motorcycle accessories. While maintaining the style and luxury for which Indian Motorcycle is renowned, the Indian Springfield makes its own distinctive mark in the bagger and touring category. While related to the iconic Indian® Chief® family, the multifaceted Indian Springfield hard bagger was developed with a unique new trunk-compatible chassis for higher loading capacity and a premium touring experience without sacrificing handling prowess.
Designed for an unobstructed view of the road ahead, the Indian Springfield sports a bespoke quick-release windshield that creates a large air pocket for rider and passenger comfort. Other comfort features such as remote locking hard bags and adjustable passenger floorboards come standard along with real leather seating, high-resolution Anti-Lock Brakes, tire pressure monitoring, electronic cruise control, and a powerful headlight and dual driving lights. Standard front and rear highway bars allow mounting of accessories and offer valuable protection from tip-overs. Brightly chromed forks, headlight housing, fender trim, engine covers, exhaust and handlebars with internal wiring bring the shine along for the ride.
“The new Indian Springfield wasn’t designed to fill a space in our lineup; it was built to fill a space in the hearts of riders who value the rich heritage and fine craftsmanship of Indian Motorcycle, and who want both a pure touring bike and a sleek urban cruiser,” said Steve Menneto, President of Motorcycles for Polaris Industries. “The Springfield’s unmatched versatility will win the hearts of motorcycling purists around the world.”
Powered by the highly regarded Thunder Stroke® 111 engine, the Indian Springfield delivers 119 ft./lbs. of torque (North American models) to conquer any highway in any weather. Its unique new chassis was designed to handle a wide load range, featuring cartridge forks and an air adjustable rear shock with 4.5 inches of travel for safely transporting up to 533 lbs. in style. Touring comfort can be further enhanced with a full line of accessories including a tall and low windshield, heated driver and passenger seats, soft lowers, a 17-gallon accessory trunk and heated grips to keep riders comfortable in cool temperatures. Yet in minutes its quick-release windscreen and saddlebags can be removed creating a classically styled, high performance cruiser. The split seat, featuring a unique stitch and stud pattern, can likewise be trimmed down to create a tight and low solo look, giving the Indian Springfield a truly customizable personality.
The 2016 Indian Springfield starts at $20,999 in Thunder Black and $21,549 for Indian Motorcycle® Red. It comes with a two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty and, as with all new Indian Motorcycles, includes free membership in the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group™ for one year. For more information, visit www.IndianMotorcycle.com.
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Ugg, just another cruiser, I can’t stand those big a** fenders.
They would look good on your Beemer. If you are not working tomorrow (sunny and 71) give Jnor a ring and meet us for lunch.(if yours/his Beemer start lol)
The Beemer Basher meets Fickle Pickle for lunch, that should be good…lol. Wish I could meet but have to build up my retirement fund.
I went to the Indian dealer in Chattanooga today and saw the new Springfield .The Springfield has a bit more trail than the Chieftain, but not as much as the vintage,so it should handle sportier than the vintage and feel a bit more tractable than the Chieftain. I have ridden the Vintage and the Chieftain and I’m impressed. The chieftain would have been my first pick since I thought the Vintage felt slower and more vague than my 2013 Electra Glide,but the Chieftain was smoother and more linear during acceleration and braking as well as a quieter and friendlier wind wise than my Harley.The Springfield is less than the Chieftain, in this case I think less is more. I did not ride the Springfield,and the chieftain is a beauty. I’m thinking about moving from Harley to Indian,but which one ? The Indian dealer in Chattanooga as well as all there people were just fantastic. I would be more than happy to buy an Indian motor cycle from them .Indian and there folks have alot to be proud of.
I’ve done too much riding and on every type of bike. However, this bike has too much clutter. Start with the engine (make it big), frame (light weight), paint (primer). Then one can hang anything necessary on it. Clutter slows down a bike, even a 111 CI. My Street Bob is perfect yet a little dirty.
Nice Road King.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaa……only similarity = Road King and this Springfield are both motorcycles!
Why no comments about the price? If the bike were European or Japanese there would be a chorus of comments like “who can afford these things” or “21K for a motorcycle….only a rich poser can afford one”.
BTW, I think it is a great looking bike. If I were looking for a long range cruiser I would head for the local Indian dealer.
Okay, how about…
Sheesh! A top of the line FJR1300 is only $18k!
Beautiful bike. Looks almost as good as the old Kawi Drifter did back in the day 🙂 The new Indians do look much richer in real life, though. Love how they managed to hide 4.5 inches of back saving rear suspension travel under that big rear fender, without detracting the slightest from the long, low look.
Doesn’t look like any Harley at all, but I guess for the Harley convert a ‘there can be only one’ mentality turns everything else into a ‘wanna’ be’. Indian didn’t follow Harelys ‘formula’ by diversifying their product line based off of one successful platform. That’s just smart business, and smart is not the exclusive property of any one company. Cruiser’s by design look and work very much the same no matter who makes them, granted they don’t all feel or sound the same. Same is true of sport bikes. I like the way this stripped down tourer looks, and I like the way Harley’s look. Better to celebrate choice rather then criticize it.
I’ve not ridden the Indians yet. I have ridden numerous Victorys and Harley though. If this Indian has the same rear suspension as the Victory (which I think it is), Harley is in BIG trouble. Most of these cruisers are about comfort with your feet stuck out in front of you. The only Harley that I’ve ridden that can remotely compare is an Ohlins equipped Road King. Now if they can match the Harley customer service and dealer network, we have a fight on our hands! They don’t thrill me much but I can see their appeal.
I also rode some Victorys last year when I demoed the Indian bikes at Americade. To me, the Victorys I rode (Gunner, Magnum) were uncomfortable, with clunky transmissions and seemed cruder in comparison to the Indians. Same parent company, yes, but to me they seemed like bikes made by two completely separate makers. Granted, other than the Scout, they’re way more expensive, but I guess that’s the price you pay for refinement.
I like, but I like the Vintage better. A lot of people like what Polaris is doing with their bikes. In 2013 their bike sales were $263 million worth of bikes. Last year it was $698 million.
I’m not a cruiser guy AT ALL – however, I did get the chance to demo the Chiefs and Scout last year at Americade, and I was shocked at how well the big Chiefs handled and how much ground clearance there was…we went on some twisty back roads on the demo ride and I never touched a floorboard down – believe me, I tried. I really liked the blacked out Dark Horse without a windshield…the bikes look much better in person as well. If I was ever in the market for a cruiser and they came out with a Dark Horse version of this new Springfield, that would be the one I’d go for.
Then you need to try harder. I have a 2014 Chieftain that has lots of scrapes on the bottoms of the floorboards. You will not hit the edge of the tires before you scrape your boards.
Very nice! Now I have some decision making to do again. Was absolutely going to buy without a doubt a ’16 Chief Classic at the end of this month but this model is making me think a bit before I make my ultimate purchase.
I like it, both retro and modern. You get the Chieftain and Road Master framework, suspension, and steering head. Harley is suffering on two counts. New bike sales and used Harley sales as the Indian dealers sell off trades.
Now if you’re someone expecting a 850 lb motorcycle to handle like a sportbike wake up.
A lot of people comment on these new Indians based on magazine and internet pics and reports. Go look at one in person – up close and personal is where you separate emotion from reality. I’ve been down at our local Ind/Vic “boutique” and looked them all over/sat on them / started them / etc. I want to like these things but sheesh they are HUGE. At my stage in life I cant take on such a leg load lol. Sitting on that thing and looking over that huge tank and giant whale-like nacelle is like peering over the front of some gigantic steamship or locomotive. The front nacelle is just too much volume and chrome. People who say the engine is artful, well I just do not like the fake fins on the head and the rough cheesy chrome finish in between the faux fins – it just doesn’t look good up close in person as it does in jpegs. I’m the target buyer, and I want them to succeed, but I just pass on these. Hopefully they will work on the Scout some more and if they come up with a light sport tourer without forward controls and with a seat for my wife I will contemplate. Not a negative review, I am just going to wait on further refinement.
Right on. Before this Indian, the only time I ever saw chrome plating on Aluminum was cheap Chinese products. It doesn’t help that this engine looks like it’s cheap Chinese.
I’m sorry… Chrome-plated aluminum? Whaaaat?
Yes aluminum can be chrome plated, after it’s plated with copper, then nickel. According to the local dealer the head covers are chrome plated aluminum, same thing on my Thunderbird 1600. The Indian head covers have a sand cast appearance in the low spots while the high parts (the tops of what is referred to as “fins” above) are polished, and then chromed, and it is beautiful in the daylight. As far as being “fake”, the purpose is to increase surface area for additional air cooling, the sand casting texture in the valleys adds to the surface area also. Clever engineering design and unique styling.
Everything about the Indians make me want to ride one, they have a classic look without seeming outdated or old.The dealer has taken in numerous Harleys in trade, which they usually sell back to the Harley dealer.
To be surprised that they are big is..surprising. I’m not a cruiser guy, but they look pretty glorious in person.
Nice looking bike. That engine is a work of art.
Gee, it reminds me of a Roadking. Nice going, Polaris!
When I got the e-mail from Indian I went to look for available colors , no Springfield Blue . I wonder if the steering head angle is the same as the Chieftan or the other Indians. I guess I’ll just have to go to the dealer to see and find out more.
The Indian Chief Classic is one fine looking motorcycle. Saw it at the dealer. But the Honda Vultus is looking good in its new colors as well. Here in the Northeast it is mostly Harleys. They are all over the place. The crotch rocket guys in their shorts are now a bunch of hot weather sissies who ride only on Sunday, beat the crap out of their bikes, take off the exhaust to sound like a tool all the time and don’t sell the concept of a nice sport bike that’s so amazing that you ride it all the time, even to work. – So I like the Indians and Harleys who are actually riding. They are out there when the temps are in the 30’s!
Really like that headlight nacelle, but I doubt I’d buy a cruiser, though I did like the old Kawasaki Mean Streak. Maybe if someone made a cruiser with footpegs instead of sit-on-your-tailbone floorboards I could change my mind.
The Honda Valkyrie has foot pegs and offers a nice riding position along with plenty of lean angle.
Not into cruisers, however that is a beautiful motorcycle. Love the front fender. Can’t wait to see the shoot out with the Road King.
Great looking motorcycle! Well done, Indian!
The only bike I am interested in is the Triumph Street Twin in Silver.It ticks off alot of boxes my requirement sheet. THE MACHINE LOOKS BLOODY GREAT TOO!
Indian’s been innovative, but this is a Road King copy. Like a photocopy, the quality is not as good. Cheap looks with a high price tag is not a good combo.
It’s not a Road King copy, but it is Road King competition…and I can assure you, poor quality is not a trait owned by the current iteration of Indian Motorcycles.
Go to an Indian dealer and see how many used HD’s are there. The Indian dealer close to me has so many Harley trade ins they could start a resale Harley shop alone.
If any of you guys are looking for a good used harley go to an Indian dealers , they have lots of them,
Were I in the market this bike would be something I would consider,I’m probably around the age and demographic that would be the target segment also.I can see Indian doing well with it.
I just want the new Bonneville more.
Get the Bonny. Love mine. You can get a big fat pig motorcycle when you’re really old. I’ve had HD baggers, been a good few years, but like the song says “I was so much older then I’m younger than that now”.
Have fun.
At over 500lbs the bonnie isn’t exactly svelte. It’s basically a small cruiser with better frame geometry, and compared to the Indian, a worse suspension.
There’s a lot more fun to be had out there if you can set round headlights aside. Although the new sv650 has a round headlight – it sounds like fun.
My current ride is about 575# with around 84 hp,it was a superbike in it’s day (with several mods) but still fun to ride today.The Bonnie is on my list to check out as well as maybe the CB1100 or possibly a used FJR..I’m a little flexible.
I’d ‘spring’ for it at $15,000. At $21,000, they can keep it. I’m glad the bike I purchased in 2006 is paid for, road-worthy, and modified to my tastes. I may have a Spring-A-Saki with low resale value, but it runs like new, and (arguably) looks just as good as this one. At $21K, they should’ve called it Blackjack.
Maybe they expect to sell so few and therefore need the high price to cover the additional costs of an entirely new model. Nice, refined touring machine, but there are a lot of nice, refined tourers from Harley, BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Guzzi, Triumph….
I do not see how or why this motorcycle is 20 grand. That’s TWO CB1100s, not exactly a screaming deal either. I doubt this has twice the features or quality, more likely half.
You have twice the weight.
You doubt this has twice the features or twice the quality of one of the least imaginative bikes ever built? You didn’t really think that through, did you?
Twice the quality of a Honda motorcycle? You must be joking…
I’d also be curious to know what kind of “imagination” you were hoping to see in the CB. Let’s see…we’re building a retro inline-four. Maybe we could spice things up by making it a V-twin! With belt drive! And a 25″ seat! And two inches of suspension travel! And floorboards!
Two CB1100s for the price of 1 of these? i’d take that deal. As a matter of fact I did..a 13 and a 14 DLX.
Not saying this isn’t a nice bike, probably is, but it doesn’t appeal to me like the CB does.
I consider the CB just as imaginative as this bike – maybe a little more. This is built to copy a Harley while stealing the looks of an historical icon. The CB is a direct descendant of an historical icon and owns it’s own market. Plus the CB doesn’t look like a cartoon clown bike.
If I was forced to choose, the CB would get my monthly payments. Though I wouldn’t waste my money on either.
Buy a cb1100 – let freedom ring!
American Honda employs more than four times the number of Amercans than all of Polaris. In other words, buying a Honda will keep 23,000 more Americans in their jobs than if you bought an Indian.
Very nice bike. Indian will do well with it. $20,998 versus $18,749 for a Road King. It’ll be interesting to see how the market views it.
Weighs 852 pounds with gas but feels 100 pounds lighter once you get rolling…
When it feels about 300 pounds lighter once you get rolling, they’ll have my attention.
There is nothing about a pushrod v-twin cruiser engine that is even remotely exciting, but there is no denying that the big Indian mill is a work of art. I wouldn’t want one powering my motorcycle, but it would look great on a stand in my living room.
oh, this is not going to go over well here lol
The same haters just keep complaining about almost every bike mentioned here. We live in the best of times and have the greatest selection of bikes ever. Congratulations to ALL of the manufacturers of these varied and great machines. A lot of these commenters here would pick apart a beautiful sunny day or whine about paying taxes on a lottery ticket. They revel in the negative. And a big thanks to motorcycledaily for giving us the articles and pictures. Keep up the great work!
….or gripe abuot getting hung with a velvet rope….
What!!!?? You mean you have to pay taxes on a lottery win!? That’s not fair, a win is a win, doggone government- there a bunch of crooks! THEY wouldn’t pay the taxes! 🙂
No kidding. In the end–and entirely apart from limited-perspective statements on message boards–I feel sorry for anybody who lets their preconceptions about what is or isn’t a good/valid/fun/”real” motorcycle keep them from riding all the cool stuff that’s out there these days. It really is their loss.
Yawn. Another page out of the HD playbook.
When people yawn, it means they are trying to get more oxygen to their brain because they agree with the information they’re being presented. So, I take it you are impressed with the job Indian has done. I like it too, if only I was in that market.
Double yawn….
you really can’t fault Indian for following Harleys playbook, it has been a very successful playbook. Take one basic model, mix and match a bunch of features, call them new models. Everybody gets something a little different and you get to keep inventory low without designing new motorcycles
Scout..Scout 60…Octane
Chief…Classic…Dark Horse…Chieftain… Vintage…Roadmaster…Springfield
2 basic motorcycles = 10 slightly different models