Breaking News. Indian Motorcycle® Just Unveiled The 2016 Chief Dark Horse. The New Chief With A Bad Boy Attitude.

IndianDarkHorse11IndianDarkHorse22IndianDarkHorse3IndianDarkHorse4IndianDarkHorse5IndianDarkHorse6A few minutes ago, Indian unveiled in Chicago the edgiest member of the Indian® Chief® line-up and the first 2016 model, the Indian Chief Dark Horse™ . It is the raw, powerful, blacked-out from front to end cruiser that was missing until now and that will attract all those bikers loving bikes with a “bad attitude.” Although The Dark Horse® is built upon the successful and award-winning Indian® Chief® platform, it looks much more aggressive thanks to its matte black paint all over, very few touches of chrome and a swap to cast wheels.

IndianDarkHorse77Because the bike is undressed of some accessories without lacking the most important features, it’s also the quickest model in the Chief® family. Powered by the highly praised Thunder Stroke® 111 engine and wrapped in the same chassis and suspension of the Indian® Chief® Classic, The Dark Horse™ maintains ABS, a remote key fob for keyless ignition, electronic cruise control, and features a two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty. All this at a very attractive price starting at $16,999. Will arrive at dealerships this month with demo rides available during Daytona Bike Week.

IndianDarkHorse88Built to be a bold and aggressive solo ride, The Dark Horse™ loses the oil cooler, analogue fuel gauge and driving lights of the Chief® Classic. For those who want to ride two-up, a passenger seat plus either passenger foot-pegs or floor boards are available as part of the Genuine Indian Motorcycle® Accessory line-up.

Because of its price and because it is “undressed”, The Indian® Chief Dark Horse® is an ideal motorcycle for those seeking to customize their rides. With 40 available black accessories to be introduced in spring and early summer, riders can add components to black-out their ride even more…

Custom parts such as ape hanger handlebars, accessory air cleaners, fender struts and trims, slip-on exhaust with black heat shields and exhaust tips.

IndianDarkHorse99“The Indian® Chief Dark Horse® is unlike anything else currently available from Indian Motorcycle®,” said Indian Motorcycle® Sr. Product Manager, Ben Lindaman. “While it shares the best traits with other models in the Chief® platform, its signature matte black paint and minimalist profile give it an attitude unlike any other Indian® motorcycle. We’re excited to unveil this new bike at an aggressive price point for a full-size cruiser.” More info at: Indian Motorcycle.

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38 Responses to “Breaking News. Indian Motorcycle® Just Unveiled The 2016 Chief Dark Horse. The New Chief With A Bad Boy Attitude.”


  1. 1 Sharkey Feb 13th, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    Really like the looks; isn’t the “dark” thing just about run it’s course or is it here for a while now?

  2. 2 Rodent Feb 13th, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    Sure would look good with red rims!

  3. 3 Mike Greenwald Feb 13th, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Pricing is getting much stronger for the consumer.

  4. 4 Greeko Feb 13th, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    Will sell fast. Harley making a grimace. Great.

  5. 5 Blackmax Feb 13th, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    WOW !!!!
    I Like it a Lot !!!
    Cut down on some of the gee-gaws
    ( although I would’ve thought an oil cooler was important to keep)
    Lose none of the power of the Thinderstroke
    And the price, the price is probably the best thing of all
    Gee, if Victory & Indian were backed up at Sprit lake before because of the Scout
    What the heck are they going to do now ????
    I see this as a Very popular model for 2016

  6. 6 Brett Feb 13th, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    Well done Indian.

  7. 7 Rodent Feb 13th, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    Still waiting for the 4 cylinder to be debuted at Sturgis to upstage the MoCo

  8. 8 R Alan Feb 13th, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Ride…hose off…repeat. My kind of bike…

  9. 9 Stony Crane Feb 13th, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    I would rather have had traction control for my rainy day riding.

  10. 10 Terrible Tabo Feb 13th, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Nice!

  11. 11 Zenaldo Feb 13th, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    More flat black…oh boy….and the guy riding that one in there doesnt look real comfy…

  12. 12 Ray Meynard Feb 13th, 2015 at 8:53 pm

    The Indian Chief Classic in black minus some accessories. Nice and no designer had to be involved! Profitable.

  13. 13 Joshua Feb 13th, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    Zenaldo. If you want a rider to make a bike look SLEEK, hire Cyril Huze…

  14. 14 nicker Feb 13th, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    RE:
    “… rather have had traction control …”

    News flash….
    You already have it.
    Its called your right hand.
    Learn throttle control, its cheaper & better..

    -nicker-

  15. 15 Boris Feb 13th, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    Can’t stand the matte finish. Matte is so passe. Gloss black or gloss charcoal grey would have been better.

  16. 16 tgmotoman Feb 13th, 2015 at 11:19 pm

    I really dig Indians, but something doesn’t look right on this bike. Not sure what it is, too much flat black, I suspect the pictures don’t do it justice.

  17. 17 Sharon Feb 14th, 2015 at 12:14 am

    The most beautiful bike I’ve ever seen!

  18. 18 Doc Robinson Feb 14th, 2015 at 12:49 am

    Sweet! Adds another choice for Indian buyers.

  19. 19 Matt W. Feb 14th, 2015 at 12:56 am

    Wow that is ALOT of bike for the price! It’s nice to see Indian further dispelling the myth that American bikes can’t be competitive when it comes to value.

  20. 20 Roberto Feb 14th, 2015 at 6:10 am

    Looking at those bars,my neck/ back hurts. The grip angle nneed to be down w/ more pullback.

  21. 21 Zipper Feb 14th, 2015 at 7:49 am

    I see more Indians on the road every day. The Daytona police are riding Victorys, awesome looking bikes. Nice to see some American competion. I’ll bet the midnight oil is burning @ HD. ..Z

  22. 22 JackS Feb 14th, 2015 at 7:56 am

    The only thing Indian could improve on this bike is location — under me.

  23. 23 chicagojohn Feb 14th, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Very Nice! Make me a Dark Horse Chiefton please!! And I might have to make a new spot in the garage!

  24. 24 Mike Corbin.com Feb 14th, 2015 at 9:09 am

    Perfect

  25. 25 Batterycap Feb 14th, 2015 at 9:19 am

    One more time – if that don’t turn you on – you ain’t got no switch. However, my neck would start hurting too with those bars. Yeah, things ain’t as limber as they used to be.

    The black thing seems to just seems to hang on. Google the 2015 Chevy Silverado Midnight Edition.

  26. 26 U think U know me Feb 14th, 2015 at 9:29 am

    Awesome bike, will sell very good. Also, Apes are quite comfortable after you get used to them.

  27. 27 JohnyLetGo Feb 14th, 2015 at 9:29 am

    Love it. Great price. Until now the “pretty image” of the new Chiefs may have hurst sales. The Dark Horse fills a gap.

  28. 28 P. Hamilton Feb 14th, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Seat is too massive for a bad boy bike. Aftermarket ape hangers is the way to go. Except this, well done.

  29. 29 Trainiac Feb 14th, 2015 at 9:52 am

    Nicely done, the Poser population will double by the time Sturgis rolls around

  30. 30 J Feb 14th, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Hmm…. I was ready to scoff and make fun of it, but after looking at it for a bit, I really like it…..

  31. 31 John Feb 14th, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    I like the motor and that’s all. All that heavy metal body work looks stupid to me. That bike is for people that putter around. I ride a hot rod Dyna. It is functional with no extra crap hanging on it

  32. 32 Tom Ryan Feb 14th, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    I, too, like John, find too much metal on the bike. But, there are tons of people who go for this look. It would be nice to see that motor in a new Indian style of bobber about the size of a Sportster/Dyna with custom black billet girder forks.

  33. 33 Pop Feb 14th, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    I am generally tickled, especially the price point. Polaris is doing a bang up job of turning younger heads. The moco stands to benefit too .

    But… the Polaris Indian offers a less than roomy ride. Gilroy and Kings Mountain turned out big Chiefs with big room but the riding position of the new Chiefs is, much like the Milwaukee machines they are competing with, too small. Look at that dude. I bet he isn’t much over 6′ and he looks like a monkey fff…finding love with a football. But right there is reason enough to roll it onto the operating table and do a little gas axe surgery.

    Looking at the new DH in profile next to a KM DH and another thing is noticeable, at least to Pop. The body fairing on the KM was compact enough that it didn’t dominate the view from the side. It was visible but had a retro form and it just fit well. Might be because there was space between the rear jug and the face of the fairing which framed the motor cleanly. The body panels on the Polaris version seem massive and with that big old belt shroud formed to flow into the rear fender it’s just about a billboard. That was less a concern when they bags hung over the sheetmetal on the aught 15 models. Not so now. More stuff that begs for a good eye and a steady hand to make right.

  34. 34 Iron Horse Feb 15th, 2015 at 9:05 am

    I totally agree with Pop on this one.

    I’ve test ridden a ’14 Chief and at 6’05” with a 36″ inseam, the riding position is pretty horrible…even more so than their MoCo counterparts. My ’03 Gilroy Chief is way more comfortable than the Polaris replacement. Even my ’02 RoadGlide feels better than the Polaris Chiefs.

    I realize that these were made for “average sized” people, but wouldn’t personally spend the money on one. Plus, the whole matte black trend is getting a bit passe’

  35. 35 Dave Silvia Feb 15th, 2015 at 9:35 am

    NOT MY CUP OF TEA !

  36. 36 rick Lossner Feb 16th, 2015 at 9:33 am

    They will sell…. next come the other color options

  37. 37 djones Feb 17th, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    From the seat down and to the back it has a sort of nice Vespa scooter look.

  38. 38 Vincan Mar 11th, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    Rode the Dark Horse at Daytona Bike Week on 3/8/15 as well as other Indian models and was impressed with all of them. I’m riding a 09 HD Ultra Classic and I’m ready for a new bike. I’ve been a HD guy for more than 38 years but I thinking it may be time to switch rides.
    To began with the Dark Horse looks much better in person than these pictures show. It has very aggressive masculine look. With the solo seat and no bags it has a custom elonged look to it. It looks stretched. Now about the performance. Just prior to riding the Dark Horse I was on a 2015 HD CVO Ultra and was really impressed with the power the 110 motor had until I rode the Indian’s 111. The torque that the Indian motor produced was much more aggressive than the HD. I had the bike up to 85 mph in 4 gear and it had left plenty to go. What I was really impressed with was the handing, seat position and braking those indian bike have. The Dark Horse handled better a low speeds and braking was much smoother than any HD I’ve ridden. Although, I’ve been on a touring bike for the past six years if I can convince the Mrs. to go along with me I’ll be back on a cruiser/sport bike again. Don’t judge this bike or any Indian motorcycle until you have test ridden it.

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Cyril Huze