A new level of darkness has arrived. Indian Motorcycle introduced the Chieftain Dark Horse, a blacked-out hard bagger that allows riders to easily customize their ride and hit the highway in head-turning style. The 2016 Chieftain Dark Horse offers a ton of matte black, a flicker of chrome, and a wealth of features to roll as one of the most bad-ass American-made V-twin touring bikes on the market. By all but eliminating chrome from the motorcycle, the Dark Horse conveys an aggressive attitude that demands attention for all the right reasons.
Powered by the celebrated Thunder Stroke® 111 engine and built upon the same highly lauded chassis and suspension as the Indian Chieftain, the edgy new Chieftain Dark Horse comes from the factory outfitted with a solo seat and short, tinted power windscreen, yet maintains its spacious hard bags, ABS, electronic cruise control, integrated premium audio system and remote key fob with keyless ignition.
To amplify the Dark Horse family attributes, not only are the fenders, fairing, fuel tank and bags blacked out, the iconic Indian Motorcycle headdress, forks, mirrors, handlebars and switch cubes, turn signals, tank console, engine and airbox cover, lower controls, floorboards and taillight housing are also blacked out.
Chieftain Dark Horse comes with a two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty and is available in dealerships now starting at just $21,999.
Of course, Indian Motorcycle also offers a large selection of authentic factory accessories to further individualize your already stealthy ride, including new Blackout series accessory air cleaners, performance cams and slip-on exhausts, as well 100-watt saddlebag lid speakers.
Standard Features.
Blacked Out Styling. It’s black from top to bottom, including the wheels, forks, handlebars, engine, bodywork – even the iconic headdress up front.
Thunder Stroke 111. The proven, powerful Thunder Stroke® 111 engine serves up 119 ft-lbs of torque, and is finished primarily in black.
Touring Amenities. With a commanding power-windscreen equipped fairing and lockable hard bags out back, you’re ready to rack up miles in style and comfort.
Keyless Ignition. Keyless starting is secure and convenient. With the Indian® Chieftain Dark Horse® key fob in your pocket, climb on the bike, push a button and ride. If you misplace the fob, use the individual security code you pre-program into the ignition.
ABS & Cruise Control. Advanced, automotive-quality braking lets you ride with confidence and helps you stop with great control. Easy to set and adjust, the electronic cruise control enhances your enjoyment during highway cruising.
Custom Accessories
Performance. Rev up enhanced performance with these blacked-out performance accessories that unleash more power, improved throttle response, and add a rich and throaty exhaust note with Stage 1 Exhaust, a Thunder Stroke® High Flow Air Cleaner, and Stage 2 Performance Cams. Install this performance package and you’ll feel like you’re riding a new bike. For ultimate style, add Fish Tail or Six Shooter exhaust tips.
Ape Hanger Handlebars. Add custom style, a comfortable reach to the controls, and a load of attitude with the black Ape Hanger Handlebar Kit. You’ll enjoy the riding position, and on every ride you’ll cop an attitude like you own the road.
Premium Audio With Color.
Matched Saddlebag Lids. Treat yourself to powerful audio by installing Premium Saddlebag Audio. Combined with the Matte Black Saddlebag Audio Lids (required & sold separately), the audio in the color-matched saddlebag lids ensures you’ll hear your road trip playlists loud and clear.
Extra Blacked Out Style. Switch to all-black Floorboards, and install black Fender Trim and Saddlebag Trim that replace stock chrome pieces. The black Front Highway Bar adds black custom style, tip-over protection, and a comfortable perch for your feet when cruising.
For more information visit Indian Motorcycle.
A black Chieftain is not a new model. Just a new color option.
flat black…… how exciting…
Marketing,,, always stay in front of your Customer
I didn’t know what to expect, but we have sold three in 90 minutes… That is a record, even for us… Yep, everyone is going to hate them…
Mark Moses
Indian Motorcycle Charlotte
I just can’t understand why they can’t do something more interesting or exciting
with that area below the seat, it just ruins the whole look of the bike
Sorry guys. Indian does exactly what a lot of bikers want. It will sell and sell and sell…and it will take a lot of sales from Harley.
Actually looks pretty decent. I think they’ll sell a ton of them, especially to HD converts.
I was sort of surprised they didn’t black out the exhaust, but then, I saw they added that to the accessories section on their website.
Something for the dealers to sell. I suppose.
Very good looking. As said above, a top seller that HD guys will want.
what ever Harley does,the competition follows….that’s why Harley is #1
So, it is a $1000 cheaper.., and..?
The Dark Horse is $1000 cheaper than the Chief Classic ~ 5.5% cheaper.
HOWEVER – $1000 off the Chieftain ~4% cheaper.
I do not see anybody that can fork out ~ $24k being bothered to save $1000 (4%) – more so if it does the diametric opposite of what you try to a-CHIEF (achieve) – ie to get noticed…
Rather buy a Springfield – in any color but flat black.
Oh so obvious to polish the edges of the head fins to match the motor! Is willie davidson over there mucking things up?
This version of the Chieftain and the Springfield may not be super exciting reveals but I bet they both sell very well and contribute to Indian having another very successful year. I actually appreciate that they didn’t overhype either ‘new’ model. I wish someone from the Indian side of the marketing department would go across the hall and teach the Victory side that.
Nice looker…Polaris Marketing & their Indian and Victory brands sure are on a good market positioning roll.
For a brand new Indian model I guess we will have to wait August during the Sturgis rally.
Yeah. Gonna have a LOT of trouble moving these. I feel a fight with the wife coming on….
Obviously everybody’s tastes are different. I think they’d sell even more in Mossy Oak, especially with the right background. I agree with “been there” about the Vespa scooter middle bodywork. Then there’s the saddlebags that look like badly done aftermarket with the wrong lids attached. Such a beautiful engine though.
Harley Street Glide with black denim paint sells for $21,399.
flat black BORING
Mark Moses – Nobody said that everyone would hate them. Where did you even get that from?
Nostradamus May 6th, 2016 at 9:24 pm
I predict it will a blacked out model with powder coating hi lites.
I WISH PICKING THE POWER-BALL NUMBERS WAS THIS EASY ….
I don’t get it… it just looks like someone bought a new Chief and ruined it with 6 dollars worth of Krylon.
That thing is hideous, but you all please buy the hell out of ‘m. It’s good for the economy.
Yeah, ok, the Chieftain, on its own is one prime cycle
To make a big hoopla on a riff on the “Dark Custom” thing
has been done before, to death !!!!
Now, that being said, i agreed with most of the prior posters,
I’m sure they will sell a boatload of them & a crap load of black accessories to go with it .
Me, they didn;t go far enough, pushrods, exhaust & primary cover all need to be blacked out !
But then no $$ for extra accessories and/or for the aftermarket
Still it’s the Roadmaster for me !!!!
I wish I was in the market for a bike. If I were, I would definitely give this a close look. Should covert some would-be Street Glide buyers. I predict they will do well with this one.
these black and chrome bikes go well with tires with narrow reflective sidewall strips. the tires look like narrow white wall tires from a distance and actually the strip is silvery and reflective, adding safety at night. i put schwalbe marathon rlx tires on my black and silver road bike (bicycle) and i must say these tires added a really nice touch. any motorcycle tire manufacturers offering reflective sidewall strips?
Does it suit the “Bad Boy” look” ?
I dont think so !
Wait till road grime, oil and finger prints get all over it.
fairing. saddlebags & the area below the seat are all needed a re-visit
Matte black motorcycles are very 2008, and — truth be told — pretty ugly. Why not have stripped-down, gloss black Dark Horse models too?
Interesting reactions from everyone, from boring to fantatstic and all the levels in between. Personally, I prefer the Chieftain in color but then I think most black bikes look similar now. And does anyone get a deja vu on that black Indian mascot from Blazing Saddles? Wonder if it speaks German too!
@DQ, Good one, the tank art does remind one of a certain Mel Brooks “one wagon circling” scene, no? “oy, they darker than us!”
🙂
I just can’t help but think there’ll be a lot of people buying this thing, and then paying more to throw a bunch of chrome back on it…
@Woody’s Oh no! I feel a Blazing Saddles script rerun coming on! “What did you expect? “Welcome, sonny”? “Make yourself at home”? “Marry my daughter”? You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons”. Anyway, the bike’s okay but a big, glitzy, multi-color Chieftain is much better IMHO.
Looking forward to seeing one in person. The scale of Indians is radically different to me with the valenced fenders and all. Not sure the HD price comparison is valid given the bells and whistles on the Indian out of the factory combined with the beefier motor. Wish they’d offer the blacked out motor as an option on all their bikes as I might go for that with some color to the tins. I’ll prolly need to see how the finish weathers before I buy in 100% but black with minimal chrome highlights appeals to me. Less polishing means more riding. Regardless of my own opinion, I have little doubt that we can expect to see a lot of these around.
indian gives you the blacked out bike . then Kuryakyn gives you the chrome spears to make it not black… irony?
I’m going to get one and deck it out with tons of red and amber reflectors and then put yellow hi-viz stripes all over it! LOL
But in all seriousness there’s obviously demand for this color scheme, they’d be stupid not to offer it.
@DQ; “Somebody’s gotta go back for more dimes!” applies in a few ways ☺
it just looks like someone bought a new Chief and ruined it with 6 dollars worth of Krylon. –
LOL they should just sell you bike in primer and 10 shades/colors of Krylon paint !!!