In today’s article, we are going to offer comparison review of 2023 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse vs 2023 Harley Davidson Street Glide. There are so many routes to explore and so little time, so go on a journey and soar like an eagle. Since the beginning of the 20th century, two famous American motorcycle manufacturers, Indian Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson, have produced high-quality motorcycles.
During World War I, both motorcycle companies grew in popularity due to requests from the US government to build bikes for its troops. The top manufacturers of cruisers and touring bikes in the United States are Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles.
Popular touring motorcycles include the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse and the Harley-Davidson Street Glide. The Indian Chieftain Dark Horse is one of the most luxurious and expensive bagger-style touring bikes, equipped with various contemporary ride assist, safety, and infotainment technologies for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. The rider of this motorcycle can ride it for hours without getting tired.
Long-distance riders can stay busy with the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse’s Bluetooth, GPS, USB, cell, AM/FM, and speakers. The Harley Street Glide, on the other hand, is equipped with a few contemporary technologies, such as cruise control, reflex-linked Brembo brakes, and an infotainment system. This article compares the Harley Davidson Street Glide with the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse in great detail.
2023 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse vs 2023 Harley Davidson Street Glide – Features Comparison
Design
The Indian Chieftain Dark Horse has a sleek appearance with black accents. The fuel tank has the Indian Motorcycles badge on both sides and comes in seven different color combinations. The Indian Chieftain Dark Horse has a step-up seat that can accommodate two riders and provides lumbar support to the rider.
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Standard saddlebags and a stylish batting fairing with a medium-sized windscreen that can be adjusted electronically are also included. The fairing has a small vent below the windshield and a circular headlamp inside. Blacked-out, teardrop-shaped side mirrors join the swept-back handlebar tips. The batting fairing includes two high-output speakers, two analog gauges, and a seven-inch touchscreen.
For a comfortable touring experience, the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse is equipped with standard crash bars and floorboards. The fashionable 10-spoke contrast-cut front wheel is apparent thanks to the single-sided front fender. Overall, it is a modern touring bike with a style design.
The Harley Davidson Street Glide is a simple yet attractive touring bike that is easy to modify to give it the look of a vintage cruiser. It has a chrome finish and comes in three single-tone color schemes.
The Harley Street Glide features floorboards, crash bars, saddlebags, a fairing with a small glass, four analog gauges, dual speakers, a display screen, and side mirrors mounted on the fairing. Enforcer II cast aluminum wheels can be seen through the cut front fender.
The rider’s seat with the Harley Street Glide also includes a single-piece step-up seat with dip and lower back support. The Harley Street Glide is a simple touring bike in classic bagger style with few ride-assist technologies.
Engine and Performance
A 1,890cc air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin engine that churns out 170.83 Nm of torque at 2,900 rpm powers the Indian Chieftain dark horse. The Thunderstroke 116 engine delivers quick throttle response and powerful, high-speed performance.
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Although the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse has many contemporary innovations and heavy components, it feels light when ridden quickly. Even at slow speeds, it’s handy and quick, which makes maneuvering and sharp turns easy. The Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin engine has a soul-satisfying sound and seamless power delivery.
The six-speed transmission, belt drive, and multi-plate assist clutch on the Indian Chieftain dark horse ensure a smooth clutch action, gear shift, and riding experience. The 54mm bore size of the closed-loop fuel injection system enables efficient fuel delivery.
A rear cylinder deactivation feature can be switched on to reduce fuel consumption and better manage engine temperature when traveling in traffic. However, the user can activate the cruise control and sports riding mode for a fast and fun driving experience on wide highways.
Additionally, it’s easy to switch between touring and standard modes on the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse. It features an air-adjustable single rear shock and 46mm telescopic front forks for a comfortable riding experience on smooth and rough roads. Wheel travel is 4.7 inches for the front suspension and 4.5 inches for the back suspension.
With twin front disc brakes, a rear disc brake, and a standard ABS, the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse features reliable braking. The Indian Chieftain dark horse is six pounds lighter than the Harley Street Glide and has rider assistance and safety systems, fairings, saddlebags, and entertainment systems. This is made possible by the lightweight cast aluminum construction of the frame.
A 1,753cc air-cooled Milwaukee-Eight® V-Twin engine with a maximum torque of 150.5 Nm at 3,250 rpm and a maximum power of 93 horsepower at 5,020 rpm powers the Harley-Davidson Street Glide. The Milwaukee-Eight 107 ensures smooth power and torque distribution despite the motorcycle’s lack of speed.
The Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine struggles to respond quickly to the throttle because the Harley Street Glide is heavy. The Harley Street Glide Special variant has a Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine that offers more robust performance if you want a touring bike with a more powerful engine.
The Harley Street Glide has a batting fairing mounted on the forks, which adds a bit of weight to the front end. This motorbike can be tricky for a novice rider to control when braking and taking tight turns. It provides a stable ride at highway speeds and is easy to handle. In addition, the Harley Street Glide features a belt drive, assist and slipper clutch, and a six-speed gearbox for smooth operation.
Only a few ride-assist features on the Harley Street Glide include cruise control and reflex-linked Brembo brakes as standard equipment. However, because it is made of heavier metal components than the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, it weighs more. Although the Harley Street Glide features a high-performance, double-wishbone front valve suspension, the hand-adjustable rear suspension has limited wheel travel, making long, sustained rides relatively uncomfortable.
Comfort and Ergonomics
A comfortable bagger motorcycle with a low seat height of 25.6 inches, the Indian Chieftain is a dark horse. Although the factory seat is uncomfortable, it can be replaced with an aftermarket seat. Additionally, the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse features standard forward-mounted floorboards for rider comfort.
The swept handlebars, low seat height, and forward-facing foot controls provide a comfortable riding position and plenty of legroom for short and tall riders alike. Despite having an electronically adjustable windscreen, the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse’s fairing is insufficient to block the wind when cruising on open roads. The Indian Chieftain Dark Horse can be customized with a large windscreen and backrest for the ultimate traveling experience.
With a seat height of just 26.1 inches, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide offers a comfortable and smooth riding position. Forward-mounted floorboards ensure Legroom and the rider can easily reach the rear handlebar. Due to its straight back position and ample legroom, this motorcycle suits short and tall riders.
In contrast, the Harley Street Glide’s small, weak engine, 829-pound wet weight, and heavy front-end make it challenging to control when riding through traffic, making U-turns, and navigating at slow speeds, especially For newcomers.
However, as it speeds up, it stops feeling heavy and is easier to ride. By adding a large windscreen, sissy bars, backrests, and luggage racks, the Harley Street Glide can also be converted into a touring motorbike suitable for long-distance touring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which is a More Reliable, 2023 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse vs 2023 Harley Davidson Street Glide?
Because they both make reliable motorcycles, Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles have enjoyed consistent success for over a century. Since its inception, Harley-Davidson remains a well-known motorcycle brand, while Indian motorcycles became more popular when Polaris bought the business in 2011.
Since it has been in business since 1903, Harley-Davidson has an edge over Indian motorcycles in terms of reliability. Additionally, compared to Indian motorcycles, Harley Davidson motorcycles have a higher resale and holding value.
The fact that decades-old Harley-Davidson motorcycles are still often seen on the road is a testament to their reliability. According to experts, this is also one of the factors responsible for the recent decline in Harley-Davidson sales.
2023 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse vs 2023 Harley Davidson Street Glide – Specifications Comparison
| Specs \ Bikes | 2023 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 2023 Harley Davidson Street Glide |
|---|
Engine and Performance
| Displacement | 116 cu in (1,890 cc) | 107 cu in (1,753 cc) |
| Engine Design and Type | Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin | Milwaukee-Eight® 107 V-Twin |
| Cooling System | Air-Cooled | Air-Cooled |
| No. of Cylinders | Two | Two |
| Valves Per Cylinder | Two | Four |
| Horsepower | N/A | 93 hp at 5,020 pm |
| Torque | 170.83 Nm at 2,900 pm | 150.5 Nm at 3,250 pm |
| Stroke | 4.45 in | 4.37 in |
| Bore | 4.06 in | 3.94 in |
| Fuel Injection System | Closed Loop Fuel Injection / 54 mm Bore | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) |
| Compression Ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 |
| Transmission | Six-Speed | Six-Speed |
| Final Drive | Belt | Belt |
| Clutch | Wet, Multiplate, Assist | Mechanically Actuated, Multiplate Wet, Assist & Slipper Clutch |
| Fuel Economy | N/A | 43 mpg |
| Muffler | Blacked-Out, Dual Mufflers | Dual Tapered Mufflers |
| Exhaust | Split Dual Exhaust with Cross-Over | Chrome, Two-Into-One-Into-two Exhaust |
| Frame | Lightweight Cast Aluminum | Mild Steel Tubular Frame; Two-Piece Stamped and welded Backbone |
| Starter | Electric | Electric |
| Fairing | Front Fork-Mounted | Front Fork-Mounted |
| Fairing Style | Batwing Fairing | Batwing Fairing |
| Windshield | Midsize, Adjustable Windshield, Fairing-Mounted | Small, Fairing-Mounted |
Braking
| Front | 300 mm Dual Floating Rotors with Four-Piston Calipers | 300 mm Dual Front Discs, Four-Piston Caliper |
| Rear | 300 mm Single Floating Rotor with Two-Piston Caliper | 300 mm Single Rear Disc, Four-Piston Caliper |
| ABS | Standard | Optional ($819) |
Suspension
| Front | 46 mm Telescopic Fork | 49 mm Dual Bending Valve |
| Rear | Single Shock with Air Adjust | Premium, Low, Hand-Adjustable Rear Suspension |
| Front Wheel Travel | 4.7 in | 4.6 in |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 4.5 in | 2.1 in |
Tires and Wheels
| Tires | Metzeler Cruisetec | Dunlop® Harley Davidson Series |
| Wheels | 10-Spoke Contrast Cut | Enforcer II Cast Aluminum |
Dimensions and Weight
| Trail | 5.9 in | 6.7 in |
| Rake | 25° | 26° |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 5.5 gal | Six gal |
| Ground Clearance | 5.1 in | 5.3 in |
| Width | 40.3 in | 37.8 in |
| Height | 51.6 in | 53.1 in |
| Length | 98.7 in | 96.5 in |
| Seat Height | 25.6 in | 26.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 65.7 in | 64 in |
| Wet Weight | 823 lbs / 373 kg | 829 lbs / 376 kg |
| Dry Weight | 791 lbs / 359 kg | 796 lbs / 361 kg |
| Lean Angle (Right) | 31° | 31° |
| Lean Angle (Left) | 31° | 29° |
| Luggage Capacity | 2.4+ cu ft | 2.3 cu ft |
