2020 INDIAN SCOUTS & THUNDERSTROKE 116
R I D E R E V I E W
P64
THUNDERSTROKE 116
When it comes to big cruisers, there is no replace-
ment for displacement, more is more, and it's ever-
increasing. What was an upgrade kit for the old (and
continuing) Thunderstroke 111—the first power plant the
current iteration of Indian produced—is now a stan-
dard configuration available on most Thunderstroke-
equipped models. There are still a few that rock the
old (and still potent) 111 for pricepoint reasons. The new
production version of the 116 has new head shapes to
work with larger sizes and more efficient combustion
flow at bigger volumes. There's a new 60mm throttle
body, along with new aftermarket products (exhaust,
cams, intake, etc.) to enhance the new Thunderstroke
variant. No big-bore kit yet, though. The roughly six
percent increase in claimed torque (119 to 126 peak
lb-ft) is significant, but is it the business?
(Left) The new air-cooled
V-twin Thunderstroke 116
engine is now standard on
the Springfield Dark Horse,
Chieftain, Chieftain Dark
Horse, Chieftain Limited,
Chieftain Elite, Roadmaster
and Roadmaster Dark Horse.
