2020 INDIAN SCOUTS & THUNDERSTROKE 116
R I D E R E V I E W
P66
ELITIST
CHIEFTAINS
The new Thunderstroke 116
comes with all the premium
versions of the Chieftain: The
Limited, Elite and Dark Horse;
leaving the Base Chieftain and
(retro-styled) Classic with the
classic 111.
The Limited and Dark Horse
are two sides to the same coin,
the light and the dark, but both
upgrades from standard. The
only substantial difference is that
the Dark Horse has ape hang-
ers, while the Limited has more
standard touring bars. Basically,
if you like less chrome, you need
to also have good circulation. Un-
like the Springfield, the Chieftain
Dark Horse (and its Limited twin)
has extra stuff compared to the
base model. All the Chieftains
come with a height-adjustable
power windshield, (at least) a
100w audio system, keyless igni-
tion, cruise control, a stylishly
brief seat and ABS. The Limited/
Dark Horse adds the Indian Ride
Command touchscreen suite with
traffic and weather-enhanced
navigation and smartphone
integration. They also have tire
pressure monitoring and the
116-engine standard.
The new-for-2020 Chieftain
Elite takes it a step beyond. Play-
ing off of last year's Roadmaster
Elite, the Chieftain Elite takes In-
dian's high-luxury touring concept
to a slightly lighter package. In
addition to all the goodies on the
lesser Chieftains, the Elite also
rocks a 400w, four-way audio
system with two additional speak-
ers in the saddlebag lids. In addi-
tion, there are custom touches,
like color insets on floorboards
and engine, wheels unique to the
model, and hand-drawn custom
pinstriping and candy paint.
That 400w audio system is
no joke. Lots of "serious bikers"
question the validity of even hav-
ing audio systems that go beyond
a headset, but something about
being in your environment, blast-
ing the tunes just feels right. It
makes spending time behind the
motorhome that refuses to pull off
the road a little more satisfying.
And headsets are illegal in some
places. Like it's smaller brethren,
the Chieftain is a solid ride, with
fat 46mm forks keeping the front
end stiff and four-pot calipers
slowing the big bike with author-
ity. But, really, just know that it's
