2016 INDIAN SPRINGFIELD
FIRST RIDE
P74
Last year, the Indian Motor-
cycle product line expanded
to include the explosive, liquid-
cooled Scout, and the massive,
full-dressed Roadmaster, a
touring machine created essen-
tially by adding a top case and
fairing lowers to the Chieftain.
Borrowing that platform was a
sage move by Indian, because
the Roadmaster also received
the Chieftain's fine steering
geometry—translating to a tighter
turning radius and more maneu-
verability than either the Classic
or Vintage. That's right: despite
the added weight out back,
Indian's full dresser is noticeably
more nimble than its (relatively,
for Indian) unadorned cruisers.
Which leads us to the new
2016 Indian Springfield, a bag-
ger with hard-shelled, color-
matched saddlebags and a
windshield. If you're thinking it's
clearly designed to compete with
Harley-Davidson's Road King,
you're right; if you're thinking
it's nothing more than the Chief
Vintage with molded hard bags
instead of soft leather ones, you
couldn't be more wrong.
Well okay, you could, and
hopefully you'll forgive that bit
of hyperbole. Fact is, the new
Springfield looks unmistakably
Indian and rolls on the same
basic platform as the legendary
marque's other big twin offer-
