Indian Motorcycle recently introduced its Challenger performance bagger, equipped with FOX hydraulic-adjust monoshocks. To prove its might, our friends in Medina, Minnesota asked our friends Carey Hart and Big B to take their Challengers head-to-head with Harley-Davidson's Road Glide Special.
Launching at Daytona Bike Week on Friday, March 6, the Challenger Challenge product demo tour will visit Indian Motorcycle dealers around the country, as well as select motorcycle rallies and events, including the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. In addition to the national tour, select Indian Motorcycle dealers will have a Road Glide on hand to ensure that any customer who visits their dealership can take the Challenger Challenge.
Indian Motorcycle will support the Challenger Challenge with a digital media campaign, highlighted by an episodic video series where action sports icon Hart and his loyal sidekick, Bryan “Big B” Mahoney, pit the new Indian Challenger head-to-head against the Road Glide Special in a series of tests that showcase power, torque, braking and handling.
“The Challenger’s combination of power and dexterity is at another level,” said Hart. “The first time I rode it, I knew that they had something special. But riding the Challenger back-to-back against the Road Glide, it’s not even fair. The Challenger absolutely crushes it.”
“Over the years, the Road Glide has firmly entrenched itself as the category leader and has become the default choice, but our bike is simply better and our confidence in this product is what this campaign is all about,” said Mike Dougherty, President, Indian Motorcycle. “The difference when riding these two bikes back-to-back is undeniable, and we’re excited for riders to experience it for themselves with the Challenger Challenge.”
At the heart of the Challenger is the PowerPlus engine, Indian’s first liquid-cooled large displacement motor (108 cubic-inch, 60-degree V-twin) that packs a best-in-class 122 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs. of torque. The Challenger’s modern and aggressively styled chassis-mounted fairing sits over an inverted front suspension, while the Challenger Limited and Dark Horse variants are equipped with Indian Motorcycle’s intuitive Smart Lean Technology, keeping riders confidently grounded by utilizing a Bosch IMU to add cornering control to the dynamic traction control and ABS, as well as Drag Torque Control. A host of amenities add style, convenience and keep the rider comfortable, including electronic cruise control, full LED lighting, a long-haul seat, ABS, keyless ignition, weatherproof saddlebags with over 18 gallons of storage space, and an adjustable windscreen with nearly three inches of travel.
In Part 1 of this new video series, Carey and Big B stage a taco truck tow-off and drag race around a popular southern California racetrack. The results?
Parts 2 and 3 addressed braking and handling, respectively. Now we're getting into suspension, which is our daily focus.
Handling is our forte, so it's no surprise that the FOX-equipped Challenger literally carried the day as Big B rode cupcake with Carey. We spoke with the duo at The One Moto Show recently about how the two bikes stacked up, and they said it was no contest. Naturally, we have a Full Bike Solution for Harley owners as well.
// indianmotorcycle.com/challengerchallenge
