Spawned in custom shops across the country and fueled by interest in racing series such as MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers, the rise of high-performance baggers has been the most visible trend in the cruiser motorcycle world in recent years. So what's next? Maybe just lose the bags?
Two new models announced for 2023 by the two major U.S. motorcycle manufacturers add a new wrinkle to cruisers that aspire to be able to do more than just leisurely cruise. Though it's not really new — we've seen the "muscle cruiser" genre emerge and submerge a few times over the past few decades. Will this time be any different?
The two motorcycles sparking this question are the Indian Sport Chief and the Harley-Davidson Breakout, both new models for 2023. Actually, the Breakout returns to the Harley-Davidson lineup after an absence, but the Sport Chief is a new entry.
Both fit firmly in the long, low, cruiser styling mode, but they also pack the most powerful air-cooled V-twin regular production engines the companies produce. In other words, if you want a traditional cruiser with more performance, this is where you're probably shopping.
Just about one cubic inch of displacement and a few foot-pounds of max torque separate the Thunderstroke 116 engine in the Indian and the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine in the Harley-Davidson. The two motorcycles are also similar in other specs, such as weight, seat height and so on. The Harley is a little more expensive, but it's easy to see a prospective buyer cross-shopping these two.
A closer look at the numbers hints at potential differences. Spec sheet shootouts are always of dubious usefulness, but the specs do suggest the Harley makes more performance compromises for style than the Indian. The Breakout rolls on a 240-section rear tire and a 21-inch front tire that are clearly more about looks than performance, and that may hinder handling, compared to the Sport Chief's 180-section, 16-inch rear tire and 19-inch front. The Breakout claims a 26.8-degree lean angle and the Sport Chief claims 29.5 degrees. The Harley's front end is more raked out (34 degrees of rake versus 28 on the Indian, and that could be the most crucial stat of them all) and the wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer. The Harley-Davidson has a single front brake disc while the Indian has dual front discs squeezed by Brembo calipers.
Given that the two machines have similar power-to-weight ratios and designs, will those differences have a great effect on how they perform, handle, and feel? I suspect the answer is "yes," but we won't really know until we ride them, especially the new Sport Chief. Maybe Zack can get one for a "Daily Rider" episode.
In addition to brakes and suspension that, at least on paper, appear to be higher spec, the Indian also offers a four-inch touchscreen display with more features than the Harley's 2.14-inch LCD display. The Indian display is accessible by handlebar controls or the touchscreen and enables features such as turn-by-turn navigation. It can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth for listening to music or screening incoming calls.
The Sport Chief comes with a quarter fairing and a solo seat. The Breakout at least offers token passenger accommodations, though you're not going to choose either for a two-up ride of any length. No, these bikes are built for the cruiser traditionalist who also wants to get a little more satisfaction when twisting the throttle than the typical cruiser provides.
"Sport" is still a relative term when shopping the cruiser market, but there are buyers who will consider no other kind of motorcycle. For them, these are new options and it's always good to have options.
2023 Indian Sport Chief | 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout | |
---|---|---|
Price (MSRP) | $18,999 to $19,999 depending on color | $20,999 |
Engine | Thunderstroke 116, 1,890 cc, air-cooled, four-valve, V-twin | Milwaukee-Eight 117, 1,923 cc, air-cooled, eight-valve, V-twin |
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, belt | Six-speed, belt |
Claimed horsepower | N/A | 101 @ 4,750 rpm |
Claimed torque | 120 foot-pounds @ 2,900 rpm | 123 foot-pounds @ 3,500 rpm |
Frame | Steel tube | Steel tube |
Front suspension | KYB 43 mm inverted fork; 5.1 inches of travel | Dual-bending valve 49 mm fork; 5.0 inches of travel |
Rear suspension | Dual Fox Piggyback shocks, adjustable for preload; 4.0 inches of travel | Single shock, adjustable for preload; 3.4 inches of travel |
Front brake | Dual Brembo four-piston calipers, 320 mm discs with ABS | Single four-piston caliper, 300 mm disc with ABS |
Rear brake | Brembo two-piston caliper, 300 mm disc with ABS | Two-piston caliper, 292 mm disc with ABS |
Rake, trail | 28.0 degrees, 4.4 inches | 34.0 degrees, 5.7 inches |
Wheelbase | 64.6 inches | 66.7 inches |
Seat height | 27 inches | 26.2 inches |
Fuel capacity | 4.0 gallons | 5.0 gallons |
Tires | Pirelli Night Dragon, 130/60B19 front, 180/65B16 rear | Michelin Scorcher 11, 130/60B21 front, 240/40R18 rear |
Claimed weight | 665 pounds | 683 pounds |
Warranty | 24 months | 24 months |
More info | indianmotorcycle.com | harley-davidson.com |