Indian 1720 CHIEF BLACKHAWK 2011 — Specifications

Blackhawk. The name already carries its own story before the engine even warms up. This is not some fancy name conjured up in a marketing office: Black Hawk was a Sauk war chief born in 1767, feared on the battlefields of the American Midwest, whose reputation was solid enough to later lend its name to a combat helicopter and four warships. Indian does not deal in half-measures when it comes to choosing its vocabulary, and this Chief Blackhawk was released in 2011 to mark the brand's 110th anniversary, just as Springfield had launched a 1300 Chief Blackhawk for its 50th anniversary in 1951. Continuity has its virtues, especially when you've come back from so far.

Because Indian has indeed come back from a long way. The brand's resurrection is recent, and the lineup was built around a single engine — this 45-degree V-twin of 1720cc that Americans call the "105 cubic inches." On paper, 71 horsepower at 4,500 rpm is modest compared to a Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy or a Victory Cross Country playing in the same league. But it's the torque that does the work here: 135 Nm from as low as 2,400 rpm, a figure that turns every corner exit into a clean, drama-free surge. The bore and stroke of 101.5 x 107.95 mm tell the engine's philosophy on their own: the goal isn't high revs, it's traction — the long, deep breathing of a big twin that pulls hard from low down.

The Blackhawk sets itself apart from its siblings with a few details that clearly define its character. The seat sits lower at 704 mm, which suits riders of average build on a machine that tips the scales at 362 kg fully fueled — a weight that makes itself known the moment you attempt your first U-turn in town. The headlight fairing provides modest wind protection, the hard panniers are standard equipment, and Brembo supplies the brake calipers: two-piston units up front on 292 mm discs, single-piston at the rear. Honest, if not revolutionary. Belt drive and a six-speed gearbox round out a technical package that holds no surprises but remains coherent for a touring cruiser aimed at long-haul runs rather than alpine passes.

Aesthetically, the skirted fenders are Indian's signature, recognizable from a distance, and the commemorative 110th-anniversary plaque adds a welcome collector's touch. The target audience is clearly the Americana-loving road warrior looking for something beyond the usual H-D, seeking a strong identity and a story to tell around the campfire. This is not a motorcycle for beginners, in terms of either its size or its price. At €32,000, the Blackhawk positions itself above a Fat Boy S or a Victory Magnum, and you'll need firm conviction that the Indian name is worth that premium. The answer depends heavily on what you're looking for in this type of motorcycle — and some buyers ask for nothing more than that singular distinction.