Indian Pursuit Dark Horse 2022 — Specifications

Four hundred and sixteen kilos on the scales, 1769 cc of V-twin and a top case capable of swallowing the contents of a carry-on suitcase. The 2022 Indian Pursuit Dark Horse doesn't do things by halves. It belongs to that American Grand Touring tradition where everything must be massive, comfortable and packed with technology. Up against the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited and the venerable in-house Roadmaster, this Pursuit plays a different card. That of a modern engine, the PowerPlus, which turns its back on big air-cooled twins to embrace liquid cooling, double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The result: 122 horsepower at 5500 rpm and above all 178 Nm of torque from just 3800 rpm. More than enough to effortlessly propel this colossal mass along major highways.

Built on the Challenger platform, the Indian Pursuit Dark Horse carries over its cast aluminum frame, 43 mm inverted fork and four-piston Brembo radial-mount brakes clamping 320 mm discs. The chassis, with its frame-mounted steering head, delivers lighter steering than the Chieftain and Roadmaster. A genuine advantage when it comes to threading nearly half a tonne through a series of bends. The Dark Horse version stands apart with its full blackout treatment: exhaust, engine guards, handlebars, footpegs, engine covers. Not a gram of chrome in sight, unlike the Limited which gleams from every angle. The price of this dark restraint? €34,440, which places it in direct competition with the BMW K 1600 GTL and the big Harleys.

On the luggage front, the Pursuit leapfrogs the Challenger thanks to its removable Quick Release top case. In total, 133 litres of storage are available for rider and passenger, enough to set off for two weeks without giving packing a second thought. The passenger benefits from a wide backrest integrated into the rear trunk, and the standard heated seat takes the edge off chilly autumn morning departures. The electrically adjustable windscreen rounds out already generous wind protection, reinforced by lateral fairings ahead of the knees that integrate auxiliary lights and ventilation flaps for hot days. A clever detail that prevents you from roasting at a standstill.

The onboard electronics rival what European GTs have to offer. Three riding modes (Rain, Standard, Sport) adjust traction control and fuel injection mapping. Cornering ABS relies on an IMU inertial measurement unit, cruise control comes as standard, as do keyless ignition and rear cylinder deactivation at idle to reduce heat build-up in town. The electronically adjustable Fox rear suspension is controlled from the 7-inch Ride Command touchscreen, which also houses GPS, Apple CarPlay, a 200-watt sound system, Bluetooth and intercom. It still falls one notch short of the semi-active suspension offered by BMW or Yamaha on their high-end tourers, however — a point worth considering if you're looking at a used Indian Pursuit Dark Horse alongside a K 1600 of the same year.

With this Pursuit, Indian is clearly targeting mile-eaters who want American character without giving up mechanical modernity. The 2023 Indian Pursuit Dark Horse carried on in the same vein with no major upheaval. What does an Indian Pursuit Dark Horse cost today? On the used market, the first examples are starting to appear at attractive prices for anyone willing to live with 416 kg on a daily basis. Because that really is the only genuine criticism you can level at it: this weight, ever-present the moment you need to manoeuvre at low speed or park the machine. On the motorway, by contrast, it transforms into supreme stability. The Pursuit is not a motorcycle for everyone. It is a two-wheeled ocean liner, unapologetic and effective, built for long crossings and distant horizons.