Indian Roadmaster 2015 — Specifications

When Polaris resurrected Indian in 2013, nobody really knew if the transplant would take. Two years later, the answer can be summed up in one word: Roadmaster. This name, absent from the catalogs since 1953, returns to crown the lineup with a clear ambition: to challenge the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Limited on its own turf — American luxury touring. A €27,990 gamble that deserves a closer look.

Beneath this cathedral of chrome and leather beats the Thunderstroke 111, an air-cooled 1811 cc V-twin. The numbers speak for themselves: 74 horsepower is modest on paper, but 138.9 Nm of torque from just 2800 rpm changes everything. This engine never asks to be flogged. It pulls hard, low, with a smoothness perfectly suited to the machine's calling. You don't ride an Indian Roadmaster — you let it unspool the ribbon of asphalt at its own pace. The belt drive and six-speed gearbox support this philosophy without a hitch. Top speed maxes out at 180 km/h, a figure nobody will chase with 421 kg on the scales fully fueled. That weight is the price of absolute comfort.

And what comfort it is. The Indian Roadmaster piles on equipment with an almost offhand generosity. Heated leather seat with separate rider and passenger controls. Ten-level heated grips. Electric windshield. Adjustable passenger floorboards. Adjustable air vents in the lower fairings to manage heat in summer. The passenger, for that matter, is treated like a VIP: the padded backrest and wide seat turn long hauls into a mere formality. On the luggage front, the remote-locking hard saddlebags inherited from the Chieftain are joined by a matching trunk, bringing total capacity to 143 liters. That puts it in Honda Gold Wing territory — the benchmark of the segment.

The technology package matches the same standard. ABS as standard on floating disc brakes front and rear, tire pressure sensors, keyless start, cruise control, Bluetooth, full LED lighting, and three 12 V outlets to power all your gear. The aluminum frame and rear mono-shock suspension soak up the miles without complaint, even if the telescopic fork remains conventional in design. The low 673 mm seat height reassures when putting your feet down — no small thing given the machine's mass. The 16-inch tires front and rear favor straight-line stability, true to the segment's tradition.

Should you go for the Roadmaster? If you're looking for a grand touring motorcycle capable of devouring highways with a passenger and two weeks' worth of luggage, it ticks every box. Against the Electra Glide Limited, it counters with more sculptural styling, at least equivalent equipment, and an engine that has nothing to be ashamed of. Its flaws are those of the category: considerable weight, limited agility in the city, and a thirsty appetite paired with a 20.8-liter tank that demands regular stops. For fans of beautiful American cruisers who want something other than a Harley, the 2015 Indian Roadmaster makes a strong case. The following model years, from the 2016 Indian Roadmaster to the 2021 Indian Roadmaster Elite, only refined the recipe. On the used market, a test ride on the Indian Roadmaster is a must before signing: this kind of machine — you either embrace it or walk away, but you never remain indifferent.