Indian Roadmaster 2019 — Specifications

Who remembers the original Roadmaster, produced between 1947 and 1953? Indian has resurrected this legendary name to conquer the American grand touring segment. And the 2019 Indian Roadmaster doesn't do things by halves. With its 921 lbs wet weight, its 1811 cc Thunderstroke V-twin, and 143 liters of cargo capacity, this touring machine clearly plays in the same league as the Honda Gold Wing. It targets long-distance riders, those who devour thousands of miles and refuse to compromise on comfort. The Indian Roadmaster is priced at 32,190 euros, a steep tag but consistent when compared to a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Limited that proves hardly more affordable.

Under the hood, so to speak, the V-twin produces 84 horsepower. Nothing to set any stopwatch ablaze, but that's not the point. Torque, however, speaks a different language: 161 Nm from just 3,000 rpm. It's fat, smooth, and available at the slightest twist. This engine is a noble workhorse, built to haul 400 kilos of chrome and leather with no apparent effort. Three ride maps — Tour, Standard, and Sport — adjust throttle response to suit the rider's mood. Tour mode smooths out power delivery for optimal highway comfort; Sport makes the throttle more direct, almost snappy for a machine of this size. A welcome addition for the 2019 model year: a rear cylinder deactivation system cuts the heat at standstill. Anyone who has ever roasted between two large exhausts in a summer traffic jam will appreciate the thoughtfulness.

On the equipment front, the Roadmaster crushes the competition with its standard features. The 7-inch Ride Command touchscreen centralizes GPS navigation, a 100-watt audio system with speed-adjusted dynamic equalization, Bluetooth, and mechanical readouts. The leather seat is heated, with separate controls for rider and passenger. The heated grips offer ten temperature levels. The windshield adjusts electrically. The rear footpegs are adjustable. Starting is keyless. ABS covers both wheels, with dual floating discs and four-piston calipers up front. Add cruise control, three 12-volt outlets, tire pressure monitoring, and full LED lighting. The list reads like the options catalog of a German sedan, except everything is included in the price.

The side fairings now feature adjustable vents to ventilate the rider's legs. Harley has offered this feature for years on its Glide models, but Indian closes the gap with a carefully integrated design. The remotely lockable saddlebags and the leather-lined top case provide total storage volume close to that of a Gold Wing. The passenger travels in royal conditions, seated on a cushion worthy of a club chair. For those seeking a used Indian Roadmaster, the 2017, 2018, and 2019 model years share this generous technical foundation. The Indian Roadmaster Elite version pushes the envelope even further with exclusive two-tone paint schemes, but the mechanical specification remains identical.

Then there's the matter of weight. 921 lbs is an ocean liner. The low 26.5-inch seat height reassures average-sized riders, and the low center of gravity helps with maneuvering. But let's not kid ourselves: this machine demands experience and strong arms in the parking lot. On the road, the cast aluminum frame and six-speed belt drive make you forget the mass entirely. The Roadmaster tracks straight and absorbs road imperfections with absolute composure thanks to its telescopic fork and pneumatic mono-shock. Limited to 112 mph, it has no sporting pretensions whatsoever. Its playground is the open highway stretching toward the horizon, fully loaded, stereo playing, at a senator's pace. And on that precise terrain, few machines can rival the level of refinement Indian delivers here.