Test Drive: Indian Motorcycle's Roadmaster

The resurrected Indian Motorcycle, one of the oldest motorcycle marques in the world, focuses on providing smiles on two wheels, and the Roadmaster is the latest to join the range. Stunning and massive best describe its styling. Launched last year, it is probably one of the best-looking luxury cruisers out there.

You get a boot with 142 litres of storage

Roadmaster rocks some of the best features in the industry. Those huge sheet metal fenders and the Indian war bonnet look royal. The fit-and-finish levels are among the best in the business and the attention to detail is mind-boggling. The exterior of that V-twin engine oozes sophisticated style. It has an electronically-controlled windscreen, which even its competitor in India, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special, doesn't have. Another feature is the 200W audio system with Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to pair your phone with the music system and stream your playlist. You also get two massive hard case panniers and a top box, which together provide 142 litres of storage. Plus, there are two small storage boxes on the lower fairing, which can be locked remotely using the key fob.

There's not much for the pillion to complain about

The true beauty of this American lies in the way it is engineered. Despite being based on the Chief, the Roadmaster feels pretty unique, especially when it comes to the weight. At 421 kg, it is among the heaviest cruisers. The engineering behind all this, however, is remarkable. Being a cruiser, the front end is raked out but not like a chopper.

ThunderStroke V-twin engine looks like a work of art. Pics/Sanjay Raikar

Another thing that impresses is that ThunderStroke 111 V-twin engine. The ‘111' refers to its cubic-inch displacement which translates into 1,811 cc of pure American V-twin muscle. The company does not divulge power output, but the estimated figure is around 75 PS. However, it is the torque that sets things in motion and the Roadmaster has 138.9 Nm of it, which is available from as low as 2,600 rpm. There is a six-speed transmission that transfers that torque to the rear wheel via a belt final drive.

It is massive and navigating it through stop-and-go traffic was a living nightmare. Apart from the sheer size, there was hardly anything to complain about, though.

The ride-by-wire throttle is super smooth without being overly enthusiastic in its response. We were in fifth with the engine running at 1,500 RPM, speedo indicating 60 km/h, and when we opened the throttle, the Roadmaster charged ahead with gusto. Hitting triple digit speeds was child's play. The weight of the bike seemed to have disappeared and the main reason for that was the low centre of gravity. The engine is placed lower in the aluminium frame and that, combined with the weight, makes the Roadmaster stable.

The air-suspension at the back is set up on the softer side to absorb most of the undulations on Indian roads. The good part is that this soft suspension doesn't hurt the handling much. It is still a cruiser, and a heavy one at that. So, tight corners are best avoided.

Overall, the Roadmaster is a beefed-up Chief. The ride quality is superb, handling is decent and brakes are all right. It is a wonderful motorcycle if you wish to munch miles in extraordinary comfort. So, if you have R38 lakh (ex-Delhi) to spare and wish to experience a true American cruiser, then the Roadmaster can be your perfect companion for the road.