New challenger: Indian is out with a bold new bike to redefine the American Bagger segment

It has a massive V-twin engine, next-level technological advancements to provide an unmatched riding experience, and of course dollops of American muscle.

The 2020 Indian Challenger sports a modern aggressive look. 

American made
It is your quintessential cruiser that comes with a long list of amenities that include a 16-inch windshield, passenger backrest, passenger floorboards and extended reach seat and you can also opt for the PowerBand Audio Plus system to enhance the audio experience while touring on this glorious machine as it comes with high output speakers in the fairing as well as the saddlebags.

The bike also offers quick release sissy bars for the passengers, infinite highway pegs and a heel shifter.

Prime performer
The big story with the new bike is the all-new Indian PowerPlus engine which just happens to be the first liquid-cooled large-displacement motor from the brand.

The 1,769 cc 60-degree V-twin delivers 122 horsepower and 178 Nm of torque. It is paired with a six-speed transmission that gets an overdrive feature as well as clutch assist to reduce the effort required.

To reduce maintenance levels, the engine features hydraulic valve lash adjusters and camshaft chain tensioners.

Riders have the option to change the throttle mapping of the bike by switching between three distinct riding modes that include Rain, Standard and Sport. These also alter the traction control to suit the riding choice.

Feature heavy
As expected, the manufacturer is offering the 2020 Challenger with all the premium touring amenities that riders would expect from a bike of this class.

This includes electronic cruise control, full LED lighting, comfortable long-haul seats, ABS, keyless ignition, weatherproof saddlebags and a chassis-mounted fairing.

The new bike features Indian Ride Command as well, which just happens to be the most customisable touchscreen infotainment system available on two wheels!

It offers you weather and traffic overlays, key vehicle information, Bluetooth and USB mobile pairing and it runs off a quad-core processor.

Last but not least, it is also equipped with bike maker’s Smart Lean Technology that aids in bike control through corners. You also get dynamic traction control and ABS as standard.

Built to cruise
From the looks of it, Indian Motorcycle has clearly outdone themselves with the new 2020 Indian Challenger.

Incidentally, they are also offering an Indian Challenger Dark Horse variant as well. Already on sale in America, the 2020 Indian Challenger should make its debut in India by early 2020.

It is expected to be priced in the range of INR 30 lakh onwards.

— Vikram Gour