Publish Date: Jun 24, 2013
MEDINA, Minn. – The 2014 Indian Chief will make its grand entrance at the 73rd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a public reveal party Aug. 3 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
The free 8 p.m. event centered on the unveiling of the 2014 Indian Chief will feature live music, celebrity appearances including Mike Wolfe of History’s “American Pickers” TV show, interviews with Indian Motorcycle team members, a multimedia tribute to Indian Motorcycle’s history and more.
“The Sturgis Rally was started in 1936 by the local Indian Motorcycle club, the Jackpine Gypsies, and has grown to become the world’s largest motorcycle rally, drawing riders from across the globe. We found it fitting to unveil the new Indian Motorcycle at Sturgis given its heritage at this signature motorcycle event,” said vice president of Polaris Motorcycles Steve Menneto. “Our team has put their hearts and souls into the design and development of the 2014 Indian Chief. Sturgis is the perfect place to unveil the next generation of Indian motorcycles and share the message that choice in American motorcycling is finally here in the form of the stunning new Indian Chief.”
The company also announced a weeklong schedule of events designed to introduce riders to the new Indian Chief. The full schedule of activities including displays, demo rides and parties is available at the official Indian Motorcycle website www.indianmotorcycle.com.
Legacy Indian Motorcycles
Rally events include a display from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 2nd and Lazelle streets in downtown Sturgis. The Indian Motorcycle Experience at Lazelle Street will include product demonstrations, display bikes, apparel sales and accessory displays. The exhibit will also feature an array of heritage Indian motorcycles including vintage Chief models, the world famous “Munro Special” and the recently unveiled tribute “Spirit of Munro” custom streamliner.
Indian Motorcycles Reveals the 2014 Indian Chief in Sturgis
Licensed motorcyclists at Sturgis are invited to be among the first in the world to ride the new Chief. Demos will be offered daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 4 through 10. Demo rides are available at the Indian Motorcycle Hospitality venue just off Hwy I-90 at Exit 30. Riders must be 18 years of age and must provide proof of endorsement along with a helmet and appropriate riding attire.
Indian Motorcycles party Aug. 9 at the Buffalo Chip
Indian Motorcycle will host a party Aug. 9 at the Buffalo Chip. In addition to reggae rock fusion band Sublime with Rome performing live on the Chip’s main stage, Indian Motorcycle will feature a display of vintage and antique Indian motorcycles, special promotions and appearances.
2014 Indian Motorcycles Recap
Indian Motorcycles has once again risen from the dustbin of history. Purchased by Polaris Industries in 2011, the 2014 model year involves a complete redesign of the Indian motorcycle line. The most notable new feature is the new Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine. A fresh design from the ground up, the design goals included keeping the classic Indian engine look while implementing a 49 degree V-Twin geometry with modern technology.
The Thunder Stroke 111 is a fuel-injected four-stroke 49-degree V-Twin engine having a displacement of 111 cubic inches (1811 cc), that is claimed to deliver 118 ft-lb (160 Nm) of torque, which is about normal for such designs. The engine tops out at 5500 rpm, and delivers its power to the rear wheel through a six-speed overdrive transmission and a carbon fiber-reinforced belt.
The new design, which has undergone over one million miles of testing, has a forged single-pin transverse crankshaft to transfer power from the 3.89-in (101-mm) diameter pistons during their 4.45-in (113-mm) stroke. The TS111 is an overhead valve engine, with two valves per cylinder controlled by a triple camshaft driving parallel pushrods which activate hydraulic lifters. As a 49-degree V-Twin design is rather cramped near the crankshaft, the engine has mushroom cylinder outlines and multi-directional cooling fins to optimize the balance between cooling and real estate.
The engine is connected to a six-speed overdrive constant-mesh transmission. Sixth gear turns 3.37 times faster than first gear, leading to an easily controllable transmission that will allow a rider to remain within the power band of the engine under most riding conditions. The clutch is a multiple-plate wet design to provide smooth clutch action without undue slippage.
The TS111 is equipped with a valve to trigger compression release, allowing a motorcycle driven by this engine to use engine braking. The compression ratio of the engine is a rather conservative 9.5:1. Fuel is provided to the engine by an electronic sequential port fuel injection system, while air passes through an electronically controlled 2.13-in (51-mm) throttle. As the TS111 also has a helical gear balancer to offset vibration from the unbalanced 49-degree cylinders, the result should be an engine that combines power and smoothness.
The new engine is a modern incarnation of most of the positive aspects and quirks of design so characteristic of classic Indian design. We can only hope that the 2014 Indian Motorcycle follows the same path. OK – it could be less expensive as well – the CEO has said it will be “more affordable.” This is one development target I don’t want to see slip – I haven’t owned a motorcycle in quite a while, but the new Indian might push me back over the line!
