Indian Chief Vintage Revealed To Celebrate Brand’s 125th Anniversary

Legendary American bike maker Indian Motorcycles is celebrating its 125th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, the company has introduced the new Chief Vintage, paying homage to the original Indian Chief model of the 1940s in the post World War II era. Inspired by the 1940s Indian Chief, the new Chief Vintage carries over an identical silhouette, paying tribute to the manufacturer’s roots.

The 2026 Indian Chief Vintage replicates the flowing valanced fenders and sports a headdress ornament on the fender, unique to the motorcycles of the era. The bike sports a tear-drop shaped fuel tank for that authentic “vintage” look, while the Indian logo is finished in black, complementing the red paint scheme. The bike gets a narrow rear subframe and vintage handlebars that reference the timeless designs of the era gone by. The Chief Vintage also sports a free-floating seat, while a massive rear fender keeps the overall design authentic.

The retro theme further extends to the Indian Chief Vintage in the form of non-machined black cylinders and silver-painted cylinder heads and pushrod tubes. These painted components and non-machined fins pay tribute to the raw aluminium finishes on the original Chief. Rounding up the vintage look are the 16-inch cross-spoke wheels with balloon tyres on the motorcycle.

Power on the Indian Chief Vintage comes from the familiar Thunderstroke 116CI engine. The 1,890 cc air-cooled, V-Twin motor produces 156 Nm of peak torque right at 3,300 rpm. The bike also gets three ride modes - Tour, Standard, and Sport. Other modern elements include a 4-inch round TFT instrument console with turn-by-turn navigation, cruise control, and more.

Indian will also offer a host of accessories on the Chief Vintage including front highway bars for low-speed tip-over protection, a 450 mm quick release low windshield, weather-resistant vinyl saddlebags, premium handle grips, and wider rider floorboards.