Indian Celebrates 125th Anniversary with 2026 Chief Vintage
Indian Motorcycle, founded in 1901, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. To commemorate the momentous milestone, the company is releasing the retro-inspired 2026 Indian Chief Vintage.
The motorcycle draws inspiration from Indian’s postwar machines from the late 1940s. Combining classic design cues with modern performance, it’s an apt vehicle for celebrating Indian’s journey.
Those design elements include a valanced fender, topped with a light-up Indian headdress ornament. The bike’s narrow rear subframe, wire-spoked wheels (shod with Metzeler Cruisetec rubber), and vintage-styled handlebar and seat also recall the golden age of motorcycling.
As another throwback, the engine’s non-machined cylinders are painted black. The cylinder heads and pushrod tubes feature a silver color, reminiscent of the raw aluminum finish of Indian’s ‘40s bikes.
Speaking of the engine, it’s the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin that also powers the Sport and Super Chiefs. The 116 cubic-inch (1890cc) powerplant generates 120 lb-ft of torque at 2,900 rpm.
Suspension components consist of a 46mm telescopic fork (5.2 inches of travel) and non-adjustable dual shocks (3 inches of travel). Single 298mm floating discs with a four-piston caliper in the front and a two-piston caliper in the rear handle braking duties (ABS is included).
Although the Chief Vintage is firmly rooted in history, it also features some modern conveniences. The bike comes with three ride modes—Standard, Tour, and Sport—that tailor the Thunderstroke’s output and throttle response.
These modes are controlled through the 4-inch touchscreen with a full-color ISP display. With a round shape, the screen doesn’t scream “I’M OF THE CURRENT DAY!” and instead blends well into the motorcycle’s classic shapes.
The screen displays the latest version of Indian’s Ride Command system, offering several interface options that include two gauge configurations, bike and ride information, and turn-by-turn navigation. For the latter, the bike supports Indian App Enhanced Navigation, which allows you to search for destinations on your chosen map app and push them to the screen over Bluetooth.
In addition, the motorcycle comes with an adaptive LED headlight (also housed in an appropriately retro-looking nacelle), the Indian Chief Stage 1 slip-on exhaust for a throaty growl, and a Stage 1 high-flow air intake to allow the Thunderstroke to breathe deeper for more responsive power delivery.
For customizing the Chief Vintage, Indian offers a collection of optional add-ons. These include, among others, protective highway bars, a 17.8-inch windscreen, saddlebags, premium grips, and floorboards.
The 2026 Indian Chief Vintage comes in moody Black Metallic and sleek Indian Motorcycle Red colorways. Retailing from $19,999, the motorcycle will hit dealerships in March 2026.