For the year 2018, Americas oldest brand will give the world a brand new lineage of motorcycles that are sophisticated and technologically packed while keeping the core values of its predecessors intact of being the vintage charmers. For its third installment (the first being the Roadmaster Elite and the second is the Springfield Dark Horse), the Polaris owned manufacturer has launched the 2018 Indian Chieftain Elite.

An ultra-premium bagger boasts worldly comfort, convenience, power, style, infotainment, craftsmanship and most important of all - confidence. It is everything the Chieftain stood for, and this time, the Elite rises higher with the high-flake Black Hills Silver color hand paintjob, industry-leading Ride Command system with a 200-watt premium audio system and much more premiumness.

The Elite gets underpinned by the standard Chieftain but gets a lot of oomph, thanks to its stunning paint scheme. It is a high-flake Black Hills Silver color inspired by the silver mines in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A location close to the brand’s custom paint facility near Spearfish. The new 19" Front Wheel showcases a 10-spoke, contrast-cut wheel that completes the custom look.

Painting each Chieftain took a painstaking 25 hours where a team of experts masks the bodywork, lay the graphics and hand-spray each Chieftain Elite. This means, no two Elites’ will be similar due to the level of human touch involved. Indian provides color-matched accessories as well to make each bike even more distinctive. They include a Quick Release Trunk, Hard Lower Fairings, and a Valanced Front Fender.

It holds true to its pedigree with its design and makes it its purpose to let you ride in style. It offers a wealth of features to roll as one of the most badass V-twin on the market. Features like the electronically adjustable tinted windshield that rises 9 to 12 inches to cover mot riders from the buffeting wind. An explosive Bluetooth and smartphone compatible Ride Command system is upgraded to a 200-watt stereo boom box will put to shame any other motorcycle carrying a stereo system.

Known for cruising comforts, the Chieftain gets a well-supported solo saddle which is now genuine leather. Billet aluminum rider and passenger floorboards will provide you with enough room to rest your feet the way you like to. Then there are these new pinnacle mirrors and updated, smaller hand controls for improved ergonomics. Finally, there is nothing better than having a lit up War Bonnet leading the way for you. It can take your breath away.

Indian has kept the old school charm with this engine layout. But don’t get fooled because the inside story is a whole new world. The Thunder Stroke 111 engine used in the Chieftain makes way here too with its 1811cc 490 V-Twin capable of belting out 73 hp of power and 119 lb-ft of torque. Enough torque to tear apart the tarmac.

It is both oil and air cooled and operates is pretty smooth compared to the heavy throbbers around. Unlike other floorboard operators, the forward foot controls give way to heel/toe shifter. You can even notice the downward firing exhaust outlets of the Six-Shooter that makes the Dark Horse roar like the God of Thunder.

It is huge. No getting around that. Huge handlebar mounted fairings which look like the 50’s steamliner locomotives add to the gigantic stature of this motorcycle. It also gets the same features as the previous Chieftain commanded like ABS, cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, remote-locking saddlebags and keyless ignition and the rest of the bells and whistles.

Indian Motorcycles will be making only a limited number of the Elites’, although we don’t have those numbers. With the standard Chieftain costing at $21,499, and the Chieftain limited at $24,499, the Elite costs a little more than that, $31,499 to be precise.