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30-Year Arcs / Tourer / Indian PowerPlus Bagger
Indian United States

Indian Challenger. Polaris's liquid-cooled answer to Harley's air-cooled tradition.

Indian's 2020 Challenger broke the bagger mold by going liquid-cooled. 108ci (1768cc) PowerPlus V-twin, 122bhp, frame-mounted fairing, ride modes, Ride Command 7" touchscreen. Sold UK + US + globally. Part of Polaris's serious push at the bagger market.

1996
Indian dormant · 1996
2006
Indian dormant · 2006
2016
Pre-Challenger · Polaris Indian
2026
Challenger · 6 yrs in
Continual audits are underway to verify local pricing for every bike in every market. Apologies for any gaps you see while this is in progress.
1996 Indian dormant

Indian Motorcycle Co. defunct

Indian had been defunct since 1953
Original brand bankrupted, no production

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N/Adefunct
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2006 Indian dormant
No bike for this era

Indian still defunct

1990s-2000s revival attempts failed
Polaris bought brand 2011

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N/Apre-Polaris
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2016 Pre-Challenger
No bike for this era

Polaris Indian — Chieftain era

Polaris-built Indian rebuilt brand 2014+
Chieftain (air-cooled Thunder Stroke) was top tourer until Challenger

Pre-Challenger — Chieftain TS 111
82bhp
152
372
672
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$22,999
2026 Challenger · 6 yrs in production

Indian Challenger (2026)

108ci PowerPlus 122bhp liquid-cooled V-twin
Frame-mounted fairing, Ride Command 7", IMU, semi-active suspension on Limited

1768cc liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin (FI)
122bhp
178
360
672
Cornering ABSRide-by-wireTraction control3 ride modes7" Ride Command TFTCruise control stdHeated grips opt
Known issues
  • Cam chain noise — early 2020
  • Infotainment glitches — early 2020-21
  • Otherwise solid Polaris quality
$26,999
YES
$17-22k
// 30-Year Delta

What actually changed.

Indian's modern bagger evolution · 2020-2026
Indian's first proper Harley fight Liquid-cooled M8-killer Polaris brought Indian back as a serious challenger in 2014, but Challenger 2020 was the model that made the bagger market a real two-horse race. Liquid-cooled 1768cc PowerPlus V-twin makes 122bhp — 17bhp more than Harley's air-cooled M8 117. Different engine philosophy, real performance gap.
vs Harley Street/Road Glide More power, less heritage Challenger (122bhp, 360kg, $26,999 UK / $25,999 US): liquid-cooled, faster, less heat. HD M8 (105bhp, 371-377kg, $24,999): air-cooled tradition, broader dealer network, deeper aftermarket. Different riders — Challenger for performance buyers, HD for traditionalists.
vs Honda Goldwing Different category Goldwing ($28k, 1833cc flat-six 124bhp, 379kg wet): full-dress luxury tourer. Challenger ($27k, 1768cc V-twin 122bhp): bagger format — same money, different riding experience.
Rider aids count Full modern stack Cornering ABS, ride-by-wire, traction control, 3 ride modes, 7" Ride Command TFT with Apple CarPlay, cruise control std, optional heated grips, optional semi-active suspension on Limited.
Cheapest way in $14,000 (2020-21 used) A clean 2020-2021 Challenger is the cheapest entry to liquid-cooled Indian touring. $14-19k for a tidy one. Watch cam chain on early bikes, infotainment software.
vs Pursuit (sister) Same engine, different mission Pursuit is the Challenger's full-tour sibling — top trunk, more luggage, fairing-mounted lowers. Same 122bhp PowerPlus engine. Pursuit is for the long-haul tourer; Challenger for the bagger-only rider.
// Sources

Where these numbers come from

Every figure on this page is from a published manufacturer spec sheet or a reputable review publication. No press junkets, no opinions in the spec data. Inflation calculated using US BLS CPI tool.

2020+ Indian Challenger Indian Motorcycle press release · MCN · Cycle World
2026 Indian Challenger (current) Indian 2026 spec sheet · MCN · Cycle World