It was a stormy, windswept night in the city. The sort of night in which you’d make sure your doors were locked. The sort of night when the wolf howls at the moon. As people drove a little faster than usual to get home sooner, their minds were occupied with an irrational fear they couldn’t quite understand, their dizzy white lights reflected off her curves. This was her element. And she owned it. I could feel the eyes on her as we rode through the city. I could feel them all saying the same thing — I want you. I couldn’t imagine myself getting so emotional about a motorcycle. I’m even referring to it as ‘her’. That’s a cardinal road testing rule I’m breaking that’ll probably have me fired. And yet…
This is that kind of motorcycle, the Chief Classic. It is utterly bewitching when you see it for the first time. Or for the twenty-thousandth time, for that matter. Just look at those valanced fenders. Just think about how painstakingly each one is made. Look at the War Bonnet light with the chief himself. Just look. Tell me if you find a single detail on this motorcycle that isn't exquisite.
Being American, the Chief Classic is rather large in every possible way. From the oversized body panels, engine, seat, handle bar, seats, headlamp, wheels and tyres, this definitely Americana. But it’s the most tasteful Americana I’ve ever seen.
Under the exquisite body it’s got a Thunder Stroke 111 cubic inch v-twin engine, an 1,811 Metric CC. This is then married to sublime 6-speed gearbox. The result is the delicate sound of thunder; remastered for the 21st Century; Loud, but it doesn’t shout. It can trouble seismographs on other continents without troubling the rider. It sounds like God whispering.
To ride it is no more difficult than riding any other bike. It’s very forgiving, the Chief. Of course, you need to understand that 370 kgs (with fluids) is considerable weight. But it’s beautifully balanced and the handlebars are low and wide, so you quickly learn that provided you ride it with the utmost respect, it won’t kill you.
The gearing is very tall, so you’ll find that in traffic, you’re still in first while other bikes have gone into third gear. Steering a motorcycle this heavy is a different. Manhandling the handlebar is out of the question — it’s just too heavy. A better option is to lean gently into corners and let the front gradually fall in that direction. Think of it like dancing. You lead, the bike follows.
But the first time you hit 6th gear and the Chief settles into a 130 kmph cruise feels like nirvana. It’s so good that you’ll find the hair on your arms standing on end. There’s something so perfect about flying down the highway on this thing. And there’s no effort because it has so much torque (139 Nm) and such a supple ride, you’ll wonder how you did without this your whole life.
I'm not the biggest fan of American engineering, truth be told. Yes, their muscle cars are iconic because they all have V8s and romantic names. But they all handle about as well as each other. Harleys are superb motorcycles and the torchbearers of American motorcycling. But they also make the Street 750 and 500.
The Chief Classic is in another league. Not only is it pure Americana with generous helpings of chrome, it’s as exquisite as a Rolls-Royce. Yes, it costs over Rs 30 lakh, but as Pankaj Dubey, MD of Indian Motorcycles India said, “some dreams cannot be realised immediately. They must be big enough to keep you dreaming for a long time. It makes their realisation that much sweeter.” This is my new dream. Someday I will own this motorcycle.
