It was a period of great prosperity and possibility, of modernization and cultural renaissance. The original Chief was launched early in the Roaring Twenties, a decade that followed World War I and the deadly influenza pandemic of 1918-1920. There’s another historical parallel at play here, an unexpected one. (For those who still like the classic styling, the Vintage and Vintage Dark Horse - with “Chief” dropped from their model names - are still in Indian’s lineup.) As the premium touring model in the new Chief lineup, the Super Chief Limited is spec’d with a windshield, two-up saddle, saddlebags and footboards, as well as the larger 116ci Thunderstroke V-twin, a 4-inch Ride Command touchscreen display, ABS and premium finishes. Claimed wet weight for the 2022 Chief is 670 pounds versus more than 800 pounds for the Chief Classic. Like their ancestor, the new Chiefs draw inspiration from the modern-day Scout, with a shortened wheelbase and exposed twin laydown rear shocks rather than a single shock hidden behind bodywork. The 2022 Chief lineup is more stripped-down and elemental, reflecting contemporary tastes. They were big, long and substantial, and they stayed that way for several years.Īdvertisement From the shape of its frame to the styling of its V-twin, the 2022 Indian Chief retains some of its ancestor’s DNA. The Chief Classic and Chief Vintage that debuted for 2014, as part of a three-bike lineup when Indian was re-launched under Polaris ownership, had traditional styling most often associated with Indians - valenced fenders, illuminated Indian headdress ornaments, spoked chrome wheels and details like seat conchos and leather fringe. The new Chiefs adhere to a similar formula. “Whaddaya think she’ll do?” A couple of flyboys admire an early Indian Chief while their boss does the Hokey Pokey with a propeller.ĭesigned by legendary engineer Charles Franklin, the original Chief was inspired by another iconic model, the midsized Scout, which Franklin had also created and was one of Indian’s best-selling motorcycles. With three new and distinct models - Chief, Chief Bobber and Super Chief - Indian is honoring its past while clearly looking to the future. And for the 2022 model year, exactly 100 years later, Indian has given its Chief lineup a thorough overhaul. “It was a wonderful name, surely the best name an Indian could have,” writes Allan Girdler in The Harley-Davidson and Indian Wars. After two decades in business, for the 1922 model year Indian introduced one of its best known models, the Chief. They can show us how far we’ve come as well as the gravitational pull of the past. The Super Chief Limited is one of three models, along with the Chief and Chief Bobber, in the all-new 2022 Indian Chief lineup.