Most bikes over 700 c.c. are bought from the heart rather than the head (excepting maybe sports bikes where riders buy based on performance stats), and Indian had patriotism plus nostalgia going for it. Why buy an "offshore" brand (albeit made and assembled in the USA) or a new American model when you can buy into all the history and mystique? Remember, engineer Oscar Hedstrom and bicycle racer George Hendee formed the original Indian Co. in 1900 in Springfield Mass. and the first Indians hit the streets in 1901, a year before Triumph and two years before H-D.
Note the 1953 Chief panel around the headlamp, the front and rear crashbars, the old style horn and location and old style luggage rack. Gorgeous, a beaut. The 2004 model was to look the same but with better brakes.
A few words about the new 2002/2003 "Powerplus" engine at 1650 c.c. beat Harley by 200 c.c or 12 cubic inches and was in the Yamaha Road Star 1600 - 1700 c.c. band. Like the old side-valved Scouts and Chiefs, it had the carburetor on the left side, (plus it's a good styling move to dress up the left side, plus the rider could reach the rear brake pedal more easily), the valve covers were finned to give a bit of cooling and resemblance to the old flatheads, and it looked like the oil pump is close to where it was on the flatheads. There appears to be a spin-on oil filter next to this flat, squarish area where previously the obtrusive "points" cone used to stick out.
The original Power Plus engine came out in 1916, to replace the Big Twin. It was a 42 degree V-twin side-valver displacing 61 cubic inches or 1 liter (a thousand cc's, the same as the Big Twin). It only made 17 horsepower but considering the Big Twin only made seven, that was a big improvement. Jumping ahead to 2002, the new Power Plus was a 45 degree V-twin valve-in-head, pushrod operated, still with two valves per cylinder, but with a mind-boggling 1650 c.c. or 103 cubic inches. Over the years Chiefs grew from 61 to 74, to (in 1950) 80, to (in 1999) 88 to (in 2002) 100 CID! Or in metric from 1 liter to 1.64 itres (1000 cc. to 1640 cc.)
Like all old American V-twins the stroke is longer than the bore (80 X 108 mm. or 3.875" X 4.25") which means lots of torque at low rpms for relaxed riding and avoid high rpms because they aren't there (and if they were the piston speed would be so high destruction would occur - one reason Japanese sports bikes last is their stroke is so short they don't get up much piston speed, but of course this means you must use the high rpms to get any power, making for a relatively frantic riding experience.) The Power Plus pushrods are hydraulic, just like your typical Detroit engine, making adjusting valve lash (tappet clearances) a rare occurrence and reducing mechanical noise. Ignition is modern: solid state and computerized. The engine has a 42 mm. Mikuni carb, probably the only Japanese item on an Indian, but hey, Soichiro Honda, founder of Honda, rode an Indian Scout before he started making his own bikes. (Yes, a 1940's Indian was the inspiration for all the Honda bikes and cars we see today.) The new Power Plus was only in the 2002 and 2003 Chief, leaving the 88 inchers for the Scout as traditionally the Scout had a smaller engine than the Chief (but Scouts had grown from 45 to 88 CID and Chiefs from 74 to 100, so the 2000 - 2003 Scout is a bigger than a 1950's Chief.) Everything is bigger and arguably better in the USA. The 1999-2003 Indians were made in Gilroy, California rather than Springfield,Massachusetts, by the way.
Other tech specs on the 2002 Chief I took from the Long Island Indian dealership web site:
New chassis design with 60 percent more rigidity for improved handling. New cantilever swingarm configuration delivering 60 percent more rigidity while reducing overall weight by 14 percent. Chassis features a reinforced, large diameter backbone and all-new KW rising rate, single-shock rear suspension with adjustable preload. Better handling and a full inch more rear travel. New ergonomically-designed, hand-stitched seat for (much-needed) added comfort and reduced fatigue. Reinforced rear structure for added passenger comfort and durability. Larger 5.8-gallon fuel tank for increased range Larger speedometer with digital odometer for increased visibility Brembo 4 piston brakes (front and rear) Overall weight reduced by 14 percent.
Rake reduced from 36 to 34 degrees. *
