Indian celebrates Sturgis roots with 125-bike Chief Vintage special edition
Just 125 examples of the heritage-inspired Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition will be built to mark the firm's 125th anniversary.
Indian Motorcycle has pulled the covers off a new limited edition Chief Vintage that celebrates the company's place at the very beginning of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Revealed at the 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition arrives at the time of Indian's 125th anniversary, with production for the model also capped at just 125 individually numbered units. While the vast majority will stay in North America, a small allocation is also heading to the UK and a handful of other international markets.
The bike is more than just another paint-and-badge special. Indian says it pays tribute to the original gathering in Sturgis back in 1938, when a local Indian Motorcycle dealer and a group of Indian riders organised what would eventually become the world's biggest motorcycle rally.
To reflect that history, the bike gets a period-inspired Indian Motorcycle Red and Cream paint scheme along with a multi-coloured Indian headdress logo similar to those used on the firm's bikes during the 1930s. A painted number 56 on the side panel is designed to resemble the hand-painted race numbers worn by competitors at the early Sturgis events, while each bike also carries its own numbered plaque.
Underneath the nostalgic styling is the current Chief Vintage platform, powered by Indian's air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin engine producing 156Nm of torque. It also comes with three riding modes - Tour, Standard and Sport - plus the brand's four-inch Ride Command touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation where available.
The styling sticks closely to the traditional Chief formula, with valanced mudguards, wire-spoke wheels, an illuminated warbonnet mascot, a vintage looking solo saddle and swept back handlebars. Indian has also given the engine painted cylinder heads and pushrod tubes with black barrels, echoing the appearance of its 1940s models.
Indian hasn't announced UK pricing yet, but confirmed the Sturgis, SD Edition will be sold in very limited numbers outside North America, with the UK among the markets receiving an allocation. More details on availability are expected closer to launch.
Find out more information on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
