2026 Indian Chief Vintage draws directly from its 1940s roots
The new Indian Chief Vintage blends 1940s styling with modern hardware, offering old-school looks without abandoning current-day tech and convenience.
Indian Motorcycle has unveiled the 2026 Chief Vintage, a new model aimed squarely at riders who want traditional American cruiser styling paired with modern running gear.
The bike takes its visual cues from the original Indian Chief of the 1940s, most obviously through its deeply valanced front and rear mudguards, wire-spoke wheels and pared-back solo seat. The overall silhouette is deliberately old-school, but underneath it sits Indian’s current Chief platform.
Power comes from the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin, producing a claimed 115 lb ft of torque. As with other Thunderstroke-powered Chiefs, the focus is on low-rpm pull rather than outright performance and top-end power. Three ride modes are on offer, with Tour, Standard and Sport adjusting throttle response and delivery.
Indian’s design team has leaned heavily into period detail, with the Thunderstroke engine featuring non-machined black cylinders, with silver-painted heads and pushrod tubes. It’s a very deliberate nod to the painted finishes used on early Chiefs. Combined with the valanced guards, wide bars and narrow rear subframe, the bike clearly prioritises visual authenticity over minimalism or weight saving.
“The Indian Chief from the 1940s remains one of the most recognisable motorcycles in American history,” said Indian Motorcycle design director Ola Stenegärd. “With its V-twin engine and valanced fenders, it set a design template that still resonates today.”
Despite the retro appearance, the Chief Vintage is fully modern where it counts. It uses Indian’s 101 mm round touchscreen display running the latest version of Ride Command software. For 2026, Indian claims faster startup and loading times, along with updated navigation that allows routes to be planned on a smartphone and sent directly to the bike.
The display can be operated via handlebar controls or touch input and provides ride data, navigation and phone connectivity. Music and call functions are available when paired with a compatible helmet system.
Indian will offer optional extras including highway bars, a quick-release low windscreen, vinyl saddlebags (19 litres per side), alternative grips, rider floorboards, and passenger seat and backrest options for two-up use.
The Chief Vintage forms part of Indian’s broader 125th anniversary push, but rather than being a limited-edition model, it slots into the existing Chief range as a permanent option. It’s also, more importantly, the first bike to come from Indian following its takeover by Carolwood LP, which acquired America’s oldest bike maker from Polaris in 2025.
Carolwood LP is a Los Angeles private equity firm, known for investing in established, heritage-heavy brands. Indian, though, is its first in the motorcycle sector, with existing Carolwood brands ranging from bagel shops to media companies. It did, though, start off on the right foot, in hiring the motorcycle specialist Mike Kennedy to head up the historic marque.
Looking at the pictures of the new Chief Vintage, that was a shrewd move. Indian has, in recent years, seemed to stray too far from its heritage. Bikes were starting to look overly modern, and its move into water-cooling didn't sit well with die-hard fans. Hopefully this new, nostalgic take on an old name will go down well with Indian aficionados.
Pricing and regional availability have yet to be confirmed.
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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!