2024 Indian Chief, Chief Bobber, Chief Dark Horse Buyer’s Guide

Indian totally reinvented its key Chief platform for the 2022 model year, ditching the full fenders and aluminum frame of the flagship series and giving us a group of leaner and more purposeful models that signal a better representation of current trends. The new-gen Chief and Chief Bobber soldier on into 2024 with that same new exposed steel-tube frame; the models differ in their wheel sizes and some key touch points, for slightly different looks and riding positions. The standard Chief opts for the tried-and-true 19-inch front wheel paired with a 16-inch rear (both cast), and adds a drag-style handlebar and mid-mount controls for a sporty feel, while the pricier Chief Bobber swaps in 16-inch wire hoops at both ends, adds forward controls, and tops it off with a set of mini-ape handlebars. Both are available in two engine options; the base trim, which packs an air-cooled 49-degree Thunderstroke 111 V-twin, or the more premium Chief Dark Horse and Bobber Dark Horse, which feature a beefier Thunderstroke 116 mill, standard ABS, and the 4-inch digital touchscreen powered by Ride Command.

The standard Chief carries an MSRP of $14,999 in Black Metallic, while the Bobber starts at $16,499; ABS is $950 extra for either bike in base form.

Upgrading the Chief or the Chief Bobber to the Dark Horse trim means you get the bigger and more powerful Thunderstroke 116 V-twin and ABS is included. The Dark Horse trim also adds Indian’s 4-inch touchscreen display with Ride Command (with GPS and Bluetooth) as standard equipment, as opposed to the base model’s analog gauge. The Chief Dark Horse runs you $18,499 and up, while the Chief Bobber Dark Horse starts at $19,999 and gets pricier from there, depending on your choice of colors.