Harley-Davidson Road Glide vs Indian Challenger: Which Bike is Best For You

If you’re searching for the perfect bike to hit the open road, you’re likely considering two of the biggest names in the motorcycle industry: Harley-Davidson and Indian. The Harley-Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Challenger are two of the most popular bikes in the market, and both offer many features that make them stand out.

The Road Glide features a frame-mounted fairing and Harley’s signature touring design, while the Indian Challenger includes a liquid-cooled engine and modern performance features, offering a smooth touring experience with added power.

In this article, we will compare the two bikes and help you determine which one is the best fit for you and your needs. Whether you’re an experienced biker or a beginner, this article will provide an in-depth look at the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Challenger to help you make the right choice. So let’s get started and see which bike is the right choice for you!

Overview of Harley-Davidson Road Glide

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide is a popular touring bike that has been a particular favorite of riders for many years. With its iconic shark-nose fairing and comfortable touring features, the Road Glide has become a popular choice for long-distance bikers who want a motorcycle that is both stylish and functional.

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide was introduced back in 1998 as a variation of the popular Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. Unlike the Electra Glide, which has a traditional fork-mounting fairing, the Road Glide has a shark-nose fairing that is mounted directly to the frame. This unique design will give the Road Glide a distinctive look and help in reducing wind buffeting at high speeds.

One of the key features of the Road Glide is its shark-nose fairing. It is designed for improving aerodynamics and reducing wind noise. The fairing also offers ample protection from the elements, which makes it an ideal choice for long-distance touring. This bike is powered by a Milwaukee-Eight engine, which is available in either a 107 or 114-cubic-inch displacement. The engine is powerful and provides a lot of torque and horsepower, which makes it ideal for cruising on the highway or passing other vehicles.

The Road Glide also has comfortable touring features, which is why bikers love it for long-distance riding. The motorcycle’s spacious touring seat and ample storage space also make it quite easy to carry gear and luggage. Meanwhile, the cruise control and premium audio system offer a comfortable and enjoyable ride.

Some of the best features of this bike include a comfortable touring seat, a premium audio system, cruise control, and a large fuel tank that offers plenty of range between fill-ups. The motorcycle has a wide variety of storage options, including saddlebags and a tour pack, which make it quite easy to carry gear and luggage on long trips.

Overview of Indian Challenger

The Indian Challenger is a powerful and stylish touring bike that is designed for long-distance rides. With its iconic design, advanced technology, and powerful engine, the Indian Challenger is a popular choice for bikers who want a bike that is both comfortable and capable.

The Indian Challenger was introduced in 2019 as a new addition to the Indian Motorcycle. The motorcycle was designed to compete with other touring motorcycles on the market, such as the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and BMW K 1600 GTL. With its powerful engine, advanced technology, and comfortable riding position, the Indian Challenger has quickly gained a loyal fan following among touring enthusiasts.

One of the best features of the Indian Challenger is its powerful engine. The motorcycle has a liquid-cooled PowerPlus 108 cubic inch V-twin that delivers an impressive 122 HP and 128 lb-ft of torque. This powerful engine offers plenty of performance for bikers who want to cruise on the highway or tackle challenging roads. It also features advanced technology, including a full-color touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, ride modes, and a 100W premium audio system. The touch-screen display with Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to access music and navigation when on the road. The motorcycle also has a wide variety of safety features, including Anti-lock Brakes, a rearview camera, and traction control.

A great feature of this bike is its advanced technology, which provides a comfortable and enjoyable ride for bikers. Meanwhile, the smooth handling and comfortable suspension make it easy to ride, even for beginners who are new to touring bikes.

Some of the other features of the Indian Challenger include heated grips, a comfortable touring seat, and a large fuel tank that offers plenty of range between fill-ups. The motorcycle has a wide variety of storage options, including saddlebags and a trunk, making it easier to carry gear and luggage on long trips.

Harley-Davidson Road Glide vs Indian Challenger: Design and Style

Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle are two of the most iconic and high-profile motorcycle brands in the world. Both of these brands have a rich history of releasing some of the best and most popular touring bikes on the market. Two of the most popular touring models available currently are the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Indian Challenger. These two bikes come with distinct features that make them different from one another. However, how do the two bikes compare in terms of design and style?

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide is renowned for its distinctive sharp-nose fairing, which is mounted directly to the frame and helps in reducing wind buffeting at high speeds. The motorcycle also features a low-profile windshield and dual headlamps, which give the bike a sleek and sporty look. The Road Glide also has a classic American cruiser style, with a large V-twin engine, low-slung saddlebags, and a comfortable touring seat. It is a bike that is designed for long-distance touring, with a lot of storage space and touring features like cruise control, a premium audio system, and more.

Meanwhile, the Indian Challenger comes with a more modern design, with a streamlined fairing that integrates seamlessly with the rest of the motorcycle’s body. The bike has a sharper and more aggressive look, with a larger front fender and a modern LED headlamp. The Challenger also features a larger fuel tank than the Road Glide, providing a better range between fill-ups. Similar to the Road Glide, the Indian Challenger is also designed for long-distance touring. It comes with features like a comfortable touring seat and ample storage space. It even has a variety of touring features like heated grips and a touchscreen display.

While both the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Challenger are touring bikes designed for long-distance riding, they have distinct design and style elements that set them apart. The Road Glide has a classic American Cruiser style with a distinctive shark-nose fairing and a sleek, sporty look. In comparison, the Indian Challenger has a more modern design, with a streamlined fairing and a sharper and more aggressive look. Both of these bikes are available in a wide range of colors and finishes, which allow the bikers to customize their bike to their own personal taste.

Harley-Davidson Road Glide vs Indian Challenger: Engine and performance

Both Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Indian Challenger are impressive bikes that come with a long list of exceptional features and specifications. This includes powerful engines and impressive performance capabilities. While both of them offer wonderful engines that deliver tremendous performance in their own right, how do the two of them compare against each other? Let’s take a closer look at their engine and performance.

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide comes powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, which is a V-twin engine capable of producing 111 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 RPM. The engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission, which offers smooth and precise shifting. The Road Glide also features a suspension system that is designed specifically for touring, giving you a comfortable and smooth riding experience over long distances. Moreover, the bike is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

The Indian Challenger is powered by a PowerPlus 108 engine, which is a V-twin engine that produces 122 HP and 128 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 RPM. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission, which offers smooth and precise shifting. The Indian Challenger also features a suspension system that is designed specifically for touring, providing a smooth and comfortable ride over long distances. The motorcycle has a top speed of around 120 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds.

While both the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Challenger come with powerful engines and exceptional performance capabilities, there are a few key differences between the two motorcycles. The Indian Challenger comes with a power powerful engine, which produces more horsepower and torque compared to the Road Glide. This results in faster acceleration and a more thrilling ride. However, the Road Glide has a slightly lower center of gravity, which makes it much easier to handle and maneuver at lower speeds.

Both of these bikes have touring-specific suspension systems that provide exceptional rides over long distances. The Road Glide has a longer wheelbase, which contributes to its stability and smooth rides. Meanwhile, the Indian Challenger has a slightly shorter wheelbase, making it more agile and maneuverable.

Harley-Davidson Road Glide vs Indian Challenger: Comfort and other features

Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle are two brands renowned for offering some of the most comfortable touring bikes on the market. Two of those names that belong in that category are the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and the Indian Challenger. While they both offer incredibly smooth and comfortable rides on their own, how do the two of them fare against each other? Let’s take a closer look at the comfort and other features offered by the two bikes.

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide features an extremely comfortable and spacious riding position, with a well-padded seat that is designed for long-distance riding. The motorcycle also has a fairing that offers wind protection, making it much easier to ride for long periods without getting fatigued. The bike also features a touchscreen infotainment system, which includes music, GPS navigation, and other features that can be easily controlled through the bike’s handlebars. The motorcycle has a cruise control system, which allows the biker to maintain a consistent speed without needing to constantly adjust the throttle.

The Indian Challenger features a comfortable and spacious riding position, with a well-padded seat that is designed for long-distance riding. The motorcycle has a fairing that offers wind protection, making it much easier to ride for long periods without getting fatigued. The Challenger also features a touchscreen infotainment system that includes music, GPS navigation, and other features that you can control via the handlebars. Similar to the Road Glide, the cruise control system will allow you to maintain the speed without having to adjust the throttle.

When talking about comfort and other features, there are a few differences between the two, but they offer largely the same things. The Harley-Davidson Road Glide has a slightly larger fairing than the Indian Challenger, which offers better wind protection. Moreover, it also has a larger gas tank, which means the biker won’t have to stop repeatedly to fill up with gas. However, the Indian Challenger comes with a bigger storage capacity, with two saddlebags and a trunk, which means you will get enough storage space to carry luggage comfortably.

Both of these bikes come with touchscreen infotainment systems and cruise control, which provide added convenience and comfort on long-distance rides. Additionally, the systems are quite easy to use and offer a wide range of features, including music, GPS navigation, and weather updates.

Pros and cons of Harley-Davidson Road Glide

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide is a popular touring bike that has been in production since 1998. Over the years, various models have been released as the bike has gained a loyal following among bikers who appreciate its style, design, performance, and comfort. Like any other bike, the Road Glide also comes with its set of pros and cons.

The pros of the Harley-Davidson Road Glide are –

#1. Iconic style

The Road Glide features a distinctive style that is instantly recognizable. The motorcycle features a shark-nose fairing, which gives it a sleek and aggressive look that sets it apart from other touring bikes.

#2. Comfortable ride

This bike is designed for long-distance touring, and as such, it has a much more comfortable and spacious riding position. The motorcycle comes with a well-padded seat and fairing that provides wind protection, making it much easier to ride for longer periods without getting fatigued.

#3. An extremely powerful engine

The Harley-Davidson Road Glide comes powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, which delivers ample power and torque. Its engine produces 111 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 RPM, which makes it quite easy to accelerate and pass other vehicles when driving.

#4. Advanced technology

The Road Glide is blessed with advanced technology, including a touchscreen infotainment system that includes easy access to music, GPS navigation, and other features. These features can be controlled via the handlebars. The motorcycle also has a cruise control system, which allows the biker to maintain a consistent speed without needing to adjust the throttle.

#5. Customization potential

Harley-Davidson offers a wide range of customization options for the Road Glide. This includes engine upgrades, different paint schemes, and other accessories that allow the bikers to personalize their bikes to their liking.

The cons of the Harley-Davidson Road Glide are –

#1. Quite heavy in terms of weight

The Road Glide is a heavy motorcycle, as it weighs over 800 pounds. This can make it quite difficult to maneuver at low speeds, especially for novice riders or those who have limited experience with larger bikes.

#2. Price

The Road Glide is a premium touring bike, and as such, it comes with a premium price tag. The Road Glide comes with a price tag of $21,999, which can put it unreachable for many Harley enthusiasts.

#3. Limited storage space

While the Harley-Davidson Road Glide does have decent storage options, including a trunk and saddlebags, the storage capacity will be somewhat limited in comparison to other bikes like the Indian Challenger.

#4. Wind buffeting

Although the Road Glide’s fairing provides amazing wind protection, some bikers have reported that they’ve experienced wind buffeting at high speeds. This can be uncomfortable and might require additional wind deflectors or other modifications to mitigate.

Pros and cons of the Indian Challenger

The Indian Challenger is a heavyweight touring bike that has been in production since 2019. Despite competing with Harley-Davidson in the touring bike market, Road Glide has gained a massive following among riders who appreciate its combination of power, design, comfort, and advanced technology. But just like the Road Glide, the Indian Challenger also comes with its pros and cons.

The pros of the Indian Challenger are –

#1. Powerful engine

The Indian Challenger is powered by a PowerPlus 108 V-twin engine, which is capable of delivering impressive power and torque. The engine is capable of producing 128 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 RPM. This makes it quite easy to accelerate and pass other bikes on the road.

#2. Comfortable ride

This bike is designed for long-distance touring, and as such, it has a comfortable and spacious riding position. The motorcycle features a well-padded seat and a fairing that offers wind protection, making it much easier to ride for long periods without getting fatigued.

#3. Impressive suspension

The Indian Challenger features an inverted front suspension and a rear suspension that is adjustable for preload and rebound damping. This results in a smoother and more comfortable ride, especially on rough roads.

#4. Stylish design

With this bike, you can expect a stylish design that is both modern and timeless. The motorcycle features a sleek fairing and a classic cruiser-style body, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance.

The cons of the Indian Challenger are –

#1. Price tag

The Indian Challenger is a premium touring bike, and it comes with a hefty price tag. This motorcycle comes with a starting price tag of $24,999.

#2. Limited customization options

In comparison to the Harley-Davidson Road Glide, the Indian Challenger comes with fewer customization options. This can be a particular drawback for bikers who love to personalize their bikes to their liking.

#3. Shorter wheelbase

In comparison to the Road Glide, the Indian Challenger comes with a shorter wheelbase. This means the latter will not be as smooth and stable as the former.

#4. Limited dealer network

Indian Motorcycle has a comparatively smaller dealer network in comparison to Harley-Davidson. This can make it quite difficult to find a dealer for service or repairs. Moreover, you may also have trouble finding replacement parts.

FAQs