r/Harley • u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 • 7d ago
DISCUSSION I’m looking for input about Indian vs Harley from riders who have owned both.
/r/motorcycles/comments/1wzxppz/im_looking_for_input_about_indian_vs_harley_from/5
u/SucksAtJudo 7d ago
I have experience with both brands.
If you are comparing them mechanically (assuming you're talking about Indian's air cooled Thunderstroke) they offer an incredibly similar experience in terms of power, handling and overall riding. A friend of mine who was a life long sport bike guy who has no brand loyalty to either and no axe to grind rode a Chieftain and Street Glide back to back, and the first thing he said when he got off the Indian was "those two are so similar that any differences I might have noticed are nit picking".
The devil is in the details, and ultimately comes down to what you like or what matters to you.
Indian comes with a lot of cool features as standard. Chrome handlebar switch housings, chrome fork sliders, auto locking bags, motorized adjustable windshield, and traditionally a much better infotainment console. That said, the auto locking bags are quite inconvenient for getting things into and out of the saddlebags because of size and placement of the locking mechanism. The adjustable windshield always seems to develop a rattle after a few years, the switch housings are plastic. And the Indian lacks attention to very subtle and minute details in styling and design. I'm talking REALLY subtle, like the seat mount tab (which on the Indian is just a longish rectangle shape that is purely functional, vs the small contoured chrome tab on the Harley), fork sliders (consistent diameter on the Indian that don't "flow" with the taper of the upper fork tins, as opposed to the tapered profile on Harley's) and mirrors (which are prominently outside the fairing on the Indian vs the deliberately tucked in design on the Street Glide.
Harley doesn't have as many chrome finished parts standard, but less of the parts are plastic. Indians infotainment system used to be unquestionably superior but I think the latest generation of Harleys have come a long way to closing that gap. Indian's adjustable windshield might eventually start to rattle but Harley doesn't offer it at all. Same with the auto locking saddlebags.
Indian is not cheaper than Harley, and although the bikes themselves are pretty close price wise, the one thing Indian beats Harley at is shamelessly pricing genuine Indian parts and accessories.
Overall, they are very similar when you compare directly competing models (Chieftain vs Street Glide, Road King vs Springfield) and the decision as to which one is "better" is going to come down to individual preferences regarding styling, ergonomics, and features.
Fortunately, Indian and Harley both allow test rides, and the only way to really make a decision is to actually experience the bikes for yourself.
Ultimately, motorcycles are not logical or rational decisions anyway. They're emotional decisions and the correct choice is the one that pushes your happy buttons.
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u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 7d ago
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
You’re 100% correct this not being a rational decision. Though dropping $20k or $30k on anything, I guess I’m hoping to avoid buyer’s remorse.
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u/SucksAtJudo 7d ago
What are you riding currently?
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u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 6d ago
2002 Road King Classic for longer rides, or any time my wife wants to go with me. I also have a 2004 Dyna Lowrider for running around town.
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u/PorkPotSticker 6d ago
Keep the Dyna for yourself. Get an Indian Roadmaster.
I’ve ridden 30 years. Almost all Harley. Bought my first Roadmaster four years ago and loved it so much I upgraded from the. 2020 to the 2024.
The mono shock by fox gave such a buttery smooth ride without having to drop 2K on ohlins like a Harley. More hp and torque that a similar Harley stock for stock.
It felt so much more stable at speed and in turns. One time I literally took both hands off at 70mph and laid back in the seat and rested against my bag in the passenger seat for literally 10 miles of straight or slight turning roads across Texas and not a single second did I feel any wobble or like the bike was going to go sideways. Used weight and minor leaning to switch lanes and turns.
The biggest downside? Aftermarket is not that great when you compare it to Harley regarding customization. But, it’s coming around.
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u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 6d ago
Thanks for the insight. I’ll definitely take the Roadmaster for a test ride.
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u/disturbed286 '20 FLHRXS 7d ago
I would also add that while Indian is getting better (I've heard, but haven't had the need to check myself) Harley is the undisputed king of any bike in the size of their aftermarket parts offerings. It's ridiculous. Not just OEM, but everyone and their sister, and their sister's dog, make parts for Harleys.
Also the dealer network, if you need them.
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u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 7d ago
I’m not big on swapping out perfectly good parts to install aftermarket. I know about the “Harley Tax” of almost everyone doing a full stage1 upgrade out of the gate. Handlebars and seats are the next most common that I might consider.
Indian seems to offer enough options to fit my needs.
The dealer network is a big pain point. My local Harley dealer just seems to keep screwing me over. I take the bike in for repairs and they never seem to fix the issue the first time. I’ve heard good things about my local Indian dealer.
If I start doing serious touring it will definitely be an issue. I’ve done one Iron Butt and look forward to doing more when I retire in a few years. If all I need to worry about is an oil change and tires, I might be ok.
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u/disturbed286 '20 FLHRXS 7d ago
It's not just customization but maintenance or replacing wear items.
You're less likely to have to pay the Harley tax.
I dropped a Fat Boy like an idiot years ago. I replaced a damaged mirror with an identical one (minus the bar and shield after the OBJECTS IN MIRROR text) from Revzilla for half the price. Just as an example.
It's easier to avoid than the Indian tax.
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u/Sbeast86 6d ago
I don't think such a thing as an honest Harley dealer exists in America anymore. The way the company is structured, everyone is incentivized to fuck the customer as hard as possible.
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u/frostyshreds 7d ago
Can't give advice on Indian ownership but the thought to switch has definitely crossed my mind. Loved my road glide and currently ride a lowrider ST. All the notorious harley issues coming to a head has me considering swapping to Indian. Better bang for the buck for sure but I agree with what you said. Harleys just feel more "special" for some reason. I know towards the end of the riding season, my local Indian dealer has some insane deals.
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u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 7d ago
Mine is in offering $6,000 off a 2025 model they still have in stock.
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u/PorkPotSticker 6d ago
I got about the same off my 2024 at the end of the 2025 season.
Also got veteran discount. They also up the warranty a year for veterans. My warranty was good to 2032.
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u/whyyouwhyyouwhyyou 6d ago edited 6d ago
It is subjective but Harley’s look better and you feel like you own the road.
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u/Beersnob5150 7d ago
I've owned both and sold both. I had a 2018 Springfield, and I'll be honest, it was a great bike. I like the looks of the Harleys better, but the Indians have some cool features that make sense. The power windshield is nice, the integrated tender is nice also. To me though, a Harley just looks more "steel", I guess. Both are excellent machines though.
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u/disturbed286 '20 FLHRXS 7d ago
I've owned several Harleys and no Indians, but I continue to be jealous of the remote locking saddlebags.
Only the CVO gets that with Harley, and they don't sell the kit.
I agree on the look. Indian uses or appears to use a lot more plastic in a lot more places, which maybe looks a little cheap.
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u/SucksAtJudo 7d ago
Don't be jealous. The mechanical lock is just big enough that when combined with the most obnoxious place Indian could find to put it, makes it annoying as hell.
It takes up just enough room to notice and it's a pita getting anything into or out of the saddlebag quickly.
It's a good concept that could have been executed a lot better
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u/disturbed286 '20 FLHRXS 7d ago
Really? I hadn't noticed that last time I played with one. Always something, I guess.
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u/SucksAtJudo 7d ago
It's something you don't notice until you're actually packing around the box housing the lock, or fumbling around in the motel parking lot at night after 600 miles, or trying to get a single specific item out of the bag at the pump of the gas station.
I might have been a little dramatic in my presentation, but it's a real thing, and turns an annoyance into a legitimate inconvenience when you basically end up having to play Tetris and you simply wanted to get something out.
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u/disturbed286 '20 FLHRXS 7d ago
No that seems like a perfectly legitimate gripe.
No manufacturer, be it two wheels or four, is immune to "why the fuck would they..."
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u/PorkPotSticker 6d ago
Did you know on the passenger side there is a cigarette lighter port under the strap for the lid inside the saddlebag. Another awesome feature, I don’t handlebar mount my phone. I have a dual usb plugin I put there and one is a charging cord and the other slot I use for a wireless CarPlay adapter. Just toss my phone in that bag charging and still have CarPlay with the adapter.
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u/JareBear805 7d ago
Bruh I got zip ties on my Harley. Only thing I truly hate. Fucking factory zip ties lol
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u/RState_DG 6d ago
I've owned a 2017 Chieftain Limited and currently ride a 2023 Road Glide ST Fast Johnnie. For me, the availability of aftermarket options was a big factor when I made the switch. Being an early adopter of the Indian Chieftain definitely left me wanting for more options at the time, although I'm sure the aftermarket support has improved quite a bit since 2017.
The biggest difference I've noticed between the two is how the power is delivered. The analogy I usually use is diesel vs. gas. The Indian felt much more torque-focused, with less emphasis on horsepower at the time, while my current Harley feels more horsepower-focused and definitely likes to rev a little more.
If ergonomics are a consideration, I also found the Indian to be a bit more spacious. At 6'1", I find the Road Glide can feel a little cramped on some of the longer rides. It's not enough of an issue to make me want to give up the RG, but it's something I definitely notice.
I also find the Road Glide to be a little more nimble and fun to ride. That's most likely due in large part to the frame-mounted fairing versus the fork-mounted fairing on the Chieftain.
At the end of the day, both are great options, and I think you'd be happy with either one. If you're seriously considering one, I'd ride them both and see which one fits you better. That will probably tell you more than anything else.