Indian Roadmaster coming for 2015

THE REBORN Indian brand is to get at least one new model in 2015 – the Roadmaster.

The bike’s name isn’t new, Roadmasters have appeared at various points in the firm’s history, but new documents show that a 2015 version has passed emissions tests in America.

The bike is listed, along with the existing Chieftain, Chief Vintage and Chief Classic, as using the same 1811cc ‘Thunder Stroke’ V-twin engine with identical power; 91.5bhp, according to the emissions documents, although Indian itself only ever makes torque claims (102.4lbft) and steers clear of mentioning horsepower in its own specifications.

Name aside, the documents show no specific details of the Roadmaster, only mentioning details of the engine that it shares with the other bikes in the range, which was relaunched last year with all-new machines.

The name suggests a tourer, and previous versions – both the original in 1947 and the last generation, which appeared in 2010 – had leather bags and a Perspex screen. However, that description also applies to the existing Chief Vintage, suggesting the new 2015 Roadmaster will take a slightly different tack. Since Indian already has both the Vintage ‘soft bagger’ and the Chieftain ‘faired hard bagger’ in its range, the next step along the touring theme seems likely to be something more along the lines of a Harley Electra Glide, with hard bags, a top box and a hefty pillion seat back, along with luxuries like a stereo. Perhaps this is where the 2015 Roadmaster will fit in.

There’s a good chance that Indian will show some of its new 2015 models at the Sturgis rally in South Dakota, which starts in just a week’s time, so we might not have to wait long to find out more.