Indian unveils Pursuit tourer
In a model they’re boldly describing as the next generation of American v-twin touring performance and the most capable and refined American touring machine on the road, Indian Motorcycle has revealed the ‘Pursuit’ tourer. Offered in Limited and Dark Horse variants, the Pursuit
is the brand’s new premium touring model and comes packed with comfort and convenience features, including a package of ride-enhancing technologies that will come as standard for Australian-delivered versions.
Based on the Challenger bagger, the Pursuit takes that platform and adds genuine touring ability in the form of a taller windscreen, a lower front fairing and large topbox with pillion backrest for starters.
That Challenger platform means the Pursuit runs that model’s PowerPlus 1768cc (108ci) liquid-cooled v-twin, as well as its aluminium frame, suspension, brakes, wheels and selected other cycle parts, but changes have been made to suit the Pursuit’s touring focus.
Additionally, all Pursuits for the Australian market will be fitted with the ‘Premium Package’ as standard, which includes lights in the lower front fairing, a heated rider and pillion seat, electronic adjustment for the rear suspension preload and ‘Smart Lean’ technology that’s essentially Indian’s version of cornering enhanced ABS and traction control.
"Touring bikes are one of the ultimate expressions of freedom – enabling unforgettable experiences through longer escapes and epic adventures on the open road," said Mike Dougherty, President for Indian Motorcycle.
"With the Indian Pursuit, we've expanded on the unparalleled sophistication of the PowerPlus motor to deliver a class-leading, fully-loaded touring machine that combines top-tier performance with unparalleled comfort and advanced tech features, delivering an American V-twin touring experience unlike any other."
PowerPlus powerplant
At the heart of the new Pursuit tourer, the PowerPlus engine produces a claimed class-leading 122hp and 128ft/lb (90kW and 178Nm) and even outperforms Indian’s larger Thunderstroke air-cooled v-twin.
For its application to the Pursuit, tuning on the PowerPlus has been refined to improve low-speed rideability and “enhance the rider experience” according to Indian. These refinements carry across to the Challenger for 2022 also.
This engine is matched to a six-speed transmission that’s common to both Pursuit variants, but there’s no electric reverse gear, so some parking and manoeuvring would need to be pre-planned.
Comfort Plus
For long miles on the road, the Pursuit comes with a taller windscreen on the frame-mounted fairing than that on the Challenger. The screen is power operated, with more than 80mm of adjustment.
Lower front fairings are exclusive to the Pursuit and fitted as standard. Combined with the taller screen, they greatly reduce the impact of wind buffeting and weather on the rider. These legshield-style fairings come with adjustable ventilation to allow cooling air in for summer riding and can also be optioned to include gloveboxes for storage of small items like a wallet and phone, or hold speakers for the PowerBand audio system.
Heated grips are standard on the Pursuit Limited and Pursuit Dark Horse. As part of the Premium Package, both variants also receive the ‘Heated Touring Comfort’ seat that’s making its Indian debut on this model.
Quilted and deeply padded, the Heated Touring Comfort seat offers 3-stage heat adjustment for rider and pillion via the Pursuit’s Ride Command infotainment system or weatherproof buttons on the seat itself.
Listed seat height with this in place is 672mm for the rider. For further pillion comfort, the footboards are adjustable.
Storage Plus
To the Challenger’s already substantial 68-litre capacity saddlebags, the Pursuit adds a topbox that ups total storage capacity to more than 133 litres.
Based on the supplied imagery, the topbox appears to be able to hold a full-face helmet with room to spare and incorporates a pillion backrest and high-mount stop/tail light.
The topbox is forward hinged, remotely lockable and includes a rack on top for additional carrying capacity. It also has a quick-release function.
Suspension Plus
A new Indian feature that’s fitted as standard to Australian market versions of the Pursuit Limited and Pursuit Dark Horse is electronically adjustable rear suspension preload.
Developed in conjunction with US suspension specialist Fox, this system allows preload adjustment via the Pursuit’s Ride Command infotainment system, making setting up for solo, two-up or bulk luggage easy.
For a model designed for endless miles of ribbon-smooth tarmac, the Pursuit’s suspension is quite plush, with 130mm of travel from the 43mm USD front forks and 114mm travel for the Fox monoshock rear.
The suspension has a dry weight of 400kg to support, which is substantial and almost 30kg more than Harley’s Road Glide Limited, which is arguably the Pursuit’s closest rival.
Indian’s ‘Sport’ contrast cut alloy wheels are standard on both the Pursuit Limited and Pursuit Dark Horse, as are Metzeler Cruisetec tyres in 130/60B19 66H and 180/60R16 80H sizes.
Tech Plus
As on other premium Indian models, the Ride Command system on the Pursuit incorporates Bluetooth, GPS and Apple CarPlay as standard, with easy operation via the 7.0-inch touchscreen.
Additionally, the Pursuit incorporates ‘Smart Lean’ technology that optimises ABS braking, traction control and engine mapping when cornering via a Bosch IMU.
Other standard tech includes rear cylinder deactivation, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, selectable riding modes, USB and 12V ports, keyless ignition and smartphone compatibility.
Both Limited and Dark Horse versions of the Pursuit also feature LED lighting throughout, including auxiliary lights in the front fairing. A Pathfinder adaptive LED headlight is available as an option, as are Pathfinder LEDs in the saddlebags.
While the Ride Command screen boasts the latest tech, the Pursuit still has analogue speedo and tacho gauges for that old school touch.
Colour Plus
With the specification shared across the Pursuit Limited and Pursuit Dark Horse, differences between the two come down to colours and detail changes.
In simple terms, the Limited has lots of chrome and the Dark Horse lots of black, on things like the engine detailing and mufflers, wheel detailing, crash bars, pannier trim, mirrors and switchgear.
The Pursuit Limited will be available in a choice of Black metallic, Deepwater metallic, Maroon metallic and Alumina Jade. The Pursuit Dark Horse will be available in Black Smoke, Ruby metallic, Spirit Blue metallic, Silver Quartz Smoke, Pearl White and Quartz Grey.
Accessories available from launch will include most items already available for the Challenger, like the PowerPlus engine enhancement kits that can boost horsepower by 10 per cent and torque by 3 per cent.
The aforementioned PowerBand audio upgrade over the standard sound system adds speakers to the saddlebags, topbox and lower front fairing for a true surround sound effect.
Mitered mid-rise handlebars are a new accessory, while the topbox can be swapped out for optional soft luggage, including pieces from the Spirit Lake Luggage Collection.
Australian Arrival
The 2022 Indian Pursuit Dark Horse and 2022 Indian Pursuit Limited are due for Australian release in April/May, with the Pursuit Dark Horse priced from $44,995 and the Pursuit Limited from $45,995.
For more details and to pre-order, see your Indian dealer.
