This Stunning New Indian Motorcycle’s Horsepower Is Matched Only By Its Heritage

Over several years of covering the brand, I have noticed something pretty cool about Indian Motorcycle: it does an admirable job of honoring its heritage.

The Spirit Lake, Iowa-based manufacturer put this capability on full display with last year’s incredible reboot of the Scout, a nameplate that dates back to 1920. 

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Now I am seeing it with some of Indian’s bigger bikes, including the new Elite edition of the Challenger. 

This bike boasts all the power and performance you could want in a modern bagger, plus a striking aesthetic inspired by a record-setting ride that took place in, funny enough, 1920.

Flash of style

Mostly lost to history is the name Gene “Alabama Flash” Walker. 

But in April of 1920, on the sands of Florida’s Daytona Beach, the Birmingham native rode his Indian Power Plus racer more than 115 miles per hour, setting the first official motorcycle land speed record. 

Walker also won 19 championship races on both board and dirt tracks throughout his career, which was tragically cut short when he died following an accident in 1924.

Now, 105 years later, this bike honors the early motorcycle legend’s legacy with a number of unique touches. 

The tri-tone paint job features shattered glass particles adding a distinctive shimmer, plus a meticulous Indian Motorcycle Headdress logo pattern over a hand-painted fade on the white part of the fairing, front fender and panels below the seat.

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The whole process takes roughly 24 hours to complete.

A more specific nod to Walker himself can be found on each individually numbered center console, as only 350 units will ever be made.

Each features an image of Walker pinning his Power Plus racer, just as he did on that historic day in 1920.

Premium performance

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Indian — and especially not an Elite edition Indian — without some heart-pumping function to match the eye-popping form.

Toward that end, this (curb weight) 864-pounder is pretty loaded, beginning with the aptly named PowerPlus 112 engine.

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Launched earlier this year, it not only harkens back to Walker’s bike but is also a modern beast — one that propelled the brand’s King of the Baggers factory race team to championships in 2022 and 2024.

Now available in a number of consumer-facing Indian bikes, this burly beast bestows 126 horsepower and 133 ft-lbs of torque, delivering top-notch acceleration throughout the rev range, which translates to reliable passing pick-up no matter the gear.

Augmenting the experience are too many premium components and tech features to name, but here are a few that jump out. 

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Bright nights: Pathfinder Adaptive LED Headlight, Driving Lights and Pathfinder Auxiliary LED Saddlebag Lights help you see and be seen.

Super shield: Managing airflow and boosting comfort is an adjustable Flare Windshield, which can be raised and lowered with the push of a handlebar-mounted button.

Rock solid: Integrated into the fairing and on the saddlebags are four 100-watt PowerBand Audio speakers featuring Bass Boost and a nine-band dynamic equalizer that adjusts automatically for road, wind and engine noise.

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Rider assist: Especially with its bigger bikes, Indian has really gone all out in terms of features that improve rider awareness, safety and convenience. Toward that end, this one’s bundle includes Bike Hold Control, Electronic Combined Brake System, Blind Spot Warning, Tailgate Warning and Rear Collision Warning, all of which you can read much more about here.  

Safe to say, Walker himself could not even dream of such luxurious accoutrements as he sped over that Daytona Beach sand.

Availability and pricing

The 2025 Indian Challenger Elite begins shipping to dealers this month. Only 350 units will be produced, and pricing starts at $39,999.

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2025 Indian Challenger Elite

• $39,999 at Indian Motorcycle

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