I needed the shield down was to help
filter sunlight.
In keeping with the Challenger’s
performance focus, braking hardware
includes twin 320mm discs with race-
spec, radial-mounted Brembo calipers
up front, which are as effective as they
sound and, once the brakes of the low-
mileage test bikes were bedded in, the
Challenger’s stopping power was unlike
anything else on the wrong side of 360kg.
Mash the rear pedal and bury the lever
into the ’bar and the sudden halt is as
gut-wrenching as an F-18 touching down
on a carrier. Part of that comes down
to Metzeler Cruisetec tyres, made in
specific sizes for this bike.
The Challenger’s chassis comprises
lightweight alloy spars bolted to the
motor, which then support a very hefty
steering head, which in turn supports the
fairing bracket. Non-adjustable, inverted
forks with 130mm of travel combine witha hydraulically adjustable Fox shock
(114mm) to deliver solid high-speed
stability and agility in the corners.
One great benefit of the compact layout
is a low seat height of just 672mm, which
allows for easy car park manoeuvres and
U-turns.ON THE ROAD
Indian didn’t muck around when it
chose a test route: the rightly famous
Pacific Coast Highway that runs along
the California coast. The city of Monterey
was our destination for the first day and
the group seemed pretty eager to get
there as the pace went up and up. This is
where the Challenger began to seriously
impress. After all, you can quote
numbers and dimensions all you like but,
in the end, it comes down to how the bike
performs. I got the heads-up leaving the
car park which saw the back wheel chirp
in first gear and the bike surge with a
lusty induction roar. I grinned. This was
going to be fun.
We hit the 101 and headed north
toward Oxnard and the entrance to the
Pacific Coast Highway. The PowerPlus
produces serious power from 1500rpm
and delivers a mighty dollop of peak
torque around 3500-3800rpm. I was
surprised to see the tacho redline at
5000, but the engine will rev past 6000.
Once we turned onto the PCH, things
really turned up another notch. The
road is twisty, narrow and quite rough
in places, and it carries a tonne of traffic
much like Victoria’s Great Ocean Road
minus the speed cameras. Passing
opportunities are few and you have to
take them fast when they present.MOTORCYCLE TRADER 33
ABOVE: The Pacific Coast Highway
stretches south from the
California/Oregon border to San
Diego and is fine for big touring
bikes, but an old, die-hard racer
like Brum was obviously intent on
finding the limits of the Challenger.
Indian brought the competition
to the launch literally with a
Road Glide Special on hand for
journos to sample and compare
for themselves. Author Brum’s very
familiar with the Harley rival and
reckons the Indian is demonstrably
more advanced.