Harley-Davidson Highway Glide Restricted vs Indian Pursuit Restricted Premium

Who’re we to query the bikes red-blooded People love most? Harley-Davidson sells extra Avenue Glides than it does Highway Glide Limiteds (which principally provides the frame-mounted fairing and trunk), however the track stays the identical. Indian’s new Pursuit provides the identical issues to its Challenger – although its fairing was already a frame-mounted design. Who doesn’t need extra storage? Extra closet area? No one. And that goes double for individuals who journey in pairs. In each couple, there’s at the very least one shoe hound.

Gold Wing and BMW followers will proceed to look down their noses, however American-style grand touring has all the time been a barely completely different animal – one which typically covers longer distances at slower speeds than you’ll discover on the Continent. True, Honda constructed the Gold Wing primarily for the USA, however particularly the newest model is sort of too swoopy for its personal good: It’s arduous to not velocity on the ’Wing, they usually really made it smaller and lighter. WTF? Perhaps the larger drawback is that Honda’s by no means made the slightest effort to make the bike look American. For some individuals, that’s an issue. Actually, Honda’s simply sensible sufficient to not strive, although it did promote loads of American-styled Shadow cruisers and issues as soon as upon a time.

Encroaching into Harley-Davidson territory, although, is precisely what Indian’s been as much as ever since Polaris resurrected the title eight years in the past, and so now it falls upon us to relive the Harley/Indian wars simply as our ancestors did many years in the past.

Freedom from Need

Each these bikes are the $33,000 ne plus extremely of their respective producer (excluding your H-D CVOs), bringing to the desk nearly each touring amenity one might need. You possibly can spend a number of thousand extra on Indian’s Roadmaster, however that bike’s powered by the older air-cooled Thunderstroke engine as a substitute of the brand new liquid-cooled 108-inch V-Twin that Indian debuted in its Challenger a few years in the past. That older 116-inch engine is likely to be a greater match-up to the Harley’s 114-inch Milwaukee Eight, however we wished to journey the Pursuit as a result of it’s new. And actually, the completely different engine traits between the Indian and Harley actually defines them. All else isn’t equal, nevertheless it’s shut.

The 2022 Indian Pursuits Are Right here

Your Indian PowerPlus V-Twin is oversquare, with 4.25-inch pistons swinging by a 3.8-in stroke, making it successfully one slice off a ’60s 427 Chevy. Or Ford.

Redline is 6500 rpm, and our unit made 105 horses at 5600 rpm. In the meantime, the Harley’s greater semi liquid-cooled undersquare engine (4.016 in. x 4.5 in.) makes its energy decrease within the rev band, however significantly much less of it: simply 78.4 hp at 4800 rpm.

Being of larger displacement, the Harley will make extra torque, proper? Unsuitable. The Indian is torquier, too, cranking out 116 pound-feet to the Harley’s 105. However it’s important to rev the Indian to 3500 rpm to get it, 600 rpm past the Harley’s 2900-rpm torque peak.

No massive: The Indian’s geared a bit shorter, with a 3.017:1 final-drive ratio in sixth gear to the H-D’s 2.875:1 final-drive gearing. Set the Glide’s cruise management at 80-ish mph, and the tachometer says 3000 rpm.

Do the identical on the Indian, and also you’re 3100-ish rpm. All you’re feeling on both bike is a faint, far-away rumble. Rolling on the fuel from 60 mph in prime gear, the Indian winks on the Harley earlier than steadily and progressively pulling away from it. The identical factor occurs from 80 mph, however quicker.

Ryan Adams: Switching the Pursuit into Sport mode allows you to expertise all of the PowerPlus engine has to supply with extra quick throttle response. Rolling on the throttle with these two bikes side-by-side illustrates the dyno chart completely and the way otherwise you journey these machines. On the RG Restricted, you end up short-shifting to maintain within the bulk of that low-end torque, whereas for those who have been to strive the identical approach on the Pursuit, you’d be lacking out on all that intoxicating mid-range energy, which is the place its mill actually shines.

Transcontinental Holistic Missiles

Many discerning consumers of those two gained’t care precisely how briskly they stand up to hurry, solely how properly they swallow nice expanses as soon as they get there. We’re blissful to report you may’t go fallacious on both of those two. With largely upright ergonomics atop deep-dish bucket seats, with extra doable foot placements than Fred Astaire on rubber-isolated floorboards, which let you flip the opposite cheek – typically together with the passenger floorboards – you actually can journey all day.

Off the bat, although its seat is a skosh decrease (the specs say it’s full 2.4 inches decrease), the Indian appears like it will match taller, longer-armed individuals higher. That’s largely as a result of its grips are an inch or two additional ahead than the Harley’s, which has 5’8” individuals like Ryan Adams and me having to lean ahead a tad.

The Harley’s mini ape-hanger brings the grips extra rearward and appears like it will provide a larger diploma of adjustment, too. The Harley’s complete rider triangle feels custom-made for individuals about my dimension in reality, and I’ve heard complaints from taller individuals who really feel locked in place, since each bikes’ seats have massive bolsters to relaxation the decrease again in opposition to. (Why no built-in massagers?)

Being too small might be higher than being too massive, as a result of it barely issues when you may take a hand off the bar because of digital cruise management. Should you’re in search of causes not to purchase, possibly adaptive cc and blind-spot detection, like on the newest Ducatis and BMWs, will probably be alongside shortly? In any other case, these two are full of digital aids you by no means actually knew you wanted. When both bike’s low-fuel mild comes on, its TFT show asks for those who’d wish to discover a fuel station? Should you click on sure along with your proper thumb, it directs you to the closest one (or whichever one you select). That’s fairly handy. However, on the Harley at the very least, for those who click on the restaurant/resort/fuel station icon on any upcoming exit, it solely shows some of the eating places there, leaving out a few of our favourite spots. It’s nice in different phrases, however not excellent (and it’s solely doable I don’t absolutely know tips on how to use it). The Indian performs the identical primary methods, utilizing a barely completely different person interface that’s not simple to study instantly, however would develop into second nature for those who owned the bike.

Wind in hair, bugs not in tooth

Each bikes’ ensconce their passengers behind biggish frame-mounted fairings and lowers to guard the legs, too.

Harley lowers are half filled with radiators.

Indian’s lowers open up broad to circulation extra air when it’s sizzling.

About half of the lowers on the Harley are filled with cleverly hid small radiators to chill its cylinder heads, vented outwards, and under them are flaps you may open and shut as wanted to let the air circulation by; the Indian has the identical kind of flaps.

Ambiance-boring clever, the Indian’s greatest benefit is its electric-adjustable windshield. Your proper thumb strikes it up and down a number of inches as wanted. Sadly, even low was a bit too excessive for me (keep in mind what we mentioned about tall individuals becoming higher), however that’s positively an simply fixable factor through equipment catalog, aftermarket, or noticed.

In the meantime, the Harley’s windshield is mounted in place, however occurs to be nearly the correct peak for Adams and me. So, it’s wonderful as is; it’s simply that we’ve been spoiled on different bikes by the power to decrease the protect for sporty driving, cruising at slower speeds on sizzling days, wet nights, and so on…. Each screens have aid cutouts on backside that clean airflow and let extra air circulation by as desired, and each are quiet and buffet-free.

Throw in 6-gallon fuel tanks and near-40 mpg mileage (39 for the Harley, 37 for the Indian) for over 200-mile vary – and also you’re what these bikes are all about: airing oneself out for hours on finish. Leaving the OC at 7 am, the journey up I-5 on the Highway Glide for breakfast at 9 in Frazier Park was nearly like nonetheless being in mattress, apart from all of the site visitors by LA that saved waking me up.

Not so straight and slim

What’s extra exceptional is how properly these two perform as sport bikes. Each Harley-Davidson with “sport” in its title is proscribed by cornering clearance points sooner or later, so it’s really counterintuitive how arduous the FL touring machines will be ridden within the corners.

Twenty and even ten years in the past, these items would begin grinding their floorboards comically early. Ever because the Highway Glide Restricted’s 2020 replace, and possibly earlier, that’s simply now not the case, and the bike’s means to lean deep into corners opens up a efficiency envelope you wouldn’t count on from a 929-pound motorbike. Plus passenger and baggage.

2020 Imaginative and prescient: New Harley-Davidson Touring Fashions Assessment

The Harley additionally received a six-axis Bosch IMU in 2020, to manage its then-new Reflex Defensive Rider Programs (RDRS), giving it Cornering Enhanced Digital Linked Braking (C-ELB), Cornering Enhanced Traction Management System (C-TCS), Drag-Torque Slip Management System (DSCS) and Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Management System (C-DSCS), Car Maintain Management (VHC), and a Tire Stress Monitoring System.

In layman’s phrases, all meaning you may flog the factor within the curves like an entire juvenile squid bastard (CJS-B), braking arduous into apexes and rolling the fuel on approach early, assured that the brand new radial tires it additionally received in 2020, and the sheer roadholding weight of the factor (too massive to fail!) will see you thru. These cozy, upright ergonomics and broad handlebars are your mates within the curves, too. Actual motorbike dynamics are at play.

For Fox Sake

And the Pursuit is in sizzling pursuit. The Restricted with Premium package deal will get a single rear Fox shock with digital preload adjustability. We had it set for rider solely the primary time we hit the curves, and felt just like the fork (inverted, with 41mm sliders) was sending again imprecise intelligence from the entrance 19-inch Metzeler Cruisetec. Later, we punched loaded sidebags and trunk into the pc to get extra rear preload, and the stability of the bike and entrance tire really feel have been a lot better.

Nonetheless, the Indian didn’t need to flip fairly as confidently because the Harley. We blamed it on the taller entrance tire and longer wheelbase. Then, even later, we discovered you can too set rear preload for the rider’s weight (and the passenger’s). By the point Ryan Millennial figured it had been set at 145 the entire time, sadly, we have been on our approach house and performed with all of the tasty curves. However I betcha if we had cranked that as much as about 180 lbs, the Harley would’ve had nothing on the Indian within the twisty stuff. (Think about the enjoyable you’ll have asking passengers their weight? We’d like it for security…)

As issues stood, in quicker curves the Indian was proper there: It was solely within the tightest Freeway 1 sections that the H-D appeared to have a cornering benefit through higher front-end really feel. Elsewhere, regardless of the H-D gained in cornering velocity, the Indian received again on the exits with its prodigious torque and horsepower. To not be outdone, the Pursuit Restricted can be packing a Bosch IMU to tell its Good Lean Expertise, dynamic traction management, and cornering ABS. (H-D and Indian each provide base fashions with out these issues for those who solely journey in Kansas and Nebraska.)

Ryan thinks: The Indian’s total efficiency benefits within the engine and suspension departments sort of make you assume you may write off the H-D in relation to sportier driving. Nonetheless, swapping forwards and backwards on our approach by the extra sinuous stretches of PCH revealed simply how competent the Highway Glide Restricted could possibly be by a set of tight corners. Sure, the Pursuit gaps the RG L because it blasts out of corners with ferocity towards its 6,500 rpm redline, however the Indian will be reeled again in with the Harley because of the RG’s fast steering and talent to hold extra nook velocity – the additional diploma of lean angle is appreciated.

In the long run, the Harley feels a bit extra flexy and classic, in a great way. The Indian’s aluminum body is stiffer, and subsequently extra demanding of its suspension. Both approach, the large take-away is that for those who’re an outdated sportbike man, you gained’t be in the slightest degree embarrassed on both of those bikes when the highway throws you a curve in public.

I concern we might not have been one of the best motorbike ambassadors as we handed the vacationers descending Freeway 1 that day. Then once more, being dive-bombed by 900-lb bikes would possibly add to the Freeway 1 expertise for those who’re from Germany or India.

Fairly a Experience

Low-tech subsequent to the Indian, the Harley’s right-side up bending-valve fork and linked brakes get the job performed.

The Indian’s inverted fork provides it a greater journey, however these Brembos don’t actually cease it any tougher than the H-D. Most likely a pad factor…

It’s head-scratching how properly the Harley works on a regular basis, whether or not droning the slab or slaying the curves, with its old school twin shocks out again and their 3 inches of wheel journey. They’re additionally preload-adjustable, the old school approach. However who’s received time for that?

Perhaps we should always’ve introduced a heavy passenger and extra stuff? The 49mm twin bending-valve fork up entrance does good work, too, and the entire thing wafts you serenely alongside.

The Pursuit, although, is even waftier, atop its 5.1 inches of entrance journey and 4.5 inches out again; the occasional massive hit you’re feeling by the Harley’s pillowy seat typically goes barely observed on the Indian.

Our brains have been drained by the point we left Parkfield, earthquake middle of the world, then made it to our low-cost motel in Paso Robles on evening one. However our our bodies have been wonderful. Chili’s was the one place nonetheless open to eat at 9:30 – wonderful eating for a change!

The Weight

Put the load proper on me. No, wait, don’t. The largest draw back of each of those is how heavy they’re – proper round 930 kilos moist. That’s okay anytime you’re rolling above strolling velocity, however it may be a PITA anytime you’re not – particularly on free surfaces – and I used to be relieved to return house after 4 days with out dropping both bike. Turning radii are massive, particularly the Indian. Cautious the place you park, as a result of lifting both bike up off the sidestand can typically be a Crossfit train – notably for those who’ve received a passenger on again. The Harley’s a bit more durable as a result of its seat is increased and its “jiffy stand” has all the time been weirder.

It’s nearly like each different motorbike producer on the earth tries arduous to trim weight, however in America we consider extra metal as worth added. The Harley is 929 lbs moist, the Indian is 933. Honda says its Gold Wing Tour is 843 lbs moist; BMW claims its K1600 Grand America weighs 809 moist – and that’s with seven gallons of gasoline. Each of these additionally provide reverse.

Let me Infotain you

With out massive TFT touchscreen shows, we’re as nothing. The Indian provides you a 100-watt Premium Audio System with AM/FM, Bluetooth and USB- enter RideCommand+, which incorporates site visitors and climate overlays, Apple Carplay, and so on.

The Harley’s received roughly the identical stuff together with 4 25-watt audio system. Even the loudest audio system are unintelligible at 80 mph, although, so I saved attempting to Bluetooth my Cardo communicator as much as each bikes’ stereo tuner, with no success. The Cardo’s six preset stations are largely ineffective as soon as you permit your individual space. Our Harley got here with old school headsets I suppose you can rig up, with plugs for them within the aspect of the bike. Appears so twentieth century…

Adams thinks: The Highway Glide’s Corning Gorilla glass TFT show appears nice, however could cause glare in the correct mild. It appears the H-D’s show processes fairly a bit quicker than the Indian’s. Pinching and zooming on the map has nearly no lag and flipping between screens is on the spot. There was a noticeable delay in many of the Pursuit’s interfaces whether or not altering quantity with the joystick or navigating settings and shows on its contact display screen.

Each stereos, although, are nice for treating the children to Uriah Heep at decrease speeds round city or late at evening in crowded campgrounds when you must discover individuals to occasion with. As for navigation, each bikes do a pleasant job, however there’s loads of room on your Butler maps within the trunk too – my favored backup plan. Sadly, we didn’t know Soda Lake Highway would go from paved to soiled and sand 5 miles in. We’re not followers of 900-lb bikes on 40 miles of free stuff, so we back-tracked.

On day two, we discovered our approach up Freeway 101, east on 98, and north on 25 to Hollister, scene of the well-known biker rallies again within the day that impressed The Wild One.

Hollister

Brasfield nearly began a riot when he requested the women tending bar in Johnny’s in the event that they’d flip down the music so we might make our video within the alley. We have been fortunate to flee with our lives, packing the digital camera gear in a rush and beating it outta city to the Salinas Motel 6 for the evening.

Backseat riders

It’s value staying on the Motel 6 to eat across the nook at Culturas Hidalgo y Oaxaca Restaurant.

Ryan Adams talked Mrs. A into driving and/or sitting on again of each bikes:

I’ve had the Highway Glide Restricted in my storage for a while now. After being spoiled by the luxurious passenger lodging of those touring bikes, they’re the one ones my spouse has a lot curiosity in driving on again of. We have been capable of do two 100-mile stints collectively, after which she had no complaints (apart from the shortage of a heated seat on these cool mornings). She discovered the passenger driving place fully impartial and spacious, the seat was good and mushy whereas nonetheless being supportive, and she or he additionally felt the Harley was simpler to leap on and off of.

Whereas we weren’t capable of spend any time collectively on the highway with the Indian, she had some preliminary ideas simply from sitting on the bike within the driveway. Perched on the again of the Indian, she talked about your complete passenger space was a bit tighter, roomy sufficient, however extra compact than the H-D. She additionally mentioned she felt her ft, and subsequently knees, ended up a lot increased and that the again and seat cushions felt extra agency.

My subsequent door neighbor of the final seven years, Jill, had proven zero curiosity in any earlier motorbike I’d introduced house. However she almost tore down my storage door wanting a journey on the Harley once I confirmed up on it. Lastly I get it, now that I’m 62. Jill’s 87 I believe (don’t inform her I advised you). However nonetheless sizzling…

Particulars…

The Indian’s central digital locking is sweet; the Harley’s old-style barrel locks are easy and foolproof. Each bikes have gloveboxes proper and left up entrance, each with USB retailers in the correct aspect one to cost your cellphone. The Harley’s are a bit annoying in that they’re spring loaded and need to shut in your hand when you’re attempting to succeed in in there. Each bikes have one other 12V cigarette plug within the trunk, the place you may stash a pair of helmets.

We determined the benefit of the side-hinged trunk is you don’t must disturb Mama on the again seat.

Pursuit’s trunk flips ahead and holds lots.

Ryan says: The Pursuit is full of options and know-how. A few of the issues I discovered myself utilizing most frequently have been the adjustable windshield and the power to lock the instances with one press of a button on the important thing fob. Not solely are you able to regulate the digital Fox shock’s preload from the short settings display screen, you can too go a number of steps deeper and regulate precise rider and baggage weights. All this tech makes the Harley really feel dated by comparability.

Together with the Fox shock, the Indian’s Premium package deal will get you the IMU-controlled Good Lean Expertise for ABS and traction management, built-in driving lights, and heated touring consolation seat. The cool seat 2.0 is meant to be new, improved, and obtainable quickly.

Including the Reflex rider support package deal to the Harley provides $1,025 to the $31,874 backside line of our two-tone with black trim bike, and each bikes wind up inside spitting distance of $33,000. However you get 930 kilos of bike, so…

Now I get it

I don’t know if the large American V-Twin lastly got here to me or if I got here to it, however looks as if it’s a little bit of each. Indian pressured Harley-Davidson to get off its laurels, and Harley-Davidson pressured Indian to construct considerably higher machines if it had any likelihood of reaching The Base. However now I can see it. If a man had per week or two off and no explicit place to be, both of those is one of the simplest ways to see the USA because the transcontinental railroad, and each are nearly as heavy and steady. You possibly can go quicker than 80 on them – although it felt like lots quick sufficient when the Indian ran into its 110-mph governor and the Harley hit its at about 115 indicated. What’s the hurry, bub?

Both bike grants the bearer entry wherever you flip up. The locals will give you a beer and the women will give you a, properly, who is aware of – however you’re beginning off on the correct foot after they don’t instantly assume you’re some sort of coastal elite pinhead on a Multistrada or a BMW in a color-coordinated swimsuit, amIright?

A’course, on these bikes you’ll be bringing your important different alongside. For a lighter, extra carefree solo journey, you would possibly need to try the bagger variations of every from 2019:

Bagger Battle: Harley-Davidson Highway Glide Particular Vs. Indian Challenger Restricted

The Winner

Ryan Adams appears to love the Harley:

If I had all the cash on the earth, I’d like to personal a motorbike like one among these two monsters, however for me it must be a 3rd road bike (ADVs and nakeds are first and second for me). With that thought of, I’d be utilizing it solely for touring, in all probability two up (and grocery runs, due to the storage and the truth that driving a motorbike can take advantage of mundane errands enjoyable). I like the Indian’s PowerPlus engine, and the way the bike carries its 933 lbs higher total, but when I’m touring, two-up or not, on this sort of bike, I’m not in search of the rowdiest engine. The Harley, whereas feeling a bit cumbersome off the aspect stand or being pushed across the storage, handles itself fairly properly as quickly as you begin rolling. The Highway Glide Restricted and its rhythmic potato-ing make me really feel completely content material to simply cruise. I don’t thoughts loping alongside at affordable speeds, and even sitting in a little bit of site visitors. In fact, I wouldn’t complain if the 117 cu. in. Milwaukee-Eight made an look for a bit extra get-up-and-go when wanted. On the Indian nonetheless, my lack of self-restraint – and the extra frenetic really feel of the engine – makes me need to benefit from the PowerPlus on a regular basis. Regardless of the Indian eking out a deserved win on my aspect of the scorecard, typically it’s the intangibles that disagree.

The H-D feels very well put collectively from a match and end perspective. The entire contact factors exude high quality that must be anticipated from a $33,000 motorbike. Whereas the Indian has fairly a bit extra know-how and options packed into it, it appears like they needed to reduce prices somewhere else which leads to some plastic-y feeling bits and normal match and end in some areas that aren’t fairly as much as the H-D’s normal.

For me, JB, it must be the Pursuit. It will get the look down and the wild West vibe, however its efficiency, fashionable accouterments, higher suspension, and decrease seat all depart the H-D within the mud in my e-book. Additionally my rebellious streak, the ol’ Oppositional Defiance Dysfunction, my have to chunk the 800-lb gorilla that’s H-D.

Harley-Davidson continues to carry a particular place within the American coronary heart, apparently. Despite the fact that Ryan says he’d quite personal the Harley, he’s pressured to confess the Indian’s superiority in most classes on the Official MO Scorecard: Combining each our scores tells the story, It’s the Indian by 3 factors, 91.2 to 88.2%. I’ll combat no extra ceaselessly. Not for an additional month or two anyway. There’s a Nightster vs. Scout Rogue showdown soonish…

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