How Much Do Indian Motorcycles Weigh? (18 Examples)

Indian Challenger Dark Horse

• Wet Weight: 831 lb (377 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.5 in (672 mm)
• Engine type: 1768cc liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin
• Horsepower: 122 HP
• Torque: 128 lb-ft

Indian Chieftain

• Wet Weight:  821 lbs (372 kg)

• Seat Height: 25.6 in (650 mm)
• Engine type: 1,811cc Thunderstroke V-twin
• Horsepower: 78 HP (estimated)
• Torque: 119 lb-ft/ 126 lb-ft

Indian Chieftain Limited

• Wet Weight: 790 lbs (358 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.0 in (660 mm)
• Engine type: 1,890cc liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin
• Horsepower: 92 HP
• Torque: 126 lb-ft

Indian Chieftain Dark Horse

• Wet Weight: 823 lb (373 kg)
• Seat Height: 25.6 in (650 mm)
• Engine type: 1,890cc liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin
• Horsepower: 92 HP
• Torque: 126 lb-ft

Indian Springfield

• Wet Weight:  821 lbs (372 kg)

• Seat Height: 25.6 in (650 mm)
• Engine type: 1,811cc Thunderstroke V-twin
• Horsepower: 78 HP (estimated)
• Torque: 119 lb-ft/ 126 lb-ft

Indian Springfield Dark Horse

• Wet Weight: 790 lbs (358 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.0 in (660 mm)
• Engine type: 1,890cc liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin
• Horsepower: 92 HP
• Torque: 126 lb-ft

Indian Roadmaster

• Wet Weight: 909 lb (412 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.5 in (673 mm)
• Engine type: 1,890cc liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin
• Horsepower: 92 HP
• Torque: 126 lb-ft

Indian Roadmaster Limited

• Wet Weight: 890 lb (403 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.5 in (673 mm)
• Engine type: 1,890cc liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin
• Horsepower: 92 HP
• Torque: 126 lb-ft

Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse

• Wet Weight: 890 lb (403 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.5 in (673 mm)
• Engine type: 1,890cc liquid-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin
• Horsepower: 92 HP
• Torque: 126 lb-ft

Indian Scout

• Wet Weight: 561 lbs (254 kg)

• Seat Height: 25.6 in (649 mm)
• Engine type: 1,133cc liquid-cooled V-twin
• Horsepower: 100 HP
• Torque: 72 lb-ft

Indian Scout Sixty

• Wet Weight: 544 lbs (247 kg)

• Seat Height: 25.6 in (649 mm)
• Engine type: 1,000cc liquid-cooled V-twin
• Horsepower: 78 HP
• Torque: 65 lb-ft

Indian Scout Bobber

• Wet Weight: 555 lbs (251 kg)

• Seat Height: 62 in (157.6 cm)
• Engine type: Liquid-cooled 1,133 cc V-twin
• Horsepower: 100 HP
• Torque: 72 lb-ft

Indian Chief

• Wet Weight: 670 lbs (304 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.0 in (662 mm)
• Engine type:1,811cc Thunderstroke V-twin
• Horsepower: 78 HP (estimated)
• Torque: 108 lb-ft

Indian Pursuit Limited

• Wet Weight: 912 lbs (413 kg)

• Seat Height: 26.5 in (672 mm)
• Engine type: 1768cc liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin
• Horsepower: 122 HP
• Torque: 128 lb-ft

What Is the Lightest Indian Motorcycle?

The lightest Indian motorcycle is the Indian FTR 1200/1200S, as they are both inspired by flat-track racing bikes. Their lightweight to high engine power ratio puts the FTR 1200 on the sportier, more agile side of the Indian motorcycle lineup.

The FTR hit the streets in 2019 to become an instant classic, being one of the most innovative rally-inspired street bikes to come out of the American motorcycle scene, possibly ever.

Inspired by Indian’s track-racing history, the FTR 1200 platform builds on the brand’s legacy but refocuses it for practical, sporty, and fast street riding. Aside from its sporty frame and ergonomics, the FTR 1200 models also feature a muscular 1,200 cc V-twin engine that produces 123 horsepower and 87 lb-ft of torque.

Both the FTR 1200 and 1200S(port) models  weigh in at a lightweight 508 pounds/240 kg, impressive when you consider the unique features these nimble rippers come stock with:

• High-Performance Dunlop Tires
• LED Lights
• Brembo Brakes

The Sport package adds ECU-governed stability control and a fully adjustable suspension.

How Much Should You Weigh to Drive an Indian Motorcycle?

There is no minimum weight required to operate an Indian Motorcycle. Indian makes motorcycles in various weight classes; riders should choose a model they can balance on with both feet on the ground and walk forward. If you’re strong enough to walk the bike, you can maneuver it when in motion.    

That said, there is a maximum weight limit on every motorcycle. The combined luggage, rider, and passenger weight can’t exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR.

Even the most robust Indian tourers like the Pursuit and Roadmaster have a carrying capacity. The Indian Pursuit may have 35 gallons of storage capacity, but the weight varies depending on whether you have 30 gallons of socks or 30 gallons of tools.

Your Indian Motorcycle’s owner’s manual will tell you how much the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is.

• Suppose the total combined weight of the rider, the passenger, luggage, tools, riding gear, fuel, fluids, and any other add-ons/carry-ons exceeds the Indian model’s GVWR.
• In that case, the engine and chassis performances will suffer.
• While the GVWR varied from model to model, their general rule is to keep the load weight at 450 pounds or less if you’re unsure.

Overloading your motorcycle’s weight limit causes a drastic dip in handling performance and risks severe tire failure. Tire blowouts are dangerous and mainly the reason motorcycle manufacturers[like Indian] furnish a weight limit…Many standard motorcycles have a listed weight limit of 450 pounds, while bigger bikes have GVWRS closer to 1300 lbs.

Overloading a motorcycle strains the engine and tires and impacts the handling. The GVWR provided are generally conservative, erring on the side of caution to provide a weight limit well inside the realm of safe motorcycle operation.

For more information about this topic, read our article about what to know if you’re too overweight to ride motorcycles.

What Is the Heaviest Indian Motorcycle?

The Heaviest Indian Motorcycle is the Indian Pursuit Limited, at 912 lbs/ 413 kg wet. The Pursuit is essentially the Challenger model with all the fully dressed touring amenities like a trunk storage compartment attached to an elaborate passenger seat and lower leg coverings.  

The Indian Pursuit may weigh in at almost a G, but you wouldn’t know it from how well it handles based on the Polaris engineer’s ever-present attention to the center of gravity when designing their bikes.

It’s a heavy-weight touring motorcycle in the same class as the fully dressed Harley-Road Glide, the BMW R18 Tranbscontinental, or the Honda Goldwing. Once you get the Pursuit in motion, it handles like it weighs close to half of what the scale says.

. The Indian Pursuit Limited delivers 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. The torque peaks early in the RPM band, reaching its highest at 3,800 RPM. Given the motorcycle weighs 912-pounds when its 6-galon tank is full, you’d think the Pursuit won’t give you memorable performance. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The Pursuit is a unique tourer that performs like a much smaller bike. The average motorcycle loan for journalists is around three weeks; however, we loved this motorcycle so much that we kept it for nearly two months.

• Wet Weight: 912 lbs (413 kg)
• Seat Height: 26.5 in (672 mm)
• Engine/Motor: 108 cu/1,768cc V-Twin Liquid-Cooled PowerPlus
• Horsepower: 122
• Torque: 128 lb-ft @ 3,800 RPM
• Drivetrain: RWD
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
• Key Features
  • Impressive Low-End Torque
  • Electronically-Adjustable Rear Suspension
  • Navigation + Apple CarPlay

Before buying the heaviest and most expensive Indian bikes, ensure you know whether Indian Motorcycles hold their value. 

Can You Make an Indian Motorcycle Lighter?

You can make an Indian motorcycle lighter by packing your carry-on gear with the heaviest gear at the bottom of your saddlebags, removing your windshield (if applicable), swapping out your stock exhaust pipes, controls, pedals, seat, tires, and suspension for lightweight aftermarket race parts. 

Making a motorcycle light is an expensive endeavor. Race bike accessories are made from titanium and carbon fiber and are expensive–a complete race part makeover can easily cost you 15 grand.

That said, motorcycle weight doesn’t affect the handling as much as you think it does. The world-class Polaris engineering team designs Indian Motorcycles to be high-performing and even sporty.

While the bike may feel heavy when you’re first moving, once you get moving, the weight distribution corrects itself; Indian motorcycles are some of the best handling cruisers on the market.

The rake angle and distance between the wheelbase have just as much effect on how a motorcycle handles as its weight does, if not more. Indian motorcycles have a shorter wheelbase than other cruisers in their class, making them easier to handle.

Furthermore, the weight distribution and low center of gravity sink the weight below you while you’re riding, adding support in the corners, not obstruction.

In short, making an Indian motorcycle lighter is possible but very expensive,m and may be counterproductive to the bike’s handling unless you’re a pro racer who knows precisely what you’re doing.

We suggest putting the energy into adjusting to the feel of the stock Indian and mastering your cornering, stopping, and throttle-clutch-shifting techniques before making the bike lighter.

Read our article about whether Indian Motorcycles are good for beginners.