7 Indian Motorcycles That Keep Their Value (With Examples)

The original Indian motorcycle cranked out some of the earliest American cruisers between 1901 and the early 1950s.

Today, the modern, Polaris-owned version of the Indian Motorcycle company has around 30 steeds in their stable.

This article lists the Indian motorcycles that keep their values by citing typical used prices and depreciation rates.

1. Indian Chieftain Elite

The 2018 Chieftain Elite keeps its value more than most other Indian models, thanks to its custom paint finish, enhanced sound system, and manufacturing exclusivity.

The Chieftain Elite came stock with saddle-bag mounted speakers for a 360-degree sound system experience, a larger front tire, and a custom factory finish that looks hand painted.

Brand new, the 2018 Chieftain Elite was listed at $31,499. Due to its exclusive nature, it sells on the used market for between $24,999 and $26,995, keeping 85% of its original value after five years.

2. Indian Chief Dark Horse

With only 21% of its value lost after five years of ownership, the Chief Dark Horse retains 79% of its original value.

The following calculations were arrived at by dividing the Indian Chief Dark Horse’s Typical Listing Price, as listed by Kelley Blue Book, from the bike’s dealership MSRP:

• One-Year-Old: 5% Value Lost
• Two Years Old: 8% Value Lost
• Three Years Old: 13% Value Lost
• Four Years Old:  19% Value Lost
• Five Years Old:  21% Value Lost
• Six Years Old:  27% Value Lost
• Seven Years Old:  31% Value Lost

The newest 2023 Chief Dark Horse has a more extensive 116 cubic-inch version of the Thunderstroke engine, a 4-inch touchscreen-operated Ride Command System, and mid-mounted foot controls for an MSRP of $17,499.

The overhauled 2019 Indian Chief Darkhorse comes with multiple ride modes and a Rear Cylinder Deactivation enhancement for a typical used listing price of $17,100.

That said, the average used price of a 2018-year model is $16,235.

Finally, A 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse is generally listed on the used site for $14,750.

• The original owner of a Chief Dark Horse takes an average loss of  $4,899 in trade-in value at the dealership.
• That said, the bike can sell for $17,750 on the used market–limiting its loss percentage to 5% after one year.
• After three years, a well-kept Indian Chief Dark Horse with average mileage sells for around  $16,235—$2,264 less than the bike’s new price.
• After five years, an Indian Chief Classic is listed on the used market at an average of $13,280, provided it meets the typical condition and mileage requirements.

Make sure to also read our article about how much used Indian Motorcycles cost.

3. Indian Scout

The Indian Scout is a midsized cruiser with a 6-speed, gear-driven transmission that lasts forever and a 1133cc V-twin engine that can endure hard rips in high revs thanks to its liquid-cooling system.

With a typically used price e of $12,170, the Scout ABS keeps between 68% and 75% of its value after five years:

• One-Year-Old: 8% Value Lost
• Two Years Old: 18% Value Lost
• Three Years Old:  20% Value Lost
• Four Years Old:  25% Value Lost
• Five Years Old:  32% Value Lost
• Six Years Old:  33% Value Lost

The average Scout model costs costing $13,249 brand new.

A used 2015 Scout goes for $9,435.

In 2016, Indian launched two versions of the Scout, the base model and the Anti-Lock Brake(ABS) model, listing used for an average of  $9,600 and $9,735, respectively.

• A well-kept one-year-old Indian Scout typically sells on the used market for around $12,535, just $714 less than the new model price.
• After three years, the standard Scout model typically lists for around $11,555, provided it is kept in decent condition and has moderate mileage reading on its odometer.

That said, the trade-in value of a one-year-old Scout drops to about $9,060, $8,260 for a three-year-old.

This means that anyone attempting to trade their one-year-old Indian Scout into a dealership will take a loss of about $4,189. And after three years of ownership, the trade-in value drops to $8,260, for a loss of $4,989.

The Indian Scout keeps its value if sold on the used market, but owners attempting to acquire trade-in value for their Scout at the dealership will take a more significant loss. Here’s another example:

• After five years, a base model Indian Scout sells for an average of $9,600 on the used market. That’s $3,649 less than a new Scout costs.
• That said, the trade-in value for a five-year-old Indian Scout is $6,730 at the dealership, $6,519 less than what was paid for it new.

4. Indian FTR

The base model Indian FTR comes standard with a 6-speed gear-driven transmission, an assist-and-slip multi-plate clutch, and an adjustable suspension.

It stocks a liquid-cooled 1203cc V-Twin engine capable of 120 horsepower, selling for $13,499 brand new.

Meanwhile, a 2019 Indian FTR costs around $12,015 on the used market.

While the FTR hasn’t been around for more than a handful of years, we were able to calculate the value lost by dividing the Typical Listing Price of the Indian FTR bike by the MSRP.

The result is the percentage of the value, which we subtract from 100 to get the Percentages of Value Lost listed here:

• One-Year-Old: 10% Value Lost
• Two Years Old: 12% Value Lost

These figures highlight the FTR’s ability to keep 90% of its value after one year of ownership if well-maintained and 88% after two. 

5. Indian Chieftain Limited

The Limited edition of the 2023 Indian Chieftain costs $27,999 brand new, stocking the larger 116 CI.1890cc version of the air-cooled Thunderstroke V-Twin and infotainment system enhanced by live traffic and weather updates.

The older versions of the Chieftain tend to keep their value; the 2019 Chieftain Limited typically sells used for $24,425, while the 2018 year model usually lists for around $22,380 on the used market.

• By dividing the Typical Listing Price of the Indian Chieftain Limited by its MSRP, we’re able to calculate the percentage of the value kept.
• We subtract the percentage of value retained from 100 to get the following rates of depreciation:
• One-Year-Old: 12% Value Lost
• Two Years Old: 15% Value Lost
• Three Years Old: 21% Value Lost
• Four Years Old: 28% Value Lost
• Five Years Old:  30% Value Lost
• Six Years Old:  44% Value Lost
• Seven Years Old:  48% Value Lost

We also have an article that discusses reasons Indian Motorcycles cost so much.

6. Indian Roadmaster

The Indian Roadmaster is built on the same frame and fairing as the Chieftain but adds hard lower body work for additional leg protection and a locking trunk for extra storage space, helping it to keep its value.

The trunk doubles as a comfortable passenger back and armrest, working with the Roadmaster’s heated grips and seats and a more advanced Infotainment suite to make it one of the more luxurious Indian models that keeps its value.

Our research into the Kelley Blue Book led us to the following Typical Listing Prices for Used Indian Roadmaster Year Models:

• 2015: $17,290
• 2016: $20,135
• 2018: $24, 505
• 2019: $28,135

That said, the newer Roadmaster models come with the larger, Thunderstroke 116 CI Engine for extra power and torque and a 7-inch touchscreen-operated Ride Command suite with live weather, traffic, and navigation at a price tag of $30,499.

And there are more advanced trim packages that cost even more, which we predict will keep their value as a result of their current exclusivity:

• The Roadmaster Dark Horse adds a 19″ front tire, a more aggressive, half-cut front fender, and a refined matte finish for a new model price of $30 999.
• The Roadmaster Limited also drops the vintage swoop front fender for a more slender piece that fits its 19-inch front wheel but trades the Dark Horse matte finish for the refined paint job and extra chrome at the elevated new model price of $30,999.

Comparing the differences in price between the MSRP and the typical used market price gave us the following depreciation percentages for the Indian Roadmaster:

• One-Year-Old: 6% Value Lost
• Two Years Old: 10% Value Lost
• Three Years Old: 19% Value Lost
• Four Years Old: 22% Value Lost
• Five Years Old: 33% Value Lost
• Six Years Old:  43% Value Lost

7. Indian Chieftain Dark Horse

The Dark Horse edition of the Indian Chieftain costs $28,999 brand new, now stocking the Biggest-Twin, 1890cc iteration of the Thunderstroke engine, infotainment/navigation with live traffic and weather updates, and a matte finish and blacked-out engine heads and hardware. The Chieftain Dark Horse is one of the best Indian Motorcycles for long rides.

Conversely, on the used market, the older 1830cc version of the Chieftain Dark Horse is typically listed for the following prices:

• 2016: $16,475
• 2018: $22,290
• 2019: $25,385

A used Chieftain Darkhorse sells for only about $1,229 less than that, around $26,770 after a year of ownership if it’s kept in good condition with average mileage on the clock.

Once again, Chieftain Dark Horse owners attempting to garner trade-in value at a dealership may be under the impression that the bike loses value since the average trade-in value is $22,000 after a year, $5,999 less than what the original owner paid for it when it was new.

• A three-year-old Chieftain Dark Horse sells on the used market for $5,879 less than it cost new, keeping a value of around $22,120.
• After five years, a well-maintained Indian Chieftain Darkhorse sells for around $19,500, which is $8,499 less than the new sticker price of $27,999 but still holds 70 of its original value.
• That said, the trade-in value for a Chieftain after three and five years of ownership is $17,750 and $19,500, a loss of $10,249 and $16,799, respectively.

Final Thoughts

In short, while the Indian models listed in this article keep their value when sold on the used market, dealerships will depreciate them faster regarding trade-in value.

Therefore, one can conclude that used modern Indian Motorcycles hold their value more when bought and sold on the used market rather than through a dealership.

That said, dealerships sometimes offer payment plans, warranty coverage, and reliable diagnostics on used bikes that buying from the street doesn’t guarantee.

Still, when it comes to value, selling your bike to the used market directly increases the value retention of the model compared to trading it in for a different bike at a motorcycle dealership.

Sources

Indian Motorcycle Values & Pricing | Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)

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