[doobliss]

Never been a big fan of the giant fixed fairing bikes. Too much fairing? Maybe.

I might test ride one just to satisfy my curiosity. I don't buy new bikes though. No reason to spend $20k+ on a toy I can't use half the year. Maybe if I lived in the southern states.

Half?:eek

I call it quits when the temp dips below 40 in the morning. The wife won't go if its below 65, she's dainty.:grin

Buy once cry once with high quality gear.

 

[IndyVictory]

Half?:eek

I call it quits when the temp dips below 40 in the morning. The wife won't go if its below 65, she's dainty.:grin

Indiana has winter, and a pothole season, then summer.

It's already below freezing here at time I would ride to work.


Back to topic I'm waiting for more Dyno results on this new engine. Lot of comments online that the Dyno guy wasn't doing it right. Haha. Need another to compare. I think with a tune it should outperform the Vic 106. It just needs to go into a bike without the ugly huge fairing.

 

[FLVicRider]

I watched a Polaris video on youtube. I take back what I said about the fairing. IMO, it's just as ugly as the Shark Nose.[/QUOTE]


I thought the same thing about the Vision Fairing although to be honest definitely had the best protection of ANY Ride I ever owned or Tested .. Can speak from Experience the Harley Shark Nose protects far better than the Batwing Fairing as long as get a Longer Flip Shield for it, and Handles better in my opinion especially after it was Redone it 2015 .. Will definitely Test Ride the Challenger when Possible on a Demo Day but not interested in Buying one at this time if ever, as long as my 2011 Low Mileage XC runs like it does ..

 

[BlackhawkFan]

I thought the same thing about the Vision Fairing although to be honest definitely had the best protection of ANY Ride I ever owned or Tested .. Can speak from Experience the Harley Shark Nose protects far better than the Batwing Fairing as long as get a Longer Flip Shield for it, and Handles better in my opinion especially after it was Redone it 2015 .. Will definitely Test Ride the Challenger when Possible on a Demo Day but not interested in Buying one at this time if ever, as long as my 2011 Low Mileage XC runs like it does ..

Definitely not disputing protection, especially in crosswinds. Closest I got to Harley's bat wing and shark nose was when I almost bought a Street Glide in '16. Sat on one each. I liked the open feeling behind the Road Glide.

I have an old acquaintance who logged 2K+miles each on two Gold Wings. He bought a Vision and absolutely loves it.

Looking forward to your impressions of the Challenger.

 

[BlackhawkFan]

Brandon's test ride review:

He compares acceleration favorably to the M109R. Polaris needs to ditch the fairing.

 

[Motorbikerx]

New Bike Fever

Im immune to that thankfully.

 

[SemperVee]

Polaris = Never again. Just sayin. . . . I've had 14 HD's and never had an Indian but with many fewer dealerships, just as expensive or more overall > and a propensity to grenade. No Thanks. I'd go back to a Vstrom1000 sooner then any Indian MC or another Hardly Dangerous. Nice lookin - though chunky. I remember the original Tourglide before it was a Roadglide and it still has a horrible fairing regarding helmet turbulance. Lets see how the Challenger performs before pouring accolades on a new wet engine and fairing in it's first year. Like to see a comparison test tween this and the BMW K1600 GT or GTL or even toss in the highly over rated RoadGlide. i

 

[IndyVictory]

Yeah we have to wait for spring to see how the Challenger really performs in the real world.
Everything I've seen no one has actually ridden the thing they are only going off information provided by Polaris.

 

[Vinish]

Yeah we have to wait for spring to see how the Challenger really performs in the real world.
Everything I've seen no one has actually ridden the thing they are only going off information provided by Polaris.

What you talkin' 'bout? Polaris wouldn't lie

 

[IndyVictory]

What you talkin' 'bout? Polaris wouldn't lie

No more than HD, Honda, etc.

Just saying that reviews using Polaris provided photos, rambling about how the bike looks in said photos, aren't actually reviews.

 

[BBob]

Polaris = Never again. Just sayin. . . . I've had 14 HD's and never had an Indian but with many fewer dealerships, just as expensive or more overall > and a propensity to grenade. No Thanks. I'd go back to a Vstrom1000 sooner then any Indian MC or another Hardly Dangerous. Nice lookin - though chunky. I remember the original Tourglide before it was a Roadglide and it still has a horrible fairing regarding helmet turbulance. Lets see how the Challenger performs before pouring accolades on a new wet engine and fairing in it's first year. Like to see a comparison test tween this and the BMW K1600 GT or GTL or even toss in the highly over rated RoadGlide. i

I'd buy another used Victory if I were in the market but no more new Polaris products for me.

One good thing about riding less these days and getting into cars as well is my two great running Vic's should last me past my days of riding on two wheels. Took the KP out on a 120 mile ride the other day. Ran flawless and at no time was I concerned about riding alone.

I've had 9 HD's over a 33 year period and rode alone many times but also broke down many times. Yes, they were old, even then they were old but so is my 15 yo KP.

 

[Motorbikerx]

breaking down used to be how you met people, ...

 

[NAB]

Motorcycles have gotten to big, to powerful and way to expensive.

 

[BBob]

Motorcycles have gotten to big, to powerful and way to expensive.

In developing nations, motorcycles are utilitarian, not for pleasure. For many they are like the family car. Simply used to get around and go shopping. A big bike like a Harley or XCT makes no sense other than its storage capability. Plus big bikes are taxed like crazy in other countries. Not on their value; their size.

 

[NAB]

In developing nations, motorcycles are utilitarian, not for pleasure. For many they are like the family car. Simply used to get around and go shopping. A big bike like a Harley or XCT makes no sense other than its storage capability. Plus big bikes are taxed like crazy in other countries. Not on their value; their size.

When I was 15 years old there was all kinds of small motorcycles on the road here. In Junior High school there was probably 10 of us that road to school on our 90cc, 100cc scooters. They were all over town on Saturday nights. You don't see that any more, you do see a lot of little Chinese scooters around the University. Students using them to commute to and from classes.

 

[otab]

I rode my Cross Country up to the nearest Indian dealership yesterday and took a Challenger out for a test ride. I came away very, very impressed with how it rides.

Note that I have no plans on trading my Victory in any time in the foreseeable future. I just wanted to feel how the Challenger rode, so I have actual experience to draw on when I read about it, or contemplate it down the road.

Also note that I despise the look of most of Indian's classic line. They look like rolling 50s diners to me, in all the worst ways. This Challenger, in person, looks much closer to a Victory than to an Indian. I personally consider that to be a good thing.

TL;DR: The bike rode beautifully, and I'd like to see what it's like with a few years of seasoning. I'd consider buying this 5 years down the road, when parts for my XC start to become really depressingly hard to come by.

Handling:

• This bike is butter-smooth at freeway speeds (I had it up to 100mph on the freeway, and the bike just laughed). There was always power available to pass the semis, or any of the cars watching me roll past, even in 6th, at respectable RPMs.
• It made my Victory Cross Country feel shaky by comparison.
• The suspension is exactly right.
• The frame-mounted fairing definitely makes a difference in the steering. When maneuvering, even at low speeds, the bike feels much lighter than it really is.
• It corners like a dream. I took it through some twisties, and loved every second of it.
• The traction control and ABS are really, really impressive. I hit some loose gravel in one turn, and the bike had itself back under control before I even had time to react.

Power:

• The engine moves this bike. Roll on the throttle, and you know you've done it, regardless of what gear, or what the tach says.
• There's always more power available, whenever you want it. I never managed to ask for more from the bike without it being ready, willing and very able to deliver.
• It made my XC feel sluggish in comparison, and that's not easy to do.
• All the "WHOAs" you hear in youtube test ride videos are very justified. This bike will throw you back in your seat and make you hang on for dear life if you gun it.

Comfort and trimmings:

• Build quality is excellent. This bike looks and feels very, very well-built.
• The fairing is huge in person, but I found that I rapidly got used to it when the bike was moving.
• The power windscreen is really nice for creating a rider pocket, as are the in-fairing vents.
• The touchscreen and controls are very intuitive, and easy to use.
• Cruise control works exactly right.
• I hated the grips. First thing I'd replace.
• The handlebar position placed the grips at exactly the place I'd want them.
• The seat was quite comfortable.
• I did not like how the bags looked on the back of the bike; they fail to match the lines of the bike. I suppose my Cross Country has just spoiled me here.
• No touring trunk available, but the mounts for a passenger backrest look like they're placed about right for a lock-n-ride trunk. The dealer says he knows of at least one Challenger owner who put a Harley trunk on his Challenger. I hope that Indian comes out with a touring configuration for this bike at some point.

 

[otab]

I rode my Cross Country up to the nearest Indian dealership yesterday and took a Challenger out for a test ride.

One thing that I found really funny; when I pulled in on my XC, every head in the place turned, and everyone, the owner of the dealership included, came over and wanted to talk about Victory. I heard more than one significant other murmur to their partner while looking over my XC that they ought to look at finding a used Victory like mine, rather than one of the Indians, because mine looked so much better than anything in the Indian lineup.

I was pleased

 

[BBob]

I get the feeling the Challenger is a grown up Scout with more bells and whistles. I like your comment about it looking more like a Victory than an Indian. Maybe, in a way, Polaris did merge the two brands but still left Victory dealerships and owners holding the bag.

Good review. Thanks! If we still had an Indian dealership anywhere around here; I might do the same test ride out of curiosity.

 

[otab]

I get the feeling the Challenger is a grown up Scout with more bells and whistles. I like your comment about it looking more like a Victory than an Indian. Maybe, in a way, Polaris did merge the two brands but still left Victory dealerships and owners holding the bag.

I've ridden a scout. The challenger rides very differently. It's definitely a touring cruiser, which is not something I'd ever consider the scout to be.

Yeah, this bike makes me think that there's definitely going to be some more merging in of Victory ideas into the Indian lineup in the next few years. I consider that to be a good thing.

And, **** Polaris for what they did to their Victory dealers. And owners. Enough said

 

[IndyVictory]

I still think that engine will be the core of the Indian line in the future. I expect them to roll it into a bike setup for touring in 2021 models.