Riders Preferred Membership
Shop by Vehicle
Track Order
Contact Us
If by some chance you read Dustin's first ride review early this year of the Indian Chief Vintage and thought, "Nice, but it doesn't scream 'vintage Indian' quite loudly enough," then Indian has a new special edition for you.
Unveiled at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this week, the new limited-edition Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition cranks the nostalgia look to 11. Under the red-and-cream two-tone paint, the Sturgis, SD Edition is the same Chief Vintage you've seen before, powered by the 1,890 cc Thunderstroke 116 V-twin engine that's styled to look like a flathead. It mixes modernity and nostalgia in what Indian hopes is a seamless recipe, from the round display that's shaped like an old dial but offers a digital display, including which of three ride modes you're in, to its traditional Indian headdress adornment on the front fender that lights up.
Indian is building 125 examples of the Sturgis and they're prominently numbered on the side cover, just above the "56" that's intended to recall the racing numbers painted on the bikes brought to Sturgis for competition more than 80 years ago. After all, like other rallies from Laconia, New Hampshire, to Daytona, Florida that began with a race and have long since far outgrown those origins, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally started with a race. And an Indian dealership.
It was Indian dealer J.C. "Pappy" Hoel who played a key role in starting what has become the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. In 1937, he and some friends founded the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club and the following year the club organized an AMA-sanctioned dirt track race. That race grew in popularity and created the rally. So it's not much of a stretch for Indian to reach back to those origins as the theme for its latest limited-edition motorcycle.
If you can't get your hands on a 1930s Indian to ride to Sturgis, you at least have the option of getting a Chief Vintage Sturgis that pays homage to the Indians of the 1930s.
| 2026 Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $23,999 |
| Engine | 1,890 cc, air-cooled, four-valve, V-twin |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, belt |
| Claimed horsepower | N/A |
| Claimed torque | 120 foot-pounds @ 2,900 rpm |
| Frame | Steel tubular |
| Front suspension | 46 mm fork; 5.2 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Dual shocks, adjustable for spring preload; 3.0 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Single four-piston caliper, 298 mm with ABS |
| Rear brake | Two-piston caliper, 298 mm disc with ABS |
| Rake, trail | 29.0 degrees, 5.2 inches |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 inches |
| Seat height | 27.0 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gallons |
| Tires | Metzeler Cruisetec, 130/90B16 front, 150/80B16 rear |
| Claimed weight | 721 pounds |
| Available | Now |
| Warranty | 24 months (unlimited miles) |
| More info | indianmotorcycle.com |
Image Gallery
