2017 Indian Roadmaster Classic Video Review

Evans Brasfield
by Evans Brasfield

Increasing the leather-to-chrome ratio

Photos by Barry Hathaway

What’s wrong with admitting that a cruiser model is a styling exercise? Cruisers are all about style – perhaps even more so than any other motorcycle category. So, if a cruiser that works as well as the Indian Roadmaster gets some new clothes in an effort to appeal to more buyers, that can be a good thing. In this instance, the result is the Indian Roadmaster Classic, a Roadmaster with a heaping helping of classic design cues.

2017 Indian Roadmaster Classic Review: First Ride

The Roadmaster is a good handling motorcycle, and the Classic is no different. Both use Indian’s forged and cast aluminum frame employing the engine as a stressed member. With a 25-degree rake and 5.9 in. trail attached to a 65.7 in. wheelbase, the ride is as stable as you’d expect. The slow-revving, torquey Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine motivates the Classic as ably as its does its siblings. The riding position is all-day comfortable – as is the weather protection.

Which brings us to the bags, covered with the same stylish, durable leather as the seats on several Indian models, just begging for you to run your fingers over them. If you liked the full-grain American leather featured on those other bikes, you’ll love the extra dose of it on the bags and trunk. The only downside is they are more weather-resistant than waterproof.

Take a look at the video review below to see 2017 Indian Roadmaster Classic in all its leather-clad glory – complete with fringe!

Evans Brasfield
Evans Brasfield

Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.

More by Evans Brasfield

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  • Old MOron Old MOron on Mar 04, 2017

    Wow, that was a classy vid, right from the start. They flew you to Havasu in a DC3 war bird? Fooking awesome. Nice blend of mood music and combustion music. The narrative seemed comfortable and delivered with ease. Gorgeous sunset cinematography. I didn't expect to, but I enjoyed the show. Good job, Evans and Barry.

    Oh, but I do have one criticism. Guns N Roses, really?
    It should've been Glenn Miller, or Sinatra, Calloway, Luis Armstrong, etc.

  • Angry tiger! Angry tiger! on Mar 04, 2017

    https://www.automd.com/reca...

    OK you geniuses. So if you think these pigs are so great, copy this, post it to Google and see the thousands and thousands of these Indian pieces of trash which have been recalled just so far. I didn't make this up so you decide if you want to get involved in this mess of a bucket of bolts.
    Now, as far as Evans Brasfield is concerned, since he decided to pipe in and get all 'tuffy' here with his broken English, remember this. This Evans guys get paid to blow smoke up your butts as he works for a two bit internet motorcycle magazine which gets its revenue from advertisers. ie. Indian dollars. So, you can believe the ungodly amount of recalls already which I have provided you in the above link, our you can believe some paid industry shill which would try to convince you anything, in bad English I will add, to keep those bucks flowing and his pay check coming.

    Caveat emptor.

    • See 7 previous
    • JWH JWH on Mar 07, 2017

      Psssst, you forgot, "Well, bless your heart." Again, I'm a Texan and I know things.

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