Indian Roadmaster review, test ride

Tales of Thunder

Another important reason why the Roadmaster feels so good to ride is its lovely motor. The 1,811cc air-cooled Thunder Stroke 111 V-twin motor makes 138.9Nm of torque and an unspecified amount of horsepower. But the highlight of the motor is just how unbelievably refined it is. It’s nearly vibe-free with bountiful torque spread across the rev range. So there’s ample thrust available in each gear and the bike accelerates very smoothly without any drama apart from a lovely rumble from its twin exhausts. The six-speed gearbox, although a little hard to operate, never mis-shifts and provides positive feedback.

Life is a Highway

The Indian Roadmaster is an incredible experience to ride. It wows you with pretty much every aspect and is jam-packed with features which will give most cars an inferiority complex – a 200W audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, tyre pressure monitors, cruise control, just to name a few. It’s the epitome of a luxurious American highway tourer; a bike that makes short work of the longest highways and keeps you, and a pillion, thoroughly entertained and relaxed for the entire journey. But the biggest chink in its armour is the fact that most Indian roads don’t resemble American highways. That, and of course, its price – a whopping Rs 38 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)! But whatever its shortcomings, one ride and it’s impossible to not fall totally and utterly in love with this charming, marvel-worthy machine.