2026 Indian Pursuit Review: The Ultimate American Luxury Touring Motorcycle?

Until recently, if you wanted a genuine, authentic, US-style ‘full dress’ tourer – and indeed an American motorcycle of any type – your choice was limited to one: Harley-Davidson.

The historic Milwaukee marque was America’s only home-grown mass-market motorcycle manufacturer between 1953 and 2013, and its ElectraGlide (and derivatives) complete with panniers, top case and large fairing set the template for US tourers.

Not anymore. Automotive giant and Victory motorcycles owner Polaris bought the brand and manufacturing rights to Harley’s historic rival Indian (which collapsed in 1953) in 2011 and relaunched the marque with an all-new family of air-cooled V-twin cruisers in 2013.

In 2015, they were joined by a similarly powered ‘full dresser’, the Roadmaster. In 2022, Indian launched the Pursuit, another full-dresser but this time based on Indian’s new, liquid-cooled ‘PowerPlus’ engine.

We took Indian UK’s press bike for a half-day spin around Cambridgeshire to find out how it measures up.

The Pursuit was launched in 2022 as a ‘full dress’ touring version (ie with top case and taller screen) of its Challenger bagger, as launched in 2020 with frame-mounted fairing, which in turn debuted Indian’s all-new, liquid-cooled, 108ci (1769cc) ‘PowerPlus’ engine. 

The Limited is the highest spec’ version (there’s also a blacked-out ‘Dark Horse’ version), while in 2025 it was updated with the enlarged 112ci (1834cc) engine.

The older Roadmaster, meanwhile, continues but now also has the PowerPlus engine with that bike distinguished mostly by its handlebar not frame mounted fairing. 

For more context: the Pursuit Limited is Indian’s rival to Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide (which also has a larger, frame-mounted fairing); and the Roadmaster is Indian’s rival to Harley’s Street Glide Limited, with both having handlebar-mounted fairings. Got that? Good.

At a price of £31,255, there’s no getting away from the fact that the Indian Pursuit Limited is a lot of money. That price is also more than its current closest rival, Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide Limited, although when specced up with a similar two-tone paint job they’re virtually identical.

But it’s also a lot of bike. You get not only an authentic American near-2000cc full dresser, but it’s also loaded with nearly all the luxuries you could imagine. There’s not only full luggage, but heated seats and grips, a fairing with an electric screen, a full ‘infotainment’ system, electronics including riding modes and cruise control, and much, much more. 

In that context, the price doesn’t sound excessive, although you should also be aware there’s one other ‘full-dresser currently at significantly less. German brand BMW’s Transcontinental delivers much of the same, albeit with a boxer twin engine, starts at around £27K, and that price is also currently widely discounted to sometimes around £20K.

As with all current Indians, the Pursuit Limited is available now from Indian UK’s 18 UK-wide dealers. For full details and to find your local dealer, go to the Indian UK website.

Although revived, Indian relaunched in 2013 with a family of air-cooled, ‘Thunderstroke’ V-twin engines, which were used across its Chief cruisers, Chieftain baggers and Roadmaster full-dress tourers; in 2019 it made the bold move of adding an additional, all-new, full-modern, liquid-cooled, 1769cc powerplant, which it calls the ‘PowerPlus’. 

This was initially offered in the Challenger bagger (the bike, incidentally, Indian successfully campaigns in the oddball ‘King of the Baggers’ racing series).

The Pursuit was launched in 2022 as a ‘full dress’ touring version of the Challenger, and that engine grew to 1834cc in 2025. In this form, it produces an impressive 122bhp @ 5500rpm along with torque of 133.79lb.ft @ 3800rpm. There’s also belt drive, a six-speed gearbox and a full suite of electronics including traction control, switchable riding modes and even proximity warners.

And despite weighing a hefty 425kg (wet), that powertrain gives the Pursuit some impressive performance, at least for this kind of bike. The more modern Indian is noticeably crisper and punchier than the rival Harley, which feels a little ‘baggy’ by comparison. For day to day travelling the Indian’s grunt and tractability is more than sufficient and, if you flick into ‘Sport’ mode, it gains an extra edge and excitement the Harley can’t match.

On the slight downside, the more modern engine possibly lacks some of the charisma, character and authenticity of the more vintage-feeling air-cooled ‘Hog’ (and its Indian predecessor, the Thunderstroke), but that’s a subjective niggle. Most of the people, most of the time won’t have any complaints.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the Indian Pursuit Limited is a monster of a bike. It’s big, long, heavy and awkward – even more so than rival Harley’s Road Glide Limited. That of course is mostly great if you want a comfortable, sumptuous, roomy bike slathered in luxury. But it also makes it something of a handful, especially at low speed or when trying to manoeuvre.

On the flip side, the low seat makes it easy to get on board (or, at least it would if, because of the top case and large pillion ‘throne’, in reality you have to thread your leg over the other side to climb on board).

But it’s also worth saying here that the Pursuit doesn’t just have a modern engine; whatever its overall style suggests, it has a more modern frame, fashioned out of cast aluminium sections rather than the tubular steel of the Harley. Its suspension and brakes are quality items, too.

As a result, on the move the Pursuit Limited is easier than you might expect – as long as you don’t wobble too slowly. The riding position’s natural, the weight is carried mostly low down, and the grunty engine pulls from virtually nothing. Even so, although the riding position is luxurious, it’s also so roomy shorter types might find it a stretch.

And although the electrically adjustable screen is welcome, at first your riders’ eye view is dominated by the instruments and displays, features such as the stereo, heated grips/seat and adjustable screen, and sussing out all their controls rather than conventional concerns over performance or handling.

Once you’re tuned in, though, and maybe on some sweeping A-roads rather than merely cruising and enjoying the plush ride on motorways, the Pursuit is impressively sure-footed, neutral and balanced. Corners can be carved with confidence and the whole plot is far more dynamic than its size and style suggests.

Braking, meanwhile, thanks to the big twin front 320mm discs and four-piston Brembo calipers all assisted by Cornering ABS is reassuringly capable, too.

These kinds of bikes are all about being loaded with luxury and equipment and the Pursuit Limited certainly doesn’t disappoint.

The rider’s view is dominated by a multitude of initially baffling dials and displays comprising twin analogue dials with inset LCD panels and a 7inch touchscreen TFT incorporating info, satnav, Bluetooth and Carplay. It’s comprehensive, yes, but also a bit of a confusing mess and made wider by the big stereo speakers either side. Switchgear is complex and chrome.

There’s a welcome electrically height-adjustable screen, heated grips and seat, charging points, electronics including traction and cruise control, four riding modes and proximity warners and then there’s the cavernous luggage. In. short it has it all.

On the slight downside, it’s also all a bit excessive and crass (as bikes like this tend to be, although Harley’s new 13in wide TFT dash is both much less fussy and more comprehensive), the Pursuit’s ‘trunk’ isn’t as large as the Harley’s and it could really use a reverse gear (for manouvring). Ultimately, it wants for little, if perhaps a little ‘less’.

As mentioned, comfort and roominess is beyond criticism (no pillion will complain about being on a Pursuit Limited), but there’s a price and manageability cost that goes with that. Its paint and quality is glorious.

It comes with Indian’s standard two-year warranty (which is extendable to five years if certain conditions are met and servicing, after the initial 500-mile ‘break-in’ service, is due every 5000miles or annually whichever comes first.

Three colourways are available currently, all available for the same price (which can’t be said for its Harley rival).

Full dress tourers simply don’t get any grander or more luxurious than the Indian Pursuit Limited – except, arguably, for Harley-Davidson’s rival Road Glide Limited.

The Indian has the punchier, slicker performance, the more convincing handling and is roomier and (slightly) more comfortable. I also think it’s better looking and, thanks to its standard two-tone paint, electric screen and quilted seat, better equipped. But its dash is more of a mishmash, it’s slightly more expensive, and its dealer network and brand caché not as extensive.

But if all that appeals, your heart is set on this type of machine and your wallet can afford it, there’s no ‘bigger’ experience in motorcycling. Some may prefer the Harley, for its richer history, more reassuring dealer network and residuals and ‘cuter’ riding position, but I’d go for the Pursuit. It’s more 
modern, more potent, more roomy and simply more ‘me’!

Thanks to Indian UK for the loan of their press bike. Check the full specs and information at https://www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk