Dark Horse History
Indian Motorcycles has a history all its own, however the Dark Horse came about recently. Stellican originally released the Dark Horse and sold Indian operations to Polaris in 2011, Polaris continued to manufacture the Kings Mountain Era Dark Horses until 2013. In 2014 Polaris released their new Thunderstroke 111 engine and released and updated Dark Horse in 2016.
Chief Dark Horse (Stellican, Kings Mountain, NC) | 2010-2011 |
Chief Dark Horse (Polaris, Kings Mountain, NC) | 2012-2013 |
Chief Dark Horse (Polaris, ) | 2016- |
Stellican Dark Horse
As you can see, the Chief Dark Horse is a dark, sinister, mechanical looking motorcycle with a Thunder smoke black matte finish. The “original” Dark Horse was also available in Indian Red and Deep Water Blue. The colored headdress on the tank is a new twist on the colored versions of the past.
It was produced in 2010 and came with the following at list price of $27,999.
Make Model | Indian Dark Horse |
Year | 2010 – 11 |
Engine | Four stroke, V-twin, 2 valve per cylinder. |
Capacity | 1720 cc / 105 cu-in |
Bore x Stroke | 3.966 x 4.25 in. |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 |
Induction | Closed loop sequential port fuel injection |
Ignition | Digital CDI |
Starting | -Electric |
Max Toque | 100 lb-ft / 135.5 Nm |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Final Drive | Belt |
Gear Ratio | 1st 10.441:1 2nd 7.090:1 3rd 5.172:1 4th 3.984:1 5th 3.193:1 6th 2.771:1 |
Frame | High tensile steel, monoshock |
Front Suspension | 41 mm diameter; 108 mm wheel travel |
Rear Suspension | Single shock, 73mm wheel travel. |
Front Brakes | Single 292mm disc 2 piston calipers |
Rear Brakes | Single 292mm disc 1 piston calipers |
Front Tyre | 130/90-16 |
Rear Tyre | 150/90-16 |
Rake | 34° |
Trail | 150 mm / 5.9 in |
Dimensions | Length 2552.7 mm / 100.5 in Width 1028.7 mm / 40.5 in Height 1282.7 mm / 50.5 in |
Wheelbase | 1737.3 mm / 68.4 in |
Seat Height | 692 mm / 27.2 in |
Seat Height | 680.8 mm / 27.2 in |
Dry Weight | 339 kb / 748 lb |
Fuel Capacity | 20.8 Litres / 5.5 Gal |
Polaris Dark Horse
Once Polaris acquired Indian and designed the new 111 Thunderstroke they realized the demand to bring back the Dark Horse.