2020 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Bagger That Actually Handles
The Challenger is Indian's liquid-cooled answer to the big American bagger, and it doesn't lean on nostalgia to earn its place. The heart is the 1768 cc PowerPlus 60° V-twin, good for 122 hp and 128 lb-ft, bolted into an aluminum perimeter frame with an upside-down fork up front. Around that hardware sits one of the most complete tech packages in the touring world. Indian Ride Command runs the TFT with Apple CarPlay, and ABS, traction control, ride modes, cruise control, keyless ignition, an electric windscreen and hard luggage all come standard. This is Americana with a modern brain.
It rides like a proper long-hauler. The bike is planted at highway speed, the bags swallow a week of gear, and the 6.0 gal (22.7 L) tank sets a relaxed pace between stops. Build quality is solid, and there's an enormous aftermarket to make it yours. It's for the rider who wants heritage sound and presence but refuses to give up modern electronics. The caveat is electrical. Early bikes carried two recalls, one for an under-lubricated output shaft bearing on certain 2020 units and I-24-03 for an ABS software brake-light fault, and batteries and displays can act up. Buy one with a documented service history.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 122 hp (91 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 128 lb-ft (174 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1768 cc |
| Engine | 60° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 130/60-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/60-16 |
| Seat height | 26.5 in (673 mm) |
| Wet weight | 842 lb (382 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock conversations, owner chats at fuel stops and club nights, and the messages riders send me directly. On the Challenger, that chatter leans clearly positive. Owners talk most about the engine, the way the bike handles and how easy it is to spend a full day aboard. The complaints are few and scattered.
The engine is what riders bring up first and most often. Owners describe the liquid-cooled PowerPlus twin as effortless, with immediate pull and strong acceleration anywhere in the rev range. The handling comes up almost as often. Riders consistently say the Challenger feels nimble for its size. They credit the stiff chassis and quality suspension with giving them the confidence to push on through a string of corners.
Comfort is the other recurring theme. Owners point to the plush seat, the relaxed riding position and strong wind protection, and several say long hauls leave them free of the usual fatigue. The main complaint is about looks. Some riders find the sharply creased fairing and muscular lines too aggressive for their taste.
Output shaft bearing insufficiently lubricated
On certain 2020 Challengers with fewer than 50 miles, the engine output shaft bearing may not have been lubricated during assembly, risking premature failure and sudden power loss. Corrected under recall I-20-02.
ABS module software error – unintended brake light
ABS software may cause brief, unintended brake light illumination without rider input during certain limited riding conditions, increasing crash risk. Addressed by recall I-24-03 for 2020–2022 Challengers.
ECU/wiring harness limp mode
Low voltage codes (P16AD, P1227, P0916) can cause the bike to enter limp mode. An initial ECU replacement did not fix the issue, pointing to a possible wiring harness or connector problem.
Clutch cable sleeve disintegration
The plastic sleeve on the clutch cable can break apart, jamming the cable and causing clutch slip. Replacement of cable and plates required.
Premature battery failure
The OEM battery may develop a dead cell after the first full season, even when kept on a tender. The bike also struggles to start in very cold weather.
Cold-engine cylinder misfire code
Below ~68°F (20°C), if the bike is allowed to idle for over a minute after a cold start, a cylinder may misfire and shut down, triggering a check-engine light. Cycling the ignition clears the code.
Radiator seam leak
The radiator may develop a slow leak at the bottom seam above the battery due to poor welds, requiring radiator replacement.
Display freezing and random glitches
The digital display may freeze, enter a loading loop, reset ride data, or switch between day/night mode erratically. A restart usually resolves the issue.
Where this Indian Challenger pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Challenger is actually built for.
If your year revolves around Sturgis and Daytona, this bike brings the deep V-twin sound and the American presence you're after, plus modern tech the old-school crowd will envy.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For long stretches between Beartooth and Going-to-the-Sun, the Challenger stays steady, carries your gear and keeps your route on screen. Just keep a fresh battery and a service history.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You get real comfort and a stable, planted ride for 300-mile days, but it's a heavy bagger at 842 lb. Pick it if you want character over lightness on your favorite scenic roads.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The Indian Challenger also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard Challenger — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Indian Challenger. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2022–2023
Big Torque, Serious Electronics
~$5,000 pricier used than this bike at 4 yr
Competitor · 2022–2023
Factory Hot Rod, Connected
~$4,500 pricier used than this bike at 4 yr
Competitor · 2021–2023
The Bagger That Knows Everything
~$2,800 pricier used than this bike at 4 yr
Competitor · 2021
Big Boxer Goes Full Dress
Roughly $5,800 cheaper used than this bike at 5 yr
Competitor · 2020–2024
Haul Everything, Miss Nothing
~$800 pricier used than this bike at 5 yr
Competitor · 2018–2023
Stability With Harley Soul
~$1,200 cheaper used than this bike at 5 yr
