Indian Chief Bobber vs Springfield! There's A Clear Winner!

[@magnusdelacruz8208]

I just bought my 2023 Springfield Darkhorse in October. It's my first and only bike I have ever had. Got my endorsement after my basic riding course. I know I don't have experience with other bikes, but I feel like I hit the jackpot on my first bet. This machine is awesome.

[@TexasNewMoney]

Damn bro. Go big or go home. 😂 Looking to upgrade to the Springfield Darkhorse from my Vulcan 900 Custom. Can't wait to test ride it.

[@Ohsee83]

I’m 6’5” 250lbs and bout a Rogue. I haven’t even had it a year and already want to trade it in for the Springfield. Guess we live and learn.

[@Blu-Tick-WRX]

I have a 21 Challenger DH and a 23 Springfield DH. I tested the Chief, Sport Chief and the FTR for my second bike. Springfield is just a more visceral, raw, motorcycle experience for me. I don't use the ride command on my Challenger so that doesn't bother me that the Springfield doesn't have it. I also think the Springfield is the best looking bike Indian makes. Challenger for the miles, Springfield for the smiles!

[@hijinx1812]

I had a 22 Chief Darkhorse that I traded in for a 23 Springfield Darkhorse. The Chief is an amazing bike, but it was ungodly uncomfortable to ride for any longer than an hour, the Ride Command was glitchy as all get out (especially the navigation & you have to pay an annual fee for the “premium” services), and the rear suspension is horrible unless you enjoy feeling your spine compact over every crack in the pavement. The Springfield does everything the Chief does more comfortably and feels more refined for lack of a better word. Even the throttle response is smoother on the Springfield. One thing you forgot to mention in the comparison is that the Springfield is a foot longer than the Chief. That gives the rider & passenger more room on the bike. At 6’2”, I felt cramped on the Chief. Overall, I have no regrets trading in the Chief. Both are great bikes for their designed purposes, but the Springfield just works for me!

[@wesleyredmond3464]

This helped me out! I’ve been looking at both and love both but the Springfield is more what I’m looking for . Starting to go on longer trips and comfort is definitely what I’m leaning towards

[@hijinx1812]

Glad to help! The Chief is in no way a “bad” motorcycle, but the Springfield is definitely better suited for longer saddle time and light touring. I just don’t understand why the Springfield has more ground clearance than the Chief. Scraping the peg feelers on my Chief was a regular occurrence 😂

[@danielshaffer7450]

Do you know if people change out the shocks on these bikes often? Or do people just pick the bike that has the most comfortable ride for what they need from the get go? I love the look of the chief way more, but getting some FOX shocks on there would be ideal, as well as a better seat.

[@hijinx1812]

@@danielshaffer7450 Indian makes two different types of upgraded piggyback shocks for them. The cheaper ones are around $1k, the higher end ones are around $1500 - both made by Fox. Ohlins also makes custom shocks, but I’m not sure how much they are. New shocks plus an aftermarket seat make a huge difference in comfort according to people in my groups. If you like the bike & have the $$ for the upgrades, go for it! Indian makes great bikes 👍🏻

[@Rambiker2023chief]

Did they give you a fair trade in? I’m in the same boat but I’m concerned they’ll try to kill me with that depreciation

[@Grayhorse23]

I traded my 2017 Road Glide Ultra for a 2023 Springfield Dark Horse. Complete night and day difference between the two. My Springfield handles better, has more a ton more torque and the suspension is fantastic! Best decision I’ve ever made. I do agree the handle bars were a little short, I replaced them with KST Kustoms 14” Pioneer bars. They are very similar to the stock bars just a touch taller and farther back. And they have the ability to adjust them for your wrist angle due to them being 3 piece bars.

[@RogueCheddar]

My stunning 2019 Indian Springfield in steel gray and burgundy metallic, and I concur, Indian Springfield, Cruiser Heaven, all day, every day!

[@aaronzavala7464]

The Springfield actually has an led headlight. It's just the holder style that came standard on the Roadmaster

[@michaelschmitzerle2587]

Love those Indian motorcycles! They just keep getting better and better 👍

[@IICASPAA]

Honestly, I like all of Indian especially both of these, but it all depends on the rider's like but their perspective.🤙🏽

[@kallikutharakeen4876]

I bought a Chief Dark Horse this year and I love it but...the Springfield is a bit smoother down the road while a Chieftain blew me away with its Cadillac ride. The Chief Dark Horse is a beast and feels like I am wrestling it down the road. Most of my rides are less than an hour so I'm not sore or tired.

[@erolyalim2911]

The Indian Dealership can replace the handle bars with beach bars to make the reach more ergonomical on the Springfield. I had sat on one of the Indians at the Dealership and the Salesman said that he could change it with the beach bars.

[@SwagSo7fly7]

A scout bobber and a Springfield dark horse are all I need

[@christurner7711]

I have a 16 Springfield and a 18 scout bobber, both have the 111 and while I enjoy the bobber when I want to blast down the road on short day runs my Springfield is my favorite bike ever, sorry Harley but this bike was made for a under 6 foot riders, I am 5'10 in riding boots and I can ride the Springfield all day without getting fatigued.i did pull the mini apes back a bit to fit my comfort and added some speakers and phone mount. My longest journey has been 850 miles but plan to do cross country next spring. I will never sell the Springfield but may someday may buy a newer model

[@jaredmarsh4002]

The scout doesnt come with the 111?

[@leonardogastmann6416]

I never thought hegshot87 would be hegshotrides! Phenomenal

[@corygammel7718]

Saddleman seat on the chief makes a huge difference

[@Kricket2390]

All I want for the Springfield is two things: 1) an option for mid controls like they have on chiefs. I’m just not comfortable in fwds. 2) let me run a 6 in pullback riser and moto bar combo.

[@DarrellTurnerJr]

If you're going to do wire wheels, give me some white wall tires

[@officialwildcardadventures]

Super Chief is the happy medium between the two.

[@marcusgeorge1825]

The flapping on your helmet sounds like what your gloves are. Not done up and secured. If I hear that noise I simply pull over and secure the helmet strap otherwise you might as well not wear one. As a licensed Indian seller and authorised Indian tuning company in Australia, the new ride command is a step forward and the beauty of these is the customisable handle bars to suit each individual as well as several seat options and rear shock options. Indian motorcycles has arguably the best website to customise your brand new bike. Nice review. 👍😎

[@doughill2389]

I have a victory kingpin and love it. Been thinking about getting one if the two your testing. I'm afraid the cheif may be to small but I love the look of the bobber. I wish I could test both but not a indian near me

[@pablobonilla973]

I’m on the fence with the chieftain vs the Springfield standard. Do u think u can help me out with that comparison?

[@Hendomonster]

This is a good review. I'm a bit curious about the difference in torque between the two models from the same engine. I'm looking more at the Chieftain at this point, but I think I'll hang and wait to see what the '24 models will bring.

[@HornsoftheStagg]

If the Springfield had a handlebar gauge, I'd 100% sell my Street Bob for it!

[@JasonCarmichael]

How about say the Springfield is the Indian version of the HD Road King, right?

[@RandyStClair-li4ss]

I am considering the super chief and/or super chief limited. Haven’t ridden in 25 years. Thoughts?

[@IICASPAA]

I demo'd it and it runs smoothly, just like the regular chief but with floorboards. I would grab the limited model if you want navigation as well as bluetooth but you gonna need a Sena or a similar bluetooth for your helmet.

[@HegshotRides]

My favorite is the Super Chief Limited

[@kallikutharakeen4876]

After 30 years I wound up with the Chief Dark Horse. It is a beast of a bike and reminds me of my old drag car. I just demo rode a Chieftain a week ago and the smoothness was eye opening. I might upgrade next year lol.

[@ChristopherAndrew-bf6jf]

HOLY SHIT that light took forever

[@georgegould667]

I have seen the 19” front wheel on the Chief Dark Horse ,how do you request the 19” front from the factory ?

[@hijinx1812]

Unfortunately, you don’t. Indian doesn’t do special orders from the factory. You can request different accessories that are in their catalog, but the dealership orders and installs them before a customer picks up the bike.

[@ericknapp3114]

i think he was actually testing the “chief bobber dark horse” I believe if you get the chief dark horse (not bobber) it comes with a cast 19” wheel

[@kallikutharakeen4876]

​@@ericknapp3114Correct, the Dark Horse comes with the 19 inch aluminum rim while the Bobber comes with the fatter but smaller 16 inch.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

Ones a big stripped down, old school touring bike, the other is a old school, stripped down bobber style bike.

[@MastaKeahi]

You give me the Cowl and Fenders of the Springfield on the Chief and I’d buy it.

[@theblastermaster5590]

Bought a 15 Chief new in 2014 and sold it in 2023 for a new 23 Chief. Springfield Very long and heavy, horrible handling, hidden (ugly) aluminum frame, best for freeway riding, Great suspension. Chief, normal length and much less weight, sportbike handling, exposed (beautiful) steel frame, best in the twisters or back roads, horrible suspension.

[@vincenttarquini4235]

At 6'4" and 275Lbs it is far more likely to be the Springfield.

[@craigbannister7826]

Springfield should have today modern ride command screen

[@leudwigc6000]

I like Indians, but I really do NOT like all the flat paint jobs they give the bikes! I owned a Harley that came with a flat paint job, and it seemed cool at first, until I got a bunch of scratches all over it. Gloss paint resists scratches so much better!! I hope they do more gloss paint jobs and less flat in the future!

[@yomofoindahouse]

boi someone's bled at your station @19:37

[@LesterSuarezGonzalez-dz9ns]

No doubt The Indian Chief Bobber it's prettier than the Springfield!!!

[@Lordturisas1]

Not in person. The Springfield Dark Horse is one of the most aesthetic bikes on the market.

[@Warboy757]

Not even close😂 The SFDH is gorgeous

[@craigbannister7826]

The springfield is only 25 pounds away from the chieftain. Which baffles my mind lololol

[@georgegould667]

The Chief would be better with mid controls and those bars on the Chief !

[@hijinx1812]

Mid controls come standard on the Chief Darkhorse.

[@patrickjoy9551]

Way too much electronic bullshit on all these new bikes. For Christ sake, doesnt anybody just ride for the shear freedom of the wind in your face and the simplicity of getting away from "modern" shit?????????????????? Maybe I am just turning into a gen X curmudgeon.

[@chiefjoseph8154]

My Challenger is way over engineered…..been in the shop 5 times for “glitches”. Seriously thinking about trading it. With the clutch being challenging and throttle lag I’m disappointed.

[@gregwillis7767]

I'm 64, been riding since '82, and was and still am a motorcycle mechanic for 38 years now. I understand exactly what you're saying, having ridden everything including a 1932 James, 48 Indian, Ducati, BMW... It's the "love of the machine" that keeps me going. Bought a Scout trade in, to ride while my Thunder ace is apart. I laughed when he said "the seat is too hard for my tender young ass". Change the damn seat then...!

[@rlogue06]

I have a Scout for that very reason. About as simple as it gets.

[@ngentry929]

if Indian would quit Fing around and put the ride command on the springfield i would buy it in a heartbeat. its just dumb that the chief has it, NOT the springfield, but then the chieftain, and the challenger have it. make that make sense to me, smh

[@DarrellTurnerJr]

I get why they don't but that's the Harley mindset. They could provide it in the current place of the speedo without changing the bike. Only offer it on the Dark Horse I dunno. The chromed out classic Springfield is where I think it would be a little out of place.

[@hijinx1812]

RC is great when it works, but it’s extremely glitchy. The only thing I miss about it (I traded in my Chief for a Springfield Darkhorse) is the ability to control my music through RC. When it worked right, that is!

[@ngentry929]

understood. ive heard its not the most stable piece of tech but it should get better over time and imo if its on the chief theres no excuse for it to not be on any model thats more expensive. @@hijinx1812

[@ngentry929]

yeah, they indian might think of the Springfield of a throwback type of model. something that should have less tech than more. buuut, its price is more than a chief so it should have everything it has and more imo. @@DarrellTurnerJr