2023 Jack Daniels Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse First Look

[Hugh Janus]

Just 177 units of the Jack Daniels Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse will be made. This limited-edition bike is the seventh collaboration from the two brands. (Indian Motorcycle/)

Around this time every March, motorcyclists have been conditioned to expect a some recurring reminders to pop up on their Google Calendars: the running of the Daytona 200, the Rat’s Hole Motorcycle Show, and, for the last seven years, the release of a special-edition model from Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s distillery. And right on schedule, here’s the latest custom offering from the two classic American brands, developed, as usual, in conjunction with Klock Werks Custom Cycles: the 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse.

Related: 2022 Indian Chief Dark Horse First Ride Review

The special edition draws inspiration from Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, even going so far as to mix that whiskey directly into the bike’s Super Graphite Metallic paint. (Indian Motorcycle/)

The chosen platform this year is Indian’s air-cooled Chief Bobber model, which features an air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 engine. As it’s the upscale Dark Horse iteration, the bike also goes heavy on black paint in most of the engine bay, the exhaust, the wheels, and other parts, but in this limited-edition model, you also see non-machined highlighted cylinders and heads, Cloud Silver painted rockers and pushrod tubes to give it a raw metal look. Other hard parts distinguishing the 2023 JD Chief Bobber include white center rims and a suspended solo saddle, capped by a tinted Klock Werks Flared Deflector mounted just over the headlight.

The blacked-out Thunderstroke 116 engine carries over from the Chief Dark Horse unchanged, save for cosmetic treatment on the cylinders and heads. Jack Daniel’s Montana Silversmiths badges tucked between the jugs display each bike’s unique serial number. (Indian Motorcycle/)

The Chief’s Dark Horse treatment already adds premium features like Indian’s Pathfinder 5-1/4-inch adaptive LED headlight, three selectable ride modes, ABS, and Indian’s onboard Ride Command infotainment system, but the Jack Daniel’s bikes step it up even more, ladling on exclusive (if somewhat heavy-handed) JD badging and one-off touches finished with hand-painted hues. The branding takes great pains to call attention to a single product in the whiskey-maker’s portfolio, and for 2023, that product is its most iconic juice, Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey.

Related: Indian Debuts Redesigned 2022 Chief

No blank surface goes untouched: Even the saddle gets a stamped logo to indicate special model status. (Indian Motorcycle/)

“The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse is yet another powerful and dynamic representation of the quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that is core to both of our brands,” said Aaron Jax, vice president for Indian Motorcycle. “This time, we decided to pay homage to Jack Daniel’s iconic Old No. 7—the most iconic of Jack Daniel’s whiskeys—pairing it with the Chief Bobber Dark Horse. Both products are timeless American originals that share a combination of no-nonsense simplicity and premium quality.”

The tinted Klock Werks Flared Deflector adds a bit of function and subtle style up front. (Indian Motorcycle/)

Like we said, the 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber brings the branding in spades, splashing the JD and Old No. 7 logo on both fenders and the side cover, stamping it on the solo seat, and etching it onto a Montana Silversmiths badge bearing each bike’s unique serial number, and placed smack between the cylinder heads. More status signifiers can be found in the form of a Jack Daniel signature on the rear fender and etched into the exhaust.

This year the graphics are especially tasty too, with the tank featuring a single scripted letter “I” along both sides, set against a black background and framed by fat white pinstripes at the tank edges. The Super Graphite Metallic body paint, according to Indian, has actual Jack Daniel’s whiskey mixed in. (Whether or not that’s good for color longevity is unknown.)

Also, in keeping with tradition, the 2023 JD Chief Bobber Dark Horse will be produced in very limited amounts, with a run of just 177 units worldwide.

Related: 2022 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Challenger Dark Horse Revealed

The wire wheels sport white center rims on the special edition, but otherwise roll on the same Pirelli Night Dragon tires as the stocker. (Indian Motorcycle/)

Unless you’re at a NASCAR or Formula 1 race, booze logos plastered on the side of a vehicle seems like an odd pairing these days, but clearly the Indian-Jack partnership is a winning one, with most of the models produced over the last seven years selling out very quickly.

At an MSRP of $24,499, the Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse can only be purchased through Indian Motorcycle dealerships, with the order window opening March 14, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. EST. You can expect the JD Chief Bobber Dark Horse to start appearing at Indian dealers in the US and Canada in March 2023. More info can be found at indianmotorcycle.com.

The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse carries a price tag of $24,499 and will go on sale later in March. (Indian Motorcycle/)

2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse Specs

MSRP:	$24,499
Engine:	1,890cc, air-cooled 49-degree V-twin
Bore x Stroke:	103.2 x113.0mm
Compression Ratio:	11.0:1
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/belt
Fuel Delivery:	Closed-loop fuel injection w/ 54mm throttle body
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate
Engine Management:	Ride-by-wire
Frame:	Steel tube w/ cast aluminum rear subframe
Front Suspension:	46mm telescopic fork; 5.2 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Dual monotube shocks, preload adjustable; 3.0 in. travel
Front Brake:	Single 4-piston caliper, semi-floating 300mm disc w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	2-piston caliper, 300mm floating disc w/ ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Wire spoke; 16 x 3.0 in./16 x 5 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	Pirelli Night Dragon; 130/90B-16 / 180/65B-16
Rake/Trail:	29.0°/5.2 in.
Wheelbase:	64.0 in.
Ground Clearance:	4.9 in.
Seat Height:	28.9 in.
Fuel Capacity:	4.0 gal.
Claimed Dry Weight:	687 lb.
Contact:	indianmotorcycle.com

Source