2024 Indian Roadmaster Elite First Look

[Hugh Janus]

The full-dress Roadmaster Elite went missing from last year’s lineup but it’s back in Indian’s premium series for 2024. (Indian Motorcycle/)

When Indian came out with its first round of new model year releases last November, there was only one bike representing the brand’s top-line series: the 2024 Challenger Elite. Considering that Indian’s 2023 lineup also only served up the Chieftain Elite, Challenger Elite, and Pursuit Elite—but no Roadmaster—it got us wondering if the brand was seriously dialing back its limited-edition lineup.

Not to worry; in its latest release of 2024 models, Indian is adding another Elite model, and yes, it is a dressed-to-the-nines Roadmaster that carries a lot of the high-end fit and finish, premium touring components, and thoughtfully designed accessories we’ve come to expect from the line, as well as from this particular model.

The limited-edition Roadmaster sports an Indian Motorcycle Red Candy, Dark Indian Motorcycle Red Candy, and Black Candy premium paint scheme with hand-painted pinstripes finished by the GCP and CPV custom paint shops. (Indian Motorcycle/)

By now, we’re pretty familiar with the Elite series formula; Indian takes a premium model (usually from the touring lineup) and throws a top-shelf accessory package, unique hand-finished paint, exclusive badging, and a powerful engine at it. That pretty much sums up the process for the 2024 Roadmaster Elite, a full-dress tourer that adds to its long-mile capability with a dose of elevated style and a heavy emphasis on the paint.

Related: 2024 Indian Challenger Elite First Look

Indian’s most powerful air-cooled engine, the Thunder Stroke 116, gets motivational duties on the 2024 Roadmaster Elite. (Indian Motorcycle/)

As with past Roadmasters, the Elite is powered by Indian’s air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 engine, seen here in stock form mechanically, but tarted up with special paint finishes on the heads and pushrod covers along with telltale badges. The last time we ran that engine on the CW dyno (on a 2021 Chieftain Limited) it produced a peak of 84.78 hp at 4,240 rpm and 116.23 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,730 rpm, which, at the time, was on par with competing Harley-Davidson and BMW models…but that was three years ago. Just saying.

Atop the fork-mounted fairing is a tinted low-profile flare windshield that’s electronically adjustable to provide optimal wind protection for riders of various heights. (Indian Motorcycle/)

Other things have changed though; for one, this latest Roadmaster Elite finally gets the sleeker, updated fairing design from the Chieftain series (also seen on current Roadmaster Limited and Dark Horse models), giving the bike a more dynamic, semi-modern look, now with just a single headlight. That light happens to be a Pathfinder Adaptive LED unit too, so you’ll be getting a brighter view of the road ahead thanks to technology that monitors the bike’s lean angle and adjusts the beam accordingly.

Gone too are the fusty valanced fenders from the older models, and Indian touts the 10-spoke Precision Machined wheels as well; though the spoke pattern is new to the Roadmaster Elite, we’ve seen them on other models in the portfolio before. The new bike’s saddlebags also adopt the sleeker, more compact form from the Chieftain models, though on the Roadmaster Elite they sport integrated Pathfinder Auxiliary LED lights for an added pop of custom style as well as a welcome boost of visibility to other motorists. And, yes, there’s still that signature headdress fender light up in front.

Pathfinder Adaptive Headlight uses patented technology that monitors the bike’s lean angle to optimize illumination of the road ahead. (Indian Motorcycle/)

Then there’s the paint process, long a point of pride for Indian’s Elite bikes, which often tout their in-house, hand-applied hues. Indeed, the Roadmaster Elite’s color scheme is all-new this year with Indian Motorcycle Red tritone paint done with a premium candy finish that pays tribute to the brand’s iconic red paint (first seen in 1904). In the past, Indian would have had that paint job done in its own Spearfish, South Dakota, facility, but this time out the firm has partnered with two well-known custom paint shops: Gunslinger Custom Paint (GCP) in Colorado, and Custom Painted Vehicles (CPV) out of Wisconsin. We’re wondering if there’s something going on with Spearfish we should know about…

You get 36 gallons of remote-locking weatherproof storage between the trunk and the saddlebags; the bags also feature integrated auxiliary LED lights to improve the bike’s visibility to other motorists at night. (Indian Motorcycle/)

“Our Elite models take the incredibly high bar we set for all of our products, and raise it even higher, offering something more exclusive for the rider who wants to make sure their bike is a cut above anything else on the road,” said Aaron Jax, vice president for Indian Motorcycle. “What I love about the new Roadmaster Elite, is how we’ve taken the historic Indian Motorcycle Red, and given it a tougher, meaner attitude with blacked-out styling.”

The 10-spoke Precision Machined wheels bring a new machine pattern to this Elite model. (Indian Motorcycle/)

Then there are the touring amenities, and the 2024 Roadmaster Elite gets its share of goodies, most of which we’ve seen on past models, with heated grips, a color-matched heated and cooled touring seat, and a 7-inch touchscreen display powered by Indian’s Ride Command System where you can access the 600-watt audio setup, live traffic and weather overlays, GPS navigation, and more. That sound system, by the way, is the PowerBand Audio with Bass Boost Indian introduced last year, which pipes your tunes through 12 speakers arranged in the fairing, saddlebags, and touring trunk. The speakers are also enhanced with UnderGlow lighting, a cool touch that definitely delivers a premium vibe (if nothing else).

Cockpit view of the 7-inch display with Indian’s Ride Command System. Exclusive to this Elite is a gloss black dash and individually numbered console with the silhouette of a 1904 Indian Camelback—the first Indian to feature Indian Red paint. (Indian Motorcycle/)

There will be 350 units of the 2024 Roadmaster Elite available worldwide, with each one getting exclusive Elite badging and an individually numbered center console complete with a silhouette of Indian’s 1904 Camelback—the first model with that now-famous Indian Motorcycle Red paint.

The bike will have a starting MSRP of $41,999 and will begin arriving to dealers this spring. For more info see indianmotorcycle.com.

Tunes come courtesy of the PowerBand Audio with Bass Boost, which pumps audio out of 12 speakers (each one enhanced with UnderGlow lighting). (Indian Motorcycle/)
The Roadmaster Elite’s touring saddle features color-matched stitching as well as heating and cooling functions for year-round comfort. Armrests come standard. (Indian Motorcycle/)

2024 Indian Roadmaster Elite Specs

MSRP:	$41,999
Engine:	1,890cc, air/oil-cooled 49-degree V-twin
Bore x Stroke:	103.2 x 113.0mm
Compression Ratio:	11.0:1
Claimed Horsepower:	120 hp @ 7,750 rpm
Claimed Torque:	126 lb.-ft. @ 2,900 rpm
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/belt
Fuel Delivery:	Closed-loop electronic fuel injection w/ 54mm throttle bodies
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate assist
Front Suspension:	46mm telescopic fork; 4.7 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Single shock, air adjustable; 4.5 in. travel
Front Brake:	4-piston calipers, dual 300mm floating discs w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	2-piston caliper, 300mm floating disc w/ ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	10-spoke contrast-cut; 19 x 3.5 in. / 16 x 5.0 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	Metzeler Cruisetec; 130/60B-19 / 180/60R-16
Rake/Trail:	25.0°/5.9 in.
Wheelbase:	65.7 in.
Ground Clearance:	5.5 in.
Seat Height:	26.5 in.
Fuel Capacity:	5.5 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:	890 lb.
Contact:	indianmotorcycle.com

Source

[Buckster]