Indian Motorcycle unveils Chief Vintage Sturgis Edition limited to 125 units

Indian Motorcycle has unveiled the Chief Vintage Sturgis Edition at the 86th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – a limited-edition model commemorating the origins of what has become the world’s largest motorcycle rally. Just 125 units will be produced, with a small number available in select markets outside North America.

1. Limited to just 125 units worldwide
2. Commemorates the 1938 origins of the Sturgis Rally
3. Powered by the Thunderstroke 116 V-twin

Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis Edition details

Painted number 56 on the side plate pays tribute to the hand-painted race numbers used at the original 1938 gathering.

The Sturgis Edition is built around the standard Chief Vintage platform and is powered by the air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin. In typical Indian Motorcycle fashion, the manufacturer has not revealed peak power figures but has confirmed a peak torque output of 156Nm. Design elements such as the valanced fenders, wire-spoke wheels, solo seat and old-school handlebars have been carried over. Other notable touches include painted cylinder heads and pushrod tubes, along with black-finished cylinders that the brand says are reminiscent of Indian Motorcycle models from the 1940s.

The most distinctive visual element is the exclusive two-tone red and cream paint scheme, paired with a multi-coloured Indian Motorcycle headdress logo on the fuel tank inspired by the brand’s 1930s motorcycles. A painted number 56 on the side plate is a nod to the hand-painted race numbers used by riders at the very first Sturgis gathering. Each of the 125 motorcycles will also feature a serialised badge.

The inaugural Sturgis gathering was organised in 1938 by a local Indian Motorcycle dealer and a motorcycle club. Just nine riders took part, with around 200 spectators in attendance. Today, the event has grown into the world’s largest motorcycle rally, drawing hundreds of thousands of riders and visitors each year, and this limited-edition model serves as a tribute to those beginnings.