10 Harley And Indian Motorcycles Worth Every Penny

If you’ve ever ridden many different kinds of motorcycles, you’ll realize that there is something to satisfy every need or want. Expensive, affordable, fast, relaxed… there is one that will fit your wants and needs. However, if you want an authentic V-twin experience, there’s only one way to go, really: American iron. There are only two brands on sale today that are American and offer the traditional V-twin cruiser experience: Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle.

Both these brands have a legacy that goes back to well over a century. Both brands have iconic models littered through their history. And both brands have now embraced the future while still somehow managing to keep the fans of their traditional models happy. This dedication to legacy means that they need to stick to the V-twin engine format, which doesn’t allow them cheap motorcycles. They both still manage to deliver value in their own ways, and here are ten Harley and Indian motorcycles that are worth every penny.

Harley-Davidson Nightster

Price: $9,999

Harley-Davidson

The Nightster is the entry to the Harley-Davidson range, but that doesn’t mean that the enticing reduced price offers ‘less’. You get a modern chassis, a modern engine (one that is entirely liquid cooled and with variable valve timing on the intake valve), and you get a six speed gearbox. That engine doesn’t just make it the most powerful cruiser under $10,000, it puts it among the ten most powerful bikes under $10k. ABS, traction control, and drag torque slip control are standard.

Indian Scout Sixty Bobber Limited

Price: $11,699

Indian Motorcycle

The base variant Scout Sixty Bobber competes directly with the Nightster with an identical price. However, if you want a feature-rich beginner American cruiser, the Scout Sixty Bobber’s Limited trim makes more sense. You get more color options, cruise control, traction control, ride modes, and a USB charger for the extra moolah. The Nightster Special also offers these things, but it costs a little more, at $12,499. The Indian offers a traditional downtube frame and a five speed gearbox with the smaller SpeedPlus 999 engine.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S

Price: $15,999

Harley-Davidson

The Sportster S takes its sporting credentials extremely seriously in this generation. It uses a trellis frame to reduce weight and give it better handling. The Revolution Max engine has a legitimate claim as one of the most technologically advanced in the industry, with variable valve timing on all its valves. That should ensure great torque and excellent power as well. A six axis IMU means that you get the best safety as well, including cornering ABS, traction control, and drag torque slip control; tire pressure monitoring, and enhanced wheel lift mitigation.

Indian FTR

Price: $13,499

Indian Motorcycle

One of only two motorcycles on this list with a chain final drive, the FTR is the only naked American motorcycle today. It has been recently discontinued, in fact, but stocks still remain. This is a shame, because this is a truly fun motorcycle. The fun begins with the 1,203 cc liquid cooled V-twin that puts out 120 horsepower. The six speed gearbox has an assist and slipper clutch. Suspension is provided by ZF Sachs and is fully adjustable, and braking consists of Brembo’s T-Drive rotors. A six axis IMU oversees everything, and cruise control is standard.

Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Price: $15,999

Harley-Davidson

The Street Bob’s recent price drop has made it really good value. It retails for the exact same price as the Sportster S, giving fans of the brand a real dilemma. Do you choose one of the sportiest cruisers available today, or do you get yourself one of the traditional Harley cruisers with a large V-twin engine? The Street Bob keeps the styling unique, with the bobber look, mini-ape hangers, spoke rims, and front forks with gaiters. Under that retro look is a thoroughly modern motorcycle with a by-wire throttle, and six-axis IMU.

Indian Chief

Price: $14,999

Indian Motorcycle

The Indian Chief, at first glance, doesn’t really match up to the Harley Street Bob because it has the smaller Thunderstroke 111 engine powering it, and it makes a significantly lesser 85 horsepower and 108 pound-feet of torque. However, it claws its way back on features. It has ride modes and ABS just like the Harley, but it adds rear cylinder deactivation and keyless ignition to the mix. This, coupled with the $1,000 less price, make it genuinely good value. It helps that it has head-turning looks as well.

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST

Price: $19,999

Harley-Davidson

The Pan America is the only motorcycle on this list other than the Indian FTR to use a chain to drive the rear wheel. That should give you some indication as to its intentions, and the Pan America 1250 ST takes it to its logical extreme. It uses 17-inch alloy wheels, wide and sticky tires suitable for tarmac, and a lower single-piece seat. The idea is to make it the best Harley-Davidson for tarmac, and with the powerful engine and electronic suspension as standard features, this might just be the most exciting yet approachable all-around Harley available today.

Indian Chieftain

Price: $23,999

Indian Motorcycle

The Chieftain in base form is the most affordable American touring bike available today. Affordable doesn’t mean cheap, though: you still get the Thunderstroke 111 engine in a state of tune that puts out a strong 119 pound-feet of torque. You could opt for the higher variants like the Chieftain Limited powered by the Thunderstroke 116 or the PowerPlus liquid-cooled engine, but that drives the price up to nearly $28,000 and beyond. Features include an audio system that auto-EQs, an electrically adjustable windscreen, remotely locking luggage, tire pressure monitoring, and keyless ignition.

Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST

Price: $44,999

Harley-Davidson

The last place you’d expect to see a Harley CVO model is in a list of motorcycles that deliver value. Bear with us, however; the CVO Road Glide ST is the original race-inspired bagger from the Bar And Shield. It is a production machine with a reasonable price. So reasonable, in fact, that it is actually more affordable than the CVO Road Glide! You get a power-focused Milwaukee Eight 121 without variable valve timing, Brembo brakes, Showa suspension with inverted front forks, and a six axis IMU to tie it all together.

Indian Challenger Elite

Price: $39,999

Indian Motorcycle

The Challenger Elite is Indian’s answer to the CVO Road Glide ST, and it is a pretty good answer! The three-tone paint job has details like the glass particles in it, and there are decals exclusive to the Challenger Elite. It is powered by the liquid-cooled PowerPlus 112 that generates 126 horsepower, so it has performance as well. It is packed full of features, including a six axis IMU and a huge display screen below the analog instrumentation. Sadly, only 350 units will go on sale globally, so some of its value comes from its rarity.