Indian Rolls Out The 2019 Roadmaster Elite, Its Ultra-Premium Flagship

When Indian resurrected the Roadmaster name back in 2015, it was a pretty nifty way to showcase new features and materials, and maybe tell the world that "America's first motorcycle company" was really serious about this whole luxury touring thing. The new flagship had all the requisite bells and whistles and commanded the top of Indian's touring stable at the time, just like its namesake from the late 1940s.

For 2019, Indian is doubling down on the luxury touring game with its top-of-the-line Roadmaster Elite, a modern luxury tourer packed with long-haul amenities and the latest Indian tech, all of it gussied up in iconic styling and premium touches.

Exclusivity is the name of the game here; only 200 limited-edition Roadmaster Elites will be available for the North American market. Although you’ll find the same chassis and 65.7-inch wheelbase as the Roadmaster (as well as the Thunder Stroke 111 engine) here, the Elite ladles on some spiffy extras to those underpinnings. The ear-splitting 600-watt PowerBand Audio Plus system makes the top of that list, with the fairing, trunk, and saddlebag speakers all 50 percent louder than the stock system on the 2019 Roadmaster. You’ll also get a dynamic equalizer that adjusts frequencies for the best level depending on your speed as well as road, wind, and engine noise. Handy, we’re sure.

Not surprisingly, Indian’s awesome 7-inch Ride Command infotainment system with navigation, changeable info screens, and Bluetooth compatibility is also an integral part of the Elite. And selectable ride modes—another amenity Indian’s rolled out on other touring models—are also part of the package; riders can choose between Tour, Standard, and Sport to suit their preferences. We’ve seen Rear Cylinder Deactivation on the other Thunder Stroke 111 models, which means it appears here too. How does it work? In short, when the mill reaches operating temperature and the ambient temperature exceeds 59 degrees Fahrenheit, the rear cylinder automatically shuts down (when the bike’s not moving) for less engine heat. Once you crank the throttle, the rear cylinder reactivates, and off you go.

Indian didn’t skimp on the swanky bits either—the detailing on those spacious billet aluminum floorboards is especially trick. And how about a genuine leather two-up heated saddle? That piece alone will probably save a couple of marriages. Of course, your Elite also comes with a hand-finished color scheme with 24-karat gold leaf accents. Unlike last year however, your color option is limited to Wildfire Red Candy over Black Crystal. Painting the thing, we’re told, takes nearly 30 hours to complete, which is probably why you can only have it one color.

Of course there are other less flashy (but far more practical) amenities on the 2019 Roadmaster Elite, like full LED lighting, heated handgrips, keyless ignition, a power windshield, weatherproof remote-locking saddlebags, and more than 37 gallons of storage space. Performance upgrades are available too, like a Stage 1 Exhaust, a Thunder Stroke Stage 1 Performance Air Intake, Thunder Stroke Stage 2 Performance Cams, and the 116ci Stage 3 Big Bore Kit. Additional add-ons include a mid-rise handlebar, new open fender, and 19-inch front wheel.

The ultra-premium Roadmaster Elite starts at $36,999 in the US and retails for $44,499 in Canada, and they're now in Indian dealers. For comparison, the Elite costs $7,500 more than the standard Roadmaster, and nearly $7,000 less than the comparable Harley-Davidson CVO Limited. For more info, visit indianmotorcycle.com.