It’s been a fascinating weekend, to put it mildly. I can now say that I’ve tested the Indian Roadmaster in almost all conditions, from a standing-water downpour that had cars pulling off the road to a mile-long sand and dirt road that separated my campsite from the main drag. I have a few photos after the jump, but if you don’t care about motorcycles then you can watch the above video. I think PRS is going to sell all twenty of these LONG before I can get my money together to buy one.
Ohio represent. Jackson Center is the spiritual home of Airstream and they still make real ones there.
My home away from home for a night. It was in the middle of nowhere… almost.
And here’s part of the road I had to take to get there. Riding a 900-pound tourer in soft sand is, shall we say, challenging.
If I had any doubts about the Roadmaster’s ability on paved surfaces, however, I certainly don’t now. What a majestic, lovely motorcycle. Wish I owned one.
That Roadmaster looks very pretty ! .
Take off all the extra crap and then ride it hard like a Moto ought , I bet you’ll like it even better .
-Nate
It doesn’t have a trailer hitch yet, Nate. It’s still kinda barebones…
” It doesn’t have a trailer hitch yet, Nate. It’s still kinda barebones…”
I hear you ~
I understand the whole ‘ Road Sofa ‘ thing , it’s just not for me .
-Nate
It couldn’t be my only bike, Nate, but for those times where you’re putting 400+ miles on the bike in a single 24 hour period, with a passenger, it’s pretty good!
I get that Jack ;
It’s just not for me .
In my dreams there’s a sweet lassie riding her own scoot next to me…
-Nate
Well, I have a girl riding next to me fairly often. But she doesn’t like riding in unfamiliar parts of the country. Thus the full-dresser, y’know?
I want to like Indian, but their bikes are just way, way too “vintage” looking for me. I’m even trying to find a bobbed front fender for my switchback ‘cos I don’t care for the skirted look.
I think I’ve told you before, but Switchbacks are bad ass.
What sold me on it was how it takes about 10 seconds to convert it from “Road King” to “Fat Boy.” I prefer the look of bikes w/o hard bags, but I can’t deny their usefulness.
Seems like there was good cosmic juice in the air this weekend, because that looks rad, even though my gosh that’s an enormous motorcycle, and I found a long-forgotten check in a bottom drawer that’s enough to either pay off some debt or go racing. Hmm.
I also found out there are two SCCA Track Nights within 1.25hrs of me in the next month. I should probably just order new brakes now.
Drop me a note, I can probably meet you at one of them…
I looked it up; wow, they managed to make a bike heavier than any Harley.
Oh yeah, and you can absolutely tell how heavy it is when you’re riding it. A BMW K1600GTL is a Ninja 250 next to this sled.
But… it will do 90mph on the patchy California slab with all the composure of a brand-new 1988 560SEL. It stops nice and hard, it accelerates with vigor, and it kinda-sorta-maybe handles.
Most importantly, the passenger accommodations are as good as it gets in the business. Individually heated seats, wraparound armrests.
Oh believe me, I know. I still have (and ride) my V-Star 250 here and there. That feels like a nimble little minx (at 320 lbs) compared to the 710 lbs of the Switchback.
Though the Low Rider S has piqued my interest.
Yeah, the Breakout CVO that came out at the same time is utterly fascinating to me.
I’m short, so the Breakout doesn’t fit me. It has the same forward control and drag handlebar setup like the V-Rod, and i’m too clamshelled.
After a close examination of the photo I can see why you were having trouble in the sand; street only tires. 🙂
Jeeze ~
That brings back (bad) memories of piloting my KnuckleHead and PanHead through sugar sand and 4″ greasy mud ‘ roads ‘ on bias - ply tires….
Not fun , makes you glad to have strong arms =8-) .
-Nate