Indian phases out Thunderstroke

Photo: Polaris Inc.

Emissions requirements for motorcycles are nothing new. In the 1970s, 2-strokes received their death blow when the United States tightened emissions requirements, which caused Japanese 2-stroke motorcycle manufacturers to focus fully on 4-strokes.

Now it is Indian that is tightening things up in order not to lose access to the global markets. The powerful and popular v-twin Thunderstroke, which is air-cooled, will be gradually phased out in favor of the liquid-cooled v-twin Powerplus. Initially, it is the large touring and bagger models that will soon get the Powerplus engine. According to ECE requirements, the total noise level is measured, and thus motorcycle manufacturers will also consider reducing mechanical noise and not only focus on the design of exhaust systems, etc. The Powerplus is adapted to both noise and exhaust gas requirements, and will take Indian a step further. Many will probably eventually miss the Thunderstroke, and not only because of its quality and power, but perhaps just as much because of its design. After all, it was modeled after the last large engine that could be found in the Chief in the 1940s. So it remains to be seen whether air-cooled can survive, or whether 'politics' will kill it off as happened with the blue-smoking 2-strokes.

The classic V-twin from Indian