The phrase “track-only motorcycle” likely conjures thoughts of highly specialized sport bikes, and for good reason: Sport bikes by definition are designed and built for maximal performance. So why hell is Indian Motorcycle, known for its road bikes, selling a track-only version of its bagger-class Challenger?
Because it’s a winner, and not in the marketing sense. The Indian Challenger competes in MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers, an absolutely bonkers series that puts performance-tuned versions of big, saddle-bagged road bikes from Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle at the helm of elite racers.
The Indian Motorcycle team partnered with Ogden, Utah’s SS Cycle to tune its Challenger took both the inaugural King of the Baggers title in 2020 and the most recent title in 2022, with rider Tyler O’Hara at the helm for both championship runs.
“There’s nothing like bagger racing,” O’Hara told V-twin Visionary. It’s uniquely challenging and requires a slightly different riding approach. Baggers keep you focused.”
The Indian Challenger RR is a “race replica” of the racebike that O’Hara rode to victory in the 2022 King of the Baggers series, built to the same spec and with an exhaustive list of the same custom parts—see the full list below:
- S&S® 2-1 race exhaust
- 17″ race rims
- Dunlop® race tires
- S&S® billet adjustable triple clamps
- Ohlins® FGR250 forks
- TTX Ohlins® rear shock
- S&S® chain drive conversion
- Carbon Fiber saddle bags
- Fiberglass rear fender
- Saddlemen raised race seat
- S&S® adjustable fairing mount
- Aero headlight insert
- Aero windshield
- S&S® belly pan
- S&S® rear set foot controls
- S&S® camshafts
- 112 CID big bore cylinder/piston kit
- S&S® air intake system with 78mm throttlebody
- CNC ported cylinder heads
- S&S® Billet adjustable rockerarms
- Hayes® rear caliper, EBC rear rotor, SBS pads
- Brembo® M4 front calipers, 330mm rotors, SBS pads
- S&S® automatic chain tensioner
- Maxx full adjustable ECM
- AIM DL2 data logger/dash
- Quickshifter kit
- S&S® billet clutch cover
- S&S® adjustable handlebars
- S&S® race modified swingarm
Cycle World actually got to ride the 160-horsepower-plus Challenger RR, writing that the “toughest part is going slow.”
“Tucked in behind a photo car it feels agitated and anxious,” says Cycle World. “The bike lunges and hesitates in an uncomfortable sequence, subtly reminding you that Indian Motorcycle Racing did not build this bike for pageantry. This is a racebike and it was made to go fast—as a racebike should.”
The Indian Challenger RR is also priced like an ultra-high-end racebike at an eye-watering $92,229. Production is limited to just 29 units, in honor of O’Hara’s No. 29. Visit Indian Motorcycle’s website to learn more.
