TECH
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OUTFITTING OUR LONG-TERM 2018 INDIAN CHIEFTAIN CLASSIC
B
aggers were created for one reason: functional motorcycle travel. Straight from the factory you get a bike equipped with the chops for hauling extendedstay gear on a trip. The Indian Chieftain is a top-notch touring bike that is pretty stellar from the factory. But we all have our own idiosyncrasies, and personalizing our bikes to fit us just right is what makes owning a bike more fun. When we received our long-term 2018 Indian Chieftain Classic for doing some projects over the course of this year, we were eager to log some miles and wanted to start with the comfort and convenience departments. The stock Indian seat is extremely comfortable and definitely works well, but not being huge fans of fringe, we’re going with a different styling direction, with a more progressive
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overall look, and wanted to add some style and comfort options that would stand up to the factory seat. That said, we were sold on the Mustang Wide Tripper one-piece seat, with diamond stitching and a driver backrest, for 2014–’18 Indian Chieftain models ($479.99). The Mustang Wide Tripper twoup seat offers a sportier look, is cut low and streamlined, and the 13-inch-wide driver’s seat puts riders in a slightly lower position that feels like they are sitting in the motorcycle rather than on it. The 11-inch rear width provides ample comfort for passengers too. The durable vinyl cover features a distinctive diamond-stitched design that sets your bike apart from the rest. But the best feature has to be the removable rider backrest, which keeps lower-back fatigue at bay when long-hauling across the country.