NEW BARS FOR THE INDIAN CHIEFTAIN

Torch Industries Delivers The Goods For Our Indian Bagger Project

Seeing as I’ll be blacking out a lot of the components (still in the process) on my long-term Indian Chieftain project and I was also leaning toward a new set of handlebars for this overall build, why not kill two birds with one stone with a black set of handlebars from Torch Industries?

The factory handlebars are perfectly fine and plenty comfortable from an ergonomics perspective. But I needed black bars, man, and Torch’s new bars for Chieftain and Roadmaster models ($379 to $429) scratched my proverbial itch. They’re a tad taller, and they come in black (shown) but you can also get them in chrome or raw if that’s your thing. Measuring 4 inches over stock, the unique thing about installing new handlebars on ’18 Chieftains versus ’17-and-earlier Chieftains is that the switch housings were slimmed up and the electronic throttle control (ETC) is now housed inside the end of the new notched bar as opposed to being housed inside the switch cube, so 2018-andlater bars were only going to work in this case. Not to worry, Torch carries bars for both styles. And seeing how I already loved the classy styling of the factory grips, I decided to keep those in place. I was able to reuse the factory throttle-by-wire grip, but I needed to buy a new left-side grip since I damaged my stocker when removing it (contact your local dealer for pricing). Doh!

Getting into the meat of the installation, I was surprised at how easy it was to get this new handlebar on, especially after removing the fairing. I was also curious about how the internal wiring portion would go since I’d never ripped into an Indian Chieftain fairing before and wasn’t sure what I was working with as far as connectors, brackets, mounts, and what-have-you. On further inspection, my mind was put at ease after looking at how small the deutsch connectors were at the handlebar switch location, and I knew they would easily fish through the new Torch bars without having to remove each pin individually. Getting the fairing off and on is also relatively easy—I recommend grabbing a buddy to help with holding the fairing while you remove the mounting bolts, and then again for reinstallation, though (nothing a sixer couldn’t cover). Essentially, four bolts hold the fairing in place (two top, and two bottom mounts), and of course, a ton of wiring connectors housed inside the unit. All in all, you can remove the fairing as one piece once you’ve removed the mounting bolts and unplug the connectors, but I’d recommend marking each connector before unplugging (I used different colored strips of electrical tape) for reference during reinstallation. As for plumbing, all of the stock wiring was long enough to work with the taller bars. While I didn’t need to extend the wiring, I did need to purchase a longer clutch cable (contact your dealer for pricing), which was 2 inches longer than stock. Lastly, the brake line still had plenty of slack for me to keep it in place safely, so I also reused it for this project.

Once I installed the bars, I of course had to test them out on a ride. I was stoked on the hand positioning and how comfortable they were. I didn’t feel my back slouching as it usually does when I ride. I also didn’t notice reaching too far forward at all, which was another plus. And they don’t inhibit my view of the gauges when riding, and the switch housings are still easy to reach. Overall, I scored with this new set of Torch bars, and look forward to ripping into the next set of parts of the performance persuasion next month! HB

SOURCES:

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE indianmotorcycle.com

TORCH INDUSTRIES torchind.com

REV’IT! MOHAWK 2 BOOTS

A Modern Spin On The Classic Moc Toe

Motorcycle-boot quality has come a long way in recent years. I’ve had the opportunity to test some of the best on the market, and some of the worst out there. The Rev’It! Mohawk 2 boots fall into the former category.

After testing Rev’It!’s first-iteration Mohawk a few years ago, my only complaints were that the break-in time of about two weeks was pretty brutal on my right ankle bone, wearing the skin down to exposed flesh. But after a couple of weeks, they were the most comfortable boots I owned. The other gripe was that the soles wore out from literally wearing them every day for over a year. They were my favorite boots by far, and I guess that’s to be expected given the abuse I put them through. So I was eager to see what enhancements had been made for Rev’It!’s second go-round.

The Mohawk 2 is now available in black (shown) or brown (the previous version was only available in brown). I like the look of these modern moc toe boots and the contrast of the white stitching against the black. Overall, the Mohawk 2 is a good combination of distinction, lightness, protection, and style.

The high-cuff classic moc toe motorcycle boots are made entirely of full-grain cowhide, which is ideal for breathability and durability. Plus, there is a water-repellent coating that keeps water out. The boots come with a shifter strap, which I immediately discarded—I don’t need a boot condom for riding, but thanks for the consideration. The anatomically shaped ankle cup and ankle area have been padded and reinforced for comfort, and to support proper foot position. Also, the anatomically shaped foot bed has been incorporated to support the foot for both comfort and safety. On the inside, the tongue has been stitched to the sides to keep out wind, water, and dirt.

I did experience the same break-in pains with the Mohawk 2. Maybe it’s the way my right foot is shaped, or maybe I need to correct my pimp walk, but either way, two weeks of favoring the opposite foot when walking is a tad too much. However, once the break-in period was up, again, they have been one of the most comfortable boots I’ve worn. I guess the old “no pain, no gain” adage is definitely applicable with the Rev’It! Mohawk 2 boots. HB

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