We never imagined that the adage “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” may apply to baggers… but here we are. To celebrate their victory in last year’s King of the Baggers series, Indian Motorcycle is offering the public their race-specific Indian Challenger RR.
And we mean race-spec. The $92,229 Indian Challenger RR is a race-only motorcycle, built by the team at S&S Cycle to the same specs as the one with which Tyler O’Hara won the King of the Baggers Championship last year. last. Limited to just 29 units (since O’Hara’s number is #29), it’s as close to you as possible.
The Challenger RR is a far cry from the ‘regular’ road-going Challenger and boasts a spec list beyond the reach of the average person. Yes, the lights are fake and the windshield is clipped — but that’s not the hot stuff.
For starters, the Challenger RR’s engine features a massive 112-cylinder kit with a CNC-ported head, plus an upgraded camshaft and adjustable swingarm from S&S Cycle. The air intake, 78 mm throttle body, clutch cover, chain drive changer and two-in-one racing exhaust are all from S&S. There’s also a quick shifter, a fully adjustable ECM from the Maxx, and an AIM DL2 dash with a built-in data logger.
The chassis is also not overlooked. A trio of adjustable S&S Cycle clamps are located at the front, gripping a set of Öhlins FGR250 forks. The track-specific S&S Cycle swingarm takes over at the rear, hooked up to an Öhlins TTX rear shock.
The wheels are 17-inch forged rims, wrapped in Dunlop racing tires. A pair of Brembo M4 brake calipers grip 330 mm discs at the front, with Hayes calipers at the rear matching EBC discs. Both ends of SBS brake pads.
Then there’s the Challenger RR’s wild-looking custom bodywork. The crank is actually an off-the-shelf part, but it sits on an adjustable stand from S&S.
The lights have been replaced with aerodynamic headlights, and the stout windshield actually extends ‘down’ the face of the fender more than the OEM part. Together, those components create a smooth surface to effectively aid aerodynamics.
As the name implies, race packers must race against basket carriers. But on this bike, those baskets are made from carbon fiber and are tucked high to aid in cornering clearance. A raised racing saddle from Saddlemen sits above, with a fiberglass rear fender completing the rear end of the bike.
Other S&S Cycle components include new belly panels, rear-mounted foot controls and special adjustable handlebars that look like a combination of a touring bar and clip-on. Several smaller guards are also scattered throughout the construction.
Plus, this makes for a motorcycle that the Indians claim can put you on the podium of the King of the Baggers — if you’re skilled at harnessing its full potential. And if you live in the US, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the UK, or Japan—because those are the only countries where this feature is available.
It’s hard to deny how popular bagger racing is and how it’s exploded over the past few years. The question is whether a $92,229 motorcycle designed for an extremely specific purpose makes sense.
Not for everyone, no. But we can see Indians selling these to teams that want to take part in bagger racing — or collectors with big pockets.
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