BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ INDIAN MOTORCYCLE/CHIEFTAIN
Model report · 2005–2025

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CHIEFTAIN

1811cc Petrol Class 2
#105 of 5428 overall #3 of 10 INDIAN MOTORCYCLEs #16 of 465 cruiser bikes
94.7%
first-time pass rate
1.9%
failed outright
12,386
median miles at test
264
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+8.2pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The CHIEFTAIN's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.3 points since 2021, 97.1% to 93.8%.

93%95%98%2021: 97.1% pass (35 tests)2022: 95.1% pass (41 tests)2023: 94.3% pass (35 tests)2025: 93.8% pass (32 tests)20212025

Pass rate by mileage

how the CHIEFTAIN's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CHIEFTAIN passes first time 93.8% of the time; by 20k that's 96.9%.

93%95%98%0k: 93.8% pass (96 tests)10k: 96.5% pass (113 tests)20k: 96.9% pass (32 tests)0k10k20k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a CHIEFTAIN

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
3 37.5
suspension
2 25
lamps and reflectors
1 12.5
structure and attachments
1 12.5
tyres
1 12.5

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the CHIEFTAIN beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF, HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC, TRIUMPH ROCKET III).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF 89.0% pass · 30.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC 89.4% pass · 23.8k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH ROCKET III 88.3% pass · 15.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDWG 88.7% pass · 14.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the CHIEFTAIN.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Chieftain

More INDIAN MOTORCYCLE models

other INDIAN MOTORCYCLE bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SCOUT 92.2% pass · 3,775 tests
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SCOUT BOBBER 90.2% pass · 1,836 tests
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SCOUT SIXTY 92.2% pass · 1,103 tests
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CHIEF 93.8% pass · 1,096 tests
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE FTR 1200 91.5% pass · 752 tests
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE ROADMASTER 96.6% pass · 641 tests

See all INDIAN MOTORCYCLE models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2016 (100.0% pass). Weakest: 2014 (90.6%).

89%94%100%2014: 90.6% pass (139 tests)2016: 100.0% pass (50 tests)20142016

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

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