Turned it into a roadmaster

786 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by sdbanker, 11 d ago

Don_G

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

2

It wasn’t really the plan but it happened anyway… Took a few years, started with the lowers because the air management was so bad. Then added the seat, and last fall I found a used trunk that I stripped down and had painted this winter. Also added heated grips this winter. They work well, I would recommend if you are on the fence about them. Still need to have the trunk pad redone to match the seat. Might send the seats and pads to Russell to rebuild later this year. I guess I could have bought a roadmaster but when I bought this in 2019 I don’t think they made it in this body style yet, only the ‘classic’ version. Plus I wanted the green.

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MikeV

· #2 · 15 d ago

Very nice, always do what pleases you. I did something similar -- I wanted this specific blue, but they only made it in the Chieftain. So, I "upgraded" it to the fully loaded version (aka Roadmaster), but I did not want or need the hard lowers. Ride the bike YOU like, everyone else's opinion is irrelevant.

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sdbanker

· #3 · 15 d ago

Count me in that same group. Although I haven’t added the lowers or heated grips yet.

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MikeV

· #4 · 15 d ago

sdbanker said:
Count me in that same group.

Is that a leather drink holder on the right-rear crash bar, or a place to keep a large rifle?

Reactions: 3

TimberRM

· #5 · 14 d ago

Don_G said:
It wasn’t really the plan but it happened anyway… Took a few years, started with the lowers because the air management was so bad. Then added the seat, and last fall I found a used trunk that I stripped down and had painted this winter. Also added heated grips this winter. They work well, I would recommend if you are on the fence about them. Still need to have the trunk pad redone to match the seat. Might send the seats and pads to Russell to rebuild later this year. I guess I could have bought a roadmaster but when I bought this in 2019 I don’t think they made it in this body style yet, only the ‘classic’ version. Plus I wanted the green.

View attachment 745622
View attachment 745623

She’s a beauty!

sdbanker

· #6 · 14 d ago

MikeV said:
Is that a leather drink holder on the right-rear crash bar, or a place to keep a large rifle?

leather drink holder/pockets (on each side). I suppose you could put a pistol in the pockets but I use it for gloves and glasses and keep the pistol IWB.

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13TAZ

· #7 · 14 d ago

Love the green

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Kitulu

· #8 · 14 d ago

sdbanker said:
leather drink holder/pockets (on each side). I suppose you could put a pistol in the pockets but I use it for gloves and glasses and keep the pistol IWB.

Just FYI, those drink holders like to come loose from time to time. I secured mine to the bar with a ziptie around the top of the holder, then upgraded to a leather strap with buckle that one of my brother's friends made for me.

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Tundra_Man

· #9 · 14 d ago

That's a great color.

In high school back in the 80s, my first car was a Volkswagen Beetle in nearly that same color green. I found it to be very polarizing: people either loved it or hated it. I think it's awesome.

crobin9150

· #10 · 14 d ago

sdbanker said:
Count me in that same group. Although I haven’t added the lowers or heated grips yet. View attachment 745630

Love the bike, where did you get the mat?

cpguru21

· #11 · 14 d ago

Really like the green! Nice looking bike!

sdbanker

· #12 · 14 d ago

crobin9150 said:
Love the bike, where did you get the mat?

The indian dealership in Sturgis had a sale this Spring.

Lennyz1

· #13 · 14 d ago

2

Don_G said:
It wasn’t really the plan but it happened anyway… Took a few years, started with the lowers because the air management was so bad. Then added the seat, and last fall I found a used trunk that I stripped down and had painted this winter. Also added heated grips this winter. They work well, I would recommend if you are on the fence about them. Still need to have the trunk pad redone to match the seat. Might send the seats and pads to Russell to rebuild later this year. I guess I could have bought a roadmaster but when I bought this in 2019 I don’t think they made it in this body style yet, only the ‘classic’ version. Plus I wanted the green.

BTW I love that green!

If you are planning on going with RDL (which I highly recommend) you might think about 2 things. Decide if you want to add a 2" trunk relocation kit and also passenger arm rests do it before you buy the seat. This way if you have RDL build your seat and trunk, they can also extend the seat 2" to fill the gap and then also do the arm rests to match. I used Sunbrella material. I was skeptical at first, but I will now never own a seat without it again. It holds you in the pocket and it is also breaths well.

This is with a 2" relocation of the trunk. They did a great job of extending the seat.

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Lennyz1

· #14 · 14 d ago

crobin9150 said:
Love the bike, where did you get the mat?

Indian had them on clearance about 2 months ago. I bought one and used the rebate on it as well back in March. Check the Indian site.

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BigBlueChief

· #15 · 14 d ago

Lennyz1 said:
BTW I love that green!

If you are planning on going with RDL (which I highly recommend) you might think about 2 things. Decide if you want to add a 2" trunk relocation kit and also passenger arm rests do it before you buy the seat. This way if you have RDL build your seat and trunk, they can also extend the seat 2" to fill the gap and then also do the arm rests to match. I used Sunbrella material. I was skeptical at first, but I will now never own a seat without it again. It holds you in the pocket and it is also breaths well.
View attachment 745738

This is with a 2" relocation of the trunk. They did a great job of extending the seat.
View attachment 745739

I did the same thing. Relocated the trunk back 3" with the Rivco brackets, then had Russell extend the seat. Wife is so happy now to have the extra room behind my driver backrest for ease of getting on/off the bike. This pic doesn't show the trunk extension or RDL seat yet, but I also converted a Chieftain Limited to Roadmaster (partially) because I liked the color. I didn't go with the hard lowers because I don't like the look, but I added JES wind deflectors and a higher windshield to resolve buffeting problems.

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Don_G

Discussion Starter · #16 · 14 d ago

Wow some nice pictures on here, thanks guys! Regarding RDL seat I am defiantly considering the sunbrella material, nice to hear it works like they say. I am not a huge fan of the look of their seats but damn they are nice to sit on, and that is what matters! Thanks for the pic @Lennyz1

Reactions: 1

Grumpster

· #17 · 14 d ago

2

I have a 2017 Roadmaster. Then I stumbled upon this 2017 Chieftain Elite. Love the paint job. Couldn’t resist, so I bought it and had it shipped. I’ve been riding so many years with a lower fairing and trunk that I’m not sure I know how to ride something without them. And I am a fan of the valenced front fender -to the point that I don’t think I can have an Indian that doesn’t have one. My son has the same year Chieftain Elite, but not “Roadmastered”.

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WackyWally

· #18 · 13 d ago

Grumpster said:
I have a 2017 Roadmaster. Then I stumbled upon this 2017 Chieftain Elite. Love the paint job. Couldn’t resist, so I bought it and had it shipped. I’ve been riding so many years with a lower fairing and trunk that I’m not sure I know how to ride something without them. And I am a fan of the valenced front fender -to the point that I don’t think I can have an Indian that doesn’t have one. My son has the same year Chieftain Elite, but not “Roadmastered”. View attachment 745793
View attachment 745792

I have been contemplating doing this to my Elite for Years. Then I was going to go the route of a Pursuit, After missing out on a Pursuit Elite, I am on the fence weather to buy a pursuit Premium or just add the Tour Pac on the Elite. I absolutely love the color on the Elite, it has plenty of power with two of us on it. It would be more comfortable for my GF with a Tour pack and back rest on it.
This is only the 3rd Elite I have seen this done to. I only know of 2 Dealerships that have done this. Gregory Polaris in Arkansas and Sin City Cycles in Las Vegas. I'm guessing it would be North of $5,000 all in, but damn that color is the best IMHO.

BAMA

· #19 · 11 d ago

I love the paint job on that red elite!! The green "RM" by the OP is very unique. I guess we all have our preferred setup, and the great thing about the Roadmaster is it gives so many options. 90% of the time I'm: trunk off, solo seat, and lowers on. When the wife is going with me, I go back to full dressed in less than 5 minutes. Lovin it!

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sdbanker

· #20 · 11 d ago

Grumpster said:
I have a 2017 Roadmaster. Then I stumbled upon this 2017 Chieftain Elite. Love the paint job. Couldn’t resist, so I bought it and had it shipped. I’ve been riding so many years with a lower fairing and trunk that I’m not sure I know how to ride something without them. And I am a fan of the valenced front fender -to the point that I don’t think I can have an Indian that doesn’t have one. My son has the same year Chieftain Elite, but not “Roadmastered”. View attachment 745793
View attachment 745792

That’s an absolutely killer bike. My mind is made up that I’m going to install hard lowers with mustache bars this coming winter. I wonder if the pursuit lowers with built in running lights will work on a chieftain/RM chassis?

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