FEATURE – 2023 Indian Chief Jack Daniel’s Edition
Words: Mike Ryan
Photos: Indian Motorcycle
The partnership between Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s goes back to 2016, when America’s first motorcycle company and America’s first registered distillery joined forces to produce limited-edition versions of the Indian Chief Vintage and Indian Springfield, both of which had paint and detailing inspired by the famous whiskey brand.
More themed limited editions followed, and now, the seventh product of that collaboration has been revealed – the 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse.
With each limited-edition motorcycle in this ongoing series, it’s been interesting to see which element of Jack Daniel’s and its history that Indian and their partner Klock Werks Kustom Cycles (who actually customise and complete the bikes to Indian’s design), choose to honour. The first iteration from 2016 celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the world-famous distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, while in 2017, the theme was Jack Daniel’s ‘Old No.7’ whiskey; their best-known offering.
In 2018, Jack Daniel’s in-house fire brigade (the only distillery in the world so equipped) and their distinctive black and gold fire tenders inspired the customisation of an Indian Scout Bobber. The following year, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, a super-premium whiskey, inspired a similarly premium treatment, in the form of rich golden finishes, on a Springfield Dark Horse.
COVID meant there was no limited-edition in 2020, but for 2021, a Roadmaster Dark Horse was re-invented, with its finish and features inspired by Gentleman Jack, a double charcoal mellowed whiskey. The theme for the most recent limited edition was Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye whiskey, applied to the modern stylings of the Challenger Dark Horse tourer.
7 and the Chief
As the latest limited-edition Indian & Jack Daniel’s motorcycle is the seventh in the series, it made sense to choose the famous Old No.7; the best known and arguably the most popular whiskey produced by Jack Daniel’s.
The base for the newest special edition is a 2023 Chief Bobber Dark Horse, which is Indian’s stripped-down and blacked-out version of the big Chief cruiser.
“We decided to pay homage to Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 – the most iconic of Jack Daniel’s whiskeys – pairing it with the Chief Bobber Dark Horse. Both products are timeless American originals that share a combination of no-nonsense simplicity and premium quality,” said Aaron Jax, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle.
“The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse is yet another powerful and dynamic representation of the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail that is core to both of our brands.”
The Chief Bobber Dark Horse achieves that classic bobber look with its wire spoke wheels and fat 130/90B16 front and 180/65B6 rear tyres, bulging under cut-down mudguards front and rear.
Powered by Indian’s 1,890cc Thunderstroke 116 v-twin with rear cylinder deactivation technology, the Chief Bobber Dark Horse also features a six-speed transmission, three riding modes, USB and 12V ports, LED lighting, ABS brakes, adjustable rear suspension preload and plenty more.
While it has an old school look, the 2023 Chief Bobber Dark Horse utilises Indian’s modern 4.0-inch (101mm) Ride Command touchscreen infotainment system with turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.
None of these features have been altered or removed for the Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse, as it’s purely a cosmetic package.
Jack Style – with a twist
Indian and Klock Werks Kustom Cycles’ transformation of a 2023 Chief Bobber Dark Horse into the Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition starts with the two-tone gloss black and Super Graphite Metallic paint, which has genuine Jack Daniel’s Old No.7 whiskey mixed in before it’s applied by hand. Does that mean if you lick the paint you’ll get a buzz on? Probably not, but it won’t stop a few souls giving it a go!
Adding to the old school look is a scalloped treatment - separating the two colours and outlined in white - on the mudguards and 15.1-litre fuel tank.
The Thunderstroke 116 features Cloud Silver rocker covers and pushrod tubes, while there’s no machining on the cylinder cooling vanes, adding to the limited edition’s visual difference against the blackout engine treatment on the standard Chief Bobber Dark Horse.
White wheel rims keep the retro theme going, as does the sprung solo saddle and tinted ‘Flared Deflector’ screen from the Klock Werks catalogue.
Jack Daniel’s branding features throughout, starting with the familiar whiskey bottle label that’s on the front mudguard, while the 'Old No.7 Brand' graphic is added to the sidecovers and embossed into the saddle.
A 'Jack Daniel' signature features on the exhaust and rear mudguard, while the familiar warning against drinking and riding (Bottles and Throttles Don’t Mix) from past limited editions is added to the top of the fuel tank. That tank also runs a simple capital ‘I’ on the sides in place of the full Indian script logo or headdress motif.
The finishing touch is the cast metal horn cover badge from Montana Silversmiths (a collaborator on previous Indian & Jack Daniel’s limited editions) that repeats the Old No.7 Brand logo and also carries each bike’s individual build number.
“At Jack Daniel’s we live by the motto, ‘Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can.’ Indian Motorcycle shares that philosophy, which is why this partnership has been such a success,” said Greg Luehrs, Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships for Jack Daniel’s.
“To think that a handshake agreement has given way to seven years of incredible limited-edition motorcycles is truly amazing, and it’s only appropriate to honour Jack’s tried and true Old No. 7, with this seventh collaborative offering.”
Strictly Limited
As with most (but not all) previous Jack Daniel’s limited editions, production of the 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse was capped at 177 units for global release. Of that total, only nine were allocated to the Australian market and four for New Zealand.
When the limited-edition was announced at the start of March, every unit bar one of the nine allocated for Australia had a buyer within 24 hours, despite a price tag of $37,995 - that’s a $7,500 premium over the ride away price for the standard 2023 Chief Bobber Dark Horse. Those lucky few are expected to receive their bikes before the end of this year.
While the chance to buy a new Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse has come and gone, there may be a chance to win one, as Jack Daniel's Australian distributors have retained one example, so keep an eye out for it in an upcoming promotion.
