Harley Davidson Vs. Indian Motorcycles

One of the longest-standing rivalries in the motorcycle world is Harley Davidson vs. Indian motorcycles. Which company creates the better bike? What company is the original motorcycle? As well, who is superior?

Although both companies have pros and cons, people who live, eat, and breathe motorcycles distinctly have chosen a side. Whether you think the Indian motorcycle is the original bike, since it was made in 1901, versus Harley-Davidson in 1903, or that Harley-Davidson is superior in all aspects due to its marketing presence. In this article, we’ll identify critical characteristics of each company, ultimately letting you choose Harley Davidson or Indian motorcycles.

Harley Davidson Motorcycles

When you hear the words, Harley Davidson, what do you think of? I think of a big, burly biker in a leather vest with a long beard. The typical biker, riding his hog with his hair in the wind.

Harley Davidson has made a name for itself through the years. The company began with two childhood friends, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, who built their first motorized bicycle in a small shed in Milwaukee in 1903. Arthur’s brother, Walter, joined the same year, and his brother, William A. Davidson, came on board by 1907,, making four founders in total: three Davidson brothers and William Harley. The company was officially incorporated in September 1907.

These four men created an iconic brand out of their backyards.

A notable achievement for Harley Davidson was that they were the largest supplier of motorcycles to the US Army in World War 2.

Current Times

Currently, Harley-Davidson is still one of the most successful brands in the motorcycle industry, though the company has hit a rough patch. They’re built to last, they’re reliable, and they’re everywhere. But, as always, our toys need maintenance, and Harley-Davidson pioneered easy maintenance bikes. So, with some time and love, your bike is tuned up and ready to live a long life.

Harley-Davidson currently organizes its lineup around five families: Cruiser, Grand American Touring, Sport, Trike, and Adventure Touring (Pan America), with electric motorcycles handled through its LiveWire spin-off brand launched in 2021. The original was the cruiser, a classic and the first laid-back cruising bike. The electric side, now branded as LiveWire, took the world head-on to help battle climate change while still riding a bike with Harley DNA — though LiveWire sales remain modest, with about 612 EV motorcycles sold in 2024.

Harley-Davidson is staying relevant and well-known, but sales have slumped sharply since the early 2020s. The company sold roughly 151,200 motorcycles globally in 2024, down 7% from the year before, and just 132,500 in 2025 — a 12% year-over-year drop. Touring, Trike, and CVO models remain the bright spot, with North American Touring/Trike/CVO retail sales up over 8% in 2024 and the new Street Glide and Road Glide pushing Harley to a 74.5% share in the U.S. Touring segment.

The legendary Sportster nameplate, which started in 1957, is no longer the cornerstone it once was. The original air-cooled Sportster ended production in late 2022, marking the end of the Evolution engine era. It has been replaced by the liquid-cooled Sportster S, Nightster, and Nightster Special, all powered by the new Revolution Max platform. Today, Harley’s actual best-sellers are its Touring models — the Street Glide and Road Glide — not the Sportster.

Indian Motorcycles

The iconic red Indian motorcycle was founded in 1897, initially as a the parts supplier for bicycles. Selling its first motorcycle in 1901, the company officially stopped selling bicycles. Taking the world by storm with the land speed record at 56 MPH, everyone wanted one of the Indians’ bikes. In 1913, the United States Army had a contract with Indian and produced large numbers of military motorcycles. Once more, during World War 2, Indians stepped up and led the industry in military motorcycle production.

The Indian is remembered as the first American motorcycle company and had lost sales over the wars. India prioritized military vehicles and, in return, lost almost all retail sales. Some questions will forever remain unanswered. If India had supported the war, would it have had more customers today? With this information, you must keep indian, but most will side with Harley.

Between 1953-2010 Indian had to fight for survival. During these years, they wouldn’t make a production bike, except for being featured on imported bikes.

Current Times

The year 2011 will forever be remembered in Indian motorcycle history. Polaris Industries acquired and revamped the brand, and the year became a period of revival. Polaris went on to release several new model families — the Indian Scout drew on the original bikes, while the FTR 1200 was the boldest reach away from heritage cruisers.

Indian’s lineup has continued to evolve. The Scout platform was completely redesigned in 2024 (built on a new steel tube frame with the liquid-cooled SpeedPlus 1250cc V-Twin), and the Sport Scout RT was added for the 2026 model year. The bagger and touring side now centers on the liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine, with the Chieftain PowerPlus and Roadmaster PowerPlus joining the Challenger and Pursuit. At the same time, the air-cooled Thunderstroke still powers the Chief family in the U.S. The 2026 lineup also marks Indian’s 125th anniversary, with limited-edition Chief Vintage, Roadmaster, Challenger, and Scout Bobber models.

Sales, however, tell a tougher story. After hitting a record of more than 30,000 units in 2021, Indian has declined for four straight years — global registrations landed near 26,000 in 2024 and fell further to 24,421 in 2025, with steep drops in Europe and Asia partly offset by a relatively stable North American performance.

The biggest news, though, is at the corporate level. In October 2025, Polaris announced it was selling its majority stake in Indian Motorcycle to Carolwood LP, a Los Angeles–based private equity firm, with the deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Polaris keeps a small equity position; the Spirit Lake (Iowa) and Monticello (Minnesota) plants, along with roughly 900 employees, move to the new standalone company. After roughly 14 years under Polaris, Indian is once again becoming an independent motorcycle company.

The Indian Challenger Dark Horse remains one of the most sought-after bikes in the modern Indian range — sleek, fast, and reliable — now offered in new 2026 colorways, including Black Crystal with Championship Gold accents.

Harley Davidson Vs Indian Motorcycles

With this information on both companies, we must compare and contrast them. Although both companies make high-end bikes, each has its strengths and weaknesses. But comparing the two, we need to look at numbers. Harley-Davidson is still the clear sales leader, but the gap has narrowed in absolute terms simply because Harley itself has shrunk: in 2025, Harley sold roughly 132,500 motorcycles globally versus about 24,421 for Indian — a difference of around 108,000 units. Reviewing the history of the Indians, we know they didn’t have a lineup for nearly 60 years, partly due to constant support from the Indians toward the US Army.

Here is a quick side-by-side of where the two brands stand right now:

A short look at signature current models on each side:

But what do the people prefer? Overall, it’s all about personal preference. Harley still has the broader catalog and the bigger dealer footprint. However, Indian has narrowed the product gap, especially on the bagger and touring side. Here, the liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine generally out-specs Harley’s Milwaukee-Eight on paper.

Wrapping Up

Whether you’re looking for a compact, quick bike like the Harley Davidson Sportster or you’re looking for a beefy cruiser like the Indian Scout, both companies are great quality rides. It’s about the wind in your hair and the open road. Depending on the way your parents grew up is what it is. I prefer the look of an Indian, but I would rather ride some of the options Harley-Davidson offers. Both are incredibly versatile and good at what they do.

Before making your next purchase, consider both the pros and cons while keeping the history in mind.