Indian Motorcycle Chief Bobber Dark Horse mileage and running cost

The Chief Bobber Dark Horse is rated at 14 kmpl (claimed mileage). Treat that as a ceiling: real-world figures are usually 15–25% lower.

Among the 51 cruisers we have reviewed it ranks last for mileage, 11 kmpl below the group average of 25 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a claimed 14 kmpl, the Chief Bobber Dark Horse costs about ₹6.77 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹5,282 a month, or ₹63,381 a year, before servicing.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Chief Bobber Dark Horse works out to about ₹65.0 per km all-in, of which 10% is fuel and 84% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; expect roughly 50–60% of ex-showroom after five years for a well-kept example.

The Chief Bobber Dark Horse is happiest at a lazy cruise. Hold the top gear at 70–80 km/h on the highway and the figure holds up; the number falls apart in a stop-start city commute where the 315 kg has to be accelerated from rest every few hundred metres.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band and consider combining errands.

At 315 kg the Chief Bobber Dark Horse feels a pillion more than a lighter bike does. Two-up in the city, budget for 4–6 kmpl less than the solo figure.