Indian Chieftain 1.8

The Indian Chieftain 1.8 brings a different kind of presence to Tenerife. Its 1811 cc Thunder Stroke 111 V-twin delivers 161 Nm of torque at just 3000 rpm, so the bike pulls cleanly from low revs in top gear without asking anything of you. Air-cooled, pushrod, unmistakably American - on the island you tend to hear it before you see it.

This is a full touring bagger, not a light roadster. Lockable hard saddlebags take real luggage, the fairing keeps the wind off your chest on the TF-1, and floorboards instead of pegs let you change your foot position over long distances. The seat sits low at 650 mm, which makes the 372 kg manageable at a standstill and at walking pace.

The windshield adjusts electrically at the touch of a button, so you can drop it for town and raise it for the motorway without stopping. Cruise control, ABS, keyless start and Bluetooth audio in the fairing are all standard. The instruments are classic analogue dials - this bike is about the ride, not the screen.

It is a motorcycle for experienced riders. The weight, the length and the torque all reward someone who has ridden big machines before, and it is not the right choice for a first bike or a first season. In the MandryCabrio fleet it stands alone: nothing else here sounds like it or rides like it.

The MandryCabrio Tenerife Guide that comes with the Chieftain lists the roads that suit its character: the long climb to Teide on the TF-21 with its wide, sweeping curves, the fast coastal run on the TF-1, the forest road through La Esperanza and the northern route past La Orotava and Garachico. The tight hairpins of Masca and the narrowest parts of Anaga are better left to a smaller bike.