In the years since Indian introduced it, the Thunderstroke 116 engine has earned some very positive assessments from numerous folks online who’ve taken it for a test drive.
“I test rode a 116 Chieftain at the dealership and holy smokes does that engine perform! I wasn’t ready and when I cranked the throttle I slid back on the seat! It was one of those moments where you’re so scared you start laughing,” commented u/maxwell-rockatansky on Reddit. In a separate thread, Redditor u/666_pack_of_beer recalled trying out a 116 engine once at a dealership, despite wanting a Thunderstroke 111, and being won over.
At the same time, for as solid as it is, not everyone is convinced that the 116 is necessarily the undeniably superior Thunderstroke engine. For instance, Redditor u/DMVSoloRider found through driving with both the 111 and 116 that they’re not as far apart as some seem to think. “You get a little more pop on the 116, but not so that it’s something you’ll miss on a 111. Plus, my understanding is a stage 3 111 has more torque and HP than the factory 116 Stage 2,” they wrote, highlighting the ways in which the 111 and the 116 are different.
Though it’s not a complete overhaul of the Thunderstroke 111, nor is it Indian’s most powerful motorcycle engine, the Thunderstroke 116 packs plenty of improvements in key areas. Thus, it’s a strong addition to the Indian Motorcycle parts library.