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Indian Motorcycle has unveiled a new performance division called American Racing Operations, or ARO, with its first product — the ARO GP Slip-on Exhaust — scheduled to reach dealers in June 2026. The move ties factory-backed parts and accessories directly to the brand’s racing efforts, notably its King Of The Baggers campaign.
Race roots and the ARO identity
Pronounced “arrow,” ARO will offer parts, accessories and technologies drawn from Indian’s competitive programs and its historical archives. Some items will be taken straight from the race shop, while others will reinterpret designs from Indian’s past for street use.
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“Our brand was founded by two racers who built a legacy pushing performance and driving American motorcycle innovation literally through racing,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “As stewards of Indian Motorcycle’s 125-year history, we’re proud to continue this legacy of innovation with our new race-inspired, factory-backed performance halo brand. ARO represents our commitment to performance, authenticity, and the continued evolution of American motorcycling, driven by and inspired by our historic investment in racing.”
The ARO GP Slip-on Exhaust
The first ARO product is a slip-on muffler developed by race-team principal Terry Vance of Vance & Hines. It is compatible with select 2018–2026 Thunderstroke and PowerPlus models.
Indian says the unit uses exhaust screens similar to those on international road-racing machines and delivers a calibrated sound profile: a deep, low-frequency rumble at idle and low revs that opens into a broader, high-output tone under acceleration and at higher engine speeds. The ARO GP Slip-on Exhaust carries a manufacturer’s price of $799.99.
“Our all-new slip-on exhaust system is really special, as it represents the first in what we expect to be a long line of performance products we will develop,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been running a prototype on my own Indian Challenger since Daytona, and I can say wholeheartedly that it sounds absolutely amazing and truly elevates the experience of riding an Indian PowerPlus bagger.”
Partnership with Vance & Hines and on-track performance
The product grew out of a multiyear collaboration that pairs Vance & Hines with Indian’s factory racing program. That alliance began with the 2026 King Of The Baggers (KOTB) season.
Through the first four events of the season, the Indian factory team has taken all four wins and nine of the 12 available podium positions. The effort included a landmark result on April 19 at Road Atlanta, when Indian riders filled the entire podium in Race 2.
Indian’s website has further details about ARO and the ARO GP Slip-on Exhaust, and the company says additional products will be announced as the program develops.
