Due to reasons beyond my control, it looks like I’ll probably be selling my Vintage and getting a Scout. I’ve found plenty of new 2019 and 2020 Scouts, and even found a couple new 2018‘s. Looking for some recommendations as to what is good or not for these years. Is one better than the other? What do I need to be concerned with? Any help you can provide is appreciated.
I have a 2016 and I’ll say there really isn't too much to worry about. My clutch cable did partially fail at 15,000 miles. If I got a new Scout I’d just immediately replace it. Without some sort of windscreen at highway speeds, rider fatigue in hands, legs and seat sets in at about the end of a tank of gas (130 miles to fumes). It does not like to start when its low on gas. If I’m around the 100 mile mark I often have to tilt side to side until I hear fluid hit the pump. Mine has spent life outdoors in the south and the only spots to develop rust is on the control arm washer and the rotors around the screws. At colder weather (Sub 40°F) I used to get some belt chirping but when I changed the tires that went away so it may have been too tight from the dealer. Only design I’d change from factory would have been to use a solid 1” bar. Its a one inch with a taper at the grips.
Aside from that, it is very forgiving. Maintenance is incredibly easy and infrequent. I encourage everyone to learn do their own. I LOVE pretty much everything about it really. Can be changed up to anything from a flat track bike to a nice smaller bagger.
I have a 2016 and I’ll say there really isn't too much to worry about. My clutch cable did partially fail at 15,000 miles. If I got a new Scout I’d just immediately replace it. Without some sort of windscreen at highway speeds, rider fatigue in hands, legs and seat sets in at about the end of a tank of gas (130 miles to fumes). It does not like to start when its low on gas. If I’m around the 100 mile mark I often have to tilt side to side until I hear fluid hit the pump. Mine has spent life outdoors in the south and the only spots to develop rust is on the control arm washer and the rotors around the screws. At colder weather (Sub 40°F) I used to get some belt chirping but when I changed the tires that went away so it may have been too tight from the dealer. Only design I’d change from factory would have been to use a solid 1” bar. Its a one inch with a taper at the grips.
Aside from that, it is very forgiving. Maintenance is incredibly easy and infrequent. I encourage everyone to learn do their own. I LOVE pretty much everything about it really. Can be changed up to anything from a flat track bike to a nice smaller bagger.
Scouts have pretty much stayed unchanged since their release. 2017 they upgraded the suspension and mid 2017 they changed front master cylinder which both are easy to do on previous years. 2019 came with usp port for charging electronics. 2020 now come with floating disc brakes. Other than that, you really can't go wrong with any Scout. Some years also came with passenger setup but that's pretty much the only differences
Not quite sure about tires but that's something easily changed as well if you don't like the stock ones. I run Avon on mine so I actually never rode on the stock tires but don't let tires make a decision on a bike. That's easily upgraded when it's due for a tire change
Pick the look you want and enjoy! Like already mentioned, tires and front suspension changed before 2018 but everything else is time tested and reliable.
I have a 19 bobber and I have two complaints. First, it doesn’t like to start when it’s 35 degrees or below. This problem appears to effect all scout models-I think. Maybe not the 60s
There are several posts on here and it appears the battery doesn’t have enough cold cranking amps. Tender or no tender - same issue. I have had no issues with this since the overnight temps stay over 40
Second. Not enough time to ride it
I have a 19 bobber and I have two complaints. First, it doesn’t like to start when it’s 35 degrees or below. This problem appears to effect all scout models-I think. Maybe not the 60s
There are several posts on here and it appears the battery doesn’t have enough cold cranking amps. Tender or no tender - same issue. I have had no issues with this since the overnight temps stay over 40
Second. Not enough time to ride it
If you get a used, 2017 model or earlier, watch out for bad/flakey/crappy starters that came from the factory up until about May 2017.
There's an "internal recall" by Indian.
A dealership will swap it out for free if it hasn't already been done.
Gotta agree on the mini apes handlebars for comfort. Also the stock seat sucked, at least for me it did so I replaced it with a Corbin solo. I have 32 inch inseam long legs and went with the forward control kit and the floorboards. The looks as well as the reviews of the Indian accessories windshield made me avoid it and go with a National Cycle 2-up Switchblade. Glad I went that route as it's very effective with little to no buffeting and I can easily see over the top of it. I went with the Indian saddlebags & rear luggage rack and put a pair of Tab Longs slip-on mufflers on it for some good rumble.
It's a 2019 ABS Icon which I traded a 2015 Chieftain in for back in September. The Chieftain was getting to be too heavy to back up. It was time to downsize for me.
I upgraded from a 2016 scout 60 to a 2020 scout 69. I loved the 60, but the 2020 with No tires, upgraded suspension and ABS, make it a different bike. And I love it more. As far as I can tell they are all great rides. Only thing I changed was solo seat, bags and rider boards. And I can still ride my Dark Horse too 🤪
between the 2018 and 2019 about only difference was a USB charging port. Was it that they made ABS standard for most, the difference between 2017 and 2018?
Try and find a Scout where the owner has already upgraded the seat, installed a Power Commander V Fuel Tuner, intake, suspension and exhaust and you'll get a great bike.
Great to ride and nothing much can go wrong with them.
Due to reasons beyond my control, it looks like I’ll probably be selling my Vintage and getting a Scout. I’ve found plenty of new 2019 and 2020 Scouts, and even found a couple new 2018‘s. Looking for some recommendations as to what is good or not for these years. Is one better than the other? What do I need to be concerned with? Any help you can provide is appreciated.
My wife has a 2015 Scout. She has covered 63,000k, and that is with 12 months off while we were in America during 2016-2017. The bike is wonderful. Very well put together: everything metal except lighting type items.
The battery on it was always going flat so a trickle charger was connected: no hassles since.
The starter was changed over due to our complaining about the battery concerns. This seems to have helped, though not fully resolve the battery concerns.
My opinion: love it. I think she chose very well. It took her months to decide on which bike to buy and so please she chose the Scout. I own a Kawasaki VN 1700 and a 1973 Z1. If I was in the market again, I would definitely consider a Scout.
If you are looking new I recommend checking out the bobber twenty. Comes with mini apes already, and wire wheels. Give it a bit different of a look. I picked one up a month ago and love it. I've upgraded the headlight, exhaust, grips, added a bag and passenger seat and peg since the first pic. This is one of those times when an impulse buy totally was worth it.
i had a leaky forkseal,gauge cluster got moisture in it, rear pulley had to have rubber replaced. But every bike is different, i have almost 30,000km on mine. Its a 2018
No issues on my 2019 ABS. In my case I had to make several changes for comfort. I am 5 foot eleven and 225 pounds with a 32 inch inseam (long legs,short torso). I had the extended reach foot control kit and the Indian floorboards installed as well as the 10 inch mini ape handlebars. The stock seat was a torture rack so I replaced it with a Corbin Solo. The wind blast was beating me up so I installed a National Cycle 2-up Switchblade windshield which is perfect as I can see over it easily yet no bugs in the face. The other non-comfort mods were Indian Saddlebags & rear luggage rack as well as changing the exhaust to TAB Longs slip-on mufflers with 1.75 inch diameter baffles.
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