The Indian Scout Motorcycle: A Cruiser for When You Don't Want a Harley
Brought back to life after more than half a century, the Scout has a lot to offer—even for those who think they don’t want a cruiser
Hello, my name is Hannah Elliott, and I’ve never ridden a cruiser.
Oh, I’ve operated motorcycles for years. Mostly sport bikes and café racers: Ducatis, Hondas, Moto Guzzis. I first learned to ride on a Ducati Monster 796. I’m a sucker for a dirt bike. I like them upright. I like them light. (I can’t do a single pull-up. But I’ll address that later.
It turns out that all this made me a prime candidate for conversion to the Scout, the $11,000 easy rider that Indian Motorcycles developed this year as a way to revitalize and extend its 114-year-old American marque.
I hadn’t planned on jumping on one in the first place. But I’m glad I did.
It happened in a roundabout way. My friends and I took some motorcycles out to Montauk a few weeks ago. One of them rode a Scout, while I spent the weekend on Ducati’s solid new Scrambler. As I watched Ryan lean back, cruising down Highway 27, Hunter Thompson-style, I envied his chill. He was easily the most relaxed of the bunch. Maybe he was born with it. Maybe it was the bike.
I had to find out.
Modern Classic
The intrigue is nothing new. The original version of this model, known as the 101 Scout, carries a reputation as the best motorcycle Indian has ever made. Produced for 30 years, starting in 1920, it earned respect for its agility and power, especially (and unexpectedly) during hill climb competitions. But Indian foundered in 1953, and 70 years would pass before Polaris bought the trademark. It produced three new versions of the flagship Chief last year, kicking off a massive double-digit surge in annual sales and prompting development of the Scout model for 2015.
The new Scout resembles the original, though it includes such modern technological upgrades as a low-fuel light and a lightweight cast-aluminum chassis. It also defers to current aesthetic taste with thick rims and tires and a wide, soft seat that's directly connected to the rest of the bike instead of being suspended above it on coils. Purists may care about the change; anyone over 180 pounds will be thankful for it. Or so I hear.
The Scout also features the first liquid-cooled engine Indian has ever made: a 1133cc V-Twin that gets 100 horsepower and offered enough torque to thrust me comfortably up the hilly environs of rural New Jersey and through ragged, traffic-heavy backstreets in Brooklyn. (Yes, the liquid-cooled things are a change from the traditional “air-cooled” engines that have pushed motorcycles since their inception, but they are easier on the environment, more forgiving with upkeep, and sound slightly more discrete. These days, even Harley is using them.)
Yes. I got the impression that she did a quick Google scan for that part. No harm no foul. Over all not a bad write up. Positive for possible new Scout buyers.
My beloved skiz-out just stopped firing up. I'll paint you the picture; 2016 Scout 69 (no neutered 60), only exhaust and intake modded with proper tuning, new starter in 2018 complements of recall warrenty, all preformed by licensed indian dealership. No cold weather or outdoor storage, no...
As some may know, but I fear most do not,,
the part numbers listed for Scout brake pads on just about every online vendor is wrong..
I found this out after purchase. Good thing it turns out the wrong pads for my Scout, are the right pads for my Bonneville, so that's lucky! Lol
The Vendors...
I’m away from my bike for a few more days. Does anybody know the length of the stock bobber shocks. Also what’s the diameter of the eye in the bushing for the bolt? Thanks
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