Indian Scout Top Speed
It's a bare-bones bike; when you ride, it's just you and the machine
by , on LISTEN 09:18
Indian Motorcycle has certainly called some attention to its mid-size bikes through its success on the flat track, and the Scout Bobber looks to capitalize on that by garnering some of the factory-custom business. The "Bobber" brings modern performance to the table along with the overall look of the iconic bobber style, yet fits in well with the rest of the made-for-the-US market, foreign and domestic built. An 1,133 cc plant delivers the power, and last year, the Bobber rocked improved electronics plus a USB charging port, regardless of which color you choose.
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Year:
2018- 2021
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Make:
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Model:
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Engine:
V-Twin
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Displacement:
1133 L
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Top Speed:
128 mph (Est.)
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Price:
11999
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Price:
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber Design
- Stripped down, blacked out, and badass
- Street-tracker handlebar
- Bar-end mirrors
- USB port
You won't be able to hit a specific historical bobber model with accessories, but you can certainly adopt the spirit of an era.
I say "new" because the Scout moniker has been used in association with the Indian marque since 1920, and this is the first iteration under the Polaris umbrella. The factory took its popular Scout and beat it with the "custom stick" to give it a flavor not unlike what was coming out of shops and home garages back in the day. To call it "blackout" doesn't do it justice; aside from the sheet metal, everything that can be black, is black, and of course, the Thunder Black models carry that achromatic finish all over.
All models come with polished elements on the engine that mimic the exposed pushrod tubes of old and a bit of bright badging on the engine as the only bits of bling. Both the front- and rear-fenders on the Scout Bobber are chopped, or "bobbed," to their minimum effective size to create the bulk of the homejob-custom vibe the factory was going for. Of course, the rear suspension setup that mimics the geometry of the old rigid frames helps with that antique-custom look quite a bit, as do the side-mount tagholder and the bar-end mirrors. A headlight nacelle dresses up the front end with a radiator grille below that, admittedly, is fairly unobtrusive when viewed from the front, and all but disappears when viewed in profile, so I can't really complain about aesthetics as far as the rad is concerned.
The 3.3-gallon, teardrop fuel tank makes a long, gentle slope down to the two-tone solo saddle that cups and supports your butt at a mere 25.6 inches off the ground and makes its own contribution to the classic-custom panache. Even the exhaust system does its bit with a blackout finish and shotgun-muffler arrangement that fits right in with the other elements. You can take the look even further with a trip through the accessories catalog where the laced wheels, mini-apes, and antique-style seats live. Again, you won't be able to hit a specific historical model, but you can certainly adopt the spirit of an era.
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber Chassis
- Better-than-average tracking at speed
- Agile handling
- ABS
- Lowered rear suspension
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The most interesting thing about the Scout Bobber frame is how it seems to mimic the hardtail geometry without going as far to sell the look as Harley-Davidson does with its Softails and their triangular swingarms. A coil-over shock lays over at a rather extreme angle to form the upper line of the Bobber's open triangle. They work with a fairly standard, yoke-style swingarm to complete the assembly and articulate the rear wheel on two inches (50 mm) of travel.
Standard, 41 mm forks buoy the front end on 4.7 inches (120 mm) of travel, and they push the front wheel for a 61.5-inch wheelbase with a 29-degree rake and 4.7 inches of trail. Those steering figures are indicative of better-than-average tracking at speed with a 29-degree maximum lean angle and enough agility so that it doesn't turn into a wrestling match in the corners.
Stopping duties fall to 298 mm rotors with a dual-piston anchor up front and single-pot caliper out back, and for the first time, ABS coverage is available on all colors as standard equipment and only the Thunder Black model comes with a non-ABS variant. Gotta' say, I like that way of doing it better than the way the factory used to mix and match ABS and palette packages. The Bobber rocks some fat rubber with a 130/90 up front, a 150/80 out back and a 16-inch blackout rim all around to finish out the rolling chassis.
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber Drivetrain
- 1,133 cc water-cooled V-Twin engine
- 100 horsepower
- 72 lb-ft @ 6,000 rpm
- Sporty and aggressive demeanor
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American-made bikes typically run a V-twin engine, and the Scout Bobber toes the line with its water-cooled mill. The factory limited its devotion to historical engines to the configuration and visual details on the Scout's 60-degree powerplant 'cause this is a thoroughly modern powerplant. Unlike its main competitor (H-D Sportster) that uses an engine design that first saw light of day back in 1986, the Scout's mill is of a more recent vintage and seems to be disinclined to sacrifice much in the name of vanity.
Unlike many V-twins right now, the Bobber runs with an undersquare layout that has a 99 mm bore and 73.6 mm stroke with a total displacement of 1,133 cc and compression ratio of 10.7-to-1. A 60 mm throttle body feeds the beast, but so far there isn't any sort of rider mode or traction control, and engine management and control is relatively uncomplicated.
Power output is respectable with 100 ponies on tap, and the grunt numbers ain't bad either at 72 pound-feet of torque that peaks at six grand even. One thing I am definitely feeling is the gear-type primary drive that carries power from the engine to the six-speed transmission. That's a definite improvement over the chain-drive primary.
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber Pricing
For 2021, Indian lets go of the Scout Bobber starting at $10,999 for the non-ABS Thunder Black. ABS boosts that to $11,899. A nice selection of colors goes for $12,399 and $12,899; and for 2021, ICON limited-availability factory custom colors for the Scout Bobber start at $13,399.
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber Competitor
One American-made ride deserves another, so I went with the obvious choice, Harley-Davidson, and the 1200 Custom from its Sportster lineup.
Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom
The Sportster's roots are on prominent display from the teardrop tank to the air-cooled engine, but there's plenty of custom flavor from the blackout touches, shorty exhaust, and slammed suspension. If you're looking for something closer to an actual historical ride, the Sporty is your Huckleberry, but if you're more interested in the now, Indian is where it's at.
The Sportster runs a 1,202 cc engine for a slight edge in displacement and Harley converts that into a single pound-foot advantage with 73 pounds o' grunt at 3,750 rpm. The difference is certainly nothing that the ol' heinie dyno will detect, but you'll definitely feel it lower in the rev range.
As with the Scout Bobber, the 1200 Custom's brakes are adequate at best with only a single front disc, and H-D makes the ABS a $795 option across the board. That's unfortunate since at $11,899 for the most expensive color package, Harley had a chance to have the less-expensive sticker on an equivalent product, but so much for that idea.
Read our full review of the Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom.
He Said
"There's a special place in my heart for Sportsters, but in this matchup I gotta' say the Indian makes an interesting alternative. Old-but-new looks and solid performance are nice to have, and of course, the fact that it comes from the oldest American manufacturer has to count for something."
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, "I like the black-out look; very slick and sinister. The seat isn't as comfortable as I would like and I'm kinda glad I don't have anything down there that would get pinched on a bump 'cause I can see that happening. The center of gravity is low, so maneuvering is very balanced. The seat height is super low; those of us height-challenged folks will flat-foot it, no problem, but taller folks might feel a bit clam-shelled. It's quite lightweight, of course, since it is a bobber. The engine has plenty of get-up-and-go and you will definitely feel the low-down grunt. I like it. It's a bare-bones bike, which means when you ride, it's just you and the machine. That can be a very nice feeling."
Indian Motorcycle Scout Bobber Specifications
Further Reading
Indian Motorcycle
Read more Indian Motorcycle news.
TJ Hinton
T.J got an early start from his father and other family members who owned and rode motorcycles, and by helping with various mechanical repairs throughout childhood. That planted a seed that grew into a well-rounded appreciation of all things mechanical, and eventually, into a formal education of same. Though primarily a Harley rider, he has an appreciation for all sorts of bikes and doesn't discriminate against any particular brand or region of origin. He currently holds an Associate's degree in applied mechanical science from his time at the M.M.I. Read full bio
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