In the event that you asked us to sum the Indian Scout up in two a dozen terms, right right here it really is: American-built cruiser with 100 horsepower.
That is exactly exactly what Indian lures folks in alongside. Issue, needless to say, is whether or perhaps not or otherwise not the Scout provides on its vow so it’s a thoroughbred. Is it bicycle well sturdy and built? Does it carry in the mission associated with initial Scout? Can it be speedy and light? Might it be the cruiser that cyclists whom shun a more substantial bicycle are seeking? I happened to be excited — and skeptical — whenever We acquired our test Scout. Indian is claiming a lot that is awful.
The bicycle
Having ridden the Scout for tens of thousands of kilometers, we experienced a lot of very first responses into the bicycle, and each one went along the in an identical way: “Is that the scout that is new? Man, that thing is tiny!”
My very own response ended up being no various. This will be a bike that is approachable. Though it is no lightweight, it’s therefore low. The chair is really a color over 25 ins from the pavement! One individual whom stopped us to consider the bicycle asked if she could take a seat on it, and she popped appropriate into it and provided me with the stamps: a large, big grin. Sensing as it turned out) that she would make good story fodder, my ol’ riding pal Spurgie asked her how big she was (or wasn’t,.
The solution: five foot, two ins, 115 pounds. And she did not seem like she was intimidated by this bicycle one bit. After which i acquired right right straight back upon it. I am most likely at the high end of people that could be comfortable for a scout that is unmodified but Indian does offer fit kits to give the controls 
or bring them in closer to the driver.
As stated, Scout boasts 100 stated horsepower and 72 foot-pounds of torque. This Scout had been made to achieve the exact same objective as its namesake of 1920: be fast, be nimble, and be less daunting compared to larger Chief model, so its framework measurements seem sensible. The Scout measures 93 inches from the leading edge of the front rubber to the license plate, which is typical for a middleweight cruiser in addition to that low seat height. For guide, a Harley-Davidson Sportster steps right around 90 ins approximately. The Scout’s 558-pound damp fat doesn’t appear extremely light, however the bicycle’s low height managed to get feel similar to a Honda Rebel. There is really that big of the gap between just just what it weighs and what it is like. The Scout is short, low, and packs a performance punch.
The 2015 Indian Scout. RevZilla picture.
The punch is given by a 69 ci (that’s 1,131 cc, for you personally enlightened people from the system that is metric, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 60-degree V-twin engine with double overhead cams. Make no error, a mill that is modern this throwback cruiser. The engine and six-speed gearbox supporting it up are of unitized construction. The Scout additionally sports an all-gear drive that is primary there is no string transmitting energy through the motor to your transmission.
Because of its throwback styling, it had been additionally imperative that the Scout maybe maybe not wear a skinny front tire, because may be the present norm. Straight right Back within the initial Scout’s heyday, front side and back tires had been often the size that is same therefore the new Scout is near. The leading is really a ubiquitous 130/90-16, and also the back a 150/80-16. Bias-ply tires are fitted. More about those who work in a little.
The Scout has a single 298 mm braking system rotor for each wheel. The leading is squeezed with a caliper that is two-pot there is a single-piston little bit of equipment within the back. The setup is fundamental, however it works.
The instrumentation is spartan and uncluttered. It is ideal for the Indian. RevZilla picture. Commensurate with the look that is stripped-down instrumentation is made from only one round pod with a normal analog speedometer and an electronic digital tachometer display, simply the reverse of numerous contemporary bikes that utilize an electronic digital rate display and a dial tachometer.
As well as the red bicycle Lemmy tested, the Scout comes in black colored, Silver Smoke, therefore the Black Smoke shown above. Indian photo.
The Scout features a “smart-start” starting system. The beginner switch is a switch that is soft. The ECU gets the sign to start out the bicycle, and gets control after that to prevent over- or under-cranking. The Indian could have the look that is antique but she’s all contemporary underneath the tank.
In the event that you’ve got eleven grand in your pocket, you have got an additional buck compared to Scout’s MSRP, presuming you are finding a gloss-black model. The red device we tested, along side Thunder Ebony Smoke and Silver Smoke, one other two colors Indian provides, will cost you $300 more.
Testing the Scout
The scout was had by me for approximately 2,000 miles — sufficient time to access understand the bicycle. We took it on an extended haul to Ohio on back-to-back 400-mile days, commuted to the office on it (60 kilometers each method), and did a couple of around-town runs to round out of the mix.
Let’s perhaps not mince terms by what i came across from the very first trip: The Scout rips! The powerplant dominates experience that is one’s of Scout. The equipment just revs for days. The transmission ended up being no even even worse. Minimal input work ended up being expected to alter gears, and missed changes just did happen n’t. Interestingly, the transmission, whenever shifted minus the clutch, had been one of many smoothest I’ve utilized, either up or down, therefore if you should be a hot-rod kind whom beats your device, the Scout makes it simple.
We enjoyed just how flick-y the Scout felt. I became cautious about a bike which was said to be a light, quick cruiser displaying fat front side rubber, but I became dead incorrect. The bicycle is downright graceful, because of a few techniques the Scout design group made that we’ll have to in a little. The Scout had been behaved and calm when I had been centering on getting from point out point, but she had been willing to boogie whenever I desired to place the hammer down. Even though “low” may be the Scout’s game, it offers better cornering approval than the usual Harley-Davidson Sportster, plus the times that are only scraped pegs or peg mounts had been whenever I ended up being intentionally being stupid on off ramps.