Contents of the material
Design
Introduced in 2015 after more than a decade, Indian Scout has glorious roots dating back to the 1920s. Larger than a cafe racer but smaller than a full-size cruiser, the Scout is something in between—what Indian calls “mid-size” a cruiser, and some call it a bar hopper (a motorcycle for moving between bars, that is, short distances, by analogy with cafe racers and as opposed to large cruisers, which are ridden over long distances). Feature-wise, the 2019 model carries over from the previous model year with minor changes, and that’s not a bad thing.
In 2016, Scout Sixty also appeared. Same chassis as Scout, but smaller engine “instills confidence in the trip” according to the guys from Indian. Unlike most vehicles of this brand with characteristic closed wings, the Scout and Scout Sixty cruisers have stubby wings, which also do not have the almost obligatory Indian fighting feather headdress. But in other important places these are still real Indians. The Scout’s thick front wheel provides a good dose of the American spirit of freedom and that’s all.
Let’s start with a very cruisey, low-set saddle with a height of 66 cm. Short people are already interested, but for taller guys and girls, sitting on such a low seat may seem like being in a closed suitcase – the legs are brought forward and almost pressed to the stomach. With a low center of gravity, the Scout handles amazingly. They are nimble and nimble, they easily lean into turns, and the position of the footpegs is such that you have to try hard to shuffle them. Keeping the classic style, the speedometer has a decidedly vintage dial and the bike’s instrument panel is very basic. The bulbs are small and difficult to see during the day, but this is normal in bright sunshine.
Make no mistake about the purpose of this bike. This is not a city dweller for commuting, although of course no one will forbid using it in this capacity. They ride it because they want to spend time punching the wind with their fists and not knowing the end point of the journey. A solo seat means the rider doesn’t want company, so don’t even ask. What? Need it? A catalog of accessories is at your disposal: take the running boards, add a back seat, a sissy bar with a backrest, add leather trunks for things plus one – and go on to conquer kilometers.
Engine
The older model’s 69-cubic-inch (1,133 cc) engine is a superb example of Indian power, and so is the smaller 60-inch Scout Sixty engine. Modern to the core, but thoroughly imbued with references to the old lower jet engines of the good old days. The 60-degree liquid-cooled V-twin, all black-and-chrome, looks like a piece of jewelry but is far from toy-like in its performance. The eldest of them produces 100 horses and 98 Nm of torque, but being short-stroke, it requires spinning it up to 6000 rpm in order to remove these same 98 Nm from it. However, he is quite capable of throttle response, and if you twist the Scout’s right handle well, it’s quite breathtaking.
Although the design imitates a camshaft engine with pushrods, this is false. The truth lies under the cylinder head covers, where the dual overhead camshafts drive four valves per cylinder. A large 60mm throttle body and closed-loop oxygen injection prepare the engine’s mixture, while a split dual exhaust produces a satisfying sound. The final drive, which uses gears instead of a chain, links the engine to the clutch, and a six-speed transmission transmits torque to the rear wheel via a belt drive.
In addition to the sixty-nine engine, Indian made a similar smaller engine, put it in the same frame, and introduced it to the public in 2016 as the Scout Sixty. Its volume in understandable units is “only” 999 cubic centimeters, and thanks to this move it was possible to reduce the price and offer it to a wider range of consumers in the mid-sized American cruiser market.
Just like the older one, the sixty is powered by an injector, cooled by liquid, also looks like an imitation of a lower engine with fake pushers on black pots, and produces 88 Nm at 5800 rpm. Not bad for a bike weighing 250 kilograms.