The brand Indian Motorcycles has been making bikes for over 100 years now and is one of the oldest two-wheeler companies. One of its most popular bikes till date has been the Indian Scout.
The Scout started production in the 1920s but production ended shortly after the second world war. In 2011, Polaris Industries bought the Indian Motorcycle Company and it introduced a brand new Scout model in 2014. The main question that arises is that whether the new Scout lives up to the iconic heritage? We took the bike for a spin and here’s what we have to say about it. The bike weighs 250 kgs dry and was the lightest motorcycle in Indian’s portfolio until the Scout Sixty was introduced. The Sixty is around 10 kgs lighter that the Scout. The Indian Scout carries a very clean sheet design and the middleweight cruiser carries forward the spirit of innovation that made it one of the best selling bikes of all time in the past. Starting from the front, the instrument cluster has an analogue speedo with a digital screen. The small screen gives readouts for time, engine temperature, rpm and etc. The one main thing that the bike’s instrument cluster lacks is a fuel gauge, but, instead, it has a low fuel indicator (fuel tank capacity – 12.5 litres). One of the things that fascinated me was the attention to detail on the bike. Especially, the number of logos, badges which are found everywhere and when counted, were close to around 30. The bike attracts attention on the road thanks to its extensive chrome garnishing all over it. The pull-back handlebars coupled with a low forward set footpegs and the low bucket seat should make it easy for riders of all sizes. This arrangement gives an exceptional comfort, balance, and offers great maneuverability to the bike. Now speaking about the heart of the bike. The Scout is powered by a liquid-cooled 1,133 cc, V-twin engine. Moreover, a counterbalancer and an eight-valve DOHC valvetrain make the engine as good as any new age sports bike. The engine produces 98.63bhp of power and a peak torque of 97Nm and is mated to a six-speed gearbox and a belt drive train. It also offers quite a bit of low-end torque and unlike any other cruiser, the Scout keeps on pulling until it hits the red line which is around 8200 rpm, pretty impressive! Although the engine packs a lot of punch in it, we were expecting a bit more engine braking when the throttle was rolled off. The bike disappointed with regards to its suspension. The suspension felt softer on the city roads and if a pillion is sitting then the bike scrapes its belly on some of the high bumps and potholes that came its way, otherwise, it dealt with the most of the speed breakers we came across. Braking duties are handled by single disk brakes for both front and rear. You also get a dual channel ABS which watches your back when you have to brake too hard in case of an emergency. The fat front(130mm) and rear(150mm) tyres provide good grip and also offer 31 degree lean, which, is more than sufficient for a mid-sized cruiser. You also get to choose from a range of additional accessories that can be purchased from the Indian outlets such as – a front windscreen, mobile holder with a built-in charger, backrest for both the rider and the pillion, side panniers, free flow loud exhausts and much more. Promeet Ghosh Thinks! The Indian Scout is one of the most affordable offerings in the Indian Motorcycle line-up and carries a price tag of INR 14,75,000 ex-showroom (Delhi). Since we did not have the bike for a long period of time, we could not test its full potential, but, when all is said and done the Scout is a bike that can just munch miles without any hesitation. For some people the bike might not appeal to them because it weighs too much and overheats, but, for those who are hardcore bikers, the Scout will be a perfect match. Being an Indian fan myself, for me, the Scout was a mesmerising experience and it is indeed a piece of art to be kept in your garage.
[Source:-drivespeak]