Indian Scout Bobber
Scout’s darker doppelganger
Time and technology has made leaps and bounds of advancements as we approach the mid of 2018. To draw inspiration however, more and more designers are travelling back in time for a new line of custom and lifestyle motorcycles. We’re referring to motorcycles that are not only meant for daily use and regular riding but ones that also blend a sense of neo-retro styling with modern tech. Add to this, decades of motorcycling lineage and you also get the panache of an iconic brand.
Indian Motorcycles’ Scout line consists of basic cruisers compared to the big, hefty ones that the manufacturer is more famous for. Mind you, basic still comes with a big price tag and enough exclusivity to grab eyeballs where ever you take these motorcycles.
The Scout Bobber brings a darker, meaner appeal to the more elegant and crafted looking Scout. Most of the original parts remain, such as the 12.5-litre fuel tank, the
INDIAN HAS MANAGED TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OF THE SCOUT INTO A MORE SINISTER LOOKING URBAN MACHINE
sculpted frame and more importantly, the 1,133cc V-twin motor. What has brought about the Bobber look are the street tracker handlebars, chopped (or bobbed and that’s where the name bobber comes from) front and rear fenders, re-worked seat and a shroud over the round headlamp. Here’s where the shed-built aspect shows through more rather than a factory-built motorcycle. The fenders seem like they’ve been casually hacksawed as the edges aren’t rounded and to us, looked unfinished. Tyres are now semi-knobby type featuring deeper, dual use treads adding to the rugged look that the Scout Bobber is aiming for. Bar-end mirrors and the optional luggage rack behind the seat add to the motorcycle’s retro charm. These changes may seem minor but finished with a glossy black paint job, they’ve managed to change the appearance of the Scout into a more sinister looking urban machine.
Indian Motorcycles has altered the ergonomics for the Scout Bobber by bringing the footpegs closer to the rider and using a lowered handlebar. Unfortunately for us average-heighted Indians, this makes the rider’s triangle a bit of a stretch as the back starts aching only after a few kilometres of riding. The Scout Bobber’s engine however, is what elevates the motorcycle’s riding experience.
It produces 95bhp and 97Nm of torque coming in at 5,600rpm but twisting the throttle translates to an evident surge of power coming in early in the rev range. It is smooth, refined and effortless
in its performance till the gearshifts happen before 5,000rpm. The engine makes an evident dislike of stretching the revs beyond that mark as strong vibrations set in at high revs. Coupled with a 5-speed gearbox that is well spaced, the engine makes for a quick highway cruiser but one that can easily adapt to the grind of city streets. When the going gets slower, that same torque helps the engine use a higher gear and cruise along without stressing. The fatter tyres (especially the front) make the Scout Bobber a tad lazy turning into corners but it has no issues holding its line through one. The suspension is tuned really well as the soft damping helps absorb a lot that roads would throw at them but it’s the limited suspension travel that makes for an overall stiff ride that your back will surely complain about.