Performance – When it comes to real-world performance, the Scout Bobber is easily a step ahead of its competitors. The 1133cc, 8-valve, V-Twin engine borrowed from the standard Scout churns out a respectable 93.8 BHP of power and 97 Nm of torque. There is ample low-end pep to get going from a standstill and the motorcycle picks up pace without much effort. The peak torque comes in rather late at 5600 RPM which translates to a power delivery not as forceful as you’d expect with the Indian’s on-paper specifications. However, this machine comes to its own once you are in the mid-range. From halt, 100 km/hr comes up on the speedometer in 4.5 seconds and even after that, there is enormous amount of grunt to make good progress on open roads. At higher speeds, in-gear acceleration is outstanding as the motor doesn’t hesitate to pull at higher RPMs. In fact, it revs all the way up to 8250 RPM! However, vibrations start to creep in through the handlebar and footpegs post 4500 RPM and become intrusive by the time you cross 6000 RPM.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40373767135/[/flickr]
The responsive nature of the engine makes this bobber immense fun to ride
The Scout Bobber hits 95 km/hr in the first cog itself, while the second gear tops out at 130 km/hr!
In terms of refinement, the motor feels surprisingly good for a V-Twin at lower RPMs. Even in the mid-range, the vibrations are well-contained and not a cause of concern. At the same time, the characteristic rumble from the twin exhaust makes it a pleasure to cruise around town astride this beast. Though it has immense potential, the Scout Bobber doesn’t like to be handled aggressively. Near the redline, one can clearly feel some serious opposition from the 6-speed gearbox, which works well otherwise. The clutch lever isn’t exactly on the lighter side but feels manageable to operate. There is traction control on offer which does its work vigorously to avoid even the slightest of wheelspins and wheelies. Gulping in 12.5-litres of fuel in one go, the Scout Bobber, with a fuel economy of around 22 km/litre, can easily go for over 250 kms without needing a break.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40373768715/[/flickr]
The front suspension comes with 120 mm of travel while the rear one allows just 50 mm of movement!
The Scout Bobber feels planted and inspires a lot of confidence around corners
Riding Dynamics – Swing a leg over and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the way all 255 kgs of mass has been centred! At no point does one feel intimidated by the Scout Bobber’s kerb weight. The motorcycle feels effortless around corners and remains stable on the straights. However, one has to be extra careful on bad roads and speed breakers as the ground clearance is very limited at 123 mm. This also affects the lean angle negatively which allows the footpegs to scrape even under mild cornering. The conventional suspension setup is sprung on the stiffer side with limited suspension travel playing its part without fail to worsen the ride quality. All undulations on the road are thoroughly felt by the rider despite supposedly better absorption by the fat knobby tyres (130-section front and 150-section rear). Braking is performed by 298 mm disc brakes at either end. Coupled with ABS, brakes have good stopping power with a very positive feedback.
