2017 Indian Scout Review
Bike Tested: 2017 Indian Scout; Road Test No. 791; Test Location: Mumbai – Chennai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 18.87 lakhs
The Indian Scout is an icon from the USA manufacturer with a history like no other
Indian Motorcycles, known as USA’s first motorcycle company which was founded in 1901, manufactured its best motorcycle in 1928, named the Indian Scout 101. Further modifications to this model were made by making the frames of the Scout a bit lighter and then downsizing the displacement as well. These Scouts replaced the 101 Scout and military models of these Scouts were used by the US and other allied forces in World War II. Fast forward to 2011, Polaris Industries bought the Indian Motorcycle company and for the 2015 model year, Polaris introduced a new Scout model. The all new Indian Scout keeps the heritage from its ancestors and is still technologically advanced enough to appeal to the 21st century generation.
Motor Quest: The Indian Scout has a record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah for being the fastest motorcycle. The same has been featured in the 2005 movie, The Fastest Indian, where the 1920 model of the Indian Scout makes a record of being the fastest motorcycle on earth.
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The Indian Scout is a completely vivid motorcycle with styling from the past
Styling – All manufacturers should take coaching on how to persuade its customers in buying a motorcycle. The Indian Scout, a cruiser/speedster is an end of quest to the one who is looking for a cruiser. With its appealing matte finish on some parts of the bike, the rich red burnish from its head to toe with a pinch of chrome and the forward stance fuel tank, gives the Indian Scout 10/10 when it comes to looks. Although its core setup is far more than what’s seen from the outside, its compact chassis, beautifully crafted engine and not to forget, the part of the engine is a part of the chassis, it’s not just propelling the bike but is also helping the chassis to stiffen up.
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The front is dominated with the beefy tyre and the tiny headlamp
The retro design with modern elements give the Scout massive street cred
The headlight is being borrowed from the ones used in pre-war models. The black multi-spoke alloy wheels, split dual exhaust with crossover and leather seats, completes the looks of the Indian scout. Whenever you stop, wherever you stop, this bike gets attention. There will be a flock of people gathering around you, taking selfies, photos and asking various questions, most common being the price and the all favourite “kitna deti hai?” and you can’t get enough of the treatment you get when you are with this bike.
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Small and clean cluster provides information yet misses out on a few
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The instrument cluster on the Indian Scout has an analogue speedometer with a digital tachometer. Adding to it, the digital display also provides other information such as odometer, trip meter, engine temperature and low oil indicator. Also back-light LED indicators such as ABS, neutral, fuel reserve, engine malfunction are present. What’s missing though is a fuel gauge. Yes! It doesn’t have a fuel gauge, just a low fuel indicator stating it is on reserve fuel. Along with that, a distance to empty and current time indicator would have been handy. There is no specific side stand indicator as such, but if the stand is down, the bike doesn’t crank up unless it’s in neutral and kills the engine if the side stand is pulled down while in gear which kind of fulfils the purpose.
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The tank is pretty small for a bike with decent dimensions
There is a kill switch and a starter switch on the right hand side switchgear. The Indian Scout features a one touch starting system, the starter button is a soft switch which sends a signal to the ECU to crank the bike, this prevents over or under-cranking. The left side switchgear consists of low and high beam switch, turn indicators and horn button. It has an additional switch in the place of the pass light, which is easily mistaken as a pass light switch but in-turn is the switch to change the display information on the instrument cluster. Apart from this, you will find it a bit difficult to access the turn indicators as you will have to make your thumb workout for the same.
