Tuesday 16th February 2016

Indian Scout Sixty: PH2 review

Why Indian's rebirth deserves to have Harley-Davidson looking worried

---

Having been revived by new parent company Polaris Industries in 2011, Indian Motorcycles has gone from fledgling returnee to full-on thorn in the side of Harley-Davidson. Not only does it have an ever-expanding line of large and medium capacity cruisers, Indian is also playing the heritage card very smartly (they just love reminding Harley that Indian was America's first motorcycle company) as well as attracting the young and cool crowd. Which is where the new Scout Sixty fits in. This is a smaller 999cc capacity version of the firm's 1,133cc Scout and is aimed squarely at Harley's Sportster model range, explaining the tempting price tag.

There is one figure that screams out so loudly with the Scout Sixty it has to be mentioned from the off. You can own a Scout Sixty for just £42.33 a month if you sign up for a three-year PCP plan. Pay a deposit of £2,699 and you can ride the Sixty home for less than the price of a Sky subscription, which is amazing. The Indian's price tag of £8,999 sits well, with the smaller Harley Iron 883 costing £7,495 and the larger Harley Forty-Eight being £9,675. But the Indian is a slightly different prospect to the air-cooled Harleys. Not only is its water-cooled engine faster, the Indian's chassis is also sportier.

Cruising for a bruising
There are so many routes a manufacturer can take with cruisers nowadays. You have the heritage path with air-cooling, urban appeal with lightweight liquid-cooled bikes or performance cruising with a low and sleek look. Despite its smaller capacity, the Scout Sixty tends to sit more towards the performance end of the cruiser spectrum. And its motor makes more power than the larger capacity Harley models thanks to its water jacket and more advanced four-valve head.

And it also feels very different. Where the air-cooled Harleys have a more sit-up riding position, with a high front end and low seat, the Sixty puts you in a far flatter stance. At first this feeling of almost being perched on top of the bike is odd, but after a while it becomes more natural and is actually very comfortable. And unlike the Harley Forty-Eight with its pathetic 7.9-litre tank (the Iron has a more sensible 12.5-litre one), the Indian with its 12.5-litre tank means you might be sat there for a while.

Faster than it looks
While the Scout's liquid-cooled engine certainly lacks a bit of the character you get with air-cooling, there is little to complain about when it comes to its performance. The five-speed box (one less ratio than the larger Scout) may be more than a little clunky, but it is positive enough while the engine is surprisingly brisk. This isn't a lazy thumper, it is actually a reasonably rapid cruiser that would happily see off most air-cooled rivals while still retaining a degree of refinement. Compared to the dreadful Harley Street 750, the Scout proves that water-cooling really can be made to work on a cruiser and still retain a unique bit of character. Fair to say, the bike I rode did have a free-flowing Remus exhaust fitted, which helped.

Like most cruisers, when you introduce a set of bends the Scout's ground clearance is the major limiting factor, but I was impressed just how assured the Sixty was when leaned over and how easily it could be cornered. Getting a good degree of agility into a bike with a long wheelbase is an impressive feat.

Worth a look
Most people looking for a cruiser head straight to the Harley dealership, which is fair enough as bikes like the Forty-Eight give the heritage heart strings a firm tug. Personally I quite like the fact the Indian is a bit different and has a chassis and engine more aimed at performance. Due to the newness of the brand in the UK you will probably have to travel further to find an Indian dealer than a Harley one but it could be a worthwhile trip as the Scout Sixty is a surprisingly capable bike that might well convert a few non-believers. Especially with its £43 a month finance deal...

---

INDIAN SCOUT SIXTY
Engine: 999cc, 60-degree V-twin
Power (hp): 78@7,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 66@5,600rpm
Top speed: 110mph (est)
Weight: 246kg (dry)
MPG: 45mpg (est)
Price: £8,999

[smilo996]

Have to wonder about just how conservative the American motorcycle industry is with all its bluster about freedom etc when the only two US companies making motorcycles both make cliched nostalgia.