Tuesday 16th February
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.
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 looksWhile 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