Indian Indian Scout

The Harley vs Indian rivalry is up there with some of the biggest rivalries in modern pop culture. Think Coke vs Pepsi, Mac vs PC, Army vs Navy, Edison vs Tesla. Then there’s Harley vs Indian. These two titans of motorcycling built a rivalry that lasted for decades, and despite the fact Indian dropped from the scene for 60 years, ever since its resurgence in 2013, it’s as though the rivalry picked right back up where it left off. And we’re all better for it. 
American motorcycling is known for big touring bikes, and the recent Showdown between the Harley Road Glide Limited and Indian Pursuit Limited Premium was as Americana as they come. However, cruisers are also a staple of the American riding experience. Chief among them (Indian pun not intended) the Harley Sportster and Indian Scout. These two lightweights of cruiserdom are anything but light but have historically been the bikes to reach for if simplicity and bare-bones cruising were what you were craving. Low and slow, as they say.

The US motojournalist/influencer corps doesn’t look much at all like the people in the ads for Indian’s new Scout Rogue and Rogue Sixty. Carey Hart did meet us for lunch in Ojai during our ride, and he’d fit right in. The former MXer/freestyler not only looks the part, he actually builds custom motorcycles in his own big shop.

What’s going on with the 2022 Indian Scout Rogues is this: blacked-out trim, a quarter fairing, mini ape-hanger handlebars, a “sport-style” seat, and a 19-inch front wheel. We were big fans of the Scout when it got here, enough so that we made it our 2015 Motorcycle of the Year. At the time, we liked the portent Indian had established with a few new bikes in as many years, as well as the Scout being a direct shot across the Sportster’s bow: No doubt the new Sportster competitor was one of the factors that motivated H-D to get off its, ah, laurels.

VIN information submitted by Indian Motorcycle confirm it is set to add a new Scout Rogue model to its 2022 lineup. The Scout Rogue will be based on the Scout Bobber and will be available with either with the larger 1133cc engine or the 1000cc “Sixty” engine.

Indian announced new colors and other updates to the cruiser, bagger and touring models returning for 2022.

Indian Motorcycle has filed trademark applications in multiple markets for “Scout Rogue,” suggesting a new Scout variant is in the works.

Indian announced it initial batch of 2021 models including its touring, bagger and Scout models. Along with new color options for several motorcycles, the 2021 model year includes a new Roadmaster Limited, a new Vintage Dark Horse and a restyled Roadmaster Dark Horse. Not included in the announcement were the FTR 1200 and the Chief cruiser, but we expect further news from Indian in the weeks ahead.

Let’s say you like the Indian Scout Sixty. It’s really not that hard of a stretch, considering its 78 hp, 999cc V-Twin is a bit more manageable than the big boy 1133cc Twin, and it comes in at a really respectable $8,999. But what if you’re the type who thinks there’s just something missing with the Scout Sixty; maybe there’s not enough black.

Indian is preparing to release a 1000cc version of the Scout Bobber, or, to look at it another way, a bobber version of the Scout Sixty. The new variant was recently certified by both the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the 2020 Indian Scout Bobber Sixty, which, as if it weren’t confusing enough, will have a smaller version of the engine powering the anniversary edition Indian Scout Bobber Twenty.

Indian Motorcycle has announced its 2020 Scout lineup, including an array of new touring accessories and two special edition models celebrating 100 years of the Scout’s debut in 1920. Confirming our report from last week, the two models are the Indian Scout 100th Anniversary and the Indian Scout Bobber Twenty.

A new executive order published by the California Air Resources Board confirms two new 2020 models celebrating the 100 years of the Indian Scout. The CARB document certifies a new Indian Scout 100th Anniversary model as well as a new Indian Scout Bobber Twenty.

The trip from drawing board to reality is complete for the three finalists in Indian’s Scout Bobber Build-Off: That’s  Christian Newman‘s concept bike in the lead photo, and here it is in the metal along with Christian, who’s a mechanical engineer dealing with mining equipment in Buffalo, NY.

Some days are better than others. When Indian invited us to come see their new Klock Werks Jack Daniel’s First Responders Limited Edition Scout Bobber at the JD Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, they did not have to ask twice.

Remember back in 2013 when Indian Motorcycle relaunched with just three models? Well, a lot has happened in just a few short years. Today, Indian revealed its 2018 lineup, with the addition of a Roadmaster Elite and a Springfield Dark Horse for 2018. With the Indian Scout Bobber that we recently tested, Indian has 16 models in its latest catalog. The rest of the 2018 Indian model line receives tweaks and updates for the upcoming model year.

After seeing the new 2018 Indian Scout Bobber on Friday, I called Editor Duke to brief him on the new model. After explaining that it was, mechanically, very similar to the original Scout with mostly cosmetic changes, he asked me a simple but important question: “Well, would you rather buy this one or the old one?” The answer was easy: I would definitely rather have this new Scout Bobber.

Today I found myself stepping off of a plane in Minneapolis, MN, with a few other journalists. While the X Games are currently in full swing here in the “Twin Cities,” we were in town for the launch of a new Indian Scout. The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber is a minimalistic, low-slung, blacked-out version of its predecessor. Looking at the bike once the covers came off, the word muscle comes to mind. The kind of motorcycle that kicks sand in your face and takes your girlfriend. I like it.

Sometimes it seems as if the term “history was made” is overused to the point of cliché, but it’s about the only way to describe the competitive rollout of the all-new, purpose-built Indian Scout FTR750 flat-tracker at the series finale of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Championship on September 25, 2016.

It’s always exciting when a new racebike makes its debut, and that’s what’s in the cards this weekend during the Santa Rosa Mile, part of AMA Pro Flat Track Pro GNC championship. More details on Indian’s new machine and the race can be found in the link directly below.

Personally, I feel like five speeds is plenty for a cruiser, really. Who wants to be shifting extra gears when they’re cruising relaxationally along feeling all Lee Marvin, having their chassis “further complimented by stout forks and shocks” like the press material for the new bike says? Why, thank you, forks and shocks, you’re not so bad yourself…

Indian has had quite a run in the years since it restarted production under the Polaris banner. In that short time, Indian has racked up two MO Best Cruiser awards (2014 Indian Chief and 2015 Indian Scout), Readers’ Choice Best Cruiser 2015 (2015 Indian Chief), Readers’ Choice Motorcycle of the Year 2015 (2015 Indian Chief), and Motorcycle of the Year 2015 (Indian Scout). That’s quite a roll. So, what has Indian decided to do next? Downsize.

In recent years, the cruiser market has been caught up in chasing the perception of authenticity or heritage or history or whatever buzzword you care to use, but regardless of the name attached to it, the result has mostly come in the form of the motorcycle’s styling. While it’s nice to call on the past – and it certainly shouldn’t be ignored – there comes a point where the current retro styling exercises risk crossing over into a caricature of the very thing they’re trying to evoke.

When  Indian revealed the 2015 Scout, yesterday, the company made a bold move that is sure to frustrate Indian traditionalists and pique the interest of riders who have wanted a smaller, lighter, less-expensive Indian. In the process, the design crew has shown that there is more than one way to interpret history.