Harley Davidson Softail Slim vs Indian Scout Bobber

• Table of Contents
• 1. HARLEY SOFTAIL SLIM VS INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER
• 2. DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 3. SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 4. DESIGN: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 4.1 Design: Harley Davidson Softail Slim
• 4.2Design: Indian Scout Bobber
• 5. ENGINE & PERFORMANCE: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 5.1 Engine & Performance: Harley Davidson Softail Slim
• 5.2 Engine & Performance: Indian Scout Bobber
• 6. COMFORT & ERGONOMICS: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 6.1 Comfort & Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Softail Slim
• 6.2 Comfort & Ergonomics: Indian Scout Bobber
• 7. TECHNOLOGY & FEATURES: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 8. PROS & CONS: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER
• 8.1 Pros & Cons: Softail Slim
• 8.2 Pros & Cons: Indian Scout Bobber
• 9. FAQ
• 9.1 Which is a better beginner motorcycle: the Harley Softail Slim or the Indian Scout Bobber?
• 9.2 Which motorcycle is better for heavyweight riders: the Softail Slim and the Indian Scout Bobber?
• 9.3 What is the main difference between the Softail Slim and the Indian Scout Bobber?
• 9.4 Which motorcycle is more affordable: the Softail Slim or the Indian Scout Bobber?
• 10. TAKEAWAY

1. HARLEY SOFTAIL SLIM VS INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER

The HARLEY SOFTAIL is the successor series to the Harley Hardtail, the first Softail model being released in 1983. Since the release of the first Softail model, many have been produced and discontinued. The Softail Slim was introduced to the market in 2012. It was fitted with a 1,690 cc engine. Since then, there have been many changes made to the Softail Slim. Its last model was released in 2021 and had a 1,753.4 cc engine.

The INDIAN SCOUT is a much older model first released in 1920 and remained in production until the 1940s. However, Indian motorcycles were revived after 2000. The Scout Bobber was released in 2018 and was given a totally new aesthetic. Its design was inspired by the older Indian Scout models while being given a modern touch. Among all Indian Scout variants, the Indian Scout Bobber is the sleekest and shortest.

ALSO READ: INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER VS HARLEY DAVIDSON IRON 1200

2. DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

	Harley Davidson	Indian
BASIC INFORMATION
Year	2021	2022
Model	Softail Slim	Scout Bobber
Motorcycle Type	Cruiser	Cruiser
Base Price	$15,999	$12,249
Colors	Vivid Black, Billiard Red, Midnight Crimson/Stonewashed White Pearl, and River Rock Gray Denim/Black Denim	Metallic Black/Smoke, Titanium Metallic, Maroon Metallic Smoke, Silver Quartz Smoke, Alumina Jade Smoke, Indy Red, Indy Slate Smoke, and Black Azure Crystal
ENGINE & SYSTEMS
Displacement	107 cu in (1,753.4 cc)	69 cu in (1,133 cc)
Engine Type	Four Stroke, V-Twin	Four Stroke, V-Twin
Cooling System	Air-Cooled	Liquid-Cooled
Compression Ratio	10:1	10.7:1
Stroke	111 mm (4.374 in)	99 mm (3.898 in)
Bore	99 mm (3.937 in)	73.6 mm (2.898 in)
Cylinders	Two	Two
Drive Train	Belt	Belt
Transmission	Six-Speed	Six-speed
Clutch	Mechanical, Wet, 10 Plates	Wet, Multi-Plate
Starter	Electric	Electric
Exhaust	Two-into-Two, catalyst in the muffler	Split Dual Exhaust w/ Cross-Over
Fuel Delivery System	Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)	Closed-Loop Fuel Injection
PERFORMANCE & CAPACITY
Horsepower	86 hp	100 hp
Torque	110 ft-lbs (149.1 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm	72 ft-lbs (97.7 Nm) @ 5,900 rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity	5 gal (18.9 L)	3.3 gal (12.5 L)
Mileage	47 MPG (19.9 km/l)	44.8 MPG (19.0 km/l)
Oil Capacity	5 quarts (4.7 L)	4 quarts (3.75 L)
DIMENSIONS
Trail	147 mm (5.8 in)	120 mm (4.7 in)
Rake	30°	29°
Seat Height	647.7 mm (25.5 in)	649 mm (25.6 in)
Wheelbase	1,630.6 mm (64.2 in)	1,576 mm (62 in)
Weight	671 lbs (304.3 kg)	553 lbs (251 kg)
Ground Clearance	119 mm (4.7 in)	129 mm (5.1 in)
Length	2,308.8 mm (90.9 in)	2,223 mm (87.5 in)
Width	970 mm (38.2 in)	926 mm (36.5 in)

3. SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

Key Similarities	Key Differences
Both do not have a passenger seat	Both have different types of handlebars
Both have dual exhausts on the right side	The Scout Bobber has a smaller fuel tank than the Softail Slim
Both have a four-stroke V-twin engine	The Scout Bobber has a speedometer between the handlebars, while the Softail Slim has a speedometer on the fuel tank
Both have a round halogen headlight	The Scout Bobber has a fairing around the headlight, while the Softail Slim does not
Both have chopped fenders	The Scout Bobber has a fuel cap in the middle of the fuel tank, while the Softail Slim has two caps on the fuel tank
Both operate on a belt drive train system	The Scout Bobber has side mirrors at the handgrip and below the handlebars, while the Softail Slim has side mirrors above the HANDLEBAR
Both have the license plate affixed on the side	The Scout Bobber has dual shocks at the rear, while the Softail Slim has a hidden mono-shock
Both have the same side indicators at the rear	The Scout Bobber has front-mounted footrests, while the Softail Slim has front-mounted floorboards
Both have a single-disc brake at the front and rear	The Softail Slim has laced wheels, while the Scout Bobber has cast wheel
Both have the same tire size at the front and rear	The Scout Bobber has a liquid-cooled system, while the Softail Slim has an air-cooled system
	The Scout Bobber weighs less than the Softail Slim

4. DESIGN: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

4.1 Design: Harley Davidson Softail Slim

The SOFTAIL SLIM is a single SEAT bobber-style cruiser motorcycle. It has wide handlebars with an analog speedometer on the fuel tank like many classic Harley cruisers. The small fenders and fuel tank are the only colored parts, while the rest is covered in matte and chrome finish. At the front, it has a 49 mm telescopic fork with a wheel travel of 130 mm (5.1 in). At the rear, it has a hidden mono-shock with a 43 mm stroke with a wheel travel of 86 mm (3.4 in). It has a 130/90B16 53H BW size tire at the front and a 150/80B16 77H BW size tire at the rear.

4.2 Design: Indian Scout Bobber

The Indian Scout Bobber is a single- SEAT bobber-style motorcycle with an elegant matte finish. The sleek & curved fuel tank and fender are matte-colored, while the rest of the motorcycle is covered in a matte finish. It has wide tires that are good for both on-road and off-road travel. Unlike traditional cruisers, it has side mirrors at the edges of the handgrips and below the HANDLEBARS. It has dual shocks at the rear with a wheel travel of 2.0 in (51 mm) but no passenger seat. It has a 41 mm telescopic fork at the front with a wheel travel of 4.7 in (120 mm). The front tire is a size 130/90B16 67H and the rear tire is a size 150/80B16 77H, ensuring that it provides comfortable handling, especially while turning corners.

5. ENGINE & PERFORMANCE: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

5.1 Engine & Performance: Harley Davidson Softail Slim

The Softail Slim has a 1,746 cc air-cooled, V-Twin engine. It has a reliable engine and operates on a low-maintenance belt drive train. It has a bore size of 3.937 in (99 mm) and a stroke size of 4.374 in (111 mm) that allow for a peak torque of 149.1 Nm (110 ft-lbs) @ 3,000 rpm and a horsepower of 86 hp. It has an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) system with a fuel economy of 47.7 MPG (19.9 km/l) and a fuel tank capacity of 5 gal (19.9 L).

5.2 Engine & Performance: Indian Scout Bobber

The Indian Scout Bobber has a 1,133 cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke V-Twin engine. It has a bore size and stroke size of 99 mm (3.89 in) and 73.6 mm (2.89 in) respectively, capable of a maximum horsepower of 100 hp and a peak torque of 97.7 Nm (72 ft-lbs) @ 5,900 rpm. The Indian Scout Bobber has a closed-loop fuel injection system with a fuel economy of 44.8 mpg (19.0 km/l) and a fuel tank capacity of 3.3 gals (12.5 L).

6. COMFORT & ERGONOMICS: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

6.1 Comfort & Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Softail Slim

Photo Credit: @ultimatemotorcycling

The Softail Slim is a heavyweight cruiser with an overall weight of 671 lbs (304.3 kg). It has a length of 2,308.8 mm (90.9 in), a wheelbase of 1,630.6 mm (64.2 in), and a seat height of 647.7 mm (25.5 in). Regardless of its heavyweight build and large dimensions, this motorcycle can carry tall and heavyweight riders. It has a trail and rake angle of 147 mm (5.8 in) and 30^o respectively.

6.2 Comfort & Ergonomics: Indian Scout Bobber

Photo Credit: @rideapart

The Indian Scout Bobber has a comfortable riding position with a seat height of 649 mm (25.6 in), a wheelbase of 1,576 mm (62 in), and an overall length of 2,223 mm (87.5 in). The Scout Bobber is easy to handle for all riders. With an overall weight of 553 lbs (251 kg), it is a middleweight cruiser. With a trail and rake angle of 120 mm (4.7 in) and 29^o respectively, this vehicle has good aerodynamics and reduces air drag.

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7. TECHNOLOGY & FEATURES: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

FEATURES	SOFTAIL SLIM	INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER
ABS	Standard	Optional
Instrument Cluster	Fuel tank-mounted	Handlebar-mounted
Clock	X	✔
Engine Kill Switch	✔	✔
Speedometer	✔	✔
Odometer	✔	✔
Tachometer	✔	✔
Gear Indicator	✔	✔
Fuel Gauge	X	✔
Fuel Warning Indicator	✔	✔
Low Battery Indicator	✔	X
Low Oil Indicator	X	✔
Slip Assist Clutch	X	✔

8. PROS & CONS: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SCOUT BOBBER

8.1 Pros & Cons: Softail Slim

SOFTAIL SLIM PROS	SOFTAIL SLIM CONS
Great sound	Not an entry-level motorcycle
ABS is included (optional)	No cruise control
Comfortable on long rides	No extra LUGGAGE
Powerful and torquey engine	Clunky gear shifting
Suitable for taller riders	No riding modes
Good handling	Lower ground clearance
Floorboards for rider	Expensive
Requires less maintenance

8.2 Pros & Cons: Indian Scout Bobber

INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER PROS	INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER CONS
Suitable for all riders	Smaller and less torquey engine
Excellent responsive throttle	No riding modes
ABS included	Non-Adjustable suspensions
Less weight	Stiff brake and clutch
Higher ground clearance	No cruise control
Lesser vibration at high rpm	No extra luggage
USB port to charge phone
More horsepower and higher speed
Cheaper with more color options

9. FAQ

9.1 Which is a better beginner motorcycle: the Harley Softail Slim or the Indian Scout Bobber?

Both motorcycles have a powerful engine and deliver good performance, but the Softail Slim is heavier than the Scout Bobber. For a beginner, a heavyweight motorcycle is not recommended unless you are a tall or heavyweight rider. Other than being lightweight, the Scout Bobber also has adequate power that beginners can easily control.

9.2 Which motorcycle is better for heavyweight riders: the Softail Slim and the Indian Scout Bobber?

Both motorcycles are suited for heavyweight riders. However, the Softail Slim is better suited for heavyweight riders due to its bigger size and torquier engine. It has an adjustable mono-shock at the rear. While the Softail Slim has a lean riding position and a bit of a hard seat for a heavyweight rider, it has excellent engine performance and a comfortable riding position.

ALSO READ: BEST MOTORCYCLES FOR BIG AND HEAVY GUYS

9.3 What is the main difference between the Softail Slim and the Indian Scout Bobber?

The Softail Slim has a bigger engine and can produce more torque. Meanwhile, the Scout Bobber has dual shocks at the rear, a smaller fuel tank is covered in a matte finish, and has front-mounted footrests. The Softail Slim has wide and slightly bent handlebars that ensure the rider’s back is straight. Meanwhile, the Scout Bobber has front-mounted footrests and slightly lower handlebars that force the rider to slightly bend forward.

9.4 Which motorcycle is more affordable: the Softail Slim or the Indian Scout Bobber?

The Scout Bobber has a smaller engine, thus making it cheaper than the Softail Slim. The Softail Slim starts at $15,999, while the Scout Bobber starts at $12,249.

10. Takeaway

The Harley Davidson Softail Slim and the Indian Scout Bobber are well-performing motorcycles with well-built specifications. The Softail Slim is a heavyweight motorcycle with a large engine capable of producing more torque. The Scout Bobber weighs slightly more than the average lightweight cruiser and has a smaller engine that can produce more horsepower and speed. The Scout Bobber has a slightly leaned riding position than the Softail Slim. The Scout Bobber has a smaller fuel tank and has slightly less fuel mileage than the Softail Slim. Both are cruisers that do not come with cruise control, SADDLEBAGS, or extra luggage bags.