Harley Davidson 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.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.