Indian Scout Bobber: Detailed Specs, Performance, and More

The Indian Scout Bobber is a minimalist design cruiser with a simple yet modern look to ensure low weight and maneuverable performance. Unlike traditional Indian motorcycles with bulkier parts, the Scout Bobber has a stripped-down styling with a small solo rider seat, a lightweight frame, and aggressive styling. The Indian Scout Bobber’s lightweight design and powerful engine make it a high-performance motorbike. This article explores the specifications, engine, and performance of the Indian Scout Bobber in detail.

The Indian Scout has a long history dating back to 1920. The first Indian Scout was powered by a 600 cc V-Twin engine with a very basic frame and conventional design. In 1928, the Indian 101 Scout replaced the traditional Indian Scout. It was one of the greatest inventions of the 1920s, becoming popular among racers due to its smooth handling. The Indian 101 Scout was also called the best Indian motorcycle of its time.

Indian Motorcycles went through several ups and downs during both World Wars. Production of civilian vehicles was halted, with only the military versions of the Indian Scout and the Sport Scout produced during World War II.

Due to severe financial issues, Indian Motorcycles had to cease production on September 19, 2003. However, good news came in 2011 for Indian Motorcycles fans when Polaris bought Indian Motorcycles and decided to re-launch its lineups.

The Indian Scout Bobber was introduced in 2018 in the midsize cruiser category. It is a stripped-down version of the Indian Scout Sixty with sportier ergonomics, bar end-mounted side mirrors, a blacked-out headlight nacelle, chopped fenders, and lower rear suspension. The low seat height, stylish look, smooth power, and good handling have made the Indian Scout Bobber a popular motorcycle.

The Indian Scout Bobber is the simplest yet classiest bobber-style motorcycle in the Indian lineup. It is a midsize motorcycle unsuited for two-up riding. The Indian Scout Bobber is fitted with a low-slung, bobber-style leather seat with a black and brown cover. It has a compact design and matte black finish with silver touches on the cylinder heads. Despite being a midsize bike, it has a decent ground clearance of 5.1 inches and a wheelbase of 62 inches, giving this motorbike a stylish and smart look. The most prominent feature of the Indian Scout Bobber is the extended, blacked-out round headlight nacelle attached to the front fork. To improve the bobber look, it comes with a bobber-style front fender and a chopped rear fender with a small LED taillight. Despite the modern look, the Indian Scout Bobber has a traditional V-Twin design reminiscent of the 1950s. It comes with moderately wide and fat Pirelli® tires wrapped around eight-spoke cast black wheels. Due to having a liquid-cooled system, the Indian Scout Bobber comes with a large radiator in front of the engine. The split, dual blacked-out mufflers with crossover ensure a good throttle response and soul-satisfying rumble. The Indian Scout Bobber also has low-mounted handlebars with downward, bar end-mounted side mirrors. It also has a stylish, flat fuel tank design with a capacity of 3.3 gal.

The Indian Scout Bobber is powered by a 1,133 cc liquid-cooled, 60° V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 100 hp and a torque of 97.7 Nm at 5,900 rpm. For a midsize, lightweight motorcycle with a wet weight of 251 kg (553 lbs), a horsepower of 100 hp makes it quite powerful. The engine is firmly mounted to the frame to reduce vibrations and to ensure a smooth ride quality. The engine also ensures smooth power delivery evenly distributed across all gear levels. Despite being a midsize cruiser, the Indian Scout Bobber has a six-speed transmission, delivering power to the rear wheel via a final belt drive. This motorbike ensures a smooth riding experience, eliminating the clunky sound when shifting gears. The Indian Scout Bobber is an ideal option if you are looking for a lightweight, stylish motorcycle with an aggressive stance for cruising on open roads, riding through traffic, and daily commutes. The liquid-cooled engine effectively maintains the engine temperature.

The only major drawback of the Indian Scout Bobber is its non-adjustable front and rear suspensions. The 41 mm telescopic front fork and the low-mounted dual rear shock absorbers have small wheel travels not suited for two-up riding. The Indian Scout Bobber is only comfortable on smooth, linear roads with its wide, knobby front and rear Pirelli® tires. However, this ride can become uncomfortable as soon as it hits a pothole or if you ride on a bumpy road. The front fork has a wheel travel of 4.7 inches, and the rear suspension has a wheel travel of only two inches.

If you want to use this motorcycle for long-distance riding and comfortable cruising, you must upgrade the Indian Scout Bobber’s stock suspensions. The brakes are also inadequate for riding through heavy traffic. The Indian Scout Bobber only has a 298 mm single front disc with a dual-piston caliper and a 298 mm single rear disc with a single-piston caliper. However, the braking can be more effective with an optional ABS feature.

The Indian Scout Bobber is not an ideal cruiser. It is a midsize bobber bike with aggressive styling and sportier ergonomics. The Indian Scout Bobber is comfortable for shorter riders and can be easily balanced when on flat footing due to its low seat height of 25.6 inches. Despite its low overall height, it is equally suitable for taller riders due to its forward-mounted foot controls and spacious rider triangle. If you are a fan of aggressive and sportier riding style, the Indian Scout Bobber is a good option. However, if you are a fan of a cruiser with laidback ergonomics, the Indian Scout Bobber is not the most comfortable option. The Indian Scout Bobber is only comfortable for 30-40 min rides as your back starts to hurt if you continue riding after that. It offers a slightly forward or hunched-over back position due to being fitted with low-mounted handlebars. The rider has to bend slightly forward and stretch his/her arms to reach the handlebars. However, being a popular entry-level and intermediate bike, the aftermarket parts are readily available. The Indian Scout Bobber can be transformed into an ideal cruiser by modifying it with an upgraded suspension, comfortable swept-back handlebars, windscreen, saddlebags, sissy bars, backrests, and crash bars. Installing an upgraded suspension and an aftermarket two-up seat can make it suited for comfortable two-up riding.

The Indian Scout Bobber is fitted with a powerful 1,133 cc V-Twin engine and has a lightweight and agile build. A beginner can ride this motorcycle if he/she has some experience riding a bike with a horsepower of 100 hp. The Indian Scout Bobber ensures light gear shifting and provides a smooth ride quality and aggressive styling which is attractive to novice riders.

The Indian Scout Bobber’s 1,133 cc big V-Twin engine, high horsepower, minimalist design, and low overall weight contribute to its good throttle response. This vehicle is suited for quick rides over short distances due to its aggressive and slightly sportier riding position. However, the absence of adjustable and high-quality stock suspensions means it cannot handle like a sports bike.

The Indian Scout Bobber’s wide, knobby tires might make it look like an off-roader. However, with its simple, non-adjustable front and rear stock suspensions and insufficient wheel travel, the Indian Scout Bobber cannot ride on even slightly bumpy or damaged roads.

The Indian Scout Bobber is a reliable intermediate-level motorcycle because its engine produces substantial horsepower. The stripped-down styling and lightweight design make it easy to handle. If you are looking for a stylish ride with an aggressive riding style, then the Indian Scout Bobber is a good option. However, the first thing you will notice is its low-quality suspensions and shorter wheel travel does not provide a comfortable riding experience. To ensure comfortable rides on bumpy and unpaved roads, you should upgrade the stock suspensions. Due to its sportier stance, the Indian Scout Bobber is also not ideal for more than a 30-40 mins ride. However, with the help of the readily-available aftermarket parts, you can easily transform this motorcycle into a comfortable cruiser.