2016 - 2021 Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty

Riding high on the success of the Scout and Scout Sixty, Indian introduces the 2021 stable with a few updates over last year, but mostly the same approachable rides with clean lines and more appeal for younger buyers.

2016 - 2021 Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty

Specifications

Make: Array
Model: 2016 - 2021 Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty
Engine/Motor: V-Twin
[do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty Design

- Inspired by the original 1920 Scout - New two-up seating - Lots of bling with premium chrome - Integrated USB port

Reintroduced for 2015 after over a decade-long hiatus, the Scout has a long and illustrious heritage dating back to 1920. Bigger than a café racer, but smaller than what I consider a cruiser, the Scout fits into an in-between class that I call a bar-hopper and Indian calls "mid-size." Fair enough. Spec-wise, the 2021 Scout is essentially a carry-over from last year, which isn't a bad thing.

New-from-2016 was the Scout Sixty. Rolling on the same chassis as the Scout, the Sixty has a smaller engine for "a confidence-inspiring ride," according to the folks at Indian. The Scout and the Scout Sixty have cut-down fenders -- unlike much of the Indian lineup with valenced fenders -- and lacks the iconic fender-mounted war bonnet. Still, they're Indian in all the right places. The fat 130-series front tire gives the Scout a great bit dose of American-cruiser styling.

Let's start with the very cruiser-esque low, low seat height of 26 inches. Shorties take note, but for anyone of medium height or taller, though, you might feel a bit clam-shelled with your feet forward and your butt so low. With a low center of gravity, the Scout handles like a dream. It is nimble and quick, easy to lean into the corners and the lean angle lets you get a little aggressive in the curves, so you will really have to work at it if you want to drag a peg. In keeping with the classic look, the speedometer has a decidedly vintage dial and instrumentation is basic. Warning lights are small and hard to see in the daylight, but that is the norm when the sun is bright.

Make no mistake about the Scout's intended purpose. This is not a commuter bike, though it could be used as such. You ride this bike because you want to spend time with your fists in the wind and have fun with no particular place to go or be. The solo seat says you don't want company, so don't even ask. For 2020, two-up seating comes standard on the Scout.

Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty Chassis

- Balance of straight-line stability and eagerness in the corners - ABS - Low seat height - Positive acceleration

Indian starts out strong on the Scout with a steel frame and swingarm, but lightened things up a bit by going the stressed-engine route, thereby reducing the mass of the frame. The 29-degree rake gives the Scout an almost-custom vibe, and coupled with the 4.7-inch trail, keeps the bike fairly stable in the straights and eager in the corners.

The 41 mm, right-side-up front forks fit well with the looks of the bike, and even though inverted forks are arguably better in every way, they would not fit with the retro-vibe Indian was going for. Dual rear coil-over shocks are set at an angle that hints at the rear-end geometry of the old rigid frames, even if the springs give it away. Suspension travel is about average for a bar hopper (may not be an official category, but that's what it is) at 4.7 up front and 3 inches even in back, but face it, you aren't supposed to go off-road with this ride.

Cast wheels wrap up the running gear with 16-inchers front and rear, and 298 mm brake discs provide the stopping power. Though it only has a single front brake, it provides a positive feel. New-in-2019, all the colors come with ABS as a standard feature and it's an option on basic black.

Model:	Scout	Scout Sixty
Suspension, Front/Travel:	Telescopic Fork, 41 mm cartridge type / 4.7 in (120 mm)	Telescopic Fork, 41 mm cartridge type / 4.7 in (120 mm)
Suspension, Rear/Travel:	Dual Shocks, adjustable / 3.0 in (76 mm)	Dual Shocks, adjustable / 3.0 in (76 mm)
Rake:	29°	29°
Lean Angle:	31°	31°
Trail:	4.7 in (119.9 mm)	4.7 in (119.9 mm)
Brakes: Front:	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 2 Piston Caliper	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 2 Piston Caliper
Brakes: Rear:	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 1 Piston Caliper	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 1 Piston Caliper
Wheel: Front:	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)
Wheel: Rear:	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)
Tire: Front:	Pirelli Night Dragon 130/90B16 67H	Kenda® K673F, 130/90B-16 72H
Tire: Rear:	Pirelli Night Dragon 150/80B16 77H	Kenda® K673F, 150/80B-16 71H

Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty Drivetrain

- Liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin - Good roll-on - Ample torque

The 69 cubic-inch (1,133 c) engine is the real showpiece for the Scout and no less so the 60 cubic-incher for the Scout Sixty. Modern through and through, Indian engineers reached for connections to its roots through a design that hints at the old pushrod engines from back in the day. The liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin comes with a sharp looking, chrome-on-black décor, but it is far from an “all show and no go” mill. It puts out 100 ponies and 72.2 pound-feet of torque, but being a short-stroke engine, you have to wind it up to six grand to get the full grunt out of it. Still, you get a pretty good roll-on once you are up into the powerband, and the Scout can really be a thrill when you grab a fistful and try to twist it off.

While the design emulates the look of pushrod tubes, it is a lie. The truth hides in the rocker boxes where dual overhead cams actuate four valves per cylinder. A big, 60 mm throttle body with closed-loop fuel injection feeds the beast, and the split dual exhaust carries off waste gasses with a pleasing note. The primary drive uses gears instead of a chain to connect engine to clutch, and a six-speed, sliding-mesh tranny sends power to the rear wheel via a fiber-reinforced belt drive.

In addition to the 69 cubic-inch engine, Indian also designed a smaller displacement mill to plug into the Scout chassis and presented it as the new-in-2016 Scout Sixty. The factory bumped the displacement down to an even 60 cubic-inches (999 cc), a move that allows it to drop the price and open up the mid-size U.S. cruiser market to a wider customer base.

Much like its big brother, the smaller engine uses fuel injection and water cooling to manage the V-twin mill, and follows the same aesthetics with faux pushrod tubes on blackout jugs, heads and cases. Performance numbers are acceptable, and the Sixty engine cranks out 65 pound-feet of torque at 5,800 rpm; not bad for a bike that weighs in around 550 pounds.

Model:	Scout	Scout Sixty
Model:	Liquid-Cooled, 60° V-Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder semi-dry sump	Liquid-Cooled, 60° V-Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder semi-dry sump
Scout	3.898 in x 2.898 in (99 mm x 74 mm)	3.661 in (93 mm) x 2.898 in (73.6 mm)
Scout Sixty	69 cu in (1,133 cc )	60 cu in (999 cc)
Engine:	10.7:1	11.0:1
Bore x Stroke:	100 hp (74.7 kW) @ 8,100 rpm	78 hp (58.2 kW) @ 7,200 rpm
Displacement:	72 lb-ft (97.7 Nm) @ 6,000 rpm	65 lb-ft (88.8 Nm) @ 5,800 rpm
Compression Ratio:	Closed loop fuel injection / 60 mm bore	Closed loop fuel injection / 54 mm bore
Horsepower:	Wet, Multi-plate	Wet, Multi-plate
Peak Torque:	Gear Drive Wet Clutch	Gear Drive Wet Clutch
Electronic Fuel Injection System:	Belt drive, 141 tooth	Belt drive, 141 tooth
Clutch:	6-Speed, constant mesh, foot shift	5-Speed, constant mesh, foot shift
Primary Drive:	Split Dual Exhaust w/ Cross-over	Split Dual Exhaust w/ Cross-over

Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty Pricing

MSRP on the 2020 Indian Scout is $11,499 for Thunder Black or $12,399 if you spring for the optional ABS. Colors will run you $12,899 which have ABS as standard equipment as well as the two-tones that go for $13,399. For 2020, the Scout is available in ICON limited-availability factory custom two-tone colorways that roll for $13,899.

The Scout Sixty comes in a little more affordable at $8,999 in Thunder Black and ABS adds $800 to the bill. Colors and two-tones come with ABS and run $10,299 and $10,799 respectively. Indian covers your Scout with a two-year limited warranty providing that your warranty was registered at the time of purchase. If you don't register with Indian, you'll be SOL on warranty work.

Model:	Scout	Scout Sixty
Model:
└ 2016:	Thunder Black, Silver Smoke, Thunder Black Smoke, Wildfire Red, Indian Red	Thunder Black, Indian Motorcycle Red®, Pearl White
└ 2017:	Thunder Black, Ivory Cream, Thunder Black Smoke, Silver Smoke, Burgundy Metallic, Brilliant Blue, White & Red, Indian Motorcycle® Red over Thunder Black	Thunder Black, Pearl White, Indian Motorcycle® Red
└ 2018:	Thunder Black, Metallic Jade, Burgundy Metallic, Brilliant Blue over White, Willow Green over Ivory Cream	Thunder Black, Polished Bronze, Indian Motorcycle® Red, Thunder Black over Titanium Metallic
└ 2019:	Thunder Black, Deep Water Metallic, Metallic Jade, Willow Green/Ivory Cream, Indian Motorcycle Red/ Thunder Black	Thunder Black, Ruby Metallic, White Smoke, Star Silver/Thunder Black
└ 2020:	Thunder Black, White Smoke, Deepwater Metallic, Indian Motorcycle® Red/Ivory Cream, Metallic Jade/Thunder Black, ICON Dirt Track Smoke/Thunder Black, ICON Indian Sky Blue/Pearl White, ICON Ruby Metallic/Pearl White	Thunder Black, Burgundy Metallic, Pearl White/Titanium Metallic
└ 2021:	Thunder Black, White Smoke, Deepwater Metallic, Maroon Metallic Crimson/Crimson Metallic, ICON Blue Slate Metallic/Cobra Silver, ICON: Stealth Gray/Thunder Black, ICON: Arizona Turquoise/Pearl White	Thunder Black, Ruby Metallic
Scout
└ 2017:	$11,299, Color: $11,500 (ABS:$12,299), Two-Tone: $12,899	$8,999, Color: $9,299 (ABS: $9,999), Two-Tone: $10,599
└ 2018:	$11,499, Color: $11,999 (ABS: $12,499), Two-Tone: $12,999	$8,999, Color: $9,499 (ABS: $9,999), Two-Tone: $10,499
└ 2019:	$11,499 (w/ABS $12,299), Color (w/ABS): $12,799, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $13,299	$8,999 (w/ABS: $9,799), Color (w/ABS):$10,299, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $10,799
└ 2020:	$11,499 (w/ABS $12,399), Color (w/ABS): $12,899, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $13,399, ICON: $13,899	$8,999 (w/ABS: $9,799), Color (w/ABS):$10,299, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $10,799
└ 2021:	$11,999 (w/ABS $12,899), Color (w/ABS): $13,399, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $13,899, ICON: $14.399	$9,499 (w/ABS: $10,299), Color (w/ABS):$10,799

Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty Competitors

Going head-to-head with the Scout, I'm looking at the 1200 Custom from Harley Davidson. The 1200 has a slightly bigger engine, but not so much so that it knocks it out of the apple crate.

Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom

Torque-wise, the two bikes are close -- 71 pound-feet for the 1200 and 72 pound-feet for the Scout -- but maximum grunt on the Harley comes on a full 2,400 rpm sooner. Don't get me wrong, the Scout is torquey; but you have to wind it up to find it. Once you get up around 4,200 rpm, you'll feel like you have a tiger by the tail, but on the low end of the range, the 1200 has it all over.

Both bikes roll on 16-inch wheels with a fat, 130-series tire up front and a 150 in the rear and both bikes have more-than-average steering rake -- 29 degrees for the Scout and 30 degrees for the 1200 Custom -- to take full advantage of that cruiser-style fat front rubber. Brakes are also comparable with ABS standard on the Scout colors and an option on the Thunder Black.

If you love the curvy roads -- and who doesn't -- the Scout lets you take a more aggressive approach with a 31-degree lean both left and right. The 1200 Custom is a bit more reserved with 26 degrees right and 28 degrees left.

There is no clear winner here and there are all sorts of other things to consider when choosing between the two. In the end, it'll come down to personal preference and what your priorities are. Price won't be a deciding factor since the Scout will set you back $11,499 and the 1200 Custom squeaks in a little less at $10,889.

Read our full review of the Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom.

He Said

My husband and fellow writer, TJ Hinton, says, “I like the direction Indian is headed under the Polaris umbrella, and the Scout is a good example of what its engineers can do. While the Scout name is nothing new for Indian -- far from it -- this latest generation really moves the company out of the past and into the now. Notice I didn't say 'future', 'cause it still pays homage to its past without appearing to try too hard to be said past.”

She Said

“My biggest complaint about the Scout in prior years was things that wobbled, namely the mirrors and turn signals. Both are annoying when you have to constantly readjust them while you are riding. I wasn't able to tell if that's been addressed. This isn't a typical cruiser with lots of low-end torque; but then, it's kinda-sorta not exactly a cruiser in my book. Two complaints I've heard from others are the lack of engine braking and there's a whole Goldilocks thing going on in the suspension. The front end is too soft and the rear end is too hard. In order to get it just right, fiddle with the rear adjusters and check out aftermarket options for the front."

Indian Motorcycle Scout / Scout Sixty Specifications

Model:	Scout	Scout Sixty
Model:
Engine:	Liquid-Cooled, 60° V-Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder semi-dry sump	Liquid-Cooled, 60° V-Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder semi-dry sump
Bore x Stroke:	3.898 in x 2.898 in (99 mm x 74 mm)	3.661 in (93 mm) x 2.898 in (73.6 mm)
Displacement:	69 cu in (1,133 cc )	60 cu in (999 cc)
Compression Ratio:	10.7:1	11.0:1
Horsepower:	100 hp (74.7 kW) @ 8,100 rpm	78 hp (58.2 kW) @ 7,200 rpm
Peak Torque:	72 lb-ft (97.7 Nm) @ 6,000 rpm	65 lb-ft (88.8 Nm) @ 5,800 rpm
Electronic Fuel Injection System:	Closed loop fuel injection / 60 mm bore	Closed loop fuel injection / 54 mm bore
Clutch:	Wet, Multi-plate	Wet, Multi-plate
Primary Drive:	Gear Drive Wet Clutch	Gear Drive Wet Clutch
Final Drive:	Belt drive, 141 tooth	Belt drive, 141 tooth
Transmission:	6-Speed, constant mesh, foot shift	5-Speed, constant mesh, foot shift
Exhaust:	Split Dual Exhaust w/ Cross-over	Split Dual Exhaust w/ Cross-over
Gear Ratio (Overall):
1st:	10.926 : 1	10.926 : 1
2nd:	7.427 : 1	7.427 : 1
3rd:	5.918 : 1	5.918 : 1
4th:	5.022 : 1	5.022 : 1
5th:	4.439 : 1	4.087:1
6th:	4.087 : 1
Scout
Suspension, Front/Travel:	Telescopic Fork, 41 mm cartridge type / 4.7 in (120 mm)	Telescopic Fork, 41 mm cartridge type / 4.7 in (120 mm)
Suspension, Rear/Travel:	Dual Shocks, adjustable / 3.0 in (76 mm)	Dual Shocks, adjustable / 3.0 in (76 mm)
Rake:	29°	29°
Lean Angle:	31°	31°
Trail:	4.7 in (119.9 mm)	4.7 in (119.9 mm)
Brakes: Front:	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 2 Piston Caliper	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 2 Piston Caliper
Brakes: Rear:	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 1 Piston Caliper	Single 298 mm floating rotor, 1 Piston Caliper
Wheel: Front:	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)
Wheel: Rear:	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)	Cast 16 in x 3.5 in (406 mm x 89 mm)
Tire: Front:	Pirelli Night Dragon 130/90B16 67H	Kenda® K673F, 130/90B-16 72H
Tire: Rear:	Pirelli Night Dragon 150/80B16 77H	Kenda® K673F, 150/80B-16 71H
Scout Sixty
Length:	91 in (2,311 mm)	91 in (2,311 mm)
Wheelbase:	61.5 in (1,562 mm)	61.5 in (1,562 mm)
Seat Height:	Laden: 25.8 in (656 mm), Unladen: 26.8 in (680 mm)	Laden: 25.8 in (656 mm), Unladen: 26.8 in (680 mm)
Ground Clearance:	5.3 in (135 mm)	5.3 in (135 mm)
Overall Height:	47.5 in (1,207 mm)	47.5 in (1,207 mm)
Overall Length:	91 in (2,311 mm)	91 in (2,311 mm)
Overall Width:	34.6 in (880 mm)	34.6 in (880 mm)
Oil Capacity:	4.5 qts
Fuel Capacity:	3.3 gal (12.5 l)	3.3 gal (12.5 l)
GVWR:	988 lbs (449 kg)	988 lbs (449 kg)
Dry Weight (w/o ABS):	533 lbs (242 kg)	525 lbs (238 kg)
Engine & Drivetrain:
Battery:	12 volts, 13 amp/hour, 230 CCA	12 volts, 13 amp/hour, 230 CCA
Charging System:	35 amp max output	35 amp max output
Lights:	Headlight, tail/brake light, turn signals, license plate light, and speedometer and indicator lights	Headlight, tail/brake light, turn signals, license plate light, and speedometer and indicator lights
Gauges:	Digital tachometer, odometer, trip meter, engine temp, and low fuel lamp	Digital tachometer, odometer, trip meter, engine temp, and low fuel lamp
Chassis:
Color / Graphics:
└ 2016:	Thunder Black, Silver Smoke, Thunder Black Smoke, Wildfire Red, Indian Red	Thunder Black, Indian Motorcycle Red®, Pearl White
└ 2017:	Thunder Black, Ivory Cream, Thunder Black Smoke, Silver Smoke, Burgundy Metallic, Brilliant Blue, White & Red, Indian Motorcycle® Red over Thunder Black	Thunder Black, Pearl White, Indian Motorcycle® Red
└ 2018:	Thunder Black, Metallic Jade, Burgundy Metallic, Brilliant Blue over White, Willow Green over Ivory Cream	Thunder Black, Polished Bronze, Indian Motorcycle® Red, Thunder Black over Titanium Metallic
└ 2019:	Thunder Black, Deep Water Metallic, Metallic Jade, Willow Green/Ivory Cream, Indian Motorcycle Red/ Thunder Black	Thunder Black, Ruby Metallic, White Smoke, Star Silver/Thunder Black
└ 2020:	Thunder Black, White Smoke, Deepwater Metallic, Indian Motorcycle® Red/Ivory Cream, Metallic Jade/Thunder Black, ICON Dirt Track Smoke/Thunder Black, ICON Indian Sky Blue/Pearl White, ICON Ruby Metallic/Pearl White	Thunder Black, Burgundy Metallic, Pearl White/Titanium Metallic
└ 2021:	Thunder Black, White Smoke, Deepwater Metallic, Maroon Metallic Crimson/Crimson Metallic, ICON Blue Slate Metallic/Cobra Silver, ICON: Stealth Gray/Thunder Black, ICON: Arizona Turquoise/Pearl White	Thunder Black, Ruby Metallic
Price:
└ 2017:	$11,299, Color: $11,500 (ABS:$12,299), Two-Tone: $12,899	$8,999, Color: $9,299 (ABS: $9,999), Two-Tone: $10,599
└ 2018:	$11,499, Color: $11,999 (ABS: $12,499), Two-Tone: $12,999	$8,999, Color: $9,499 (ABS: $9,999), Two-Tone: $10,499
└ 2019:	$11,499 (w/ABS $12,299), Color (w/ABS): $12,799, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $13,299	$8,999 (w/ABS: $9,799), Color (w/ABS):$10,299, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $10,799
└ 2020:	$11,499 (w/ABS $12,399), Color (w/ABS): $12,899, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $13,399, ICON: $13,899	$8,999 (w/ABS: $9,799), Color (w/ABS):$10,299, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $10,799
└ 2021:	$11,999 (w/ABS $12,899), Color (w/ABS): $13,399, Two-Tone (w/ABS): $13,899, ICON: $14.399	$9,499 (w/ABS: $10,299), Color (w/ABS):$10,799