If no-frills riding is your thing, the bare-bones Indian Sports Cruiser combines retro low-slung Bobber styling with punchy performance

BY TJ HINTON  - SOURCE: TOPSPEED

Indian Motorcycle rolls into MY2023 with a rollover, retro-tacular Bobber model from its Scout family. This bike channels its own deep history with design elements borrowed from way back to include old-school custom culture and a nod to the old rigid rear-end frames with its own rear-end geometry. The V-Twin engine manages to suggest the look of the old mills, but with modern, liquid-cooled technology and powerful output figures.

The Scout moniker was first used from 1920 to 1949 and was one of the factory's most prodigious Indian models at that time. Reintroduced as a 2015 cruiser, the base Scout model has since launched a number of variants to include the Big Bobber; called so to distinguish between this bike and the smaller-displacement, Scout Bobber Sixty.

KEY FEATURES

• Modern Take On Classic Bobber Styling
• Sporty, Aggressive Performance
• Genuine Leather Bobber Saddle
• Available ABS
• Nice Paint

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Scout Bobber
• Engine:: 1,133 cc V-Twin
• Power Output: 100 HP @ 8,100 RPM
• Torque: 72 LB-FT (98 Nm) @ 5,900 RPM
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
• MSRP: $12,249

PROS

• Powerful And Fun
• Low Seat Height
• Retro Design

CONS

• Lack Of Higher Electronics
• Forward Foot Controls Can Be Wearisome
• Lack Of Dual Front Brakes

2023 Indian Scout Bobber Performance And Capability

The 2023 Indian Scout Bobber produces 100 horsepower and 72 pound-feet of torque. The torque doesn't fully develop until 5,900 rpm while the ponies pony up in full at the 8,100 mark, so this is clearly an engine that likes to be wound up pretty tight, especially for a V-twin.

A 99 mm bore and 73.6 mm stroke give it a 1,133 cc displacement with a warmish, 10.7-to-1 compression ratio that will want mid-grade pusholine to make the magic happen with no knock, ping, or dieseling. Like its counterpart, the Harley-Davidson Sportster, the Scout engine is what you might call a post-unit engine. In this configuration, the responsive 6-speed transmission and clutch are built into the same cases as the engine for an overall compact and self-contained drivetrain.

Rather than a chain, it uses a gear-type primary drive to power the clutch hub. A fiber-reinforced belt carries power to the rear wheel with an overall drive ratio that turns out a Scout Bobber top speed right around the 128-MPH mark. Overall, the liquid-cooled, 69-cubic-inch, 100-horsepower V-twin is a powerful engine that makes raw power and a thrilling ride accessible to riders.

Design

The overall design of this little gem holds a host of Easter Eggs. Let's start with the sheet metal. Someone went nuts with the grinder and left a vestigial front fender and what I can only describe as a whacked rear fender that's barely large enough to clear its own struts. 

The taillight and turn signals mount to the fender, but the tag mounts off to the left side of the rear, so it doesn't ruin that custom-classic rear end. Fat tires and ample blackout paint add more yet to the custom look, but it's the stretched, teardrop tank that really steals the show.

You get a sharp-looking, genuine leather bobber-style seat. The two-tone saddle slings your butt at 25.6 inches off the deck which should accommodate some fairly short riders, but it's a solo seat as the Bobber rolls off the showroom floor. The cockpit is similarly clean with a single round headlight ahead of a single round gauge, which packs a digital tachometer, engine temp, trip meter, odometer, and low fuel lamp. I'm loving the hang-down bar-end mirrors too, what a nice custom touch. Despite the aggressive stance and class-leading horsepower, the Scout with its bobber styling offers a relaxed ride.

Chassis

The factory went to great lengths to cultivate that old-school look in the Scout Bobber, and it starts in the frame. A constant angle of drop from the steering head and down the backbone picks up by the rear shock to give the bike a bit of a hardtail look without going overboard with a whole swing-cage thing hanging off the rear end.

Rake and trail are somewhat relaxed from a pure sport machine with a 29-degree rake and 5.1 inches of trail for a measure of stability with decent tracking. However, if you are into flogging it for fun, the 5.1-inch ground clearance delivers a lean angle of 29 degrees to either side, so you can get just about as jiggy with it as you like.

The 41 mm forks come with set parameters and 4.7 inches of travel, which is about right for a cruiser motorcycle. But out back, the two-inch suspension stroke is almost medieval and superior only to an actual rigid frame in practice.

Cast-alloy, blackout wheels roll in a 16-inch diameter at both ends with Pirelli MT60RS stealth-knobby tires in a 130/90 ahead of a 150/80 for that low-down and fat look. As for brakeage, it relies on the strength of a single front brake with a 298 mm rotor and two-piston anchor and a single-bore caliper, and another 298 mm disc out back. ABS is standard on all but the lone non-ABS colorway at the bottom of the price range.

Chassis & Suspension
Front Suspension/ Travel	41 mm Telescopic fork/ 4.7 in
Rear Suspension/ Travel	Dual shocks/ 2.0 in
Rake	29°
Trail	4.7 in
Front Wheel	Cast Black, 16” x 3.5"
Rear Wheel	Cast Black, 16” x 3.5"
Front Tire	Pirelli® MT60RS, 130/90B16 67H
Rear Tire	Pirelli® MT60RS 150/80B16 77H
Front Brake	298 mm floating disc, 2-piston caliper
Rear Brake	298 mm floating disc, single-piston caliper

2023 Indian Scout Bobber Price And Availability

The 2023 Indian Scout Bobber costs $12,249. That's for the non-ABS model in Black Metallic. If you fancy one of the nine remaining color options, all with ABS, the starting price will range from $13,149 to $14,649.

Pricing & Features
Warranty	Two-Year Unlimited Mileage
Colors
└ 2018	Thunder Black, Bronze Smoke, Star Silver Smoke, Indian Motorcycle Red, Thunder Black Smoke
└ 2019	Thunder Black, Thunder Black Smoke, White Smoke, Bronze Smoke
└ 2020	Thunder Black, Thunder Black Smoke, Bronze Smoke, White Smoke, Deepwater Metallic, ICON Radar Blue, ICON Ruby Smoke, ICON Deep Brass Smoke
└ 2021	Thunder Black, Thunder Black Smoke, Maroon Metallic Smoke, White Smoke, Alumina Jade Smoke, ICON Indy Red, ICON Burnt Orange Metallic Smoke, ICON Thunder Black Azure Crystal
└ 2022	Black Metallic, Black Smoke, Titanium Metallic, Maroon Metallic Smoke, Silver Quartz Smoke, Alumina Jade Smoke, ICON Indy Red, ICON Blue Slate Smoke, ICON Black Azure Crystal
└ 2023	Black Metallic, Black Smoke, Springfield Blue, Silver Quartz Smoke, Sagebrush Smoke, ICON Stealth Gray Azure Crystal, ICON Copper Smoke, ICON Indy Red
Price
└ 2018	Thunder Black: $11,499, Colors: $11,999, Thunder Black Smoke w/ABS: $12,499
└ 2019	Thunder Black: $11,999, Thunder Black w/ABS: $12,799, Colors: $13,299
└ 2020	Thunder Black: $10,999, Thunder Black w/ ABS: $11,899, Colors: $12,399, ICON: $12,899
└ 2021	Thunder Black: $10,999, Thunder Black w/ ABS: $11,899, Colors: $12,399 - $12,899, ICON: $13,399
└ 2022	Black Metallic: $12,249, Black Metallic w/ ABS: $13,149, Colors: $13,649 - $14,149, ICON: $14,649
└ 2023	Black Non-ABS: $12,249, Black w/ABS: $13,149, Color: $13,649, Premium Color: $14,149, ICON: $14,649

BY TJ HINTON  - SOURCE: TOPSPEED