The Indian Scout Bobber didn’t hit our radar until our team went to the 2018 AIMExpo in Las Vegas last October.
We were making our rounds and stumbled across Indian Motorcycles’ booth. Among all the gorgeous bikes, we saw one Indian Scout that looked like it didn’t quite belong.
This bike had almost a custom look and feel to it. Like someone customized an Indian Chief to turn it into a clean, low-riding bobber.
After gawking at the sheer beauty of it, I realized this bike was not only a customization virgin, but also a factory Indian Scout Bobber.
This stock motorcycle is a near perfect bike as far as aesthetics, quality, and price are concerned. All it needs to achieve absolute perfection in the eye of any motorcycle enthusiast are a few minor changes, i.e. a new exhaust and license plate holder.
Last year Garrison and I got the chance to ride many different motorcycles at the AimExpo.
We both locked eyes with the striking Indian Scout Bobber and were immediately drawn to the style, stock characteristics, and tucked-in tail.
Most bike mirrors look like bug antennas that stick up oddly, so they’re usually the first thing we take off when trying to mod a bike. With the Bobber, its stock mirrors are reversible and are a really cool touch from the get-go.
Luckily our team had a chance to test drive a whole lineup of new motorcycles, the Indian Scout Bobber being one of them.
My admiration is based purely on aesthetics at this point, and I didn’t quite know what to expect for rider comfort and engine power. I was more excited for this test ride than a kid twisting the throttle for the very first time!
I had ridden cruisers around parking lots, but had never had the chance to take one out on the open road… Man, was this the bike to have that first experience on!
The engine is essentially an extension of the frame, helping it sit very low. Ducati’s use their engine as a part of the frame too, which is a good thing seeing as how I stand around 5’9”.
The center of gravity is low which makes it very easy to maneuver around in parking lots and slow turns. The seat and handlebars are positioned at the perfect distance and stance. The power delivery is linear and responsive with much better throttle response than any of its competitors on the market.
Riding this bike is an absolute pleasure and embodies everything riders expect out of a motorcycle: fun, relaxing, sporty – yet comfortable enough to take on long road trips.
I’m an adrenaline junky at heart and I’ve always had motocross, sport, or supermoto bikes. So I’ve never ridden a cruiser before.
When I first threw a leg over that bike and sat down, I felt odd. I had to stretch out to reach the hand and foot controls. Once the initial shock wore off I actually felt great in that position. The bars and foot controls can change to fit tall or short riders. But the stock setup felt perfect for my 5’10” frame.
The ride is smooth, comfortable, responsive, but not aggressive… which inspires my rider confidence on the bike.
I was surprised at how easy it was to control. The power delivery through the throttle, the clutch engagement, and the shifting is all impressive, consistent, and smooth. The most noticeable aspect and first impression of the ride is how amazingly smooth the suspension and brakes are.
Clearly a lot of work went into making sure this bike was one you could ride all day.
I fell in love with this bike immediately, as soon as I first started it.
We rode several other cruisers at the expo, but I couldn’t shake the feel of that Indian Scout Bobber. The package was so impressive and I knew I needed to hunt one down and add it to my stable. Everything from the power delivery to the comfortability made it clear that it is the perfect cruiser for me.
As soon as we got back to DFW, I headed over to my local dealership and snagged one. I just had to have it.
Now that winter is here, I’ve winterized it and stowed it away. But you can bet your tail you’ll find me cruising down 455 on this beauty of a bike soon.
You can see the other motorcycles that our team and Ken have in their “stables” here: https://www.motorbikeworks.com/blog/mbw-team/motorcycle-shop-crew/