2015 Indian Scout merged threadfest

[drlapo]

the rear mudguard on the Scout looks like it fell off a boat trailer
the engine sounds like a good one but the styling leaves me cold
only have to change: wheels, frame, all bodywork and that seat!

[rocker59]

the rear mudguard on the Scout looks like it fell off a boat trailer
the engine sounds like a good one but the styling leaves me cold
only have to change: wheels, frame, all bodywork and that seat!

So, then I'd say you are not the target demographic for this machine...    :D

[drlapo]

BINGO!

[tonUPRacer]

We have a local Indian dealer, I had absolutely no interest in demo'ing their previous offerings, I'd like to take the Scout for a spin. Replace my Racer? Nope, but IF I were in a position for a second bike, I'd give it a look.

[dl.allen]

Just checked them out at the new dealership in boise which is across the parking lot from the harley dealership
their sales people were awesome. Insisting I test ride as long as I wanted and knew all thr tech specs of the bikes.
went next door to harley and didn't even get noticed.
I would buy the Indian purely on that experience if I had money

[drums4money]

Bump.  Have y'all lost interest already ???

 :bike

Just wait for Roland Sands to put a sport seat, rear-sets & clip-on's on this bad boy. 
That's when the gloves will really come off.  Maybe a board-tracker inspired creation?

So far in my sheltered 46 years, this is the only sorta cruiser I've liked enough to give a 2nd look.   

[bad Chad]

Yea, I lost what little interest I had.  What's next?

[rocker59]

I just know a "Sport Scout" will be next on the roster.

I also think this Scout would look a lot better with a black 2:1 exhaust instead of the huge chromed 2:2 they're showing it with...

[Thunderbox]

I like it too, and with twice the hp of the H-D Sportster 1200, only a brainwashed fool would choose the Sporty over the Indian.



 :bow

1200 Sportster only has 50 HP??????  Where do you get those figures?

[rocker59]

1200 Sportster only has 50 HP??????  Where do you get those figures?

"twice the power" was simple hyberbole.

Sportster 1200 =   Horsepower: 67.7 hp @ 5680 rpm

source

Sounds better than "1.4777 times the power of a Sportster"

[Thunderbox]

On the Sporty vs. Scout thing, I EXPECT the Scout to offer more performance out of the box and for it to be hard for Sportys to match it just based on power-to-weight ratio.

I LOVE my Sporty and wouldn't trade it for a Scout for multiple reasons, but it's still in the upper 500# range and maybe is putting out 70-80 hp at the crank, more like 60-70 at the rear wheel.

So the Scout is lighter and makes more power for starters.

I still haven't seen all the specs (wheelbase, length, details on the valve train). I assume the Scout is going to require periodic valve adjustments (and if so, advantage Sporty).

And there are certainly guys who get 100+ hp out of their sportys, but that takes some work including cams and heads, not just air cleaner/exhaust/mapping.

But there's just no way an air-cooled, pushrod 2V/Cylinder V2 is going to compete in that arena with a water-cooled multi-valve OHC motor.

I might still choose the Sporty if buying new tomorrow, but for other reasons than straight power-to-weight performance.

Actually that statement is incorrect.  Buell made air cooled engines that had 102 HP and 82 lbs ft of torque and were lighter than either the Sportster or Scout .  2 Cylinder 1200 cc 2 valve per cylinder pushrod engines.   They were reliable and had great driveability.  You had to ride one to appreciate it.  I went to a test ride and walked away with a Buell Cyclone the first time and a Buell Ulysses the second time.  I  love the Norge for all it is but I have to admit the Buell engine was smoother and way more powerful with much more torque down low.  Had they continued to build bikes and offered one with wind protection and ABS I would have stayed with them.

[steven c]

 What he said and under 500LBs, I love my Uly.  ;-T

[youcanrunnaked]

Stock Sportsters have had about 60 hp (measured at the crank) for the past, oh, forty years.  That shows up at the rear wheel as around 50 hp.  Newer models supposedly make up to around 70 crank hp, so current model rwhp might be a few ponies more.

According to the dealer that I spoke to this weekend, the 100 hp figure Indian quotes for the new Scout is as measured at the rear wheel.

Buell made the most that they could from the Sportster engine, but what they wound up with was neither smooth nor reliable.

[Kev m]

"twice the power" was simple hyberbole.

Sportster 1200 =   Horsepower: 67.7 hp @ 5680 rpm

source

Sounds better than "1.4777 times the power of a Sportster"

I feel like I already answered this earlier in this thread, but I'm too lazy to look.

FWIW - the Cycleworld figures are REAR WHEEL, not crank.

I'm CERTAIN that the 100 hp we've been quoted regarding the Scout is CRANK.

So it's probably closer to 80 or 90.... meaning it's more like only 1.15 to 1.32 times...

I'm just saying...

[Kev m]

Actually that statement is incorrect.  Buell made air cooled engines that had 102 HP and 82 lbs ft of torque and were lighter than either the Sportster or Scout .  2 Cylinder 1200 cc 2 valve per cylinder pushrod engines.   They were reliable and had great driveability.  You had to ride one to appreciate it.  I went to a test ride and walked away with a Buell Cyclone the first time and a Buell Ulysses the second time.  I  love the Norge for all it is but I have to admit the Buell engine was smoother and way more powerful with much more torque down low.  Had they continued to build bikes and offered one with wind protection and ABS I would have stayed with them.

It's not incorrect (and look at my signature, I have ridden and appreciate it lol), but you're taking it out of context.

Those Buell's wouldn't make today's emissions standards.

[steven c]

Stock Sportsters have had about 60 hp (measured at the crank) for the past, oh, forty years.  That shows up at the rear wheel as around 50 hp.  Newer models supposedly make up to around 70 crank hp, so current model rwhp might be a few ponies more.

According to the dealer that I spoke to this weekend, the 100 hp figure Indian quotes for the new Scout is as measured at the rear wheel.

Buell made the most that they could from the Sportster engine, but what they wound up with was neither smooth nor reliable.

Lets see my Buell is smooth over 3K not bad down to 2K under that, well it does shake a bit. There are plenty of XB bulls hitting the 100K mark, I have a friend with over 70K and it runs fine. Yes they have a few niggling problems just like Guzzi and BMW. 2007 was a bad year for cranks though.

[Kev m]

Stock Sportsters have had about 60 hp (measured at the crank) for the past, oh, forty years.  That shows up at the rear wheel as around 50 hp.  Newer models supposedly make up to around 70 crank hp, so current model rwhp might be a few ponies more.

WOAH WOAH WOAH

WAYYYYYYYYY to much of a generalization.

Remember that the 1200cc Sportsters got the W-cams (basically what was used in the 96-02 1200S models) and the current heads (basically equivalent of the Buell Thunderstorm heads) back in 2004 or stated another way A DECADE AGO, and some of the 1200 models (the 1200S) were making more than that most of another decade earlier.

So that cuts your "last 40 years" to "about two decades ago"  ;)

So, NO, the 1200cc Sportsters have not made about 60 hp at the crank for the past FOURTY or so years, because at least the last TEN they've made more.

MCN

96 1200S - 56 rwhp
99 1200S - 56.4 rwhp
04 1200C - 58 rwhp
07 1200N - 57 rwhp

And, I know it's not apples-to-apples, but FWIW Stage I's of rubbermount 1200 Sportys regularly show in the 70-80 hp range on the dyno.

According to the dealer that I spoke to this weekend, the 100 hp figure Indian quotes for the new Scout is as measured at the rear wheel.

I'm very skeptical about that.

It's been more than a decade since I've seen any manufacturers publish REAR wheel numbers in press releases or brochures - Ducati and Buell were the last holdouts.

I don't think I've ever seen an Indian press piece that offered rear wheel hp (not even sure if I remember one that showed crank figures from them).

Buell made the most that they could from the Sportster engine, but what they wound up with was neither smooth nor reliable.

One could argue they had that licked, but other things go in the way.

[steven c]

 I'm another non cruiser guy who finds the Scout interesting and I have always liked the Sportster but not the newer ones so much, more style then substance. If they came out with a Sport scout which they should because all their marketing seems to be what a great race bike it was. I like the way it looks but riding feet forward never feels right to me, your just not centered.

[CND]

So far in my sheltered 46 years, this is the only sorta cruiser I've liked enough to give a 2nd look.   

I'm older than you and still waiting for my first  ;)

Reminds me of Slim Pickens  :)

[Bill929]

Huh? Are we looking at the same bike?

I'm NOT a fan of water cooled bikes, BUT at first glance I really like this and think it has a lot going for it:

+1.  I don't think they have a mid control option, but they do have a reduced reach peg set up, which should bring the pegs back some. 

[rocker59]

The front fender , and the wheel , brake , and tire package visually overwhelm the forks .

   Dusty

And they're sort of spindly, at 41mm.  (not that 41mm forks are really spindly, but they're going for a fat look).

If they'd gone with 45mm, it would have been better. 

If they'd gone with inverted forks from a Victory Hammer, it would've been even better !!!

[ohiorider]

Stopped at a dealer this afternoon in the Youngstown/Girard Ohio area.  Two Sports Scouts being displayed ... traditional Indian rust red and another in flat black.  Interesting enough to me that my riding buddy and I signed up for a demo ride near the end of September. There's things I don't like about Polaris' choice of finishes for some of the cosmetic engine trim, but all in all, an interesting 'Made In America' cruiser.

Question, is it possible to put a durable powder coat finish over chrome?

[Kev m]

I THINK the size of the forks are a purposeful look. The style of bike tends to visually emphasize wheel size over fork size and spread in the trees. Not to mention the size of the fender is again, an homage to what the public perceives as "Indian" styling cues.

Question, is it possible to put a durable powder coat finish over chrome?

I've had great luck covering it up with powdercoat over the years.

[Kev m]

OK , so they made it resemble one of those weird 250 CC Chinese cruisers on purpose  ;D

  Dusty

 >:(    :D    :BEER:


Like I say it's a look.

[youcanrunnaked]

WOAH WOAH WOAH...


MCN

96 1200S - 56 rwhp
99 1200S - 56.4 rwhp
04 1200C - 58 rwhp
07 1200N - 57 rwhp

You realize you're arguing over 6-8 hp, as measured by one particular dyno, right?   ;)

I do not vouch for what the Indian dealer told me; I was surprised to hear that the hp figure was rwhp.  I would not be surprised if he was wrong about that.

Buell turned the Sportster lump into an over-achiever, but there were adverse consequences: excessive heat, NVH, and mechanical failures.  As any engineer will tell you, there are no free lunches.

[cruzziguzzi]

I don't think I'll ever cease to marvel at the infatuation with HP - especially in such small increments.

If I had $1 for every time someone has - without solicitation - told me that I NEED to put a 1200 kit on my 883, I gould buy a couple of tanks of gas. Admittedly, a couple of very small Sportster tanks but still. :BEER:

[Kev m]

You realize you're arguing over 6-8 hp, as measured by one particular dyno, right?   ;)


Buell turned the Sportster lump into an over-achiever, but there were adverse consequences: excessive heat, NVH, and mechanical failures.  As any engineer will tell you, there are no free lunches.

No I'm arguing over about 10 hp from your claims, which is approaching 20% but more importantly represents the primary difference between a rubbermount generation motor and the previous solidmounts.

And honestly, I'm talking about a tend I've noticed in dynos from multiple sources, magazine and owners.

As for Buell, mine makes nearly 100 rwhp, has no problems with heat, and I doubt the original owner would have kept it so long if there were mechanical issues.

The problems came with strangling emissions and HP races, as well as pressures from Harley to rapidly up production and cut costs. What's really sad is they were through the tunnel by the end.

[Kev m]

I don't think I'll ever cease to marvel at the infatuation with HP - especially in such small increments.

If I had $1 for every time someone has - without solicitation - told me that I NEED to put a 1200 kit on my 883, I gould buy a couple of tanks of gas. Admittedly, a couple of very small Sportster tanks but still. :BEER:

I love 883's, but the HP/speed difference between them and a 1200 is like the difference between a smallblock and big block Guzzi.

[Triple Jim]

I also think this Scout would look a lot better with a black 2:1 exhaust instead of the huge chromed 2:2 they're showing it with...

That's the first thing I thought when I saw it.  The mufflers are stupid looking, and overwhelm an otherwise OK looking bike.  Even a chrome 2:1 would look a lot better, but for years I've been saying that black is the new chrome and has been for decades.   :D

[steven c]

Catalyst inside those mufflers?