Indian Scout Sixty
INDIAN SCOUT SIXTY
CHARACTERS
SMALLER PISTONS, FEWER GEARS, LOWER PRICE, SIMILARLY GREAT BIKE
PETER JONES
You've likely heard that the Indian Scout is an awesome motorcycle that provides a great riding experience on a great cruiser platform at a great price. But if that’s true, is a detuned version that’s missing 134.cc (8ci) and a gear, weighs 4 pounds more, and costs $2,300 less a good value or a false economy?
Putting the answer into just one sentence: The 2016 Scout Sixty isn’t missing a damn thing that takes away from the impressive riding experience of the Scout, and its $2,300 lower price should be looked at as a significant added feature. The result is buyers feeling as though they’re getting more, not less. Plus, is there any bike in the Scout Sixty’s price niche/ displacement class with comparable performance, quality, and cost?
No size of Scout is a performance motorcycle, so hard numbers don’t much matter. If a rider is regularly riding a Scout Sixty to redline, it’s the wrong bike. What does matter is feel, comfort, cool factor, character, and that this bike goes fast enough for fun—more than 100 mph—and carries two people up a steep hill in any gear. We’re so spoiled with great bikes these days that one can forget that 65 pound-feet of torque and 78 claimed hp is nothing to pout about.
Differences from the big Scout in broad strokes? The Sixty’s engine covers, wheels, air cleaner, and horn have more black; the Sixty has no logo plate on the front of the bike; its frame is black instead of charcoal; the seat is vinyl (there’s a leather option); one gear is missing (though fifth’s ratio is the same as the big Scout’s sixth); the steel-sleeved bores are smaller; and there’s altered mapping, weight, and price. That’s it.
In detail, the Sixty has the same ECU hardware but different programing. The 4 pounds of added weight to the claimed 542 pounds dry is said to be the result of thicker-walled cylinder sleeves. The smaller bore is alone the 134CC difference— down from 1,133 to 999—with the stroke unchanged for cylinder dimensions of 93 x 73.6mm. Yes, the engine is actually 6ici, not 60. Write that one off to the naming department.
Another difference in feel is the rear suspension, which doesn’t clunk when the shocks top out, as did the original Scout. Indian says the top-out stops are softer and that all Scouts share that update. What is the same is limited suspension travel, but it’s pretty much normal for this class of bike.
The Scout Sixty delivers a top-notch ride in a great-looking platform, and the price is cause for owner rejoice, not shame. Plus, another attraction of this bike is its mystery, which is the same one on the daddy Scout but slightly adjusted: Exactly where is the as-yet-unleashed 40-plus hp hiding inside this engine design? Your search starts at just $8,999.
