Indian Scout Wins Motorcycle of the Year and Best Cruiser of the Year!

Indian® Scout Wins Motorcycle of the Year and Best Cruiser of the Year!

In order to win Motorcycle of the Year, Indian Motorcycle® must have created “something special and the Scout is more than just a class-beating cruiser”.

“For example, developing an engine is the most costly process in producing a new motorcycle, and having Indian® release its second created-from-scratch power plant in just two years speaks of the commitment and the understanding on Polaris’ part that it will take years to recoup the expenditure. Let’s just say that, after decades of being the name of a former motorcycle manufacturer, the Indian® brand has some unfinished business in the American-made cruiser market. We look forward to watching this play out”.

Indian® Scout Wins “Best Cruiser” at 2015 Motorcycle of the Year Awards!

“It can be next to impossible to do something new in the notoriously conservative cruiser category and actually get away with it. In a class where retrograde styling and performance is often rewarded – if not actually demanded – it can be counterproductive to take risks or attempt to push the envelope in any new direction”.

A Closer Look at the 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse

Here is what some of our customers are saying about us:

I purchased an Indian® Vintage on 10 October at Twigg Cycles. Every single aspect of my purchase experience was exceptional. I made a query regarding the Vintage and Kelby Brookens responded within hours saying he had the bike I wanted along with the current offers in place at the time. When I came to the shop (this was my first time), I was offered assistance immediately. My sales rep was Buddy and he made the entire process simple and easy. He walked me through how everything on the bike works and then I test drove it. The best part is that I rode my current motorcycle to get there and had no way to get it home. Buddy drove my bike to my house that evening (about a 50 mile ride) so I could ride my new bike home. I dealt with Frank in financing, Sam in service and Jessica in apparel/sales….all of them were great. There is a brand new Ind®ian dealer a couple miles from where I live. However, I will be headed back to Twigg cycles for my parts, service and motorcycle needs. Keep up the great work Team Twigg! 5 Star Review: Scott Lowdermilk

Best Cruiser/Custom

​​​​​​​Indian Scout

‘Look out Harley’

It was a big deal when Indian®, one of the most historic names in motorcycling, returned to production. Indian® was back, and so was its iconic Scout.

The American firm could’ve churned out a generic cruiser and slapped a Scout badge on it, but they decided to innovate. It’s powered by a 1133cc liquid-cooled V-twin, but it’s not your usual, lolloping cruiser engine. It loves revs and, as a result, it puts a smile on your face almost instantly.

Of course, there’s plenty of torque from tickover, as you would expect from a cruiser, but things really get interesting above 5000rpm, where the Scout happily romps all the way up to 8000rpm.

The V-twin’s eagerness to rev is something its rivals simply cannot match and it makes the Scout a truly engaging ride on open roads. It entices you to work the engine that bit harder, instead of just throbbing along at tickover.

Adding to its ability to have fun the Scout weighs just 246kg. That might still sound pretty heavy, but many cruisers are pushing on 300kg, if not more. This lack of weight is noticeable the moment you sit on the Indian® and lift it, with ease, off its sidestand. On the move this translates to a bike that’s easy to turn, despite its cruiser-long wheelbase. ABS comes as standard, too and it helps bring the Scout to a stop, without the electronic control being too intrusive or crude.

Indian® is owned by Polaris, the same company behind Victory. They’ve been building bikes for a while now so they know what they’re doing and the Scout’s build quality shines through.

They could’ve designed the engine to look air-cooled, but they’ve embraced liquid-cooling and made the engine the main aesthetic feature, so as well as performing exceptionally well, it looks superb, too.

The Indian® is a cruiser that feels like it belongs in the 21st century. The free-revving engine gives it performance to punch way above its weight, it’s manageable at slow speed and easy to handle in the corners.

The Scout may be a name steeped in motorcycle history, but Indian®’s new machine belongs in the here and now.

Indian Motorcycle® & King Baby Announces Indian® By King Baby (Premium Jewelry Line)

Indian Motorcycle® is proud to announce the Indian® by King Baby® jewelry line for bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts. The collection will feature jewelry, and include bracelets, pendants, rings, belt buckles, and key rings.

Indian Motorcycle® is proud to announce the Indian® by King Baby® jewelry line for bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts. The collection will feature jewelry, and include bracelets, pendants, rings, belt buckles, and key rings.

King Baby® is world renowned for creating some of the most unique, highly-detailed, and most sought after premium jewelry collections. Indian Motorcycle® has a rich history dating back to 1901 when they successfully designed, built and tested their first motorcycle. By the mid-1910s, Indian® became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. Today, Indian® uses the most advanced bike building technology while keeping the traditional Indian® style.

“I have been a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast so when Indian® approached us with the idea of a cobranded project I was more than excited to become part of the history of the oldest American-made motorcycle company,” said Mitchell Binder, Founder and Owner of King Baby®

The Indian® by King Baby® line is styled with the original aesthetic of Indian Motorcycle® and crafted in the USA with King Baby® quality and artistry.

“Indian Motorcycle® are pleased to be working with King Baby® Studio on a premium range of jewelry that delivers quality, craftsmanship and American made character that we are sure customer will enjoy”, said Steve Menneto, VP of Motorcycles, Polaris Industries Inc.

The Indian® by King Baby® line is now available from selected Indian® Motorcycle dealers across North America.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®

Indian Motorcycle®, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), is America’s first motorcycle company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle® has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit http://www.indianmotorcycle.com.

ABOUT KING BABY®

King Baby® Studio spawns its roots in the rebellious spirit of rock ‘n’ roll sex appeal. Jewelry that is hand-crafted in the U.S.A. from precious metals, stones, and exotic leather. Designer, Mitchell Binder, draws inspiration from his personal experiences to his world of celebrity clients, each piece holds special meaning. King Baby® jewelry and accessories bring out the edgy aesthetic in all individuals that wear the timeless brand. For more information, visit http://www.kingbaby.com.

The New:

INDIAN® SCOUT® SIXTY

SPECIFICATIONS

Indian® Scout Sixty First Ride2016-Scout-Sixty-tank

Indian Motorcycle® hit the jackpot when it resurrected the storied Scout model. Messing with a historic model is always a gamble, especially one with such a fabled history as the Scout, and expectations placed on the next-gen Scout were high. When Indian® launched the new Scout with a cast aluminum frame, bolted the shocks directly to the rear casting, and squeezed its 60 degree V-Twin with machined cases tightly into that package, it was a drastic deviation from the brand’s norm. Which wasn’t a bad thing, because as soon as riders hitched a leg over the new Scout, they were quickly sold on the merits of its performance.

The 2015 Scout was a Sportster slayer, quicker off the line, quicker in the turns, higher revving with more horsepower. We know, because we pitted the two against one another (2015 Harley Sportster vs Indian® Scout). The Scout has been a huge commercial success, so hearing news that Indian® was launching the 2016 Scout Sixty at EICMA came as a bit of a surprise. Even more so when we learned that besides dropping a few cc’s of displacement and a gear from the transmission this new Scout was, to borrow a line from the Talking Heads, “the same as it ever was.”

Indian®’s strategy with the Scout Sixty makes more sense, however, once compared to its American rival, as Harley-Davidson produces both a 1200 and 883 version of its popular Sportster. Dropping the Scout’s price point a couple grand will get more people in its saddle. Toning down the power delivery just a tad on a motorcycle that’s already easy to handle and has a super-low seat height edges it closer to entry-level motorcycle territory. Up to this juncture, Indian® still lacked a feeder bike since its reemergence in the market – and every manufacturer understands the importance of getting consumers to swill the brand elixir early, hoping to hook them for life.

We couldn’t wait to hitch a leg over the 2016 Indian® Scout Sixty as we tore out of Las Vegas on a 115-mile journey through the Nevada desert to Lake Mead. The adventure mixed highway miles with the splendid twists and turns surrounding Lake Mead, the route’s long straights allowing us to push the 999cc engine to its limits combined with fast sweepers to sample its handling.Crack the throttle on the Indian® Scout Sixty and it rings with familiarity. The engine retains the same linear, revvy nature that endeared us so much with the 1133cc version. Granted, there’s not quite the same explosion of low-end torque, but there’s still no shortage of power on tap. First gear will propel you up to 55 mph until it bangs off the rev limiter at around 8250 rpm. Second gear has the same rpm ceiling but by then you’re into the mid-80s, just shy of what second gear on the standard Scout will get you. In fifth gear it settles in nicely around the 4000 rpm range at highway speeds, and though the Sixty is a little down on roll-on power compared to its larger-displacement counterpart, it never left us wanting for another gear. While the engine continues to churn at the same 2.89-inch stroke, it does so in a slightly smaller cylinder, the Scout Sixty’s bore trimmed down to 3.66-inches from the 1133cc Scout’s 3.89-inch dimensions.

The smooth-shifting gearbox continues to impress with the same predictability that sold us on the initial Scout. Action is light, engagement precise, and finding neutral is fuss-free. In its conversion to a five-speed transmission, Indian® states fifth gear was removed from the gear cluster of the standard Scout’s six-speed gearbox. This explains why the fifth gear ratio on the Scout Sixty dropped from 4.380:1 to 4.034:1 compared to the six-speeder, as it is the same ratio as sixth gear on the 1133cc model. Rifling through said gears, bang it down one and the revised transmission exhibits a generous amount of engine braking.

Hustling through the broad sweeping turns around Lake Mead, handling on the Indian® Scout Sixty is atypical for a cruiser. Steering is light and a low center of gravity makes for smooth, quick transitions. The meaty, muscly front tire provides a generous contact patch and lends to the front end’s stability when on its edges. Even though the motorcycle is slung low, the forward-mounted pegs are high enough to allow for healthy amounts of lean. Suspension on the rear is a bit stiff and travel is short, so it can be harsh on big hits. The rear continues to utilize adjustable dual shocks, the only difference being a new top-out spring on the Scout Sixty.

The braking package is unchanged, as 298mm rotors anchor both the front and back, with twin-pot calipers fore and a single aft. Tested solely at freeway speeds, the front brake isn’t overpowering. Pressure is moderate but even and didn’t fade as we continued to squeeze. The back brake is a little grabby and will lock the back wheel with a good stab. The foot lever for the rear brake is on the small side as I could only get a precarious corner of my foot flush on the lever.

Despite having an ultra-low 25.3-inch laden seat height, the riding position still allows me to stretch out at six-feet-tall thanks to its forward-mounted controls and bar placement. The saddle is comfortable and well designed, so pressure points are few. Granted, our continuous stints in the seat never stretched more than an hour at a time, but the spells we were straddled aboard the Scout Sixty were spent pleasantly. After riding the junior Scout, we find it hard to believe the Sixty’s claimed 542-pound dry weight is actually four pounds heavier than the 1133cc version. Maybe it’s the slightly softer power delivery or easy-going nature of its handling, because it sure feels lighter that the standard version.

The same weekend we sampled the Scout Sixty for ourselves we also witnessed the potential of the Scout Sixty both as a custom bike and flat tracker thanks to RSD. The crew over at Roland Sands Design got their hands on five pre-production units and put the flat-track spin on them, bumping the stock 16-inch wheels up to 19s, redoing the tail section, upgrading suspension and swapping out pipes. Roland and four of his buddies then proceeded to thrash the hell out of them at the SuperHooligan races held at the inaugural Superprestigio races, where they were bangin’ bars and kickin’ up roost on the short dirt track set up inside Orleans Arena. Afterward Roland, wide grin on his face, compared the experience to riding a 450. Indian® reiterated its history of flat track racing several times during the course of the evening, providing potential clues to reasons behind the Scout Sixty’s development.

While we were concerned the Scout 2.0 might come across as a neutered version of the original, that is not the case. It’s still got power, is quick off the line, precise in the turns and a blast to ride. The Scout line continues to be a breath of freshness in the cruiser realm, a bike with familiar creature cruiser comforts combined with a performance bend that the niche commonly lacks. At a couple grand less, the Scout Sixty should be just the tonic to get more riders into Indian®’s seats.