"xtheunknown" (chrisamaru)
06/21/2015 at 06:23 • Filed to: None
6
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"xtheunknown" (chrisamaru)
06/21/2015 at 06:23 • Filed to: None | 6
| 10 |
I have just taken delivery of a 2015 Indian Scout. Before I give you my initial impressions of the bike, I think some backstory is in order.
Back in 2013 I was in a serious accident on my Harley Heritage Softail. It was totaled and I was in the hospital for 10 days. No broken bones or abrasions. A serious sprain, a contusion on my thigh and some cracked ribs. Oh, and did I mention my brain was bleeding?
My body healed and my brain was physically OK, but I still don’t remember the time from right before the accident until a day and a half later in the hospital. They say at no time was I unconscious; I just don’t remember. I tried a few times to get back on a bike, but that was a no go. I guess my brain was physically fine, but mentally scarred. Finally, I took a private lesson. Not because I had forgotten how to ride, but because I needed the controlled environment. It worked. I was a little bit wobbly, at first, but by the end of the lesson I was mostly back to my former self.
I went full steam ahead and got me to an Indian dealer for a test drive. I was honest with them about my situation and they gave me a 2015 Scout. I drove it around the block a number of times and decided it was a good fit. You might ask why I was moving from a Heritage to a much smaller Scout. That’s why I gave you the back story. The Scout is smaller, easier to handle and more maneuverable. A good thing for someone who hadn’t ridden for almost two years.
Oh, and did I mention it’s also a blast to ride?
After two days and 250 miles, let’s get the negatives out of the way. Basically there are two negatives. First, the Scout does not do well on extremely rough pavement. I went up to Laconia Bike Week yesterday and there is a road that is notorious for being wracked with frost heaves and pot holes. That was an experience I’d rather not repeat. The suspension travel, front and rear, is not set up to handle rough pavement. Second, there is a noticeable vibration through the handlebars if you’re not in the right gear for your speed. I was tending to rev the bike high and that caused the vibration. No big deal and by the end of the day I had the gearing figured out and had learned to minimize the vibration. There is a minor third negative. It has a very small gas tank. 3.3 gallons, to be exact. I was gettin around 45 MPG, so I filled up around 100 miles, just to be safe.
Now, on to the good stuff. The bike is scary fast. Indian rates it at 100HP which, for a 550 lb Cruiser, is quite powerful. It’s got torque just where you want it, and is quick off the line. As for handling, I might even say it’s flickable. The forks are raked more like a sport bike than a cruiser, so quick maneuvers are not an issue. It’s good at highway speeds, though I think the windshield is causing a slight buffeting. The bike looks great. Mine is gloss black which, when combined with the black engine, side covers, headlight housing and lower fork forks gives it a blacked out look, which I like. I added the brown leather bags and passenger pillion, and they look great. A mid height windshield completes the package.
All in all a great bike for a guy who hasn’t ridden in two years and it puts a smile on my face when I ride it.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> xtheunknown
06/21/2015 at 06:37 |
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ENJOY IT!
That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
> xtheunknown
06/21/2015 at 07:29 |
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I love the brown seat and bags. It looks awesome, and you hardly ever see it. Good call on the bike, I hope it continues to treat you well.
shop-teacher
> xtheunknown
06/21/2015 at 09:12 |
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Nice bike! I really dig the brown leather on the blacked out bike. I didn’t know Indian was back in business again again.
Dusty Ventures
> shop-teacher
06/21/2015 at 10:37 |
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They were restarted in North Carolina around ‘06. Polaris bought them a few years after that, and with Big P in charge they’ve been doing quite well, even added a few new models to the line over the past couple years, with the newest being “you can have it in any color as long as it’s flat black” Indian Dark Horse
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Dusty Ventures
> xtheunknown
06/21/2015 at 10:43 |
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As someone who passes the original Indian Motorcycle factory on an near-daily basis, I approve of your choice in bikes.
I do wonder if that vibration is a normal thing though...
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Dusty Ventures
> xtheunknown
06/21/2015 at 10:46 |
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Added note, I GIS’d the Scout to get a proper side-on look. Good lord that’s a pretty bike.
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shop-teacher
> Dusty Ventures
06/21/2015 at 10:57 |
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Good to know, thanks! A buddy of mine bought an Indian super cheap the last time they went out of business, and loves it.
lucky's pepper
> Dusty Ventures
06/21/2015 at 11:20 |
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If I were to buy a new bike tomorrow I would seriously consider this on looks alone. Damn that’s perfect.
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xtheunknown
> Dusty Ventures
06/21/2015 at 22:36 |
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It's barely a vibration at all and I only feel it because I have diabetes and my hands can go numb easily.
Orange Bar
> xtheunknown
10/20/2015 at 08:16 |
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This is what I was looking for! Great view.