2020 INDIAN SCOUTS & THUNDERSTROKE 116
R I D E R E V I E W
P62
BOBBER 20
While the Bobber 20 shares the
floating seat with the Anniversary
(an homage to the sprung saddles
of days gone by), it feels like a
very different motorcycle. I know,
I keep saying that about these
Scouts, but it's true. To some
extent, it traces its lineage to the
100th Anniversary, with which it
shares the tall(ish) seat, and wire-
spoke wheels, but from there, it
takes a turn in a Bobber direction,
stripped of all the nostalgic turns
the 100th Scout takes. The float-
ing seat, with a mini ape hanger
bar and forward pegs, puts you
"on" rather than "in" the machine,
which changes it entirely from the
original Scout Bobber, which feels
like you're sitting on the ground.
It has a unique (odd?) riding
position, which, unlike the 100th,
can be ridden quite aggressively,
limited only by its shorter suspen-
sion (two-inch rear wheel travel
to the 100th Scout's three). Feet
are well forward, but your butt
is high, as are the arms. It feels
like a modern machine, as the
riding position doesn't recall the
"perfect-posture" seating position
of ages past. The more modern
ergonomics make for fun times
on back roads, with the wide
apes providing great leverage
over the front end. Newer riders
should take caution, though, as
this also makes it more sensitive
to input. The combination makes
it a unique motorcycle with that
sweet, torquey (and revvy) liquid-
cooled motor.
Scout Bobber 20
is a unique and
fun middleweight,
capable of true
cruising or turning
it up.
