2018 INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER
FIRST TEST
P96
of the Bobber's shining points.
There's lots of bottom-end
torque, enough to get you mov-
ing and not having to downshift
to make freeway passes, but it
is extremely quiet—too much
in my opinion—for a bike that
looks as cool as this (Indian
has louder pipes available in
their aftermarket catalog for
the Bobber).
Those freeway rides are
best left as a last resort,
because the riding position
gets pretty uncomfortable at a
constant 65 mph with all the
wind blast possible hitting you
in the face and the lowered
rear suspension doing its best
to make you feel absolutely
every minor bump in the road.
the Bobber oozes more nasty charisma than
something like the Chief Classic, because I always
link Indian with its stellar race-style history.
Being the same motor as that of the regular
Scout at 69 c.i (1133cc), the Bobber has the most
get-up-and-go performance of any cruiser I've
ridden in recent memory, but that's more down to
the fact you're only pushing a claimed 554 pounds
wet compared to most cruisers that struggle to get
below 600 pounds dry, than outright power and
torque figures.
Fueling can be a little touchy at a constant
throttle (again, like the Scout), but the motor is one
(Below) Long
and low pipes
detract from
the looks and
muffle the
sound too
well. Shorter,
louder pipes
are in order.
(Opposite)
The design of
the Bobber
harks back to
the post war
customs of
returning U.S.
servicemen.
Reprogram your brain to
take things a bit slower, and
the Bobber's brakes will be
fine for the task.
