I've been riding motorcycles for about two and a half years now... I'm still aware that I'm a beginner, but I've started calling myself a rookie rider and I'm thinking about riding more different motorcycles. At this point, I got the opportunity to ride the 101 Scout, the latest model in the Scout series from Indian Motorcycle (hereinafter referred to as Indian). I'm taking on the 1250cc, maximum output of 111HP!
Photo: Toru Hasegawa
- Are the Indians I knew just an illusion? I'm amazed by the wildness of the New Scouts!
- Don't think! Feel! Scout 101 said, or maybe not.
- Riding a tsun tsun tsun (sometimes) dere with a smug look on your face.! Recommendation for self-sufficiency
- Let's take a look at the details of Scout 101.
- Check out Indian's new Scout series!
Are the Indians I knew just an illusion? I'm amazed by the wildness of the New Scouts!
Looking back, about a year after I started riding motorcycles, my first test ride of a cruiser was on an Indian Scout Rogue (1133cc). After that, I also had the opportunity to ride a Sport Chief (1890cc), and through these two bikes, I thought, "Indian motorcycles are easier to ride than I thought. The Scout Rogue in particular is very friendly, you don't feel the weight and it's easy to handle! It's beginner-friendly too!"
Indian's flagship model, the Scout series, has had a full model change for the first time in 10 years! I got the chance to ride the 101 Scout, the latest flagship model of the Scout series, and as soon as I test-rode it, I thought, "It's pretty wild!" I was impressed, but I also had a bit of anxiety about whether I would enjoy it.
The color we tested this time was Sunset Red Metallic.
The newly developed water-cooled V-twin DOHC engine "SpeedPlus" has an engine displacement of 1250cc. The 101 Scout's performance is a maximum output of 111HP and a maximum torque of 109N-m.
When you start it, smoke and the Indian logo appear on the display. It's so cool! The meter is operated by a touch panel.
The vehicle weight is 249 kg, but the slim V-twin and low and long style mean that the weight is not noticeable. This is the same as the previous Scout series, and there is a great psychological sense of security that it is lighter than it looks.
However, the combination of the 6-inch riser and the slightly wider handlebars makes the handlebars feel a little far away, and the forward step is further forward than expected. I thought it was a pretty aggressive position, but when I started the engine and started riding, I realized that the character I had of Indian bikes, which was "a gentle and friendly cruiser that doesn't match its appearance (in a good way)," did not fit the 101 Scout.
"Club style" riding position with 6-inch risers. In America, custom motorcycles that are based on large engine displacement cruisers and have enhanced riding performance are called "club style" and have recently been established as a category in their own right.
The seat height is 680mm. It looks like a 173cm tall rider is straddling it. It doesn't look unnatural in the photo, but it took me a while to get used to the handlebar position and low visibility, as I'm used to bikes with high seat heights.
Winding roads with dazzling sunlight filtering through the trees... Contrary to the situation where you want to ride leisurely and calmly, the 101 Scout doesn't seem to allow that. There are three modes: "Rain", "Standard", and "Sports", and even though I selected "Standard".
To be clear, it's not that I can't ride leisurely, and I'm not being rushed, but it feels like the 101 Scout is saying, "I'm not satisfied with this, please, wait a minute!"
(Only at times like this) I make the excuse, "Oh, I'm a beginner," and try to do it in my own way little by little. For example, when cornering, I pay clear attention to braking, turning, and rising from the corners. Then, I felt that it was a little better.
Don't think! Feel! Scout 101 said, or maybe not.
However, I still didn't feel like I was responding to the engine's heartbeat that seemed to resonate from underground. Thinking that my skills had not even reached the average for this motorcycle, I continued to try it out in straight lines and cornering. I concluded that it would be better not to ride it as if it were a cruiser.
As I rode along a mountain pass with this in mind, perhaps my unnecessary thoughts and tension disappeared, as I scraped the bank sensor of the footpegs for a moment in a corner with a "crunch." I panicked, thinking, "Oh no, I scraped it!", but I was happy that I felt I had a little more of a grip on the motorcycle. It was a sportier motorcycle than I had expected, but at that moment I experienced that the bank angle was not that great.
Feeling like I was finally getting closer to the motorcycle's character, I switched to "Sports" mode with great anticipation. When I opened the throttle wide with intent, it accelerated instantly, as if to say, "That was the right decision!"
Combined with the high visibility when stopped at a traffic light and the heat I felt from the engine, I was reminded once again that it was a low and long 1250cc. When I rode it, I was impressed by its sportiness, but the 101 Scout is a cruiser.
For example, how would a female rider who loves sporty riding feel about this "club style" and how would she ride it? I think even a small rider wouldn't have to worry too much about foot placement, so I think it would be pretty cool if she rode this 101 Scout gracefully. That's because, in that midsummer scene of me riding this unique bike through mountain passes and down the highway, I felt strangely self-intoxicated, thinking, "Aren't I kind of cool?" I really would love to meet a female rider like that.
"Sport" mode is even wilder, so be careful, but cornering is fun! It feels great!
As my understanding progressed little by little, there were moments when I felt like, "Maybe I've improved at riding a motorcycle?" It's starting to seem like a long time ago that I almost gave up at the driving school, thinking, "I don't need to ride a motorcycle anymore."
Tsutomu Ogawa, a motorcycle journalist who accompanied us on the shoot, was uninhibited and rubbed the bank sensor with a satisfying grit. However, even he said that he "changed the way I built my cornering quite a bit."
Riding a tsun tsun tsun (sometimes) dere with a smug look on your face.! Recommendation for self-sufficiency
Even though I thought I was getting used to it, I noticed something when making a U-turn. To begin with, I'm still not very good at making U-turns, but with the 101 Scout, turning the handlebars makes the bike go further away, so I have to turn it full speed and early. Of course, it's partly a matter of getting used to it, but every time I notice something like this, including when riding, I can picture a certain character scolding me in my head, saying, "Don't just go through life like that!" I don't know, but I feel like he's saying that. But it's not a bad scolding.
Even so, I didn't expect the 101 Scout, the flagship model of the latest Scout series, to be such a sharp bike, so I was a bit taken aback at first. I can't honestly say that it's a recommended cruiser that is easy for motorcycle beginners to use, like the Scout Rogue (1133cc). In my impression, it was overwhelmingly tsun-tsun (occasionally) dere, but I don't dislike it (lol). Rather, the 101 Scout gave me a sense of superiority that allowed me to proudly say, "I look so cool riding this!"
The day after the photoshoot, I drove on the highway again by myself, and somehow I felt closer to him than when we first met. Even though my driving still didn't bring out the best in the 101 Scout, I felt like I was being told that I had improved. Maybe because I was riding with a smug look on my face, I received a thumbs up sign from a stranger in a car next to me while waiting at a traffic light, with a big smile on his face. I'll keep this in mind as I write this down.
In addition to the pulsating feeling you can feel throughout your whole body, the massive presence of this bike is also impressive. At first, there were times when I didn't know how to ride it, but I was able to try and error on the bike even though I didn't know, and it became a memory of the summer of 2024 that I was very satisfied with, thinking, "I've grown!"
Let's take a look at the details of Scout 101.
The headlamps are full LED with a distinctive design.
The taillights are also used as turn signals.
Seats designed with distinctive stitching.
The 101 Scout comes with keyless entry as standard.
The 13-liter fuel tank features the familiar Indian graphics.
Easy to use and convenient cruise control.
The inverted front forks are fitted with radially mounted Brembo calipers, and the front disc does not have an inner disc.
The front and rear suspensions can be adjusted for rebound and compression damping force and preload.
The DOHC 4-valve water-cooled V-twin engine, named "Speed Plus 1250", has a bore that is 5mm larger than the previous model, making for a shorter stroke. The displacement has been increased from 1133cc to 1250cc.
Check out Indian's new Scout series!
Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle is the oldest motorcycle brand in America. In the long history of this long-established brand, the Scout was born in 1920. After that, after a turbulent transition, the old model Scout was born in 2014. The Scout that has been released this time is a full model change with a new engine and body.
The simultaneous release of five models, "101 Scout", "Super Scout", "Sport Scout", "Scout Classic" and "Scout Bobber", is the most ever for the company. And for the three models "Scout Classic", "Scout Bobber" and "Sport Scout", three grades are proposed: "Standard", "Limited" and "Limited + Tech". "101 Scout" and "Super Scout" are only available in "Limited + Tech".
●Standard: Equipped with ABS, LED lights, analog meter, black metallic paint.
●Limited: Equipped with the Standard plus cruise control, ride mode, traction control, USB port, Limited emblem, single-color paint option.
●Limited + Tech: Equipped with the Limited plus 4-inch digital meter, keyless ignition, Ride Command (Bluetooth for receiving calls, listening to music, recording driving history, etc.), single-color premium paint option.
More than 100 types of genuine accessories are available. There is a wide range of position parts such as handlebars, handlebar risers, seats, and steps, with a lineup of more than 30 types. Even if the body feels large, using these parts should clear up any concerns you may have!
And at the recent Japan Premium, it was announced that there will be a sixth model. Although it's difficult to decide which one to choose from the new Scout series, I think the time spent searching for a partner will be a lot of fun!
101 Scout. Price: $18421.78. Front tires are 130/60B19, rear tires are 150/80R16. Limited + Tech: Sunset Red Metallic with Graphics/Ghost White Metallic with Graphics. The name 101 comes from the fact that the first Scout, which debuted in the 1920s, had a top speed of 101 miles (176 km/h).
The Japan premiere of the new Scout was held in July. Indian Motorcycle Vice President Grant Bester, Design Director Ola Stennegard, and Product Manager Kyle Gaudet visited Japan. In addition to the new Scout, the 1928 101 Scout was also on display at the venue, where they interacted with Japanese media.
Scout Classic. Price: $14434.97~. Front tires are 130/90B16, rear tires are 150/80B16. Standard: Black Metallic, Limited: Black Metallic/Silver Quartz Smoke, Limited+Tech: Ghost White Metallic/Sunset Red Metallic
[Scout Bobber] Price: From $13472.64. Front tires are 130/90B16, rear tires are 150/80B16. Standard: Black Metallic, Limited: Black Smoke/Sunset Red Smoke, Limited+Tech: Black Smoke/Sunset Red/Spirit Blue Metallic/Nara Bronze Metallic
[Sport Scout]. Price: From $13885.07. Front tires are 130/60 B19, rear are 150/80 B16. Standard: Black Metallic, Limited: Black Smoke/Storm Blue/Nara Bronze Smoke, Limited + Tech: Black Smoke/Storm Blue/Nara Bronze Smoke
Super Scout. Price: From $16565.85. Front tires are 130/90B16, rear tires are 150/80B16. Limited + Tech: Black Smoke with Graphics/Maroon Metallic with Graphics
