2024 Indian 101 Scout Review | Sporty new range-topping Scout mixes performance with laid-back cruiser thrills

Sat on plush, beautifully controlled, fully-adjustable suspension the 101 floats from corner to corner with the consummate ease of a well-sorted sportsbike and the harder you push the more it digs in. Steering is light and precise, despite having low and long chassis geometry and braking power from its twin radial Brembo caliper set up is strong and free from ABS intrusion. Adding a dab of rear brake helps the Indian rail even more confidently through corners, while sporty profile Metzeler Cruisetec tyres (16in rear, 19in front) have superb grip and light steering.

It’s easy to forget you’re sat on an American cruiser when the 101 is this good in the turns and just like Triumph and Royal Enfield, Indian have a knack of making non-sportsbikes handle. That’s no great surprise, given their successful track exploits Stateside with their wild Challenger RR dominating the King of Baggers class, FTRs cleaning up in Super Hooligan and dominance of the FTR750 in flattrack.

It sits low to the ground, too, with a seat height of just 654mm, so it’s simple for anyone to get their feet flat on the floor. Despite its weight (240kg wet, no fuel), the 101 Scout never feels bulky or unwieldy, whether you’re inching through cross town San Francisco traffic, cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, scratching around Californian canyons, or heading down to Lidl for a light shop.

With a seat you sink into like a favourite armchair the 101 is all-day comfortable, even with its feet-forward pegs, but for those who prefer more a sportier, more conventional riding position, Indian offer mid-mounted pegs as an accessory. Ride quality is superb, but with just 76mm rear wheel travel the 101 will crash over big bumps in the road, which is why it loses out on a full 5/5.

Tech spotlight

• Indian says the Scout is 4.5kg lighter than before, despite a new tubular steel frame that replaces the old cast aluminium item. The new frame will also be easier to cut, shut and customise for specials builders. The fuel tank is more rounded and its capacity goes up from 12.5 litres to 12.9 litres. A traditional fuel cap replaces the old flush sportsbike-type cap and the Scout is now fitted with a fuel gauge.
• Sachs 43mm USD fully forks are reminiscent of the original BMW S1000RR’s with numbered rebound and compression adjusters on top of the fork leg.
• Fully-adjustable piggyback shocks are made in-house and like the Classic, Sport and Super offer 76mm wheel travel. The Scout Bobber’s wheel travel is 51mm.
• Twin 320mm discs and four piston radial Brembos are as sporty as they come. The rest of the Scout range has a single 298mm disc and twin piston caliper.
• Hand stitched seat is stylish and comfy. All Scouts are single-seaters, except the Super Scout, but pillion seats and backrests are available as an accessory.

Think of the 101 Scout as an SP or R model and you won’t be too far off the mark, so much so that in terms of sporty cruiser rivals, the 101 Scout sits in a class of one. Its new 110bhp SpeedPlus 1250 V-twin motor catapults the Indian out of corners and it pulls hard all the way to the 9000rpm redline through its slick, widely spaced, gearbox. The 101 isn’t just quick for a cruiser, it’s a fast bike. Period. Riding the 101 Scout at any speed is a piece of apple pie. The new motor burbles away without ever being lumpy or difficult to manage, fuelling from a closed throttle is perfect and the power delivery friendly and unintimidating.

Tech spotlight

• Indian’s new ‘1250 SpeedPlus’ engine replaces the out-going Scout’s 1130cc unit. The new 1250cc, 60-degree V-twin has new crankcases, crank, pistons, rods, cams, larger valves and flowed heads. The motor has a smoother outer finish and now it’s simpler to remove the rocker covers, which will make servicing easier and cheaper. An oil sight glass has also been added and the radiator is paired down to fit neatly between the frame’s front down tubes for a cleaner look. A new low-slung exhaust replaces the old model’s stacked twin pipes and frees up space for a bigger right pannier. The V-twin has 11% more power and 14% more torque across the rev range: 105.9bhp @ 7250rpm and 79.7lb.ft @ 6300rpm. The 101 Scout makes slightly more: 110bhp@7250rpm and 80.4lb.ft @ 6300rpm.

Sporty pretentions aside, the 101 is a cruiser at heart and its looks will be the biggest draw for potential owners. It’s pure Americana and opening your garage door to this on a Sunday morning will never be a chore. Sure, it isn’t cheap, but the quality shines through, from its perfect fit and finish to its deep, lustrous paintwork (available in red or white). It also has huge presence, with a low-slung, feet-forward riding position, a chopped rear mudguard to show off its fat tyre and rumbly V-twin soundtrack.

There are some electronic glitches on these pre-production models MCN rode at its world launch, but Indian say they’ll be ironed-out before they hit the dealers at the end of May 2024 and there’s no reason to think otherwise. MCN’s online reviews of all Indian models are glowing when it comes reliability.

With its performance chassis part, laid back cruiser looks and high equipment level, there isn’t much to directly rival the 101 Scout. But you could say Harley Davidson get the closest with the £19,735 Low Rider S, £15,145 Sportster S.

It's well equipped and fitted with the top spec ‘Limited +Tech’ packs, as well as fully adjustable suspension, Brembos, a stitched seat, machined aluminium yokes, USB charger, LED lights, blacked-out components and 6in handlebar risers…the list goes on. Everything works as it should, although the small switchgear can be fiddly to use. The drop-down bar end mirrors give a clean look when you’re riding, they’re always full of elbows, but they can be switched and turned upright for a better view behind.

Indian are offering a host of Scout accessories: 70 new ones and 30 already on the books from the previous model. They’re split into Commuter, Open Roads, Stealth, and Overnighter packs. There are over 30 riding position possibilities and now that the Scout’s frame is identical across the range, unlike before, you can mix and match accessories. It means you could create a two-seater 101 Scout with a back rest, luggage and footboards, or add traction control and a colour dash to the Classic.

The Scout comes in three ascending trim levels: Standard: LEDs, keyed ignition, ABS, analogue display and black paint. Limited: Cruise control, ride modes (Standard, Sport), TC, USB charger and solid paint options. Limited +Tech package: 4in TFT display, keyless ignition, connected ride, solid and premium paint options.