Long term update: Let's get Scout and about

If you need to know how much I’m enjoying the Indian Scout a quick glance at the odometer will tell you. On the day the bike arrived I took a 120-mile round trip to Krazy Horse in Bury St Edmunds for one of their legendary open nights. The dealership’s themed events run once a month throughout the summer and are always well attended with a barbeque, great music, hot rods, muscle cars and a mad mix of bikes.

My next trip was to Indian’s UK HQ near Birmingham. I’m taking the Scout to the South of France soon and my ride to Krazy Horse highlighted the need for a couple of mods. The standard riding position is comfortable, but upright and in the breeze – fine for day-to-day riding but literally a pain in the neck for motorway cruising. Luckily, turning the Scout into a full-on tourer is quick and easy with genuine accessories.

The optional screen (£474) and soft luggage (£1240) both clip on and can be slotted on in seconds. Indian also offer an extended-reach package that includes a new seat (£274), bars (£164) and extension plates for the footpegs (£164), and as I’m 6ft 4in I opted for all of it. A full report will follow after my return from France, but just coming back from Birmingham the difference was night-and-day. 

Now the bike is seriously comfy, I can appreciate what a stonking engine the Scout has. The power delivery is unusual in that it delivers the low-down grunt you’d expect from a V-twin cruiser but keeps producing impressive power all the way into the top end. Not only should the journey down be a breeze, the fantastic roads around the Pyrenees should be fun too.