2016 Indian Scout Sixty review, test ride

Twists and turns

When we first rode the Scout a couple of years ago, it really blew us away with its amazing handling prowess, for a cruiser that is. And barring the engine, gearbox and some styling tweaks, there are no other changes from the Scout to the Scout Sixty. The cast aluminium frame and the twin shock setup might visually mimic the triangular frame setup of the original Scout from the 1920s, but this new bike is thoroughly modern in the way it moves. We wouldn’t go so far to describe it as a sharp handler, but it turns in very predictably and there’s surprising level of mid-corner grip from the chunky 130/90-16 front and 150/80-16 rear tyres. Sure, the low-slung posture and forward-set footpegs might limit the lean angles to 31 degrees (even lesser with a heavy rider), but even dragging the footpegs hard on the tarmac isn’t enough to upset the bike. And though it is heavy, it pulls of that typical Indian trait of feeling much lighter than it actually is. While you might enjoy the Scout Sixty around a twisty mountain road, its long turning radius isn’t so enjoyable in the city. The 298mm disc brakes at both ends work quite well, with the front brake level providing plenty of bite and feedback. Coming to a stop quickly was done in a predictable and safe manner thanks to the inclusion of ABS.

The suspension setup might work well for handling, but when it comes to ride quality, you’re left wanting more. The 76mm of rear suspension travel simply isn’t enough to deal with the bumps and potholes rampant on our streets and riding the bike out on the roads of Navi Mumbai was challenging to say the least. Also, the long 1,562mm wheelbase coupled with the low ground clearance of 135mm means you really need to be careful over speed breakers or you could end up beaching the bike.

Our two cents

Just looking at the specs, it is easy to dismiss the Scout Sixty as a detuned version of the Scout. However, get to know it, and you’ll realise that the downsized engine hasn’t really affected the Scout experience any worse. If anything, it has made the bike more accessible to a wider variety of riders. By losing some of its near-manic acceleration, it now actually fits the ‘cruiser’ role far better by offering a more relaxing ride. And even though its price of Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) might be almost identical to the Scout’s introductory price at launch, remember that in the last couple of years that has changed, and the Scout now costs almost a lakh and a half more. But hand on heart, what hasn’t changed is the fact that the Scout Sixty is every bit as lovable as its more powerful sibling, and is one of the best mid-size cruisers you can buy today.