Indian Gets On Bandwagon With Scout Bobber

MINNEAPOLIS – Indian is getting on the bobber bandwagon. The company today announced that a Scout Bobber will be offered for the 2018 model year. It will have chopped front and rear fenders, solo seat, and loads of black – black frame, black exhaust, black handlebar with bar-end mirrors, black gauges, black cast aluminum wheels and a black headlight bucket.

The Scout Bobber joins the Scout and Scout Sixty in Indian’s Scout line. The factory-custom model will be one inch lower than other Scouts, with rear suspension travel reduced from three to two inches. The handlebar will be 1.5 inches closer to the rider and foot pegs will be closer by 1.5 inches, making for better handling. Seat height for the Scout Bobber is 25.6 inches.

The 100-horsepower Scout Bobber will be powered by a 1,133cc (69 cubic inch) V-Twin engine, with a six-speed transmission. It will weigh in at 554 pounds with a full tank of gas. Fuel capacity is 3.3 gallons.

Indian follows in Triumph’s footsteps with a bobber model. It was last October that Triumph announced its Bonneville Bobber and within seven months was able to claim its Bobber to be “the most successful new model launch in Triumph’s history.” Indian’s Scout Bobber is expected to be in showrooms in September and will be available in red, black, black smoke, silver smoke and bronze smoke.

The 2018 Scout Bobber will be priced from $11,499 to $12,499. Triumph’s Bonneville Bobber start at $11,900 for the 2017 model year.

Indian is targeting urban and younger riders with the Scout Bobber. In unveiling the model, Indian President Steve Menneto said, “We are trying to move the brand away from just being a heritage brand, expanding it a little further and to attract new customers.”

(Photos courtesy of Indian)

– By Bud Wilkinson