Indian Scout... Demo days test ride.......

[the Ferret]

Birds, like I said I don't know if the one I rode compared to the one sitting next to it. It may have been a clapped out demo bike ridden hard, put away wet and in need of servicing. The tranny was definitly not Japanese quality. The thing about a demo days ride is you are not so much concentrating on the road, or where you are going, there is someone right in front and right in back, the route is planned and led, and its not spirited, so you concentrate on the mechanicals of the bike.

I felt it fair to compare my CB to the Scout. Even though one is a standard and one is a cruiser, I think their age demo market is the same 40-50 year olds, the msrp is about the same, both have 6 speed transmissions, they both weigh in the 550 pound range and the Scout actually supposedly has more horsepower and torque ( the CB feels stronger all thru the range I rode the Scout in imo). After just having ridden an SFV 650 Suzuki V twin on Saturday and liking it, I know it wasn't an I4 vs Vtwin bias. The SV was reportedly about 70 hp and the Scout felt stronger than the SV, but the SV shifted better, braked better, and handled better, and of course felt much lighter. It feels much lighter than the CB as well. The SV's sloped seat seriously pushed me into the tank though, my only real complaint about the SV.

If I ever get a chance, I will gladly ride another Scout to compare.

Got to go ride the CB now, thunderstorms supposed to be here in an hour.

[EGAlvarez_imp]

Mickey, I'm disappointed with the findings from your review. It has gone against everything I have read, You Tube videos have seen, and what I hoped for the Scout, and Indian. I have liked these reasonably priced Scouts since they came out and have been to the dealer twice to drool on them. I am now curious to test ride one to judge for myself.

[68lupe_imp]

Thanks for the info I to like Indain Motorcycles i'am thinking about the new Springfield

[the Ferret]

Got in a great 45 mile CB ride before the rain hit. Was thinking about the Scout as I rode the CB this morning, and I stand by my review. Riding the CB only reinforces and highlights other bikes weaknesses as I perceive them. Now you know why I don't make my living as a motorcycle reviewer lol.

Vegasdriver, I am certainly not knocking your Scout. You may like it very much. I understand that. I understand there are many who also like other bikes that I do not care for, or have reported unfavorably on. We all like and feel different things. Like you were saying about the CB seat. As I was riding this morning I was thinking that for me there was nothing wrong with the CB's stock seat. I just rode it to and back from the rally 300 miles, 6 hours each way and had no issues with it. I rode my 13 CB 9 hours a day many days in a row with the stock seat with no issues. Hard butt I guess.

Yamaha has a demo days coming up and I intend to ride the XSR 900, re-ride the FJ-07 which I thought was a nice bike but vibrated too much last time I test rode it (others have said they felt no vibes), and probably re-ride the FJ-09 to see if I feel any differently about it. I too thought it vibrated a lot, but my son who bought one says it's not so bad (but then he bought rubber covered foot pegs and different grips for it lol) .

[rboe]

I have not ridden the Scout (I'm a wee bit lanky for it) but have ridden a couple Chiefs. 1st was very unimpressive. Motor lacked power, I expected more torque and get up and go.

Rode another a year later and that bike met my expectations, it was like a whole new machine and one I would consider buying.

So if you get a chance to do a demo ride again I'll recommend you give the Scout another try to see if you jut got a bad sample.