Indian 101 Scout (2026) Review: The Sharpest Scout Yet?

In case you missed it, there is another US ‘heritage’ motorcycle brand available other than Harley-Davidson.

Indian predates Harley by two years, being launched in 1901; it actually outsold the Milwaukee marque in the 1930s but fell into decline post-WWII before closing in 1953. After numerous attempts, it was successfully revived by then-Victory manufacturer Polaris in 2011, launched its first all-new (but heritage-inspired) V-twins in 2013, and followed it up with its entry-level, Harley Sportster-rivalling Scout family in 2014.

Although revived Indian is yet to totally threaten H-D, its bikes are credible with their own charming style; its racers, both in flat track and ‘King of the Baggers’, more often than not have Harley beat, and its latest Scout family is arguably the best of all its bikes. We spent half a day on its latest range-topping Scout, the 101, on roads in and around Staffordshire, to see what they have to offer…

The original Scouts from revived Indian were launched at Sturgis in 2014 with a bespoke, liquid-cooled, 1130cc V-twin engine and cast aluminium chassis and proved immediate hits for their blend of Harley Sportster-beating performance and handling, yet also enough convincing retro style (the original historic Scout was launched as a smaller Indian in the 1930s) to be credible.

That popularity spawned a series of spin-offs ranging from Bobbers to detuned, A2-compliant ‘Sixty’ models, classics and more, and the result accounted for nearly half of all Indian sales.

For 2024, however, after three and a half years in development, the whole Scout family was thoroughly reinvented with a new, enlarged, 1250cc engine (perhaps in response to Harley’s new 1250cc Sportster), tubular steel frame, cosmetics, cycle parts and electronics, and a new lineup of Bobber, Classic, Super and this ‘101’ model, which is the range-topper.

With even more power, uprated cycle parts, and aggressive styling, it’s a hot rod-style performance cruiser with the handling and dynamics to match, and is claimed by Indian to be the highest-performance Scout so far.

As already mentioned, the 101 is the highest-performance Scout with the uprated cycle parts to match, so unsurprisingly it is also the highest-priced (along with the Super Scout model) of Indian’s current Scout line-up at £16,155.

For an ‘entry-level’ Indian, that’s by no means cheap, and it’s worth stating here that its closest rival, Harley-Davidson’s most comparable model, the Sportster S, is just £13,995 - although it doesn’t have quite the same spec. To put it in further context, Indian’s current other Scouts comprise the Scout Bobber (£13,255), Scout Classic (£15,455), Sport Scout RT (£15,855) and aforementioned Super Scout (£16,155). Indian also offers its lower-powered, A2-compliant, more basic versions, the Scout Sixty family, from just £10,995.

As with all current Indians, the 101 Scout is available now from Indian UK’s 18 UK-wide dealers. 

The Scout’s slick, liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin engine has always been thoroughly modern and long trumped Harley’s previous, relatively old-fashioned, push-rod, air-cooled alternative, even if it couldn’t quite match the H-D for authenticity and character, and the fully updated 2024 version improved things further.

With a 10% larger displacement (going from 1130 to 1250cc) as well as new crankcases, crank, pistons, rods, cams, larger valves and flowed heads, the new ‘1250 SpeedPlus’ engine boasts 11% more power and 14% more torque across the rev range, peaking at 111bhp and 82lb-ft and transmitted, as before, via a six-speed gearbox and belt final drive. There are also three switchable riding modes.

The result on the street is not just punchy for a cruiser; it’s punchy and potent, full stop.

I start, exiting Indian UK’s base in Coleshill, Birmingham, in Standard mode before heading out into the countryside east towards Atherstone on the B4116. It’s a brilliantly sweeping biking road that reveals the best of the 101 Scout. In Standard it’s tractable, effective, flexible and predictable with perfectly spaced gear ratios and is a pleasant place to be. 

But for the return leg I prod into Sport, and it moves up another level, catapulting out of corners with an eagerness few cruisers can match, pulling hard all the way to the 9000rpm redline and accompanying it all with a gruff, characterful exhaust note. This is the kind of fire you’d never normally expect from a cruiser, and certainly not a so-called ‘entry-level’ one. 

The 101’s chassis is even more uprated over the standard Scout’s. Although the low slung frame is unchanged there’s new suspension front and rear (plus new front triple clamps, new 19/16inch five-spoke cast alloy wheels, Metzeler CruiseTec tyres in sporty 130/60 x 19 front and 150/80 x 16 rear fitments and also uprated brakes which now more resemble pure sportsbike ones in comprising twin 320mm discs at the front clamped by Brembo four-piston radial calipers and a single 298mm disc at the rear with a single piston caliper.

The new suspension, however, probably represents the biggest change. The Sachs 43mm USD front forks reminiscent of BMW’s original S1000RR superbike and come complete with numbered rebound and compression adjusters on top of the fork legs while the equally fully adjustable twin piggyback rear shocks are Indian’s own.

On board, the result feels exactly as it should – as a low riding, aggressive hot rod of a cruiser with the classy sporty dynamics and ride to match. The single seat is classily finished and, at 654mm, ridiculously low. The bars are flat but raised on six-inch bespoke risers, and the pegs are slightly forward to give an upright but fairly comfortable ride. All at once it’s low and dinky, but also long and substantial.

That ride is enhanced by the classy but plush control of the well set-up suspension, while the riding position, wheels sizes and steering geometry means steering is sufficiently light and precise yet also, thanks to its length and low centre of gravity, stable and relaxed. All in. all, it’s more than enough for lazy, largely comfortable cruising (although I wouldn’t fancy tackling the M6 on one) yet also sportsbike-worrying scratching ability (or at least as far as the 113mm ground clearance and pegs allow) when you’re in the mood.

At the end of the day, however uprated and performance-oriented the 101 version of the Scout may be, it’s still, ultimately, a heritage-inspired cruiser and, as such, you wouldn’t expect its equipment to be lavish.

And it’s not – but it’s not bad, either. The cycle parts, as mentioned, are top-notch; its dash, though minimal, is a premium round, four-inch touchscreen TFT with Bluetooth and built-in satnav. There are three riding modes, plus cruise and traction control, plus a handy USB charger, LED lights all round, keyless ignition and a smart nose fairing (not that it does much).

But that’s about your lot. There’s only a single seat (but a pillion is available as an extra) and, speaking of extras, you can also get luggage, grab rail and a whole host of cosmetic add-ons, too – for extra dosh, obviously.

Not a lot. There are just two paint options, black or red. The fancy drop-down bar-end mirrors give a clean look when you’re riding but do limit your rearward view (although they can be switched and turned upright for a better view behind).

Warranty is fairly standard, too, covering two years with unlimited mileage from first registration (although this is extendable if certain conditions are met), while the 101’s service schedule is fairly typical, too, requiring the usual 500-mile ‘break-in’ service followed by checks thereafter after 10,000 miles or annually, whichever comes first.

Hot rod style cruisers have limited appeal and versatility on this side of the ‘pond’, especially when they come with only a single seat, but Indian’s latest Scout version performs, looks and is equipped better than most.

If this style of bike appeals to you, you’ll be more than impressed with its improved powertrain; you’ll revel in its classy handling and sportsbike standard braking, plus it’s a handsome, beautifully made bike in its own right that any owner will be proud of.

But bear in mind that there are also other Scouts with virtually the same engine – such as the Sport Scout RT, complete with added versatility and even luggage – which offer much of the same but with added practicality for less.