First ride: Indian Motorcycle Scout Sixty

Indian Motorcycles' decision to manufacture a 'baby' version of the Scout (launch review here) could be one of the best decisions the company has made since its renaissance. Apart from a few cosmetic differences, dropping capacity from 1133 to 983cc and fitting a five-speed transmission instead of six, the Scout Sixty (hereafter the Sixty) is for all intents and purposes a standard Scout (hereafter Scout) that has excellent road manners, plenty of torque, and a low seat height. And at $17,995 rideaway it's going to tempt a lot of people in the saddle.

It's one of the best 'feeder' bikes I've seen, and I'd have to take some serious convincing to actually purchase the Scout ahead of the Sixty. Mind you, it's not as clear-cut as the Harley-Davidson scenario where I'd latch onto the Sportster 883 every day of the year ahead of the 1200cc variant, but the fact is both bikes are just so enjoyable to ride with huge amounts of character, precise cornering and a seductive performance bent — and if I can save 2000 bucks at the same time why not? The Sixty just doesn't lose a damn thing.

SCOUT SIXTY IN BIKE SHOWROOM

There's no doubt the Sixty, unveiled at the 2015 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, lacks some low-down punch compared to the fellow belt-driven Scout, but it really isn't worth dwelling on and there's no shortage of good punch. Really, you're never left wanting right in any of the five wider-ratio cogs, with fifth gear on the Sixty the same ratio as sixth gear on the bigger bike. As my old boss used to opine: "If it's a grunty engine you don't need six gears."

The 983cc Sixty has 9Nm less torque than the 1133cc Scout, while — predictably — the bigger hit has been taken in the horsepower stakes with the Sixty boasting a 80hp peak compared to nearly 100hp for the Scout. The Sixty maintains the same stroke as the Scout, but a smaller cylinder to bring the capacity down by 150cc.

Other changes between the Sixty and Scout include the absence of a 'Scout' badge on the Sixty's tank, while there's a vinyl seat instead of brown leather — but no harm done in the comfort stakes. The seat has a nice lip for lower back support too, which I reckon should just about be a minimum for a bike with forward controls.

If you're a bean pole, the forward controls certainly help to stretch out the legs, and the very low 643mm seat height certainly provides assurance to all-comers.

The Sixty is also a blacked-out across the board as opposed to the Scout, which has a grey frame. There are chrome pipes on the Sixty, but I would have been happier if they were jettisoned in favour of black, too.

Engagement in the Sixty's gearbox as the same level of refinement as the Scout, and it's all metered by a standard cable clutch which can get a littler stuff in heavy start-stop work. At least the engagement is nice and smooth, and the torque Sixty doesn't need too much massaging at slow speeds. In the city, the mirrors offer god vision, and on the open road there's very little blur. Good job.

Suspension consists of 41mm forks and twin, offset laydown shocks, with 141 and 76mm of travel respectively. A few of the high-compression hits really resonated across my the middle of my dodgy back when I was riding home on the highway — I was already a little tight and anxious after having to contend with yet another abysmal Melbourne peak hour — and some aftermarket Fox shocks (available through Indian Motorcycles) would be well worth the expense, just for the damping properties alone. And if you can always look further afield.

Saying all that, the suspension limitations are just about universal in this class, so the Sixty doesn’t sit on its lonesome.

SCOUT SIXTY ACCESSORIES

Overall, the Sixty is an impressive riding experience, and cuts a sharp line with the 16-inch rubber and the 298mm brakes haul the 255kg bike up well with a constant pressure on the lever — no fading. The rear tyre is only a 150-section design, so there's no resistance to cornering in the slightest.

Just as the Scout was a breath of fresh air, so is the Sixty, with both offering far tauter, refined and integrated packages across the board than the Harley-Davidson equivalents, especially when it comes to cornering prowess. That's a buzz factor which is hard to beat.

Weight is a shade under the Scout's, which with thicker-walled cylinder sleeves aid to be the reason the two bikes are just about on parity. The Sixty also has a 60mm throttle body—hence the moniker.

The dual-colour (red and cream) analogue instrumentation is tasteful and there's a digital inset displaying a trip meter, rpm, direction being travelled, engine temperature and time, which is a constant feature.

So there it: a variation on the theme but with just about the same level of animation as the Scout. The Sixty is eager to please and is agile and involving — and there's a real performance 'arm' that means it doesn't break stride at the drop of a hat.

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 78hp (58.2kW)
Claimed maximum torque: 88Nm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five speed
Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Front suspension: 43mm non-adjustable telescopic forks, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: Preload-adjustable twin shocks, 76mm travel
Front brakes: 298mm disc with twin-piston calliper
Rear brake: 298mm disc with single-piston caliper
Wheels: Front – 16 x 3.5, rear 16 x 5.5
Tyres: Front 130/90-16, rear 150/80-16

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 255kg
Rake: 29 degrees
Seat height: 643mm
Wheelbase: 1562mm
Fuel capacity: 12.5 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $17,995 rideaway
Colour: Thunder Black
Bike supplied by: Indian Motorcycle Australia, indianmotorcycle.com/en-au
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres