Indian Scout Sixty Vs. Harley-Davidson Iron 883: A Detailed Comparison

The Indian Scout Sixty and Harley Davidson Iron 883 are entry-level motorcycles. However, the Indian Scout Sixty has more powerful specs and a bigger engine. The riding positions of both motorcycles are completely different. The Indian Scout Sixty has a better cruiser look with a comfortable riding position. Meanwhile, the Harley Iron 883 has a sportier look and a forward riding position. The Iron 883 has a unique look and offers nimble handling. This article provides a detailed comparison between the Indian Scout Sixty and the Harley Iron 883.

The first Indian Scout motorcycle was introduced in 1920. The 101 Scout introduced in 1928 was the best Indian motorcycle of the 1920s. The Indian Scout was also released for the military during World War II for the Allies.

In 2011, the Indian Motorcycle Company was bought by Polaris Industries. In 2015, a new Scout model was released. It was a cruiser motorcycle equipped with a 1,133 cc V-Twin engine and a six-speed transmission.

In 2016, a new, cheaper version of the Indian Scout, known as the Indian Scout Sixty, was introduced. The Scout Sixty has the same design, look, frame, suspension, and brakes except for a smaller 1000 cc displacement and a five-speed transmission.

Harley Davidson introduced the Sportster series models in 1957. The XL series replaced the K series and proved to be more successful as more than 2,000 motorcycles were sold in the first year.

The Sportster Iron 883 was introduced in 2010, a blacked-out version that looked similar to the Nightster model. It is an entry-level bike and has the smallest engine in the Harley Davidson line-up after the Harley Street 750, which was discontinued in 2020.

The Indian Scout Sixty has a bigger engine and is more powerful than the Harley Iron 883. It is equipped with a 1000 cc 60° V-Twin engine with a liquid-cooling system, capable of producing a horsepower of 78 hp and a torque of 88.13 Nm at 5,800 rpm. The Indian Scout Sixty has 117 cc more displacement, produces 24 hp more horsepower, and 14.92 Nm more torque than the Harley Iron 883.

Both motorcycles lack a sixth gear but offer smooth gear shifts. The Indian Scout Sixty is also quicker than the Harley Iron 883 as it can attain a top speed of 128 mph.

The Harley Iron 883 is powered by an 883 cc V-Twin engine that can produce a horsepower of 54 hp and a torque of 73.21 Nm. With its five-speed transmission, it can reach a top speed of 105 mph.

The Harley Iron 883 offers nimble handling and better turning and cornering ability. The Iron 883’s slim design makes the handling easier at highway speeds. The Indian Scout Sixty is also a complete package since it offers good handling and can carry lots of weight.

The Harley Iron 883 is equipped with an air-cooled engine that does not work as effectively when riding across long distances in hot weather conditions. This type of engine easily gets overheated and riders have to spread their legs to avoid getting burned. Meanwhile, the Indian Scout Sixty’s air-cooled engine is effective in hot weather conditions and on longer rides.

Harley Davidson Iron 883’s Braking

The Harley Iron 883 has dual-piston calipers in both the front and rear with uniform expansion rotors and a floating front. The 300 mm disc in front and 260 mm disc in rear ensure the Harley Iron 883 ha reliable braking. It can also come with an optional ABS system as well.

The 2016 Harley Iron 883 came with upgraded suspensions and brakes. Overall, the Iron 883’s Brembo brakes are good but not outstanding.

Indian Scout Sixty’s Braking

The Indian Scout Sixty comes with a 298 mm rotor disc with dual-piston calipers towards the front and a single 298 mm rotor disc with a single-piston caliper towards the rear. It also comes with an optional ABS system. The reliable braking system ensures the motorcycle stops quickly, thanks to its low height and center of gravity.

The Indian Scout Sixty’s fuel tank looks wider e than the Harley Iron 883’s fuel tank. However, both have the same fuel tank capacity of 3.3 gals and provide almost the same mileage of 50 mpg. Being cruisers, the Indian Scout Sixty and Harley Iron 883 have smaller fuel tank capacities for touring and longer rides.

Indian Scout Sixty

For the Indian Scout Sixty, a telescopic fork with a tube diameter of 41 mm is installed in the front that provides wheel travel of 4.7 inches. In the rear suspension, dual shocks are installed that provide wheel travel of 3 inches.

Harley Davidson Iron 883

The Harley Iron 883 is fitted with a 39 mm non-adjustable front fork that provides wheel travel of 3.6 inches. In the rear suspension, emulsion shocks with preload-adjustability provide wheel travel of 1.6 inches.

The Indian Scout Sixty has a classic cruiser style with a compact design. While its length, width, and wheelbase are bigger than the Harley Iron 883, it is still more lightweight. The Iron 883 has a taller seat height and overall height.

The Harley Iron 883 is also a compact design but has a unique cruiser look. Despite being smaller, the Harley Iron 883 is 21 lbs heavier than the Indian Scout Sixty.

The front and rear fenders installed on the Indian Scout Sixty are larger than the Harley Iron 883. Both motorcycles have comfortable solo seats installed.

The Indian Scout Sixty has chromed teardrop-shaped side mirrors mounted at the ends of the handlebars. Meanwhile, the Harley Iron 883 comes with unique or modified teardrop-shaped side mirrors mounted at the ends of the handlebars.

Though the Scout Sixty and Iron 883 have almost similar handlebars, the Scout Sixty’s handlebars are more swept-back and within comfortable reach of the rider.

Both the Indian Scout Sixty and Harley Iron 883 have separate exhaust pipes. The Scout Sixty has chromed and parallel dual split exhaust with cross-over in a cylindrical shape giving it a classical look. Meanwhile, the Harley Iron 883 has two blacked-out and separate mufflers with black headers and has a nozzle shape giving it a modern look.

The Harley Iron 883 has a slim design with a narrow fuel tank and parts. Its front end is much taller than its rear end. It has an experimental cruiser design that makes it more attractive than the Indian Scout Sixty.

The Harley Iron 883 is smaller in size than the Indian Scout Sixty. It has a slimmer design and a seat height that is 0.1 inches taller than the Indian Scout Sixty. The Iron 883 has a forward riding position with mid-mounted foot controls that gives it a sportier and more aggressive look. A rider with a height above 5’11” may find this vehicle uncomfortable as the knee position will be too high. The Harley Iron 883 is not suited for longer trips but can be used for daily commutes throughout the city.

Meanwhile, the Indian Scout Sixty has better cruiser ergonomics that make it suitable for daily commutes and touring.

The Harley Iron 883 has a thicker tuck and roll solo seat with a new foam cushion. Meanwhile, the Indian Scout Sixty has a hard solo seat that can be uncomfortable on longer rides.

Because of the Harley Iron 883’s sportier cruiser design and mid-mounted foot controls, it has a forward riding position. Riding with a slouched back for a long time can cause lower back pain. Because of these drawbacks, the Harley Iron 883 is not ideal for taller riders and for going on longer trips.

The Indian Scout Sixty has comfortable cruiser ergonomics with a lower seat height and forward-mounted foot controls.

The Harley Iron 883 and Indian Scout Sixty have almost identical handlebars, but the Scout Sixty’s handlebars are swept back and within reach of the rider, ensuring a comfortable riding position and back posture. But for the Harley Iron 883, the handlebars are positioned a little far from the rider, making it difficult for shorter riders to reach.

Indian motorcycles are competing well with Harley Davidson motorcycles on the market. Indian Motorcycles has produced several top-quality cruisers with good styling and performance. If maintained properly, Indian motorcycles can be the most reliable motorcycles.

When it comes to holding value, Harley Davidson motorcycles have been able to retain almost 84% of their original value after five years of use. Meanwhile, Indian motorcycles retain 77% of their original value after five years of use.

The Indian Scout Sixty has one of the smallest engines in the Indian line-up. It is an ideal beginner motorcycle because it is easy to handle, has good maneuverability at lower speeds, and has a low seat height.

The Indian Scout Sixty’s 1000 cc engine and 78 horsepower may be too much for a beginner, but thanks to its lightweight build, low center of gravity, good handling, and cornering ability makes it an easy motorcycle to ride for all riders.

The American motorcycle market has been dominated by the Harley Davidson for years, with Indian Motorcycles having made their mark in recent years, especially with their cruisers. When it comes to raw performance and technological advancements, Indian Motorcycles has a slight edge over Harley Davidson.

Compared to other Harley Davidson motorcycles, the Harley Iron 883 is smaller in size but still heavy, underpowered, and expensive. Though underpowered, it has a unique cruiser design and offers nimble handling.

Indian and Harley Davidson are both American motorcycle brands with a long history of fierce competition between them. Fans of both brands are passionate, waiting patiently for the newest models to come out. There are motorcycle clubs and groups dedicated exclusively to Harley Davidson or Indian motorcycle owners. If you are a member of a Harley Davidson motorcycle club, discussing any other brand like Indian Motorcycles during meetings may get you some unpleasant looks.

The Indian Scout Sixty is one of the most reliable motorcycles in the American cruiser market. This motorcycle is equipped with high-quality parts, and owners seldom need a major repair or overhaul, provided they do routine maintenance checks and oil changes.

The Indian Scout Sixty and the Harley Iron 883 are two entry-level motorcycles with good handling. The Scout Sixty has better cruiser ergonomics than the Iron 883’s sportier ergonomics. The Scout Sixty also has better overall performance and features than the Iron 883. The Scout Sixty is more comfortable, suitable for longer rides, lightweight, easy to handle, faster, and produces more horsepower than the Harley Iron 883.

That being said, the Harley Iron 883 has better looks and an aggressive riding style. It offers nimble handling and has slightly better front and rear springs. However, this motorcycle is not good for taller riders because of its slim size and mid-mounted foot control. Both motorcycles are ideal for daily commutes, but the Iron 883 is better suited for city travel while the Scout Sixty is better suited for touring.

The Indian Scout Sixty and Harley Iron 883 can become ideal touring options if modified with aftermarket parts available at Viking Bags. To increase the storage capacity of your motorcycle, Viking Bags has different luggage options available, including SADDLEBAGS, SISSY BAR BAGS, and BACKPACKS. Other aftermarket parts include SISSY BARS, HANDLEBARS, FAIRINGS, and CRASHBARS.

If you ride a Harley Iron 883, Viking Bag has specially designed SADDLEBAGS, SISSY BARS, and HANDLEBARS for your motorcycle. Viking Bag also has specially designed SADDLEBAGS for your Indian Scout Sixty.