Indian Scout vs Harley Davidson Softail Slim

HARLEY DAVIDSON and INDIAN Motorcycles are American motorcycle companies. Harley Davidson was founded in 1903, while Indian Motorcycles was founded in 1901. Since their founding, both companies have remained competitors.

The HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL was first introduced in 1983. This model quickly grew in popularity because of its hidden rear mono-shock. The Softail Slim was released in 2012, sharing many traits with the HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY. Since 2012, many changes have been made to the Softail Slim’s design and engine size.

The INDIAN SCOUT was introduced in 1920 and remained in production until 1949. Indian Scouts remained in production for several years until 2011 when Indian Motorcycles was bought by Polaris Industries. In 2015, a new Indian Scout series was launched and is now currently still in production. Since 2015, several Indian Scouts have been launched with different designs, chassis, engines, and riding positions.

The INDIAN SCOUT is a traditional-looking cruiser with dual seats and standard footrests for both the rider and passenger. It has a round headlight and long mudguards. The mudguards and fuel tank are the only colored motorcycle parts, the remaining parts being covered with a matte or chrome finish. The Indian Scout does not come with pre-installed CRASH BARS or SADDLEBAGS, but they can be bought from aftermarket stores. It has a 47 mm telescopic fork at the front with a wheel travel of 120 mm (4.7 in) and a single 298 mm disc brake with a tire size of 130/90B16 67H. At the rear, it has a dual shock with 76 mm (3.0 in) of wheel travel and a single 298 mm disc brake with a tire size of 150/80B16 77H.

The bobber-style HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL SLIM is a cruiser with a solo seat. It has a traditional round headlight without a fairing  around it. It has short front and rear mudguards and wide handlebars. Like its predecessors, the Harley Softail Slim does not come with pre-installed SADDLEBAGS or SISSY BARS. Having floorboards at the front provides a relaxing riding position. The fuel tank and mudguards are the only colored motorcycle parts, the remaining parts being covered with a matte or chrome finish. The Harley Softail Slim has a 49 mm telescopic fork at the front with a wheel travel of 130 mm (5.1 in). It also has a single 300 mm disc brake at the front with a tire size of 130/90B16 53H BW. At the rear, it has a hidden 43 mm mono-shock with a wheel travel of 86 mm (3.4 in).

The INDIAN SCOUT has an engine displacement size of 69 cu in (1,133 cc) capable of producing a horsepower of 100 hp and a peak torque of 72 ft-lb (97.7 Nm) @ 5,900 rpm. Like other cruisers, the Indian Scout also operates on a belt drive train and has a six-speed transmission system. It also has a fuel tank capacity of 3.3 gal (12.5 L). With a closed-loop fuel injection system, the Indian Scout has a good fuel mileage of 58 MPG (25 km/l).

The HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL SLIM has a Milwaukee-Eight 107 four-stroke V-Twin engine able to produce a peak torque of 119 ft-lb (161 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm and a horsepower of 86 hp. It can produce good torque at lower rpm because of its stroke of 111 mm (4.374 in). The Softail Slim has a six-speed transmission system that requires less maintenance because of its belt drive train. It has a fuel tank capacity of 5 gal (18.9 L) and an electronic sequential port fuel injection system that gives the Softail Slim an average fuel mileage of 47 MPG (19.9 km/l).

The Indian Scout has a wheelbase of 1,575 mm (62 in) and a seat height of 649 mm (25.6 in). These dimensions make this motorcycle suitable for all riders. Its trail of 100 mm (4.7 in) and 30^o rake angle ensures its good handling and riding position. The Indian Scout has an overall weight of 561 lbs (254 kg) which makes it easy for all riders to handle. This middleweight cruiser is suited for riding through and on longer rides.

The Harley Davidson Softail Slim has a wheelbase of 1,630.6 mm (64.2 in) and a seat height of 647.7 mm (25.5 in). For shorter and taller riders, the Softail Slim provides a comfortable riding position. To ensure a good seating position and aerodynamics, the Softail Slim has a trail of 147 mm (5.8 in) and 30^o rake angle. With an overall weight of 671 lbs (304.3 kg), it is a heavyweight cruiser that provides stability at higher speed and rpm.

The Indian Scout has a ground clearance of 146 mm (5.7 in) while the Softail Slim has a ground clearance of 119 mm (4.7 in). Both have the same seat height. These specs make both motorcycles suitable for shorter riders. However, the Harley Davidson Softail Slim weighs way more than the Indian Scout, making the Indian Scout easier to handle for shorter riders.

The Harley Davidson Softail Slim has a bigger engine and can produce more torque than the Indian Scout. However, the Indian Scout can produce more horsepower, has less weight, and has a lighter engine. Based on this information, the Indian Scout is a better option for entry-level riders.

Indian Motorcycles was founded two years earlier than Harley Davidson in 1901. Indian Motorcycles continued to make motorcycles until the 1950s when the company went bankrupt. Meanwhile, Harley Davidson had its ups and downs but its motorcycles remained in production even when Indian Motorcycles was no longer making motorcycles. Even after 2000 when Indian Motorcycles returned, Harley Davidson continued making remarkable motorcycles that are popular among riders. The discontinuation of Indian models gave Harley Davidson an opportunity to popularize their motorcycles in the American and worldwide motorcycle markets. Moreover, Harley Davidson motorcycles began being starred in movies and ridden by celebrities which helped improve Harley Davidson’s reputation.

The Indian Scout is a cruiser that provides comfortably long rides. Unlike adventure or touring-adventure motorcycles, the Indian Scout is built to be ridden over hard rocks or rough surfaces. While this vehicle can be ridden off-road due to its good ground clearance and lightweight build, it is not recommended.

Both the Indian Scout and the Harley Davidson Softail Slim are American motorcycles with large fan followings. In terms of specs, the Softail Slim has a bigger engine and can produce more torque, but the Indian Scout is capable of producing more horsepower. In terms of overall riding experience, both have comfortable riding positions. However, the Softail Slim is more difficult to handle within city traffic and is not an entry-level motorcycle. Meanwhile, the Indian Scout weighs less and is easy to handle for every rider, but the Indian Scout’s seat can feel hard over long distances. The Softail Slim has a larger fuel tank but the Indian Scout has better fuel mileage than the Softail Slim. In terms of pricing, the Indian Scout is about $1,850 cheaper than the Softail Slim. Both motorcycles are cruisers capable of going on longer rides, but none of them have pre-installed luggage to carry their belongings.