Iconic Motorcycles Codexery

Indian Scout

A long-running American V-twin motorcycle line.

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Indian Scout

Piero at Dutch Wikipedia · via Wikipedia: Indian Scout (motorcycle) · CC BY-SA 3.0

The Indian Company manufactured the Scout motorcycle from 1920 through 1949.[1] The Scout model competed with the Chief for the title of Indian's most significant motorcycle.[1] Produced between 1928 and 1931, the 101 Scout is often described as Indian's finest motorcycle.[1]

Last updated 2026-10-01 from the source article.

How it changed

The Scout engine initially displaced 606 cc, but was increased to 745 cc in 1927.[2] In 1931 the 101 Scout was discontinued due to its expensive unique chassis.[3] The negative reaction to the Standard Scout led to the creation of the Sport Scout of 1934.[4] A sidevalve V-twin engine was used in the Scout, with the transmission attached directly to the engine casing.[2]

Indian Sport Scout FCI
Indian Sport Scout FCI. Image: Qflieger · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The original Scout was succeeded by the Scout Series 101 during the middle of 1928.[5] The 101 Scout featured a redesigned chassis that included increased fork rake, an extended wheelbase, and a reduced seat height.[5] Racers, hillclimbers, and trick riders favored the 101 Scout because of its excellent handling characteristics.[6] The Standard Scout from 1932 had a frame that was both heavier and more cumbersome than the 101's, leading to poorer sales.[7]

What the maker and period sources say

In 1941 Indian added plunger-style rear suspension to the Sport Scout.[8] Indian sold more than 30,000 units of the 741B.[9] In 1948, Indian manufactured the 648 Sport Scout, a homologation model intended mainly for competitive racers.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wilson 1995, p. 104; Girdler 2002, p. 83 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Girdler 2002, p. 83; Wilson 1995, p. 104; Johnstone 1995, p. 46–47; Hatfield 2001, p. 32, 106–108 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sucher Pickering Diamond Havelin 2011, p. 291; Johnstone 1995, p. 46–47; Wood 2001, p. 71; Hatfield 2001, p. 32, 106–108; Sucher Pickering Diamond Havelin 2011, p. 291 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Johnstone 1995, p. 46–47; Girdler 2002, p. 83; Johnstone 1995, p. 46–47; Girdler 2002, p. 83; Williams 2013; Johnstone 1995, p. 46–47 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wilson 1995, p. 104; Sucher Pickering Diamond Havelin 2011, p. 291 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wilson 1995, p. 104; Wood 2002, p. 79; Wood 2001, p. 71 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sucher Pickering Diamond Havelin 2011, p. 291; Sucher Pickering Diamond Havelin 2011, p. 291; Wilson 1995, p. 104; Johnstone 1995, p. 46–47; Wood 2001, p. 71; Hatfield 2001, p. 32, 106–108; Sucher Pickering Diamond Havelin 2011, p. 291 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Williams 2013 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hatfield 2006 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Indian Scout (motorcycle)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wilson 1993; Girdler 2002, p. 83; Wilson 1993; Girdler 2002, p. 83; Wilson 1993 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Indian Scout (motorcycle) (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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