Juvenile Scout! Indian Motorcycle's smallest Scout, the Sixty is here

The Indian Scout Sixty is the new stepping-stone to the exclusive world of Indian Motorcycle. However, this new bike from America promises to be a lot like its bigger sibling. There is not really a stark difference between the Sixty and the standard Scout as both motorcycles look pretty much the same. The main aesthetic difference however, is the minimal amount of chrome on the Sixty. Many of the components are blacked out on the Sixty and that is what separates it from the standard Scout.

But the main difference is the smaller capacity V-twin. The engine looks exactly the same as the bigger Scout, but internally it is different. The bore and stroke of the Sixty's V-twin stand at 93.0 x 73.6 mm, which translates into 999cc. In layman terms, the engine capacity has gone down from 1,133cc to 999cc.

A corresponding result of this downsizing is that the standard Scout produces 101.6 PS and 97.7 Nm, whereas the Sixty produces 78 PS and 88.8 Nm. The next big change is in the gearbox. The Sixty uses the same gearbox but instead of having six cogs, it has only five.

We were actually surprised to see how well the Sixty rides despite being 22 horses down. Smooth acceleration with good bottom and mid-range delivery are impressive. And the way the Sixty's V-twin transfers the power through the gearbox to the rear wheel via the belt drive is commendable and, honestly, Indian is the only American brand that offers such smoothness.

The old-school instrumentation looks great

Despite revving the engine hard, there were hardly any vibrations. There is ample power and torque in the low and mid-range. This makes the Sixty easy to ride even at city speeds. On the highway, however, some of you may feel the need for extra boost. However, 78 PS and 88.8 Nm are more than enough. We never felt the need for a sixth gear because the fifth's ratio is exactly the same as that in the standard Scout's sixth.

As for performance, we did not expect the Sixty to be as good as it turned out to be. The smooth acceleration and the refined nature of the V-twin actually allows you to enjoy the ride more than letting you pay attention to anything else.

The 999-cc V-twin engine is smooth as they come

The reason the Sixty is pretty easy to ride, even at low speeds is mainly due to its cast aluminium frame, superb steering geometry, low centre of gravity, and super low ride height. The balance and weight distribution is so good that you don't realise that it weighs almost a quarter of a tonne.

Cruising at 80 km/h, the ride quality on even surfaces is pretty nice. On rough patches and broken roads, the slightly soft rear twin-shock suspension felt inadequate. It tends to bottom out quickly. Apart from this small shortcoming, the overall ride quality is quite sorted.

The Scout Sixty is very much a cruiser and has all the styling cues to match. Pics/Aditya Dhiwar

The Sixty feels planted and stable, be it on straight roads, zigzags or undulating roads. In the corners it feels completely calm and composed, never missing a chance to impress with its predictability and you never feel nervous while tackling corners. Of course, it feels a bit lazy entering and exiting a corner but you can't blame it for that. After all, it's a cruiser. Nevertheless, this bike can take a corner with impressive agility, a quality that has become a trademark for Indian Motorcycle. ABS-equipped could have been better.

The switchgear is minimal but of a high quality

In the end the Scout Sixty may be short on power and torque but it retains the same character that the Scout has. At Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-Mumbai), the Sixty is a bit expensive. However, at that price tag, you get a modern-day cruiser, which can easily become your everyday ride.