It’s been two-weeks. Two weeks of car shows, Father’s day events, work, Speedway, and the Born Free Motorcycle Show. Two weeks since I threw a leg over the new Indian Motorcycle Company’s Scout Bobber and rode it around the block and a mile down the freeway. Two weeks and I keep thinking about what a great (however short) ride it was.
It was at Indian Motorcycle of Orange County. It was their monthly Open House. I went there to see my ol’ friend Kitty who recently came on board sharing the love of America’s FIRST Motorcycle Company and the new rides that play homage to the classics that ring the showroom above as if they were the bikes of the Gods!
It’s a really cool little dealership. A dealership where they treat you like family. Not a big corporate behemoth with crazy sales quotas which make you feel like you have to take a shower when you leave. I really like the layout of the dealership too. It is respectful to the history of Indian Motorcycles. Plenty of bikes outside, a nice showroom that isn’t overcrowded with bikes. There’s another room for accessories and a couple of Scouts thrown in and the resale and parts room with an intimate waiting room.
I’m diggin’ the smaller bikes. The Scout, more than anything. Not realizing it was also a Demo Day, Kitty asks if I want to take one out.
HECK YEAH!
I fill out an online form and sign a simple waiver and she hands me a helmet. Now my melon is long and skinny so their largest lid is still a bit tight. No fear. I am throwing a leg over the Scout Bobber in no time.
Kitty went over the riding features such as the turn signalling button, shifting etc. The idea is you follow the dealership EVP Leo Hartog around the block and short stint on the freeway. Now, I am used to my cushy HD Road King Custom with 65K miles and an equally cushy clutch. I see Leo take off in front of me and I grab a fist full of throttle.
And I grab a fist full of throttle.
Did I already say that? Because when I did the bike shot out like a rocket. All of a sudden I realize: This aint your old man’s motorsickle. The bike accelerated in a straight line with no slosh. The front end didn’t want to go up, it just took off like a rocket on rails. I see his rear fender come up quick as I come to realize we are about to make a right around the block.
The brakes were sharp and downshifting smooth. I push on the right side of the bars and the bike responded as if it was part of me or me as part of the bike it was hard to tell the difference. Another quick acceleration and we were ready to hit the highway.
Leo was on the Indian Chieftain Classic in Thunder Black. The bike has a Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine with amazing torque. The fairing is designed like a train from the 1950’s with hard bags and valanced front fender featuring a war bonnet emblem.
The Scout Bobber I was riding features a liquid cooled 69ci V-Twin boasting 100 hp that quickly moves through all six speeds in the trans. The bobber is slammed down an inch or so and has street tracker handlebars. I would go with forward controls rather than the stock mid controls, because I have long legs. Other than that I fit well on the bike.
As we hit the onramp to the freeway Leo pulls ahead rather quickly so I grab another handful of throttle and before I know it I am zipping through traffic and clicking it up one more time to 6th.
MAN THIS BIKE IS BITCHEN!
I just wanted to keep heading east and into the hills at the base of Saddleback Mountain, but the offramp came up and without a down payment I better get off.
I AM SOLD!
What am I going to do? I gotta sell some projects and get me one of these. With a base price of $13,549 it’s a reasonable purchase. I invite you to check it out at www.IndianMotorcycleOC.com and take a look at their lineup of impressive bikes. Who knows, you may see my “Down Payment Blues” Harley in their Pre-owned inventory.