2025 Indian Scout Bobber Review: Perfectly Evolved?

This is the 2025 Indian Scout Bobber, a brand new bike with loads of updates across the board. And I've got to say, it did have me a little bit worried because the previous generation was, I think, a fantastic bike. And one of the factors was that it was so raw and basic. It was kind of refreshing to ride a new bike at this sort of time without really much in the way of tech. And so could Indian have kind of over-egged this one with too many new features? Or is it just perfectly evolved? Well, in this video, we'll go through the six key things that you need to know about it to find out. Now, one of the things that I really am glad they've stuck with is the sort of overall aesthetic of the bike. And if you are familiar with the previous generation, you will recognise that it is basically the same formula, but I think they've just tweaked it to make it a little bit better. You'll recognise, for example, this headlight nacelle. They had something similar on the previous gen. Also, the big, fat, chunky front wheel. And combined with that really long low stance and the super low saddle, it really is a very similar silhouette. Two things that I like that they've changed, though, would be the shape of the tank. I do like this slightly more perhaps modern take on the tank, especially in this brown paint job that's available with the graphics. But more importantly than that, I think, is the fact that they've changed the radiator and really slimmed down the surround because it did kind of dominate the look of the bike of the previous generation, especially from the sort of front three-quarter. And maybe it did detract a little bit from the slightly retro-inspired vibe. This one, much more slim and much more subtle. And so, like I say, it's very much a similar bike, which I think is a good thing, but they've just refined it. Now, one could also quite rightly say the same of this engine. It's still a liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin. And it does have a similar sound and feel, of course, but with it being their new Speed Plus engine, which is used across the entire Scout platform now, we've got a bit more capacity. So it's now 1250cc. And as such, you've got a little bit more performance. I think there's five to 10 more horsepower and a similar boost in terms of peak torque. What I really liked about the previous generation engine was the fact that it actually revved up and made, you know, 100 horsepower, especially set against some of the other cruisers I was borrowing at the time, which had a lot of low to mid-range focus and then really died off at the top. This, like I say, continues that feel. It's got enough in the low revs in terms of torque and it's got plenty of mid-range, but also versus some other cruisers, you feel like you can hang on to the gears and really get it spinning up. Genuinely, the engine is one of my favourite things about this bike, along with the looks. And the only thing that could make it better is the exhaust system, which is a bit too restricted for my taste, as you can probably hear in this clip. Now, considering it was pretty much redesigned from the ground up, the chassis is pretty much the same in terms of how it feels to ride, because it does fit that cruiser mould with the really long and low stance and also that relaxed angle at the fork. It's not a true heavyweight, this bike, at 246 kilograms wet, but it is heavier than your average naked bike or retro. And so, yeah, naturally, with those sort of dimensions, it's going to buy us a little bit more towards straight-line stability than it is flickability and agility. Braking, well, you've still got a two-pot caliper up front on a single disc, so it does require a little bit of rear brake in order to get it to stop quickly. But like I say, these are all things that are very much part and parcel of the cruiser genre. And so if that's the sort of riding style you like, then this will be your cup of tea. And I don't think anyone's looking at this thinking it's going to handle like a Panigale. The suspension is upgradable. There is a kind of fancier pair of shocks in the accessories catalogue. And so that might be something I'd look at because I find it quite firm and there's not much travel to play with either. But look, this bike isn't ever going to want to be like rushed into a corner. And so if you're happy to more so waft along, then you can still have a really good time. Now, I already mentioned that this is a pretty low bike and it really is at 665mm in the seat. Certainly very low for the entire motorcycle market and even, I'd say, quite low for a cruiser-style bike. Thing is though, if you're someone who's really concerned about getting their feet down, then you have absolutely no worries on this bike. I mean, you know, stood up with my feet planted on the floor, I'm easily clearing the saddle. And despite that fairly chunky weight at nearly 250kg, it never feels top-heavy or unmanageable. I found it really easy to get on with at low speeds and parking it and stuff like that. As for the bar position, well, this is on pretty much, I think, the lowest rises you can get as standard and it's got a fairly regular shape of handlebar. But there are lots of other options in the accessories catalogue and that's a big thing with this update. They've really tried to make it customisable and versatile and so you'll probably be pretty impressed if you have a look at the configurator as to just how many different layouts you can get for the bars and risers. Then on this one, we've also got the forward foot controls, which I think are fitted as standard. And for me, that's something I'd certainly be looking to swap out because you can get a mid control, which sits more so around the middle of the engine here. I mean, you know, I said it's not a particularly sporty handling bike, but the engine does make you want to ride it quite fast. And I just think if you had the option to support your weight a little bit more with your feet slightly further back, then maybe it would feel more enjoyable through the corners and like you're in a more sporty riding position. The bars, I'm really happy with though. The seat, I tried the sport seat on the Sport Scout the other day and that is probably another thing I would spec up. It's a little bit more cushy and also has a bit more of a wedge at the back to hold you in place. But generally, I'd say it's a very comfy bike and it's defined by that very low seat height, which I think is going to be really appealing to some people. The biggest change that I think for this bike and the one that I think might make it feel like it's moved away from what the previous Scout stood for is the fact that you've got lots of different tech options and you can really spec it up with the works. This particular press bike is on the limited plus tech package and that gets you absolutely everything, including a colour TFT display that you can use for phone connectivity and stuff like that. Keyless ignition, a bunch of different riding modes, traction control and cruise control. So really, for this genre of bike, it's right up there with the most techie of the bunch. Now, some people will probably absolutely love all these bells and whistles, but I do think there's something about a bike like this that really suits the more stripped back approach and the previous generation was so basic that it didn't have any riding modes, didn't have traction control, didn't have a slipper clutch or anything like that and it was just ABS. And I reckon they probably only put that on because they legally had to. But look, what I will say and what I think is an absolute masterstroke that I wish more manufacturers did is that you can actually choose from three different levels of tech and they go from really quite basic right up to this model. The standard bike gets an analogue dash, it's got keyed ignition, no riding modes, no traction control, just ABS. And then on top of that, you've got the limited pack, which keeps the analogue dash but adds in the rider modes, traction control and cruise control. This, like I say, is the limited plus tech, so it gets you the keyless ignition, the TFT dash with the nav built in and the connectivity. And I should also flag up that you could buy the base bike and individually configure some of those specific features. So if you just wanted cruise control but not the riding modes, for example, you wouldn't have to get the limited pack, you could just get the base bike and just fit cruise control. For me, I'd probably go for that middle model, the limited, because I do like the simple dash and how it suits this kind of bike. But I tried out the sports mode and it really does liven up the throttle response, which I think really suits the engine. And also cruise control on a bike like this is an absolute must for me. The great thing about it as well is you're only paying for the sort of features and packages that you actually think you'll enjoy and make use of. And that's why I think it's something I'd love to see on other ranges of bikes from other manufacturers. The base bike comes in at just over 13 grand, I think it's 13,195. Whereas the limited version, well, that's around the 14 grand mark. And limited plus tech is a couple of hundred quid shy of 15 grand. So there really is quite a big difference from the bottom model to the top. But look, if you're someone who likes a simple bike, you can get one that's similar to the previous gen and it's going to cost you the least. Equally though, if you're someone who looked at the previous gen Scout and thought it was a cool looking bike, an interesting looking engine, it's got the cruiser style stance that you were looking for but maybe a bit light on features, then now you can pay a little bit more and get all that stuff that would make it, you know, your perfect bike. Ultimately though, I'd say the heart and soul of this bike with the super cool looks and also that very strong feeling engine is very much the same. They've just given it a much more flexible platform now. So for me, this update is a big plus, but as always, I'd love to know what you think of it. So do let me know down in the comments below. Also, if you haven't seen it already, I'll put on the screen now my review of the previous generation Scout Rogue. So do check that out if the Indian Scout lineup is of interest to you. And do hit subscribe as well if you want to see more of the latest motorcycle reviews like this right here on Motobob. And massive thanks for watching today and we'll see you in the next video.