The Indian Scout 101 is a bit of a departure from my typical mount. Admittedly, I ride a comparably aggressive Triumph on a daily basis. However, at the chance to spend a month aboard one of Indian’s latest eye-popping cruiser motorcycles, I couldn’t say no.

The Indian Scout 101 is every bit the city-crushing motorcycle, but not as happy on long trips

“How about a Scout 101?” I simply couldn’t refuse that question. I’ve piloted an Indian Scout, albeit a 100-horsepower model from years earlier. I remembered the machine being eager. However, it was also somewhat low-slung and lazy for my liking. That said, I was excited to get the Scout 101 for a month.

My Indian Scout 101 wore a Ghost White Metallic livery with an old-school scalloped red and black aesthetic. It’s one of just two color options for the bike, the other being a red-dominated look. Granted, some riders may be put off by the bike’s busy aesthetic. Still, with a scalloped, three-tone tank, the Scout 101 is a looker.

After picking up the attention-grabbing Indian motorcycle, I rode it 400 miles from Atlanta, Georgia to Louisville, Kentucky. Mind you, I didn’t have saddlebags. I brought my gear in a backpack for the long ride. Still, the Scout 101’s 26.8-inch seat height made for a low-riding, easy-to-cruise platform. And with a low, functional windscreen, cutting through the air at highway speeds was a straightforward task.

At first, the Scout 101 was a compliant long-range cruiser. User-friendly cruise control and the bike’s four-inch RIDE COMMAND+ infotainment system made highway miles all too easy. I linked the Cardo PACKTALK PRO system in my Shoei RF-SR helmet to the bike. As a result, I could change songs with the touchscreen or the controls on the left module. All in all, the Scout 101 seemed like a good road trip companion. 

That is until my rump had something to say about it. The 2025 Indian Scout 101 boasts a solo seat that is, well, less than stellar for long trips. I found myself shifting my frame often to keep my legs awake. Fortunately, with frequent stops, the Scout 101 allowed me to make simple work of the commute from Georgia to Kentucky.

Conversely, the brightly-colored Indian made short work of city riding. The bike’s shallow lean angle and forward controls made for fun, scrape-happy city cornering. Also, I seldom parked the bright white-and-red ride without drawing a crowd. With the helpful addition of a saddlebag set, the Scout 101 would be all too happy as an urban commuter.

However, the Indian Scout 101 needs a few things beyond bags to live up to its potential. For starters, the dull, bargain-bin gas cap rattles and does the eye-popping livery a disservice. Owners may want to replace the faux chromed cap immediately. Also, a throatier exhaust system might liven up the riding experience of the low-slung Indian. Still, the Harley-Davidson Sportster S and Nighter Special had better be on alert for the Indian’s enthusiastic range-topping Scout.