Indian Scout and Harley Forty-Eight put to the test

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Indian Scout and Harley Forty-Eight put to the test

American everyday escape vehicles

Engines, air-cooled and robust, with a water jacket and modern: Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight and Indian Scout both want to be the King of Cool. Two men, two days, a campfire and the question of which is the better everyday escape vehicle.

D.he Harley Forty-Eight shines. It’s because of the paint. The Americans call this Hard Candy Custom. Metal particles reflect the light. A bobber for extroverts. Fleet manager Rainer opens his heart with something like that. Just like the little yapper who’s been growling at the bike from Milwaukee for minutes. Rainer throws the box on. The 1200 Langhuber comes to life. And the dog is gone. Whoever sows barking will reap Bollern. As simple as that.

Indian Scout and Harley Forty-Eight put to the test

American everyday escape vehicles

Scout rather back. Looks a little conservative in the simple gray color scheme and puffs very quietly into the environment despite the E-approved accessory system from Remus.

The Harley Forty-Eight is different. Shakes, lives, vibrates, works perceptibly and audibly. And that already in the state. Hey, Indian, where is the myth? Stop, after all, the Indians drove around with dry sump lubrication as early as 1933. At Harley there was only the drip oiler and loss lubrication. So the latest technology fits Indian, with the machines from Milwaukee the twin bumper is still used today. Old technology with a lot of heart versus modern engine construction.

More work is the order of the day on the Harley Forty-Eight

Go now We only have two days. With a loud "clone", first gear engages in the transmission of the Harley Forty-Eight. He’s sitting. Not sensitive, not casual, but sure. Gear changes are easier on the Indian Scout. Something similar can be experienced in the city, stop-and-go traffic to the horizon. The 102 hp Scout unit gently accelerates. 1800 rpm are sufficient. There’s more work to be done on the Forty-Eight. Pulsating driving pleasure below 2000 revs? Without the Harley. Moving them at 40 km / h in the third is like riding a jackhammer. The Milwaukee twin is translated far too long. So diligently pull the clutch. It’s like chopping wood: You can do it with an ax – then you ride a Harley, you like physical confrontation, sweat and strength. You can also choose the easier route, using a band saw. Then the Indian is your thing. It does everything easily and smoothly, thanks to good gear steps and a full flywheel in the engine block.

In an extreme case, it looks like this: Simply shift into second gear, just a quick burst of gas, and the Indian Scout chugs forward. 20 km / h are on the chic speedometer. Left and right hands are free. The Indian stamps cheerfully. Doesn’t go out. Cool. The landscape opens up, soft spring green passes by. The fleet manager courageously holds the Harley Forty-Eight into the first corners and finally no longer has to pay careful attention to gear selection and clutch metering. The Indian follows closely. But too brisk pace is not possible. Resting far to the front and below, this quickly results in metalworking. Rainer sends the first sparks as a greeting. Good for the ego. But be careful: only a little later, more unyielding parts are maltreating the asphalt. Better to move the line. Let go, choose wide arches. Then the speed fits without being slow. The colleague internalized it. The curves increase. The landscape sweeps past. The head empties. Flight of thought par excellence.

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Harley tank only holds 7.9 liters

Until a little yellow light vies for attention, the Harley’s reserve light. The peanut tank holds 7.9 liters. A reminiscence of the Harley-Davidson S125 from 1948. The fuel container is a pleasing work of art, but limits the range. Who wants to be beautiful must suffer. It has always been like this. The Indian Scout sees it calmly, has a lot more in the barrel. Reason meets style.

The non-lockable fuel cap is back on the Harley masterpiece, the bikes continue to rustle. Rainer knows his way around here. I thought. Until he takes the next turn. The term bad asphalt does not apply. Because even the word asphalt would be an exaggeration. This is where the pitfalls of the two bikes come into play. Just blink briefly at the technical data and study the spring travel. Then everything is clear. The Indian Scout is still struggling, the Harley-Davodson Forty-Eight quickly waves the white flag. If the roads are really bad, a fakir sits more comfortably on his bed than any driver on the two V-Twins. If you expect something different, you should rather turn around when choosing a vehicle. It just helps us hold on and through. It’s time to take a break.

Very fine workmanship of the Indian Scout

The Milwaukee-Vau crackles softly. Cools down slowly. The view moves along the lines, discovers many nice details. The stylish closure of the oil container, for example. Or the cranked tire valves, the sensor integrated in the front wheel hub for well-functioning ABS and the clean rear, in which the indicators, brake and rear lights are integrated into the indicators. But with so much light there are also shadows. This includes the many cables that snake openly along the left frame tube. And one or the other screw might look more like a bike forge than a hardware store. The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight polarizes. You like it or you leave it where it is. Point.

The Indian Scout is optically the one for everyone, impresses with a great finish. The color scheme is rather subtle, it stands for a posh workmanship. Numerous small and large covers on the engine are a brilliant reminder of the company’s history. The water cooler is integrated directly into the frame at the front and creates the connection to the engine almost invisibly. Somebody really thought about that. Each part fits the other, at every corner, no matter how small, the gap dimensions and surface appearance are correct. respect.

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Autobahn is not a gift with the American cruisers

The coffee is finished, the two motorcycles are ready to go again. We want to know now. What can the Indian twin do? The country road is empty. The pilots agree on a pull-through duel. Evil look. Highest gear (Indian 6th, Harley 5th), it starts at 40 km / h. We three. As soon as the gas handles fold down, the Indian Scout gains meters. The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight is not really moving. The long translation, we already had it. Rainer can hardly believe it. I let him in again. We wanted to flee, not dragstern.

Enjoy, not hot spurs. We cruise side by side. He tells me about a nice spot on a pass very close by. Perfect for a campfire, sausage and cold drinks. Sounds good. The idea generator is already taking the next motorway slip road with good taste. But he probably didn’t know the rapid changeover curve in its course. He has to work hard on the Harley’s narrow handlebars, which are cranked a little too far inward. Demand handiness by muscle power. The Indian runs almost light-footed behind the broad handlebars that stretch out towards the driver. On the track, the motto is: tear down meters quickly. This is not a gift with the American cruisers. Broad chest in the wind, it pushes you back hard. You try 140 km / h and give up after a short time. Unless your name is Schwarzenegger. We’re slowing down the pace. The Harley 1200 pulsates beneath you. Provides the rhythm. Sharp, honest, robust, he says exactly where he feels comfortable. This feedback is missing on the Indian Scout. When it comes down to it, she sniffs the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight mercilessly. Even on the train. Works perfectly, the Scout – maybe too well?

Indian Scout is better, but also more expensive

The cold wind slowly penetrates through every crack, the eyes begin to water. Now warmth is required. Rainer has already turned on the indicator and reaches into the iron again. The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight will certainly come to a stop. Even if the brake does not score with the best controllability and requires high manual forces, you can rely on ABS. The Indian Scout regulates more coarsely in the ABS limit area, but offers the finer pressure point. But she cannot do without a powerful grip. The bikes rest in the last evening sun. Long shadows leave their mark. The flames blaze between piled stones, spreading pleasant heat. The daily goal has been achieved. A little later there’s sausage and beer. Two men, two happy faces.

Sure, the Indian Scout is the better motorcycle, but costs 14,280 euros (including Remus exhaust) but also significantly more than the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight for 12,375 euros. It throws a motor into the scales, which combines the best cruiser manners: flywheel-steered concentricity at the very bottom, full torque up to the middle and, if necessary, the pressure of 102 hp at the top. The Harley is different, more shirt-sleeved. It lives from its engine and its myth. From an objective point of view, there is not always much left of it while driving. But what does this standard matter when your heart speaks?

It’s always enough to flee because the V-units are enjoyable clock generators. Keep the resting heart rate of man and machine low. That grounds. Makes you calm down. It’s liberating. You don’t think anymore, you just drive. Without performance thoughts, without higher, faster, further, better. Just try it out. It really works. At Harley they’ve known that for a long time. At Indian, they did their homework thoroughly. Good thing, because we still have a whole day ahead of us with the everyday escape vehicles, yeah.

MOTORCYCLE conclusion

43 Pictures

Pictures: Indian Scout and Harley Forty-Eight in the test

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Technical specifications

43 Pictures

Pictures: Indian Scout and Harley Forty-Eight in the test

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