Indian 101 Scout Reborn?

Students of motorcycling history will be familiar with the name 101 Scout, one of the most respected bikes from the original incarnation of the Indian brand. Now it looks like the name is set to return, with evidence hinting at the development of a high-end Scout model that would surpass the other variants in the current lineup.

The original 101 Scout, made from 1928 to 1931, was essentially a second-generation Scout, replacing the original machine that debuted back in 1919. Offered with either a 37ci or (more commonly) a 45ci V-twin, the 101 Scout’s shorter, lighter chassis made it a favorite with racers. To this day it’s the motorcycle of choice for wall-of-death stunt riders. A new gas tank set it aside from earlier models visually, and the 101 Scout’s position as a historic high point was cemented when it was replaced in 1932 by a cheaper, heavier Standard Scout.

Now it looks like Indian is planning to revive the 101 Scout name, and given the heritage that the title carries, it’s likely to appear on a substantially improved version of the current model. Indian has applied for a new US trademark on the title 101 Scout; the application says the term is intended to be used on “motorcycles and structural parts therefore,” making it clear it’s not just plundering the name for use on branded clothing or accessories. Indian’s bosses will also be well aware of the reverence in which the original models are held: A new bike needs more than a paint scheme and some bolt-on accessories to earn the 101 Scout title.

The current Scout range already includes seven variants: the Scout, Scout Bobber, and Scout Rogue are the three main offerings, each of which can also be had in Sixty form with a 78 hp 60ci V-twin instead of the standard 100 hp 69ci version. Finally, there’s the Scout Bobber Twenty that adds a more classic look to the Bobber version.

It’s not clear yet how the 101 Scout will be differentiated from other models, but the original had a reputation for being lighter than both its predecessor and its successor, with better performance and handling. So chances are that any new version will use the most powerful engine available in a Scout, with weight pared back and high-quality components for the suspension and brakes.

It’s unlikely that the styling will bear much resemblance to the original; the 101 Scout of the 1920s to ‘30s might have been revolutionary for its day, but it was very much of its era with long, pulled-back bars and a leaf-sprung girder fork. However, some nods to the past are likely, perhaps in the form of wire wheels, and the bike is likely to have a more sport-oriented slant than the current offerings, perhaps with slightly less forward-positioned footrests and a taller seat. That would make it less of a cruiser and more of a streetbike, positioning it between the Scout and the FTR in Indian’s lineup.

This isn’t the first time that Indian has thought about a new 101 Scout. The company previously filed for trademark rights to the name back in 2012, and renewed its ownership on the patent in 2015. However, the Trademark Modernization Act, implemented late last year, has made it harder for companies to hold trademarks without using them. Therefore the new trademark, if granted, will have to be used on a product bearing the 101 Scout name soon afterward.