Forget The Sportster 1200, Indian Built A 100-HP Cruiser That Packed 24 More Horses
The Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 has long been a great representation of the traditional American cruiser. However, the 2015 Indian Scout took a different approach to the same entry-level cruiser formula. In a comparison road test dyno test, the Indian Scout delivered 24 horsepower more than the Sportster 1200 at the rear wheel. That’s quite a lot if you consider that both motorcycles have similar weights. The road test also concluded that the Scout accelerated harder to 60 mph than the Sportster, despite having a smaller engine. On paper, the Scout offers better performance, but the Sportster too has a few tricks up its sleeve. The numbers show that both V-twin motorcycles have a different approach to performance, and peak horsepower only tells you part of the story.
Indian Scout Vs. Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200: The Dyno Numbers
At 565 pounds, the 2015 Indian Scout weighs just four pounds less than the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200. This tiny difference in weight levels the playing field for both motorcycles as far as weight is concerned. With that out of the way, the dynamometer test revealed that the Scout delivered 85 horsepower at the rear wheel at 7,900rpm. In comparison, the Sportster delivered 61 horsepower at 5,800rpm. That’s a 24 horsepower, or 40% difference in peak power outputs between both motorcycles.
This difference shows in the real world as well. The comparison test showed the Scout accelerating from standstill to 60mph in 4.9 seconds, while the Sportster took 5.6 seconds. That’s a 0.7 second advantage for the Indian Scout. These figures are all the more interesting when you take into account that the Scout has a smaller 1,333cc V-twin, compared to the Sportster’s 1,202cc engine.
How The Indian Scout’s Smaller V-Twin Makes More Horsepower
The Indian Scout’s horsepower advantage lies in its engine architecture. The Sportster 1200 uses Harley-Davidson’s Evolution V-twin – an air-cooled powerplant that uses simple pushrod-operated valves and a two-valve-per-cylinder construction. This traditional cruiser engine recipe focuses on accessible power at lower engine speeds.
In comparison, the Indian Scout takes a more modern route. Its 1,133cc 60-degree V-twin uses liquid cooling, dual overhead camshafts, and four valves per cylinder. This engine can rev up to 9,000rpm while the Sportster’s Evolution engine can manage only about 6,000rpm. That extra rev range helps liberate more horsepower. An engine’s horsepower depends on its torque output and engine speed. The higher the revs, the more scope to produce higher horsepower numbers. Having a four-valve head with an overhead cam layout also helps the Scout’s engine breathe better at higher engine speeds, helping it liberate more horsepower. Having liquid cooling also gives the Scout a thermal advantage by helping manage higher operating temperatures better.
Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Vs. Indian Scout: Torque Changes The Equation
Horsepower is only a part of the story. The Harley-Davidson claws back brownie points on the dynamometer when it comes to torque. It delivers 65.16 pound-feet of rear-wheel torque at 3,800rpm, while the Scout delivers 63.53 pound-feet at 5,900rpm. The difference is modest, but the Sportster also delivers its peak torque quite early in the rev range.
The Harley’s more accessible torque suits riders looking for more engaging performance at lower revs and who prefer to short shift rather than revving the engine higher. The Evolution V-twin delivers on the familiar American cruiser experience: relaxed engine speeds and a surge of torque at low revs.
The Indian Scout is for a different section of riders. It offers a broader high-rpm performance window, a characteristic that helps it be faster to 60mph, despite the Harley’s peak torque advantage. The Sportster’s torque advantage points towards a different kind of performance. One which American cruiser loyalists value more than peak horsepower.
2015 Indian Scout Vs. Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200: Which Cruiser Wins?
For cruiser riders who prefer acceleration and peak performance, the Indian Scout makes a stronger case. At near-identical weights, it delivers 24 additional horsepower at the rear wheel over the Sportster 1200, while also being faster to 60mph. It does all of this with a smaller engine, thanks to a high-revving liquid-cooled design which is a stark contrast to the Sportster’s traditional air-cooled Evolution V-twin. However, the Sportster has its own charm. Its slightly higher peak torque arrives 2,100rpm earlier than the Scout’s. That helps make it more engaging to ride at low revs.
When it comes to performance, the 2015 Indian Scout is the one to go for. It makes a lot more peak horsepower and is faster as well. The Harley Sportster 1200 offers more of an old-world charm and heritage, with a more relaxed riding experience coupled with low-rev performance.
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