c1922 Indian Scout 600cc Motorcycle

Description

The legendary Indian Scout motorcycle was first seen in 1920 and is regarded, along with the larger Chief, as one of the two most important models made by the Springfield outfit. Designed by Charles B Franklin, who joined the company after emigrating from Ireland and ultimately rose to the position of Vice-President, the mid-sized Scout utilised a V-twin engine and proved a great success through the 1920s and 1930s. The first Scout had a 37-cid engine (600cc) but was joined in 1927 by the larger Scout 45, with a front brake standardised the following year and could top 70 mph under the right conditions. Of low-slung design, the earliest Scouts gained a fine reputation for excellent handling and responsiveness and became popular with riders on the street, dirt tracks and for endurance races. The Scout utilised a semi-unit frame with the three-speed transmission bolted to the engine and helical-gear drive, with a low centre of gravity and a long wheelbase for stability. ?Power, Swiftness, Stamina, Economy!? was one advertising claim by Indian, as was the boast ?You can't wear out an Indian Scout?, a reference to rival Harley-Davidson's perceived lack of reliability. The Scout evolved through the 1920s, with the 101 derivative of 1928 proving hugely successful. With the outbreak of war, civilian production ceased in 1940 and Indian turned to filling orders from the military instead, with the Scout's rugged mechanicals well suited to the task. The Scout enjoyed an incredible production run, remaining in production right through to the death of the company in 1953, with surviving examples keenly sought after by motorcycle collectors.