The RT’ s compact hard bags are mounted high and tight on the rear subframe. Like the standard Sport Scout, the RT accommodates a solo rider only.
HELMET
: SHOEI GT-AIR 3 JACKET: CORTECH META HOODIE AIRBAG VEST: ALPINESTARS TECH-AIR 5 PLASMA GLOVES: CORTECH SPORT LITE PANTS: CORTECH AA DYNEEMA JEANS BOOTS: CORTECH SLAYER CHECKERED SHOES
STYLE POINTS
Touring capability may not top the list of the Sport Scout RT’ s best qualities, but style certainly does. Despite having a wheelbase of just 61.5 inches( 3 inches shorter than the Sport Chief RT), the bike has a long and low silhouette. The lean- and- mean profile is accentuated by a blackedout chassis and drivetrain, a tinted
windscreen, and, on our test bike, accessory bar- end mirrors mounted in the drop position. Machined edges on the wheels, engine, and bar risers add a custom touch. Ours was painted in a gorgeous Sunset Red Metallic; other options include Black Smoke and Chalk( gray).
Thoughtful details round out the look: a subtle stripe behind the big
Indian headdress logo on the tank, character lines on the fairing and saddlebags, color- matched fenders, and contrast piping and stitching on the seat. A few hundred test bikes have come and gone from my garage over the past couple of decades, and the Sport Scout RT is on the short list of those that I’ d always pause to admire their lines and stance. Whenever I rolled the RT out of my garage or dropped its kickstand at a popular spot, my chest puffed out with pride. Its cool factor is undeniable. Nobody had to know it didn’ t belong to me!
STRONG CORE
The biggest changes to the Scout platform during its 2025 update were to the engine and frame. As before, the engine is a liquid- cooled 60- degree V- Twin, but Indian claims it’ s 70 % new. Displacement increased from 1,133cc to 1,250cc by boring out the cylinders to 104mm( up from 99mm) while retaining a 73.6mm stroke. It also received a new cylinder head with larger valves, a new camshaft profile, and a higher compression ratio. These changes contributed to a gain of 5 hp( up to 105 at 7,250 rpm) and 10 lb- ft of
16 / AUGUST 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM