Indian adds Scouts, dumps air-cooled baggers/tourers

Some very nice paint, some nifty accessories, and the tacit dumping of its air-cooled baggers and tourers - those are the headline takeaways from today’s reveal of Indian Motorcycle’s 2026 model year line-up.

Not that anyone was expecting much more. This reveal is the last under Polaris ownership. The Minnesota-based company has sold its majority stake in Indian Motorcycle to a private equity firm, who will be fully taking over toward the start of next year. After roughly 30 years in the motorcycle game - via Victory Motorcycles and then Indian Motorcycle - Polaris is throwing in the towel and going back to its safe space of snowmobiles and off-road four-wheelers.

If Polaris had had an ace up its sleeve - a glorious new model to shatter the status quo - it wouldn’t be cashing out now. Paint, accessories, and fewer choices was all we were ever going to get.

But as we say, the paint and accessories are very nice, and combine to offer up two “new” models, the Sport Scout RT and the Sport Scout Sixty.

Sport Scout RT

“Leveraging the timeless style and perfect proportions of Scout’s DNA, today’s Indian Scout has been reshaped into the most capable American cruiser available,” declares an Indian Motorcycle media release.

The Scout platform is Indian’s best-selling - especially in Europe - and with the Sport Scout RT the line-up gains “a more aggressive and capable spirit,” according to Indian.

Powered by the same 1250cc SpeedPlus liquid-cooled V-twin that drives the rest of the Scout line, the Sport Scout RT boasts peak power outputs of 94 hp at 7250 rpm, and nearly 80 lb-ft of torque at 6300 rpm.

Where it stands out from the outgoing 2025 Sport Scout is in the presence of lockable hard panniers and greater overall design consistency. The quarter fairing no longer feels like an afterthought.

The panniers are a little disappointing in size, though - offering just 37 litres of capacity between them. But Indian claims they are “capable of fitting an entire set of riding gear, including boots, trousers, a jacket and gloves.” You’ll have to hold on to your helmet. 

Pricing of the Sport Scout RT has not yet been announced.

Sport Scout Sixty

The Scout Sixty platform has long been the better-value cruiser from Indian. With its 999cc SpeedPlus liquid-cooled V-twin engine, it gives up just 9 horsepower to its bigger sibling (Of course, you also lose a gear; the Scout Sixty transmission is five-speed). Claimed peak outputs are 85 hp at 7250 rpm, and 64 lb-ft of torque at 6200 rpm.

“Expanding on this universal accessibility, iconic American design, and a legendary balance of power and control, the new Sport Scout Sixty adds a more aggressive and sporty choice,” declares a media release.

Available in any colour the customer wants, as long as it’s black, the Sport Scout Sixty loses some of the bling and technowhizzbangery of the Sport Scout RT but keeps the design consistency and overall sense of cool.

“Mini Ape Handlebars and integrated risers improve reach and control for more sporty riding,” claims Indian. “A class-leading low seat height delivers a confidence-inspiring ride for motorcyclists of all sizes and experience levels, while a low centre of gravity gives the bike a lightweight feel off the kickstand and exceptional low-speed manoeuvrability.”

Pricing of the Sport Scout Sixty has not yet been announced.

No more Thunderstroke 116 baggers or tourers

Outside of “fresh paint and graphics” Indian’s air-cooled baggers and tourers have not seen a proper update since 2019. That was when the air-cooled 1890cc Thunderstroke 116 V-twin was introduced, replacing the 1811cc Thunderstroke 111 that had driven all of Indian’s big twins since its relaunch under Polaris, in 2014.

Although Indian had beaten Harley in introducing features like selectable ride modes, an update to the air-cooled side of things was needed.

Meanwhile, at the start of this year Indian ensured there were liquid-cooled versions of all its baggers and tourers, equipping the Chieftain and Roadmaster with the same liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin that’s been driving the Challenger and Pursuit models since 2020.

We’d guess that this dumping of air-cooled baggers/tourers came at the behest of Indian’s soon-to-be new owners, Carolwood LP. In its initial letter to Indian employees, Carolwood spoke of giving the brand “the focus it deserves.” One could see how the challenge of updating the air-cooled Thunderstroke engine to make Indian’s tourers and baggers competitive against Harley could be a distraction.

To that end, we wonder about the future of Indian’s (ever-dwindling number of) cruisers. Could those, too, be equipped with a liquid-cooled engine in the future? It would be a bold move within the context of American motorcycles.

The full 2026 line-up

Here are all the models that Indian intends to sell in 2016.

SCOUT:

• Indian Sport Scout RT
• 101 Scout: Still the flagship Scout model, promising 111 hp.
• Scout Bobber
• Scout Classic
• Super Scout

SCOUT SIXTY:

• Sport Scout Sixty
• Scout Sixty Bobber
• Scout Sixty Classic

CHIEF (Powered by air-cooled 1890cc Thunderstroke 116 V-twin, with peak outputs of roughly 88 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque)

• Chief Dark Horse
• Chief Bobber Dark Horse
• Sport Chief RT
• Super Chief Dark Horse
• Super Chief Limited

BAGGERS (Powered by 1834cc liquid-cooled PowerPlus 112 V-twin engine claiming 122 hp and 134 lb-ft of torque)

• Challenger Dark Horse 112
• Challenger Limited 112
• Chieftain PowerPlus Dark Horse 112
• Chieftain PowerPlus Limited 112

TOURING (Powered by PowerPlus 112 engine)

• Pursuit Dark Horse 112
• Pursuit Limited 112
• Roadmaster PowerPlus Dark Horse 112
• Roadmaster PowerPlus Limited 112