Harley, Indian or Triumph: Which Bobber is Best?

I have a pretty awesome job. It’s not always great – no job is – and it sure as hell doesn’t pay well, but this particular gig counters the not-great stuff with the fact I get to ride motorcycles. And over the past year or so, three of the motorcycles I’ve loved riding most have been the various interpretations on the bobber theme that have been presented by Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Triumph, namely: the Street Bob, the Scout Bobber, and the Bonneville Bobber.

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Of course, the obvious question to ask is: Which interpretation is best?

I realize there are some members of the old school who will argue that none of these bikes are “true” bobbers by the very nature of their being production models, but let’s just put that argument to the side for now. Definitions change. It seems the current definition of a bobber is an aesthetically stripped-down cruiser with mid-set pegs and a solo seat. Even that definition is a loose one (pegs on the Scout Bobber are a little far forward to be called mid-set), so it’s no surprise that each of the brands has offered up a uniquely different take.

Another important aspect of a bobber, it seems, and one that is no less difficult to define, is the concept of heritage. Bobbers are bikes that aesthetically harken back to a different time – ostensibly the post-WWII era when returning servicemen stripped their bikes of all unnecessary weight for the sake of going faster. Each of the three brands trade heavily on a heritage that stretches back more than a century; Indian traces its roots to 1901, Triumph to 1902, and Harley-Davidson to 1903. Harley is the only member of the group that can claim to have actually been manufacturing motorcycles the whole time, but all three can legitimately claim to have been part of the original bobber movement.

Before we get to the question of which has delivered the better modern interpretation, however, let’s remind ourselves of what we’re dealing with:

Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Price: £12,295 / US $14,499
Numbers: 1753cc V-twin / 74 hp* / 110 ft-lb of torque

First introduced in 2006 as a Dyna, the Street Bob was reborn in late 2017 as part of Harley’s complete overhaul of the cruiser lineup – Dynas were scrapped and Softails completely changed. Equipped with an all-new engine, chassis, and suspension, the new Street Bob is markedly better than previous iterations. As I wrote in my review: “The Street Bob has managed to keep most of the elements I loved about the previous model while eliminating or alleviating the stuff I didn’t.”

As a Harley it is, by default, the standard by which all other bobbers are measured. High-quality fit and finish, a fun (not to mention enormous) engine, and fantastic looks mean that standard is not an easy one to meet.

*Harley, of course, does not publish horsepower figures. This number come from a recent dyno test of the 2018 Street Bob, performed by Motorcycle Cruiser.

Indian Scout Bobber

Price: £11,299 / US $11,499
Numbers: 1133cc V-twin / 100 hp** / 72 ft-lb of torque

Unveiled in summer 2017, the Scout Bobber makes use of the same chassis and liquid-cooled engine as the standard Scout, which was first introduced back in 2014. Different tires and riding position, however, manage to deliver a unique riding experience – one that feels better suited to making the most of the heralded powerplant. As I wrote in my review: “It’s far and away the best cruiser engine I’ve ever experienced… but I’d be equally delighted to see it housed in anything from a naked to an adventure bike.”

Quite possibly the best example to date in terms of what Indian is capable of, the Scout Bobber’s fit and finish shows a tremendous amount of attention to detail. It’s clear parent company Polaris cares deeply about the brand and is eager to see it thrive.

**This is the claim made by Indian’s US website; its UK website claims 94 hp.

Triumph Bonneville Bobber

Price: £10,600 / US $11,900
Numbers: 1200cc parallel twin / 75 hp / 78 ft-lb of torque

Triumph’s artful take on the bobber was introduced to the world via a lavish and loud warehouse party in late 2016, with an updated Bobber Black version (main difference being the presence of dual front discs) introduced a year later. Unique to the trio in its use of a liquid-cooled parallel twin engine, the Bonneville Bobber offers a somewhat sportier take on the bobber concept – thanks in part to a lean angle more generous than that found on the other two.

Aesthetically, the bike is a… ahem… triumph, demonstrating a level of fit and finish that would have been unimaginable from the British manufacturer a decade ago ago. Similar to the Indian, it is littered with tiny branded touches that show dedication and care.

So, Which One is Best?

The Triumph Bonneville Bobber easily takes the prize when it comes technology and comfort. It is packed with standard goodies like ABS, traction control, riding modes, and “torque-assist clutch” (aka slipper clutch). The only one of these you’ll find on the Harley or Indian is ABS (and if you live in Trumpistan that feature is an extra that will cost more). Meanwhile, the seating position on the Triumph is adjustable, which means you automatically have a better shot at being comfortable.

Even in its more aggressive stance I tend to prefer the Triumph for my 6-foot-1 frame. The Harley has a somewhat odd riding position that, although fun, takes some getting used to. Out of the box, the Indian’s rider triangle is pretty challenging for a gangly fella, but can be improved dramatically with the addition of accessory mini ape-hanger bars.

The Triumph also wins on price, offering enough savings over the Indian and Harley that you can afford to buy all kinds of cool branded Triumph clothing to complete the look.

The biggest strike against the Triumph is the fact it relies on chain final drive. The other two are belt-driven, which makes life a lot easier. Cleaning and lubing the Triumph’s chain will require a paddock stand at the very least, and adjusting chain tension is the sort of pain-in-the-ass task that, I’m certain, is at the heart of most people’s decision to buy shaft-driven bikes. Additionally, the Bonneville Bobber’s 9-liter tank (2.3 US gallons) is the tiniest of the bunch (12.5 liters for the Indian; 13.2 liters for the Harley).

Obviously this is a subjective thing, but for me the Indian scores the W when it comes to aesthetics. Just barely. My opinion on looks is influenced by my opinion of Indian Motorcycle. I have a special place in my heart for the brand, so it should come as no surprise that in a contest between three beautiful machines I’m going to choose the one with “Indian” written on the tank. Truthfully, though, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Meanwhile, in terms of engine, the Indian wins without question or second thought. The Scout Bobber’s 1133cc powerplant gives you the best elements of the other two contenders – the sportiness of the Triumph and the grunt of the Harley – with the benefit of more horsepower. The ability to tear away in a generally un-cruiser-like manner will put the spirit of hooliganism in you. As such, although it won’t lean as far as the Triumph it feels better suited to zipping through traffic.

The biggest drawback of the Scout Bobber is that it does feel smallish; its seat is particularly low to the ground and the riding position scrunches you up. It’s strange to describe a 255kg bike that’s 2.2 meters long as “small” but the feeling of being lost amongst other traffic is greater here than with the other two bikes. The feeling is alleviated somewhat with the aforementioned mini ape-hangers, which give you a greater sense of commanding the bike.

Lastly, although the Harley has an equally scrunched riding position and its seat is also pretty low to the ground, it scores an easy win in terms of presence. You feel more visible sitting atop that planet-sized Milwaukee Eight engine and it’s pretty awesome.

In terms of looks, whereas the Indian and Triumph are steeped in ornate touches, the Harley sticks to the bare-bones spirit of a bobber. Everything is done very, very well, but the Street Bob looks more rough and ready, more willing to be caked in mud, more likely to look cool with rust. Of the three, the Street Bob is the one that would look the best overloaded with bags and trundling – unwashed – across a continent.

Arguably, the Harley also wins in gravitas. You simply have to acknowledge the strength of the Harley-Davidson name. It means something. People who don’t ride know what a Harley is. Harleys are the only bikes I’ve ever ridden that have inspired people to salute as I’ve gone past. For some riders, that sort of thing – being connected to it – has real value.

For me, the Harley’s biggest weakness is the fact it weighs 42 kg (93 lbs) more than the Indian or Triumph. The weight is low, so you don’t notice… until you jam on the brakes. All three bobbers run with a single disc up front and a single disc in the rear. That’s enough on the lighter bikes, but on the Harley you’ll very much need to work the front in concert with the rear if wanting to stop quickly.

Ultimately, the answer to the question of which of these three bobbers is the best really depends on the person who’s ponying up the dough to buy it. It’s an individual decision. Does the bike fit your tastes, your riding style, etc?

But, of course, that’s a cop-out answer; let’s choose a winner, dammit. If you were to put a gun to my head, after a long period of back and forth I’d probably (and perhaps unsurprisingly, considering my bias) choose the Indian.

It’s the engine that does it for me. The Triumph has technowhizzbangery that I love, but in this case it may create too refined an experience. You want a bobber to have a little more badassitude. That’s certainly something the Street Bob has going in its favors, as well as its feeling of being more substantial, and being able to fetch more if re-sold, but I’d forgo it for the insane amount of “Wheeee!” that the Indian delivers.

I’ll admit, though, that once the keys to the Indian had been placed in my hand I’d immediately dive into the nearest accessories catalog, doctoring the bike to make it look and sound more like a Street Bob.