The 2026 Harley-Davidson Sportster S is engineered for modern riders seeking aggressive performance in a middleweight package. Its 121-horsepower Revolution Max engine, advanced 43mm inverted fork, and nimble 59.8-inch wheelbase deliver sharp handling and responsive acceleration. Best known for blending classic Harley character with contemporary technology, it appeals to riders wanting genuine sportiness without sacrificing the brand's iconic heritage.
The 2026 Indian Scout Bobber is a stripped-back cruiser for riders who want attitude over touring comfort, with chopped fenders, a low 665 mm seat and a muscular stance. Its liquid-cooled 1250 cc V-twin makes 105 hp, giving it far more punch than its bare-bones looks suggest. Best known for blending classic bobber style with genuine modern performance.
Both are cruisers, so this is a like-for-like choice.
2026 Harley-Davidson Sportster S: Built as a muscular power-cruiser for spirited street riding and boulevard presence rather than distance touring or utility.
2026 Indian Scout Bobber: Built for stylish, low-slung street cruising and short blasts rather than long-distance or off-road use.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Harley-Davidson Sportster S if you want more power, more torque and lighter weight. Choose the 2026 Indian Scout Bobber if you want a lower seat. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Harley-Davidson Sportster S | 2026 Indian Scout Bobber |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Cruiser | Cruiser |
| Fuel Tank Material | Metal | Metal |
| Rake | 30 | 29.4deg |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 1252.0 ccm (76.40 cubic inches) | 1250.0 ccm (76.28 cubic inches) |
| CO2 Emissions | ✓129 CO2 g/km | ✓126 CO2 g/km |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | 5.49 L/100km (42.8 US mpg) | 5.37 L/100km (43.8 US mpg) |
| EPA CO Emissions | 0.6 CO g/km | 0.8 CO g/km |
| Engine Type | V-Twin, four-stroke | V-Twin, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 105.0 x 72.3 mm (4.1 x 2.8 inches) | 104.0 x 73.6 mm (4.1 x 2.9 inches) |
| Compression | 12.0:1 | 12.5:1 |
| Cooling System | Air | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓121.0 HP (90.0 kW) @ 7500 RPM | 105.0 HP (77.2 kW) @ 7250 RPM |
| Torque | ✓126.1 Nm (12.9 kgf-m or 93.0 ft.lbs) @ 6000 RPM | 111.2 Nm (11.3 kgf-m or 82.0 ft.lbs) @ 6300 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.5478 HP/kg (dry) | 0.4430 HP/kg (dry) |
| 0-60 mph | 3.40 seconds | - |
| 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) | 3.60 seconds | - |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Belt | Belt |
| Clutch | Multi-plate with diaphragm spring in oil bath | Wet, Multi-Plate |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Front: radially mounted, monoblock, 4-piston caliper Rear: floating, single piston caliper | Single disc. ABS. Two-piston calipers. |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. ABS. Floating, single piston caliper | Single disc. ABS. Single-piston caliper. |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Front Tyre | 160/70R17 73V | 130/90-B16 |
| Rear Tyre | 180/70R16 77V | 150/80-B16 |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1519 mm (59.8 inches) | 1562 mm (61.5 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2271 mm (89.4 inches) | 2206 mm (86.9 inches) |
| Overall Width | 841 mm (33.1 inches) | 930 mm (36.6 inches) |
| Seat Height | 734 mm (28.9 inches) | ✓665 mm (26.2 inches) |
| Dry weight | ✓220.9 kg (487.0 pounds) | 237.0 kg (522.5 pounds) |
| Wet Weight | ✓227.7 kg (502.0 pounds) | 246.0 kg (542.3 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | 11.70 litres (3.09 US gallons) | ✓13.00 litres (3.43 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 4.80 litres (5.07 US quarts) | - |
| Overall Height | - | 1071 mm (42.2 inches) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Front Suspension | 43 mm inverted fork with compression, rebound and spring preload adjustability. Aluminum fork triple clamps | Telescopic fork, 41mm |
| Rear Suspension | Linkage-mounted, piggyback monoshock with compression, rebound and hydraulic spring preload adjustability | Dual shock |
| Rake (fork angle) | 30.0° | 29.4° |
| Trail | 147 mm (5.8 inches) | 125 mm (4.9 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 89 mm (3.5 inches) | 109 mm (4.3 inches) |
| Front Wheel Travel | - | 120 mm (4.7 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | - | 51 mm (2.0 inches) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
Pick a make, model and year for each bike; the model and year lists update to match what you've selected. Two bikes are enough - use "Add another bike" for a third or fourth. Comparisons work across model years too, so you can compare a bike against its own earlier generation. Once you're happy with the lineup, use "Copy share link" to send it to someone else.
Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
Yes - the tool doesn't restrict what you compare, though a highlighted spec means less when the two bikes aren't really doing the same job.
It shows as "-" and is never highlighted as a winner - a missing figure never beats one that's actually reported, and never blocks the rest of the row.
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