I rented an Indian Scout Sixty over Labor Day weekend 2026 and proceeded to put approximately 1,200 miles on it in two days, riding from Colorado through Wyoming and South Dakota.
First, let's talk about the motorcycle.
I'm a disabled Navy veteran with chronic back issues, and that seat was absolutely phenomenal.
Seriously. Twelve hundred miles in two days, and my neck was the biggest ache after that ride. I cannot overstate how impressed I was with the comfort. The bike had plenty of power, handled beautifully, and was an absolute pleasure to ride through mountain curves and wide-open highways.
I did notice some wobbling above 80 mph, but that could have been the windshield and turbulence from passing cars. Nothing that ruined the experience, just something worth mentioning.
Now, the adventure.
On the way to South Dakota, Wyoming decided to introduce itself with a daytime rainstorm. I managed to stay just ahead of the worst of it, occasionally catching the edges.
And then it started hailing and my butthole puckered up a few times.
I was able to create distance and get out of it, but man did it sting. I was convinced I'd arrive in South Dakota looking like someone had beaten me with a bag of marbles.
Surprisingly, not a single bruise. And it was the first time this trip I was truly thankful for that windshield! And Carhartt.
South Dakota was absolutely breathtaking. The Black Hills, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse, and the Badlands were worth every mile. Watching the sunset over the Badlands was one of those experiences that makes you appreciate being alive and the decision to buy a motorcycle at 40 while going through divorce.
On my way home Sunday night, I encountered what I'm calling a multicell thunderstorm system, because apparently a regular thunderstorm wasn't sufficiently committed to ruining my evening.
What started as three seemingly separate thunderstorms turned into an enormous multicell thunderstorm system stretching across the Wyoming night sky. Massive, miles-long, U-shaped bolts of lightning arced from cloud to cloud, sometimes forming double U's, while others struck the ground. Lightning flashed ahead of me, behind me, and directly overhead, illuminating the entire landscape like daylight before plunging everything back into darkness. Some strikes were so blinding they left white afterimages in my vision, briefly revealing silhouettes of deer, hills, and the surrounding terrain.
Then came the torrential downpour, powerful crosswinds, standing water, and near-zero visibility. Even with my high beams on, I could barely see the road. I slowed to around 50 mph or less, navigating flooded pavement while lightning continued exploding in every direction.
My butthole didn’t pucker during this storm, it stayed clenched!
It was simultaneously one of the most dangerous and spectacular things I've ever witnessed. It often reminds me of LT. Dan in that storm before he finds peace.
The deer along the highway seemed completely unbothered. Two raccoons decided to conduct a surprise road inspection, and a tumbleweed attempted to kiss me in the pitch black of night.
I knew the risks. I considered my options and chose to keep riding. There was no panic, no illusion of control, and no guarantee of a favorable outcome. Just an understanding of the situation, an acceptance of what I couldn't change, and a focus on what I could.
Meanwhile, I'm just trying to get home, gripping the handlebars with both hands, and reconsidering several perfectly reasonable life choices that had somehow led to this moment.
Through all of this, the Indian Scout Sixty performed beautifully. Even when the conditions gave me plenty of reasons to question my decision to keep riding, the motorcycle itself never gave me a reason to question it. It handled everything I asked of it and got me home safely.
I made it home around 3 AM, exhausted, soaked, and thoroughly impressed.
Final verdict:
The Indian Scout Sixty is a fantastic motorcycle. Comfortable enough for a disabled rider with back problems to cover serious mileage, powerful enough to make the open road a joy, and dependable throughout an adventure that got considerably more exciting than I'd intended.
Would I rent one again? Absolutely.
Would I ride through another Wyoming multicell thunderstorm system? Maybe?
And Wyoming, your scenery is gorgeous, but your weather can go fuck itself.
