Indian FTR1200 - if they do, would you?
Discussion
Indian Motorcycle confirms production of FTR1200 - https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/news/press-...
The FTR 1200’s full specification is yet to be announced, but it will embody a flat tracker style, housed in a trellis frame, and powered by a new V-twin engine... "We wanted to make sure that the FTR1200 wasn’t merely a regurgitation of the FTR1200 Custom, but something uniquely 'street', albeit flat track inspired.”, said Indian Motorcycle Senior Designer Rich Christoph. “We’re thrilled about the character this bike possesses, and its ability to take American V-twin motorcycles into new territory.”.
I hope it's actually purchased by enough of the people who wanted Indian to make it, and I hope they can keep it close to the concept bike, and I hope they don't "retune the engine for mid-range torque" (i.e. cut its balls off
).
The FTR 1200’s full specification is yet to be announced, but it will embody a flat tracker style, housed in a trellis frame, and powered by a new V-twin engine... "We wanted to make sure that the FTR1200 wasn’t merely a regurgitation of the FTR1200 Custom, but something uniquely 'street', albeit flat track inspired.”, said Indian Motorcycle Senior Designer Rich Christoph. “We’re thrilled about the character this bike possesses, and its ability to take American V-twin motorcycles into new territory.”.
I hope it's actually purchased by enough of the people who wanted Indian to make it, and I hope they can keep it close to the concept bike, and I hope they don't "retune the engine for mid-range torque" (i.e. cut its balls off
).ianrb said:
As stated above a week agoAs a paid-up Indian fan-boy I keep getting send advertising bumf. but these videos look rather good - and as the bike has a headlamp and a speedometer in a few shots I'm thinking this is probably pretty much the production-ready bike rather than the original showings which were the race bike and an 'It'll look something like this' type caption. A popular view was it would probably be toned down from the race bike look and be more like a Scout with a tube frame. But it does look like the real deal - and a new 'segment' to the market? It sure isn't an adventure bike, or a sports bike, or a super bike, or a cruiser, or just a naked. Does seem to be a road-legal flat tracker, which does look a whole lot of sideways and wheelie fun.
My days of sports bikes are long over (or at least what you could call sports bikes in the 70s and 80s); adventure stuff leaves me cold - primarily due to the height/ground clearance that I'm never going to need on the road, and I don't want tin paniers and to have to wear textiles; and when I bought the Chief it was to be the last/only bike I'd ever need again. But this does look immense fun and I'm starting to think maybe there is space in the garage for a hooligan bile again. Not sure I'd be up to the wheelies, but the power-slides look a hoot.
tarmac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL0_FMkf8oI&li...
dirt oval
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg4Xd1ymBxA
grass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt3IuxxXIO0
ice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKwtUpEvr9Y
concrete
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4clIT2bH5tg&li...
My days of sports bikes are long over (or at least what you could call sports bikes in the 70s and 80s); adventure stuff leaves me cold - primarily due to the height/ground clearance that I'm never going to need on the road, and I don't want tin paniers and to have to wear textiles; and when I bought the Chief it was to be the last/only bike I'd ever need again. But this does look immense fun and I'm starting to think maybe there is space in the garage for a hooligan bile again. Not sure I'd be up to the wheelies, but the power-slides look a hoot.
tarmac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL0_FMkf8oI&li...
dirt oval
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg4Xd1ymBxA
grass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt3IuxxXIO0
ice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKwtUpEvr9Y
concrete
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4clIT2bH5tg&li...
So far, all we've seen is the "FTR1200 Custom". It's a one-off that is nowhere near being a production bike.
Just listen to it >>>> https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v...
Just listen to it
>>>> https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v...Edited by gareth_r on Saturday 21st July 14:22
Today is launch day, and the official pictures are out
US prices are apparently $12,999 entry level, $14,999 for higher spec with electronic gizmos and $15,999 for race replica colours. From what I gather it's 120hp, but no word on weight yet...but it doesn't look lardy. No doubt more information to follow. Looks relatively close to the Scout FTR Custom doing the rounds, but I think the exhaust looks dreadful - I really liked the high-level scrambler style but presumably there will be after-market options.
Decisions decisions - hang on for the FTR (available Spring apparently), or keep searching for that elusive 1946-1948 Chief.
. With that exhaust I'm erring on keeping looking for a vintage bike...but there's still a bit of hooligan left in me that would at least tempt me to take a test ride on this thing before dismissing it.
US prices are apparently $12,999 entry level, $14,999 for higher spec with electronic gizmos and $15,999 for race replica colours. From what I gather it's 120hp, but no word on weight yet...but it doesn't look lardy. No doubt more information to follow. Looks relatively close to the Scout FTR Custom doing the rounds, but I think the exhaust looks dreadful - I really liked the high-level scrambler style but presumably there will be after-market options.
Decisions decisions - hang on for the FTR (available Spring apparently), or keep searching for that elusive 1946-1948 Chief.
. With that exhaust I'm erring on keeping looking for a vintage bike...but there's still a bit of hooligan left in me that would at least tempt me to take a test ride on this thing before dismissing it.Why does every f
king motorcycle "stylist" have to design those fking stupid bd rear light/numberplate units that hang off the swinging arm like a sodding hemorrhoid? What the fk is wrong with a neat little bracket on a short mudguard, eh?
And while I'm bloody typing, why does the seat have to stick up in the air like one of those embarrassing German streetfighters? Is "horizontal" too fking difficult to spell?
As for that over-complicated st under the seat... words fail me! Start off with a nice simple tube frame, then bolt on a subframe that looks like I. K. Brunel rejected it. It's supposed to evoke the most bare-bones class of racing motorcycles ever - two wheels, a big rorty fk-off V-twin, and a giant pair of bks to throw it into corners at 130mph with no fking brakes. It's not supposed to channel the architect who designed the Houses of fking Parliament while making it really difficult to customise it with the arse end that it deserves. At least it appears that the subframe bolts on so it might be possible to create something that bears less resemblance to a fking cast iron Victorian railway bridge.
Other than that, it's a better effort than I expected.
king motorcycle "stylist" have to design those fking stupid bd rear light/numberplate units that hang off the swinging arm like a sodding hemorrhoid? What the fk is wrong with a neat little bracket on a short mudguard, eh?And while I'm bloody typing, why does the seat have to stick up in the air like one of those embarrassing German streetfighters? Is "horizontal" too f
king difficult to spell?As for that over-complicated s
t under the seat... words fail me! Start off with a nice simple tube frame, then bolt on a subframe that looks like I. K. Brunel rejected it. It's supposed to evoke the most bare-bones class of racing motorcycles ever - two wheels, a big rorty fk-off V-twin, and a giant pair of bks to throw it into corners at 130mph with no fking brakes. It's not supposed to channel the architect who designed the Houses of fking Parliament while making it really difficult to customise it with the arse end that it deserves. At least it appears that the subframe bolts on so it might be possible to create something that bears less resemblance to a fking cast iron Victorian railway bridge.Other than that, it's a better effort than I expected.
gareth_r said:
...As for that over-complicated st under the seat... words fail me! Start off with a nice simple tube frame, then bolt on a subframe that looks like I. K. Brunel rejected it. It's supposed to evoke the most bare-bones class of racing motorcycles ever - two wheels, a big rorty fk-off V-twin, and a giant pair of bks to throw it into corners at 130mph with no fking brakes. It's not supposed to channel the architect who designed the Houses of fking Parliament while making it really difficult to customise it with the arse end that it deserves. At least it appears that the subframe bolts on so it might be possible to create something that bears less resemblance to a fking cast iron Victorian railway bridge.
Other than that, it's a better effort than I expected.
I think the "bulk' under the seat is actuslly the tank just sculpted to like part of the trellis frsme. The think that looks like a tank is i think the air filter and other gubbins. Obviiusly the race bikes dont csrry much fuel so thats the solution for a proper size tank...as i understand it. t under the seat... words fail me! Start off with a nice simple tube frame, then bolt on a subframe that looks like I. K. Brunel rejected it. It's supposed to evoke the most bare-bones class of racing motorcycles ever - two wheels, a big rorty fk-off V-twin, and a giant pair of bks to throw it into corners at 130mph with no fking brakes. It's not supposed to channel the architect who designed the Houses of fking Parliament while making it really difficult to customise it with the arse end that it deserves. At least it appears that the subframe bolts on so it might be possible to create something that bears less resemblance to a fking cast iron Victorian railway bridge.Other than that, it's a better effort than I expected.
Good rant btw. I agree the number plate thing looks stupid, but i kind of ignored it as i guessed it met soe legal requirement and folks would just strip it off and remount the plate.
Up on the Indian web site now with a video of wheelies on the street 
https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/indian/flat...
https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/indian/flat...
gareth_r said:
Why does every fking motorcycle "stylist" have to design those fking stupid bd rear light/numberplate units that hang off the swinging arm like a sodding hemorrhoid? What the fk is wrong with a neat little bracket on a short mudguard, eh?
And while I'm bloody typing, why does the seat have to stick up in the air like one of those embarrassing German streetfighters? Is "horizontal" too fking difficult to spell?
I must say, when you follow something styled like that along a bumpy bit of road (I'm looking at you, Yamaha), the way the seat moves in relation to the wheel makes it look a bit, well, broken. Very odd.king motorcycle "stylist" have to design those fking stupid bd rear light/numberplate units that hang off the swinging arm like a sodding hemorrhoid? What the fk is wrong with a neat little bracket on a short mudguard, eh?And while I'm bloody typing, why does the seat have to stick up in the air like one of those embarrassing German streetfighters? Is "horizontal" too f
king difficult to spell?The Indian looks a nice bike if you want something like that. Better than following the herd.
Specs are now up on the Indian website.
It's a bit heavier than I would have hoped for - 236kg with a full tank for the S version (230kg for standard).
Not a lot lighter that the Scout at 249-251kg depending on model.
I guess that engine must be a heavy lump.
Also 18inch rear wheel, which I know looks more authentic for the style they are going for. It severely limits your choices of getting sporty/sticky tyres for the thing. But plenty of blocky dual sport tyres will fit. Was hoping they would put 17rear and 19front on the road bike.
It's a bit heavier than I would have hoped for - 236kg with a full tank for the S version (230kg for standard).
Not a lot lighter that the Scout at 249-251kg depending on model.
I guess that engine must be a heavy lump.
Also 18inch rear wheel, which I know looks more authentic for the style they are going for. It severely limits your choices of getting sporty/sticky tyres for the thing. But plenty of blocky dual sport tyres will fit. Was hoping they would put 17rear and 19front on the road bike.
Edited by ScottyOZ on Monday 1st October 22:44
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