Indian FTR1200 (S) - Making American Bikes Great Again

Indian has created the FTR1200, an American motorcycle for the European market. Is that oxymoronic, just plain moronic or a very clever move indeed? We rode one to find out…

- Mikko Nieminen

American bikes are big, brash and bathed inbling, right? Not this one. The new FTR 1200 from Indian Motorcycle is sleek, stylish and, well, rather European-looking. Naturally, that’s no coincidence.

The FTR is a considered move from Indian. It’s an essential part of the company’s desire to transform itself from an American motorcycle manufacturer to a global player. For that to happen, the existing line-up of big cruisers and baggers needs spicing up with a bike that appeals to a global market – and that’s where the FTR comes in. This bike, however, is just the sharp end of the wedge: Indian has confirmed that the same new 1200cc V-twin engine designed for the FTRwill power a whole platform of new models in years to come. If everything goes to plan, we could be looking at a new major global manufacturer here.

But global aspirations are only one side of the story behind the FTR. The other is Indian’s FTR750 flat track racer that has dominated American race series for the last two years. The FTR1200 is inspired by the racer and has similar looks, but shares virtually no components with its fire-breathing sibling (race engines are all about performance, not longevity, and most people like their street bikes to run longer than just the weekend). To what degree you want to see the new bike as a homage to Indian’s rich history of racing or a calculated business decision to secure a foothold in new markets depends on your personal level of cynicism. No doubt both motives are at play here.

TWO FLAVOURS

Like many top-level bikes, the FTR1200 comes in two different guises: the standard and the S. The engine, chassis and the majority of all components are shared between the bikes, but there are a few key differences.