THE BIG TEST: 8500 MILES ON INDIAN’S FTR1200S
Indian’s new naked takes on the tough environs of Skegness.
Indian excited us with the FTR1200. We were already big fans of their laid-back Scout, which cleverly mixes modern engineering with traditional character and style, so the idea of a tuned-up version of their reined V-twin in a bike modelled on the all-conquering AMA flat track racer sounded like a Very Good Thing. The concept version looked amazing with its 1203cc engine, racer-derived frame and high-level S&S pipes. Could the real Eu-friendly machine deliver on the promise?
The FTR charmed on its launch event in the US ( Bike, July 2019), and despite some obvious 'character' the Indian made a solid case for itself in a group test with more established brands ( Bike, September 2019). But what about long-term appeal? Is the V-twin a bike you build a bond with, and can you align yourself with its way of going about its business? To find out we've piled over 8500 miles onto an FTR1200S. This is everything that we've found out...
Engineandtransmission
It's derived from the Scout's engine, but the FTR'S V-twin is a completely different animal. The stroke is the same, but the bore is pushed up to 102mm, compression increased to 12.5:1 and the gearbox runs different ratios tempered by a slipper clutch. Just over 100bhp might not sound much these days, but the FTR pulls from almost anywhere in the rev range, in virtually any gear. Drive is immediate (cracking the throttle produces one of the best induction sounds I’ve ever heard, too) and on a typical road you just leave it in third gear – it'll pull from right down at 20mph up to slapped-wrist territory. On track, the torquey delivery means you just whack open the throttle out of most corners and begin out-dragging contenders. 'The power delivery is smooth and it's definitely quick,' confirms Bike road tester Pete Boast, 'and there are no vibes either.'
It's not perfect, though. From new the delivery was snatchy as hell – it spluttered, stalled, and complained around town. After the first service it calmed down a little and by three or four thousand miles was almost normal. Even so, it's still best after a long warm up, and even then response is sharp. Bike's deputy editor Mike Armitage likes the instant response and sense of connection, and Boastie thinks the fuelling is good; everyone else finds it a bit jerky. For such a smooth motor though the gearbox isn’t as good as it could be – I'll be polite and say it's a 'positive' action – which isn't helped by the long cruiser-like lever throw.
Handlingandride
The FTR is one of the most confidence-inspiring bikes I’ve ridden on the road. That large 19-inch front wheel gives a calmness that bikes with a 17-inch wheel rarely possess. It tips in easy enough and holds a nice line, although quick changes in direction can be a struggle – due to the 231kg wet weight and tourer-like 1524mm wheelbase. At first I found
'The FTR is one of the most confidenceinspiring bikes. That 19-inch front wheel gives a calmness bikes with a 17 rarely possess'
the suspension a little harsh, but some fiddling (mostly involving softening everything off ) made the FTR much more grounded without introducing wallow.
It still divides opinion, though. Boastie's ridden a proper flat tracker or two (he was European champion) and is full of praise: 'On B-roads it copes really well with bumpy stuff – some bikes are way too firm and get tank-slappy, but the Indian just soaks up bumps. Real flat trackers are really twitchy, but the Indian’s not at all.' Mike is more critical, however, saying, 'I like how it rolls into turns, the balance of stability and agility, but suspension can be fidgety and harsh. It feels like the springs are just too hard.'
Dunlop's flat track-style tyres look cool but aren't quite up to the 87 lb.ft of grunt, especially in the wet. Replacements are awkward: the rear 150/70 R18 is a sod to find, and those that do exist tend to be skinny adventure stuff. That said, Pirelli Scorpion Trail IIS make a big difference, giving more grip and helping the FTR turn due to a more rounded profile.
Electronics
There is a lot going on electronically for a bike that looks this cool and semi-retro. It's got ABS, which works: pull the lever and stamp on the pedal, and you just stop. It’s not cornering ABS, which feels like an omission considering pretty much everything else at this price has it. The traction control also works, which is helpful given the iffy grip of the stock styleover-function tyres. And there's cruise, too. 'I’m normally rubbish at working out what to press, but the electronics are easy to use,' reckons Boastie. 'Really simple and intuitive dash, and the ABS and traction are nicely set up – they don’t start intruding too early.'
There's also anti-wheelie, depending on riding mode. Rain feels a bit like a coil has failed but helps if it's tipping down. Road and Sport are similar in delivery, but Road adds throttle lag which if anything makes the FTR harder to ride. Over 8000 miles, Sport has become the go-to choice for us all... in some cases because it's the one that disables the antiwheelie. ('In first gear it threatens to loop into the nearest hedge,' grins Mike.)
The only bit that falls flat is the ‘stability control’, which is supposed to stop the rear wheel locking up if you’re heavyhanded on corner entry. It opens the throttle butterflies so much the FTR pushes wide into a corner. I've never come a cropper but have been left feeling a bit ill on a few occasions.
Controlsandcomfort
There's a 4.3-inch full-colour touchscreen dash with pretty much all the info you could need at any time. There’s Bluetooth for music and calls (you might need a young person to set it up), and navigation will come in time. The screen has two modes, although the ‘clock’ one is needlessly retro. You navigate with a little joystick on the left-hand 'bar or with buttons on the dash. The only thing that’s fiddly is resetting the trip, which requires exceptional dexterity or perhaps one of those smartphone stylus things.
'The dash is easy to use, but looks a bit like a 1990s games console,' muses Mike. 'And sometimes it stays blank for ages when you turn the
‘On B-roads it copes really well with bumps – flat trackers are twitchy, but the Indian's not’