Indian FTR 1200 S: Review In Images

How good is Indian’s take on a production flat tracker?

The FTR 1200 is Indian’s take on a production flat tracker and is heavily inspired by the FTR 750 race bike. It’s the most powerful and sophisticated bike to be built by Indian so far. It goes up against European rivals such as the Triumph Scrambler 1200 and the Ducati Scrambler 1100. So, has Indian made the right decision by breaking away from its cruiser DNA?

The FTR 1200 is very petite, but the large wheels and knobby tyres endow it with some bulk. The fit and finish levels of the motorcycle are really good and Indian engineers have managed to pack in the various components neatly.

The 19-inch wheels and small round headlight give the bike a butch stance, while the exposed frame and big motor make it look aggressive. The tail section of the bike is quite short, but the tapered large exhaust mufflers endow the bike with balanced proportions.

ALSO READ: Indian FTR 1200 S Road Test Review

Indian has given the FTR a flat and wide handlebar and centre-set footpegs. Even the rider’s triangle is very comfortable as you have an upright riding posture. However, the tall seat height (840mm) could make shorter riders nervous.

The FTR 1200 is the only bike in its segment to feature a TFT touchscreen. The bike has been equipped with lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS and wheelie control. In addition, the Indian comes with three riding modes: Rain, Standard and Sport.

The 1,200cc V-Twin motor that powers the Indian Scout is absolutely brutal. Power delivery is immediate and throttle response is very precise. To give you an idea of how quick the FTR 1200 is, it managed the 0-100kmph acceleration run in under 4 seconds -- just 0.3sec behind the mighty Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R!

Around corners, the bike feels joyous, something that is difficult to comprehend as the long wheelbase, knobby tyres, and 19-inch front wheel don’t make for a perfect recipe for corner carving. But, somehow it works and this can be credited to the beautifully balanced chassis.

The suspension hardware on both ends is adjustable, allowing the rider to tune the bike. Stopping power comes courtesy Brembo M4.32 monobloc calipers, which aren’t top-spec parts but they get the job done well enough.

While the knobby tyres are about decent on tarmac, they offer a fair bit of traction for trail riding. The massive 183mm ground clearance means you can have some fun on dirt without worrying about damaging the machine. The slim tank allows you to grip the bike well while standing and the ride, though on the firmer side, handles most of the broken roads without much trouble.

What the FTR 1200 stands for is unadulterated fun and it’s, in fact, among the best motorcycles we tested in 2019. The fact that it’s Indian Motorcycles’ first attempt in this genre makes it that much more impressive. But this isn’t a perfect bike and has its fair share of flaws. It runs rather hot in traffic and the seat height might put off shorter riders. However, you don’t buy motorcycles like the FTR 1200 S based on logic. It is a pure ‘heart decision’.