Today Indian Motorcycles unveiled the FTR 1200 and FTR 1200 S
Inspired by Indian Motorcycle’s storied history and success in flat track racing, the FTR 1200 and FTR 1200 S take design and styling cues from the championship-winning FTR750 race bike that has dominated American Flat Track since it was introduced in 2016. It also takes styling inspiration from the FTR1200 Custom, unveiled a year ago as an exploration of what a flat track-inspired street bike could be. The platform delivers an American motorcycle with true flat tracker style and the performance to back it up.
The FTR 1200 combines race inspired design and nimble handling with an upright riding position with a new 1203cc V-Twin engine with approximately 120 horsepower.The new platform is a key component in the company’s broader mission to expand its global appeal and reach new riders.
“Our vision from the beginning was to be more than a traditional American V-twin brand. We continually seek to broaden Indian Motorcycle’s reach to a wider range of riders, and FTR 1200 represents a significant step forward in that strategy,” said Steve Menneto, President, Indian Motorcycle. “Indian Motorcycle was founded on performance and innovation, and we remain grounded by our founder’s mindset of constantly pushing forward. In light of that history, the FTR 1200 is a natural extension for the brand that we couldn’t be more excited about.”
Housed in a trellis frame with a sporty riding position, both models feature an inverted front suspension with radially mounted dual Brembo brakes. The fuel tank is located under the seat. Similar to the FTR750 race bike, the airbox is positioned directly above the engine. Both models feature a similar rear suspension and swingarm design as the FTR750. Newly-developed Dunlop street tyres with flat track-inspired tread, a chain final drive, and ProTaper flat tracker aluminum handlebars complete the race bike look.
“This is an extremely exciting platform for us, and after investing such a significant amount of time, expertise and energy in the design process, it’s an incredible feeling to finally show the world these motorcycles,” said Rich Christoph, the Indian Motorcycle Senior Designer who was also instrumental in the design of the FTR750 and FTR1200 Custom. “Our primary focus was to ensure these motorcycles carried the same lines and form language as the FTR750 and 1200 Custom. We knew that’s what riders around the world fell in love with. I couldn’t be more proud to turn the FTR750 into a flat tracker for the street and help launch Indian into a new era.”
The FTR 1200 and FTR 1200 S models both feature full LED lighting, including a new headlight,a fast-charge USB port, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and cruise control.
Propelling both models is a powerful new liquid-cooled 1203cc V-twin engine making approximately 120 horsepower and 85 ft-lbs (115Nm) of torque. The engine features a 12.5:1 compression ratio, high flow cylinder heads, and dual throttle bodies for optimal airflow and power.
The FTR 1200 S features all that and more, including:
- Fully adjustable front and rear piggy-back suspension with preload, compression, and rebound adjustments so riders can perfectly match the bike to their personal riding style
- 4.3-inch customizable Ride Command LCD touch screen with Bluetooth for easy mobile device pairing
- Lean-angle sensitive stability control, ABS, traction control, and wheelie mitigation control for improved confidence and control
- Three Ride Modes (Sport, Standard, Rain) with unique throttle response and traction control intervention levels
“These bikes have gone through a rigorous, multi-year design and testing process to ensure that they perform as good as they look,” explains Ben Lindaman, Indian Motorcycle Senior International Product Manager. “The process was incredibly robust, including over one million miles logged through simulated rides. We also accumulated tens of thousands of test miles on the street with input from racers, including our championship winning Wrecking Crew flat track team and former Grand Prix racers.”
The FTR 1200 is available in Thunder Black, starting at $19,995 Ride Away and the FTR 1200 S is available in Indian Motorcycle Red over Steel Gray, Titanium Metallic over Thunder Black Pearl and starts at $22,995 Ride Away in Australia. The FTR 1200 S is also available in a Race-Replica paint scheme matching the iconic FTR750 race bike and starts at $23,995 Ride Away in Australia. Both models will begin shipping to dealers in the first half of 2019.
