When it was introduced for the 2019 model year, India’s FTR 1200 was a unique piloting experience. With a large V-twin in a sports chassis, it was the turbulent entry of Americans into the naked motorcycle market that buyers were looking forward to. It was a great success for the Indian brand, making inroads into new markets and finding new buyers. The bike had some minor problems, however, that customers and reviewers agreed that they needed repair.
(Complete transparency: Indian invited me to visit beautiful and cozy Phoenix, Arizona, to test their newly revised FTR motorcycle. I paid for my own trip, driving to the event in my own car, instead of flying, although Indian stayed at a good hotel and fed me good food. I returned the company’s hospitality by riding one of its shiny new bikes on a mountainside.)
The 18- and 19-inch wheels inspired by flat FTR tracks were hard to find. Its big, loud V-twin pumped a lot of heat. The handlebars were a bit wide and the engine management meant that cold starts were, at best, frustrating. But for the 2022 model, Indian has corrected all of these problems to make the FTR much less marginal than it used to be. The 17-inch wheels mean the tires are plentiful and sticky. The lower seat means that it is easier to drive. Various suspension settings mean it works better than ever. Cold starts are now as smooth as butter. The deactivation of the rear cylinder and better aerodynamics around the radiator mean that the bike runs cooler.
And despite all these improvements, somehow, I’m enjoying the old one a little more.
They say the grass is always greener on the other side, and nowhere is this more true than the fence that separates the old FTR from the new. When riding the old bike I knew what would make it a better bike, I regretted that these things were not included in the design from the beginning, and now that I have tried what I asked for, I realized that I loved the old bike not in spite of its imperfections, but because of their cause. To be fair to India, the 2022 bike is definitely a better bike than the one it replaces, but some of the oddities, the uniqueness, the soul, are missing.
Were the strange 18 and 19 inch flat tracker wheels an integral part of what is the FTR? In a way, I think they can be. Stylistically and physically, the 2019 bike is taller and more imposing, which contributed to making it an icon of bicycle design of the decade. The new smaller wheels are lighter, offer better tire options and make the bike more versatile, but make it look, ride and feel a little bit like any other sport that exists today.
The horsepower remains the same impressive 120 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque. Power was never the problem with the FTR, as it is a torque monster with a lot of speed. The new 17 “Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires are more adherent than Dunlop tires inspired by flat tracks. Softer and more treatable acceleration intakes and a more vertical front fork contribute to better handling, as it is less uneven and more predictable. Braking remains very good, unless you’re an idiot like me. By all empirical measures, the new FTR is among the best bikes in the world.
I have long held a theory, and the improvements on this bike only push me further down in this particular domain of the rabbit. What if, by demanding continually better products with each iteration, we make them worse? The existing FTR was incredibly good; among the best bikes I’ve ever ridden. But reviewers and customers are conditioned to look for minor flaws and shout about them until the manufacturer fixes them. These flaws were corrected to bring FTR closer to market perfection. The unfortunate side effect is that, by cleaning the image of the FTR, it has become similar to so many other bikes in this class. Is it better to be better or is it better to be unique?
I don’t want to get too caught up in this, because Indian has promised that more FTR iterations will come to return the staggered drag from the flat track to the bike. And most changes, from engine management to deactivating the rear cylinder and cooling upgrades, will be welcome, regardless of the look and feel of the bike. If the company can mix the turbulent nature of the 2019 bike’s uninterrupted stallion with the smooth, cool 2022 engine upgrades, it could be the Goldilocks motorcycle.
What is the difference between the 2022 bike?
17-inch wheels replace the 19-inch front and 18-inch rear of the outgoing bike. These new wheels and some other minor changes make for a bike that is 12 pounds lighter.
The front fork rake has been tilted to 25 degrees. The trail has been reduced to 3.9 inches. The handlebar has been narrowed by 1.5 inches.
The seat height has been reduced by 1.4 inches with a smaller seat and shorter suspension stroke. This is great for shorter riders, but at 6’2 “I felt a little more bent in this version.
Engine management and a more imposing radiator cover contribute to a smoother, cooler 1.2-liter V-twin operation. Deactivating the rear cylinder during idling means less heat and, hopefully, less swamp in traffic.
How was your walk?
Well, besides the incident it was a wonderful ride. Situated in the heat and beauty of extra-urban Phoenix, Ariz, with a beautiful backdrop of the Sonora desert, I could not have asked for better riding conditions. The roads to Tortilla Flat were smooth and curved.
Surrounded on all sides by rocky outcrops of terracotta, Brobdingnagian mountains and ancient saguaros, the FTR and the pilot seemed perfectly at home in the American West. Even with the domestication work that the Indian did in 2022, the bicycle is still a noisy beast roaring across the open plains and echoing its roar on the canyon walls. I feel the connection with the bicycle that a 19th century gold digger might have felt with his mule in search of fortune in these hills full of gold and silver. We ride together because that is what we should be doing.
Without any protection from the wind, I am hit on all sides by the hot desert air. I’ve done a few thousand kilometers on several FTR models, so that’s not a surprise, but a whole day of riding without wind protection can be tiring, especially when it’s hot and dry in full gear. Stay hydrated. The tour is worth the effort.
The FTR is still an absolute blast to drive, but it doesn’t seem so common anymore. Missed that pastiche of the imperfection of the setback. Indian has skipped the 2021 model year for the FTR, but it looks like the two bikes are separated by decades of progress. The outgoing bike, particularly in the basic mode without assistance with analog gauges, looked legitimate and won a noisy 1968. The new bike appears to have been built in 2022. There are good and bad things about both.
The engine is still a fucking jewel. Indian must equip all its bikes with this engine. Hell, there are some cars that would be improved with this engine.
Main conclusions
Fuel economy and range are still very low and, as before, you would be lucky if you could reach 100 miles of fuel. The engine cooling has definitely improved, but there is no avoiding the fact that a 1200 cc performance engine will get hot. On a hot day, you will still get warm. The bike does not yet have heated handles, so wear warm gloves on a cold day (although you can get them as an addition from the dealer).
All of that is insignificant shit, because this bike is such a good thing to ride. Clearly Indian has built a mega machine when I can spend several paragraphs complaining about how good it is.
Prices and escalation
The base model had its price reduced to $ 12,999, which is an incredible price for that bike. For 2022, the base model now comes with an adjustable suspension, which is a totally radical upgrade. If I had a choice, this is what I would like to take home. Great value for money, because basically you are just buying an engine with a seat on it, which is how this cool bike should be used.
The S model now starts at $ 14,999 and comes standard with many of the equipment that the high-priced version of the Race Replica had last year. Crucially, the S now comes with the Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which sounds truly wonderful. Of course, the S still has the TFT panel screen, adjustable driving modes, advanced traction control from Bosch and more.
The Race Replica has been replaced by a new Carbon R model that will cost $ 16,999. For that price, you get remote Ohlins reservoir dampers and a boat full of beautiful carbon fiber accessories. If you are going to bet everything, this is the way to do it. This can be a fun track toy, honestly.
The FTR Rally model remains largely unchanged in 2022 for $ 13,999. If you want an urban mixer, it is difficult to defeat this machine.