When it was introduced for the 2019 model year, Indian’s FTR 1200 was a unique driving experienceWith a large V-twin in a sporty chassis, it was the boisterous American entry into the naked bike market that buyers longed for. It turned out to be super successful for the Indian brand, entering new markets and finding new buyers. However, the bike had a few minor issues that customers and reviewers agreed needed to be fixed.
Full disclosure: Indian invited me to beautiful warm Phoenix, Ariz. To test his recently revised FTR motorcycle. I paid for my own trip and drove to the event in my own car instead of flying, although Indian had put me in a nice hotel and fed me well. I repaid the company’s hospitality by riding one of their shiny new bikes up the side of a mountain.)
The FTR’s flat-track-inspired 18 and 19-inch wheels were hard to find for tires. Its big noisy V-twin has pumped out a lot of heat. The steering wheel was a bit wide and the engine management meant that cold starts were frustrating at best. But for the 2022 model, Indian has solved all of these issues to make the FTR much less marginal than it used to be. With 17-inch wheels, tires are plentiful and grippy. The lower seat makes it easier to drive. Several suspension adjustments make it work better than ever. Cold starts are now as smooth as butter. Deactivation of the rear cylinder and a better aero around the radiator will keep the engine running cooler.
And despite all these improvements, I somehow find that I like the old one a bit more.
They say the grass is always greener on the other side, and nowhere is that truer than the fence separating the old FTR from the new. Riding the old bike I knew what would make it a better bike, regretted those things weren’t included in the design from the start, and now that I’ve experienced what I asked for, I realize I loved the old bicycle. not despite its imperfections, but because of them. Honestly, the 2022 bike is definitely a better bike than the one it replaces, but some of the craziness, uniqueness, soul, is missing.
Were the eccentric 18 and 19-inch flat tracker wheels an integral part of what the FTR is? In a way, I think they might be. Both stylistically and physically, the 2019 bike is bigger and more impressive, which has helped make it an icon of bicycle design over the past decade. The new smaller wheels are lighter, offer better tire options and make the bike a better all-rounder, but they make it look, ride and feel a bit like any other sport out there today.
Power remains the same impressive 120 horses and 87 lb-ft of torque. Power has never been the FTR’s problem as it is a stubborn monster with a lot of speed. The new 17 “Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires have more grip than the blocky Dunlop flat-track-inspired tires. Smoother and more manageable throttle entry and a more upright fork contribute to better handling because it is less jumpy and more predictable. Best. good, unless you’re an asshole like meBy all empirical measures, the new FTR is one of the best bicycles in the world.
I’ve had a theory for a long time, and the improvements to this bike only push me further into this particular rabbit grip. What if by constantly demanding products getting better with each iteration, we actually make them worse? The existing FTR was unbelievably good; one of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden. But reviewers and customers have been conditioned to spot minor flaws and shout about them until the manufacturer fixes them. Those flaws were addressed to bring the FTR closer to the market. The unfortunate side effect is that by cleaning up the FTR’s image, it’s come to feel like 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 stuck with this, as Indian has promised there will be even more FTR iterations to get that flat track back to the bike in a staggered way. And most changes, from the engine management to the deactivation of the rear cylinder to the cooling upgrades, will be welcome no matter what the engine looks and feels like. If the company can combine the boisterous, uninterrupted stallion nature of the 2019 bike with the smooth and cool engine updates for 2022, it might be the Goldilocks motorcycle.
How will the bicycle 2022 differ?
17 inch wheels replace the 19 inch front and 18 inch rear of the outgoing bike. These new wheels and a few other minor changes contribute to a bike that’s 12 pounds lighter.
The front fork rake is weighted to 25 degrees. Trail has been shortened to 3.9 inches. The handlebars are narrowed by 1.5 inches.
Seat height has been lowered by 1.4 inches with a smaller seat and shorter travel. This is great for smaller riders, but at 6’2 “I felt a little more folded with this version.
Engine management and a more imposing radiator shroud contribute to a smoother and cooler running 1.2-liter V-twin. Deactivation of the rear cylinder while idling means less heat and hopefully less swamp in traffic.
How was the ride?
Apart from the incident it was a great ride. Set in the warmth and beauty of suburban Phoenix, Ariz, with a beautiful Sonoran desert backdrop, I couldn’t have wished for a nicer driving condition. The roads to Tortilla Flat were winding and smooth.
Surrounded on all sides by terracotta rock outcroppings, Brobdingnagian mountains, and ancient saguaros, the FTR and rider looked perfectly at home in the American West. Even taming the work Indian did in 2022, the bike is still a noisy beast, roaring across the wide open plains, bouncing its bellows off the canyon walls. I feel the connection to the bicycle that an 18th century prospector would have felt with his mule looking for fortune in these gold and silver filled hills. We ride together because that’s what we had to do.
Without any kind of protection from the wind I am plagued on all sides by the harsh hot desert air. I’ve ridden a few thousand miles on several FTR models, so this is no surprise, but riding a full day without wind protection can get tiring, and even more so when it’s hot and dry in full gear. Stay hydrated. The drive is worth it.
The FTR is still an absolute blast to drive, but it doesn’t feel so vulgar anymore. It has lost that pastiche of throwback imperfection. Indian skipped the 2021 model year for the FTR, but it feels like the two bikes have been separated by decades of progress. The outbound bike, especially in its unsupported base mode with analog gauges, felt legit and deserved 1968 noisy. The new bike feels like it was built in 2022. Both have good and bad.
The bike is still a damn gem. Indian should power all his engines with this engine. Hell, there are some cars that would be improved by this engine.
Great takeaways
Fuel economy and range are still pretty bad, and as before, you’d be lucky enough to get 100 miles from a refuel. The engine cooling has certainly improved, but it cannot be denied that a performance engine of 1200 cc will warm up. On a hot day it still gets warm. The bike still doesn’t have heated grips, so wear warm gloves on a cold day (although you can get them from a dealer).
That’s all clumsy shit because this bike is so great to ride. Obviously Indian has built a mega machine if I can spend several paragraphs complaining about how it’s too good.
Prices and arrangement
The base model’s price has dropped to $ 12,999, which is a great price for that bike. For 2022, the base model now comes with adjustable suspension, which is a totally radical upgrade. Given the choice, this is the one I would like to take home. Great value for money as you are basically just buying a bike with a seat on it, and that’s how this old-school cool bike should be enjoyed.
The S model now starts at $ 14,999 and comes standard with much of the gear that the expensive Race Replica version had last year. Crucially, the S now comes standard with the Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which sounds really great. Of course, the S still has the TFT dashboard, adjustable driving modes, advanced Bosch traction control and more.
The Race Replica has been replaced with a new Carbon R model that will set you back $ 16,999. For that price, you get upgraded Ohlins external reservoir shocks and a boatload of beautiful carbon fiber accessories. If you’re going all in this is the way to do it. This honestly could be a fun track toy.
The FTR Rally model will remain largely unchanged for 2022 at $ 13,999. If you want an urban scrambler it’s hard to beat this machine.