INDIAN FTR1200 LAUNCH
Being Indian’s first sporty model there’s a new
6-speed gearbox, power-assisted slipper clutch and
electronic throttle control,while the handling has
been trusted to the Germans, with Sachs supply-
ing the 43mm USD forks and cool side-mounted
monoshock at the rear. Looking at it you’d think
the shock would struggle with such a horizontal
layout but Indian has done the job well and the
suspension package on the S-model I was riding
handled the bumps of California roads without
complaint.
With the sizeable V-twin powerplant dominating
the centre of the machine, Indian have worked hard
to keep weight down and the mass centralised so
the FTR’s handling would match its racing herit-
age. That’s not an easy trick with a large chunk of
metal, the heart of the FTR, but the engineers used
a lightweight trellis frame that bolts to the engine
combined with a trellis swingarm, which is bolted
directly to the shock, to do away with the weight of
linkages. A plastic fuel tank resides under the seat
while the airbox takes it’s usual place above the motor.
It’s just a shame that the tank location means that
fuel capacity is limited to 13-litres, meaning you’ll
be looking for a servo as the tripmeter creeps close
to 200km. It really could have done with another
couple of litres but it is what it is. You simply factor
it in when planning trips.“WITH THE SIZEABLE V-TWIN
POWERPLANT DOMINATING
THE CENTRE OF THE MACHINE,
INDIAN HAVE WORKED HARD
TO KEEP WEIGHT DOWN AND
THE MASS CENTRAL.”