When it was launched for the model year 2019, Indian’s FTR 1200 was a unique driving experience. With a large V-twin in a sporty chassis, it was the rough American entry into the nude bike market that buyers craved. It was very successful for the Indian brand, which penetrated new markets and found new buyers. The bike had some minor issues, but the customers and reviewers agreed that it needed to be fixed.
(Full disclosure: Indian invited me to the beautiful hot Phoenix, Ariz, to test his newly revised FTR motorcycle. I paid for my own trip and drove my own car to the event rather than fly, although Indian did bring me to a cute hotel and gave me good food. I repaid the company’s hospitality by riding the side of a mountain on one of their shiny new bikes.)
The FTR’s flat-inspired 18- and 19-inch wheels were hard to find tires for. His big, loud V-twins pumped out a lot of heat. The steering was a bit on the wide side and driving the engine meant that cold start was frustrating at best. But for the 2022 model, Indian has solved all these problems to make the FTR much less than it used to be. Seventeen-inch wheels mean tires are plentiful and gripping. The lower seat means it is easier to drive. Multiple suspension adjustments mean it can handle better than ever before. Cold start is now as smooth as butter. Deactivation of the rear cylinder and better air around the radiator means that the bike runs cooler.
And despite all these improvements, I somehow find the guy a little better.
They say the grass is always greener on the other side, and nowhere is it more true than the fence separating the old FTR from the new one. When I rode the old bike, I knew what would make it a better bike, regretted that things had not been included in the design from the beginning, and now that I had experienced what I was asking for, I realized me that I loved the old bike. not in spite of its imperfections, but as a result. In the fairness of Indians, the 2022 bike is definitely a better bike than the one that replaces it, but something of the strangeness, the uniqueness, the soul, is missing.
Were the odd 18- and 19-inch flat track wheels integral with what the FTR is? In a way, I think it could be. Stylistically and physically, the 2019 bike is longer and more impressive, which has helped make it an icon of bike design for the decade. The new smaller wheels are lighter, offer better tire options, and make the bike a better all-rounder, but it makes it look, ride and feel like every other sport naked out there.
Power remains the same impressive 120 horsepower and 87 lb-ft of torque. Power has never been the FTR’s problem because it’s a torque monster with very fast. The new 17 “Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires are more gripping than the blocky Dunlop flatbed-inspired tires. Smoother and more movable throttle and a more upright front fork contribute to improved driving, as they are less jumpy and more predictable. Very good , unless you’re a hole like me. By all empirical measures, the new FTR is one of the largest bicycles in the world.
I had a theory for a long time, and the improvements of this bike just push me further into this particular rabbit hold. What if our products get worse by constantly demanding that products get better with each iteration? The existing FTR was incredibly good; one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. But judges and customers are conditioned to detect minor errors and shout about them until the manufacturer corrects them. Those mistakes were corrected to bring the FTR closer to the perfect market. The unfortunate side effect is that by clearing the FTR’s image, it has grown like so many other bikes in this class. Is it better to be better or is it better to be unique?
I do not want to get stuck on this because Indian has promised that further FTR iterations will come to give back the flat track scattering swing on the bike. And most changes, from engine management to rear-cylinder deactivation to cooling cooling, will be welcome, no matter what the bike looks and feels like. If the company can mix the rough, uninterrupted stallion of the 2019 bike with the sleek and cool engine updates for 2022, it might be the Goldilocks motorcycle.
How is the 2022 bike different?
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 is 12 pounds lighter.
The front fork rake was lowered to 25 degrees. The route has been shortened to 3.9 inches. The steering wheel is 1.5 inches narrower.
The seat height was reduced by 1.4 centimeters with a smaller seat and a shorter suspension. It’s ideal for shorter riders, but at 6’2 “I feel a little more folded up in this version.
Engine management and a more imposing cooling cape contribute to a smoother rotating and cooler 1.2-liter V-twin. Deactivating the rear cylinder while idling means less heat and hopefully less swamp in traffic.
How was the ride?
Well, apart from the incident it was a wonderful ride. In the warmth and beauty of suburban Phoenix, Ariz, with a beautiful Sonora desert backdrop, I could not have asked for nicer driving conditions. The roads to Tortilla Flat were crooked and slippery.
Surrounded on all sides by terra cotta rock outcrops, Brobdingnagic mountains and ancient saguaros, the FTR and the rider looked perfectly at home in the American west. Even with the tame work Indian has done for 2022, the bike is still a rough beast roaring across the wide open plains and its ball echoing off walls. I feel the connection to the bike that a prospector from the 1800s could feel with his mule seeking happiness in these gold-and-silver hills. We ride together because that’s what we were meant to do.
Without any wind protection, I am buffered by hard hot desert air on all sides. I drove a few thousand miles on different FTR models, so it’s not a surprise, but a full day’s drive without wind protection can get tiring, and even more so when it’s hot and dry in full gear. Stay hydrated. The ride is worth it.
The FTR is still an explosion to drive, but it no longer feels so vulgar. It has lost the pastiche of imperfection of the setback. Indian has skipped the 2021 model year for the FTR, but it feels like the two bikes are separated by decades of progress. The retiring bike, especially in the raw base mode with analog gauges, felt like legal and earned 1968 loud noises. The new bike feels like it was built in 2022. There is good and bad to both.
The engine is still a fucking gem. Indian has to drive all his bikes with this car. Hell, there are some cars that can be improved by this car.
Important takeaways
The fuel consumption and range of the fuel is still quite poor, and as before you would be happy to get 100 miles from the filling. The cooling of the engine is definitely improved, but the fact that an engine with a 1200 cc performance is not going to get hot. On a hot day, it’s still going to get hot. The bike still does not have heated grips, so wear warm gloves on a cold day (although you can get it as a dealer add-on).
All this is a little shit, because this bike is such a wonderful thing to ride. Clearly Indian has built a mega machine if I can spend several paragraphs on how good it is.
Prices and setup
The base model dropped its price to $ 12,999, which is a hell of a price for the bike. For 2022, the base model now has an adjustable suspension, which is a total upgrade. Given the choice, this is the one I want to take home. Great value for money because you actually only buy an engine with a seat on it, and that’s how this old school bike should be enjoyed.
The S model now starts at $ 14,999 and comes standard with many equipment that the expensive Replica version had last year. The S is now standard with the Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which sounds really great. Of course, the S still has the TFT dashboard, adjustable ride modes, advanced traction control from Bosch, and more.
The Race Replica has been replaced with a new Carbon R model that will cost you $ 16,999. For the price, you get upgraded Ohlins reservoir shocks and a load of beautiful carbon fiber accessories. If you go all-in, this is the way to do it. It can honestly be a fun toy.
The FTR Rally model remains largely unchanged at $ 13,999 for 2022. If you want an urban stroll, it’s hard to beat this machine.