When it was introduced for the 2019 model year, The Indian FTR 1200 was a unique riding experience. With a large V-twin in a sports chassis, buyers wanted to be the American entry on the empty bike market. It proved to be a great success for the Indian brand, making its way to new markets and finding new buyers. However, the motorcycle had some minor issues, according to which customers and reviewers agreed to be fixed.
(Full disclosure: The Indian invited me to the beautiful warm Phoenix, Arizona, to test his new revised FTR motorcycle. I paid for my own trip, driving to the event in my own car, rather than by plane, although the Indian put me in a nice hotel and fed me good food. I repaid the company’s hospitality by riding one of their shiny new bikes on the edge of a mountain.)
The 18- and 19-inch FTR wheels were hard to find. His big V-shaped twin gave off a lot of heat. The handlebars were a bit wide and managing the engine meant that cold starts were frustrating at best. But for the 2022 model, the Indian has solved all these problems to make FTR much less marginal than before. The seven-centimeter rims mean that the tires are plentiful and tight. The lower seat means it is easier to drive. Various suspension changes mean it handles better than ever. Cold starts are now as fine as butter. Deactivating the rear cylinder and better aerodynamics around the radiator means the bike runs cooler.
And, despite all these improvements, I somehow feel a little better like the old one.
They say the grass is always greener on the other side and nowhere is it truer than the fence that divides the old FTR from the new one. When I rode the old bike, I knew what would make it a better bike, I complained that these things were not included in the design from the beginning, and now that I have experienced what I asked for, I realize that I loved the old bike. not in spite of its imperfections, but because of them. For fairness to the Indian, the 2022 bike is certainly a better bike than the one it replaces, but some of the strangeness, uniqueness, soul, are missing.
Were the 18- and 19-inch flat tracking wheels part of what FTR is? In a way, I think it could be. From a stylistic and physical point of view, the 2019 bike is taller and more imposing, which contributed to its transformation into an icon of bicycle design for the decade. The new smaller wheels are lighter, offer better tire options and make the bike look better, but make it look, ride and feel a bit like any other empty sport today.
The power remains the same impressive 120 horsepower and 87 lb-ft of torque. Power has never been the problem with FTR, as it is a scary monster with a lot of go-fast. The new 17 “Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires are tighter than Dunlop flat-inspired locking tires. The lighter, more towable inlets of the throttle and a more vertical front fork help improve road travel, as it’s less bumpy and longer. predictable, pretty good, if you’re not an idiot like me. By all empirical measures, the new FTR is among the largest bicycles in the world.
I have long supported a theory, and the improvements of this bicycle only push me further in this special rabbit farm. What happens if products with continuous requirements improve with each iteration, do we actually 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 shortcomings have been resolved to bring FTR closer to the market perfectly. The unfortunate side effect is that by cleaning up the FTR image, it has 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 be too stuck in this, because the Indian promised that additional FTR iterations will follow to bring back those staggered shocks to the bike. And most of the changes, from engine management to rear cylinder deactivation, to cooling upgrades will be welcome, regardless of the look and feel of the bike. If the company can combine the uninterrupted stalled nature of the 2019 bike with the quiet, cool engine upgrades for 2022, it could be the Goldilocks motorcycle.
How is the 2022 bike different?
The 17-inch wheels replace the 19-inch front and 18-inch rear of the output bike. These new wheels and a few other minor changes contribute to a 12-pound lighter bike.
The front fork rake was steep at 25 degrees. The route was shortened to 3.9 inches. The handlebars have been narrowed by 1.5 inches.
The seat height has been reduced by 1.4 inches, with a smaller seat and a shorter suspension stroke. This is great for shorter riders, but at 6’2 “I felt a little more folded in this version.
Engine management and a heavier radiator cover contribute to smoother operation and better cooling of the 1.2-liter V-twin. Deactivating the rear cylinder, while idling, means less heat and hopefully less swamp bottom in traffic.
How was The Ride?
Well, apart from incident it was a wonderful walk. Set in the warmth and beauty of the suburban Phoenix, Ariz, with a beautiful backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, I could not have asked for better riding conditions. The roads to Tortilla Flat were curved and smooth.
Surrounded on all sides by terracotta rock outcrops, Brobdingnagian mountains and ancient saguari, FTR and the rider looked perfect at home in the American West. Even with the taming work that Indian has done for 2022, the bicycle is still a noisy beast that roars on the wide open plains and resounds its eclipse on the canyon walls. I feel the connection with the bicycle that a prospector from the 1800s could have felt with his mule looking for wealth in these hills full of gold and silver. We walk together because that’s what we had to do.
Without any protection from the wind, I am hit on all sides by the harsh hot air of the desert. I’ve done a few thousand miles on different FTR models, so it’s no surprise, but a whole day of unprotected travel can get tiring, especially when it’s hot and dry in full gear. Stay hydrated. The trip is worth the effort.
FTR is still an absolute blast to drive, but it doesn’t feel as vulgar anymore. He lost that cake of imperfection back. The Indian has skipped the 2021 model year for the FTR, but it looks like the two motorcycles are separated by decades of progress. The output bike, especially in the unassisted basic mode with analog manometers, felt legitimate and won a madman in 1968. The new motorcycle seems to have been built in 2022. Both are good and bad.
The engine is still a fucking gem. The Indian should power all his bikes with this engine. Hell, there are some cars that would be improved by this engine.
Major takeaways
Fuel economy and range are still quite weak and, as before, you would be lucky to reach 100 miles from filling. Engine cooling is certainly improved, but it cannot be avoided that a 1200 cc engine will run hot. On a hot day, you will still warm up. The bike still doesn’t have heated handles, so wear warm gloves on a cold day (although you can get them as a dealer supplement).
All this is little shit, because this bike is such a wonderful thing to ride. Clearly, the Indian has built a mega-car when they can spend several paragraphs complaining about how good it is.
Prices and scheduling
The base model has reduced its price to $ 12,999, which is an extremely high price for the bike. For 2022, the base model now comes with adjustable suspension, which is a completely radial upgrade. Given the choice, this is the one I would like to take home. Excellent value for money, because basically you only buy an engine with a seat on it, so you should enjoy this cool old school bike.
The S model now starts at $ 14,999 and comes standard with a lot of equipment that the Race Replica version had at high prices 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 on-screen display, adjustable running modes, Bosch advanced traction control and more.
Race Replica has been replaced with a new Carbon R model, which will give you $ 16,999. For this price, you’ll get Ohlins remote tank shocks and lots of gorgeous carbon fiber accessories. If you are going to do all-in, this is how you can do it. You might be a fun toy, honestly.
The FTR Rally model remains largely unchanged for 2022 at $ 13,999. If you want an urban scrambler, it’s hard to beat this car.