Road-legal Indian FTR1200 confirmed for 2019
We mentioned in our previous issue that Indian Motorcycle is building a road-going version of their flat-track racer. It will make its show debut later this year and go on sale in 2019.
Speaking before the Wheels and Waves festival in Biarritz where the FTR1200 was confirmed, Indian CEO Steve Menneto said: “When we unveiled the Indian FTR1200 Custom at EICMA, we said we’d listen to feedback from riders around the world. The response has been overwhelming. We’re proud and excited to announce that we will put the FTR1200 into production.”
The FTR1200 Custom concept was a tribute to the Indian FTR750: a purpose-built race bike that, in the hands of the firm’s ‘Wrecking Crew’, has dominated the US flat-track season. Indian say the new bike will have some key differences.
“We wanted to make sure that the FTR1200 wasn’t merely a regurgitation of the Custom, but something uniquely ‘street’, albeit flat-track inspired,” said Rich Christoph, Indian Senior Designer.
“We’re thrilled about the character this bike possesses, and its ability to take American V-twin motorcycles into new territory.”
Although Indian were coy about details, there is a lot that we can infer. It seems likely it’ll use the 1133cc water-cooled engine from the Scout, which produces 100bhp and 72ftlb of torque.
Unlike the Scout, or the even lower Bobber, we’re expecting the FTR to have a high-spec inverted fork up front and an adjustable monoshock rear, both tuned for road use. We’d also expect it to have an 18in rear and 19in front wheel to give an authentic looking flat-track stance.
Indian will be hoping that the current appetite for flat-track and scramblers will prove a perfect storm for their FTR1200.
Indian FTR1200 highlights
- Based on FTR750 race bike
- Top-spec suspension
- Expected to use Indian’s 1133cc Scout engine
- 94bhp @ 8000rpm (est)
- 800mm seat height (est)
- 200kg (est)
