Yahoo Autos 2022 Indian FTR 1200 S Review: More refined but still unique
The Indian FTR 1200 line of motorcycles doesn’t make much sense when you put their specs down on paper. Granted, some people might think motorcycles in general don’t make much sense, but the FTR in particular doesn’t make enough power to be considered a sportbike contender, doesn’t have enough fuel storage or comfortable enough ergonomics to make it a tourer or even a practical day-to-day commuter, and, for obvious reasons, it doesn’t exactly fit in with the chromed-out crowd that burbles up to the local watering hole.
Following a major update for the 2022 model year, the FTR 1200 also loses a good bit of its flat-track heritage in favor of being a better all-around motorcycle. Does it sound incongruous that a niche bike is being altered to make it less niche? Why yes. Yes, it does.
Be that as it may, a month spent with a 2022 FTR 1200 showed it to be a truly excellent motorcycle. It refuses to be pigeonholed into any specific category, and it’s better off because of it. If a buyer is looking for a motorcycle solely to fulfill the desire for two-wheeled fun, the Indian FTR 1200 should be on the short list.
Powered by a 1,203 cubic-centimeter 60-degree V-twin engine that spins out 120 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and a peak of 87 pound-feet of torque. That’s not anywhere near the 200-horsepower that a race-tuned engine of a similar size may produce, but that hardly matters in the real world. The FTR’s engine gets right into the meat of its wide powerband by the time the clutch is fully released without any dead spots and with perfect computer-controlled fueling. Peak torque is reached at a relatively low 6,000 rpm, but it feels like there’s plenty of stonk below that engine speed, and the V-twin doesn’t seem to trail off as it spins toward its redline of around 9,000 rpm.
The engine offers Rain, Street and Sport ride modes, and the differences between them are easily felt from the saddle. Sport may be a bit aggressive for street riding, which is fine since Street lived up to its name. Using it, throttle response is immediate, fueling is good, and combined with an easily modulated clutch, the bike’s sporty demeanor shines through without any sort of herky-jerky annoyance.
