Indian FTR 1200 2020 — Specifications

Who would have bet that a century-old American manufacturer would come to shake up the sporty roadster market? With the Indian FTR 1200, Springfield decided to trade leather fringe for a tubular steel trellis frame and 120 finely honed horsepower. Born on the dirt ovals of the AMA Flat Track championship, the competition FTR 750 served as the blueprint for this street version marketed since 2019. The result is a machine unlike anything America has produced before. Neither custom, nor bagger, nor potbellied cruiser. A punchy roadster, built for thrills, stepping onto the home turf of the Ducati Monster and Triumph Street Triple to challenge them head-on.

Beneath the tank, mounted adventure-bike style to lower the center of gravity, beats a 1203 cc V-twin. Engineers took the Scout's engine block and reworked it extensively. Bore increased to 102 mm, compression ratio bumped to 12.5:1, airbox repositioned above the engine, dual throttle bodies. The bottom line: 120 hp at 8,250 rpm and 117.9 Nm of torque available from 6,000 rpm. It falls short of a hopped-up Italian, but the philosophy is a world apart from the usual American powerplants, calibrated to chug along at low revs. Here, the V-twin willingly climbs through the rev range with genuine eagerness. The belt drive and six-speed gearbox deliver clean, jolt-free power to the ground.

The Indian FTR 1200's spec sheet reveals a chassis designed with dynamism in mind. Inverted cartridge fork, IFP mono-shock, swingarm inspired by the race machine. The 1,524 mm wheelbase runs a touch longer than a Monster 1200, and the dry weight of 221 kg (230 kg wet) doesn't make it a featherweight, but the 183 mm ground clearance and seat height perched at 840 mm set the tone. You sit up high, arms stretched toward a ProTaper handlebar, in a position that begs for a fight. Braking duties fall to a dual ABS disc setup at the front with two-piston calipers. Competent without being the absolute benchmark of the class.

Make no mistake, the FTR 1200 is no conventional roadster. Its 19-inch front and 18-inch rear tires — Dunlop DT3-Rs with a dirt-track-inspired tread pattern — are a reminder of its flat-track origins. This choice baffles tarmac purists but makes perfect sense when you consider the machine for what it truly is: a street interpretation of a sliding machine, capable of venturing onto unpaved roads without breaking a sweat. The Indian FTR 1200 S version adds revised suspension, three engine maps, stability control, traction control, and anti-wheelie for those who want the full electronics suite. Style-wise, the front LED signature projects a unique character, even if the massive right-side exhaust weighs down the lines. The cockpit remains minimalist with its round gauge and digital display. Cruise control and a USB port round out the equipment without overdoing it.

Priced at €14,690, the Indian FTR 1200 takes on European and Japanese roadsters with an argument nobody else can claim: its oval-track DNA. A version restrictable to 70 kW opens the door to A2 license holders. On the used market, the first 2019 model years are starting to appear at more accessible prices. For anyone seeking a roadster with a singular character, equally at home on tarmac and dirt, the FTR deserves a test ride. It won't appeal to everyone — its 12.9-liter tank limits range, and its high-perched ergonomics require an adjustment period. But it has the merit of offering something different in a segment where so many look alike.