BELIEVE the hype. One of 2019’s most anticipated and in demand bikes has hit the streets, with the arrival of the Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200 S Race Replica. And while it’s not for the faint hearted, you need to just find a way to get yourself on one.
Inspired by the famous FTR 750 Flat Tracker race bike, the FTR 1200 is an absolute demon, and is available in three variants, the FTR 1200, the FTR 1200 S and the model we tested, the FTR 1200 S Race Replica.
As the 1200 suggests, the power plant is a 1203cc V-Twin that packs a whopping 123HP or 91.72kW of power and 120Nm of torque, and features three different ride modes; rain, standard and sport.
On the road, even in standard mode, we found the FTR 1200 S Race Replica more than willing, and chomping at the bit to get some action. With a gentle twist of the throttle, it was more than willing to lift the front wheel.
The bike feels like it has a soul, anticipating launch, and ready to provide the rider with a special thrill. Dial in sport mode and it was as if the FTR 1200 could breath fire and spread its wings, just like a dragon.
It revs hard and feels less restrained. Almost like sport mode is its natural habitat, and its so very good under acceleration. The Race Replica model also comes with Track mode, which disables traction control and wheelie mitigation.
It’s best described as proper beast mode and would give any sports bike on the road a serious run for its money. Weighing in at just 225kg, the 2019 Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200 S Race Replica is light and agile too.
The more you push this bike through the corners, the more you realise its true capabilities, and the end result is a smile from ear to ear, even if the bike is far more capable than the rider.
So much so that we found ourselves planning our riding by picking the roads with the most corners. The more we rode the FTR 1200 S Race Replica, the more we learned the characteristics of the bike, and the more ways we found to love it.
It’s so stable through the corners, thanks to its 183mm ground clearance and 43 degree lean angle, and well balanced on the road, that we found more confidence to plant the bike through the corners and enjoy the rewards.
The seating position is good, with a firm seat surface ensuring you are positioned upright enough to not put excess weight on your wrists during non-acceleration periods.
At the same time, it makes it easy to shift your body weight over the front wheel. This is good for heavy acceleration as it reduces front wheel lift.
Featuring fully adjustable inverted 43mm telescopic forks matched to fully adjustable piggyback IFP suspension, the ride is firm without being too harsh and offers the rider great feel through the corners and for riding in general.
Stopping power is handled by Brembo dual 320mm xt5 rotors with 4-piston calipers on the front and on the rear, a single 265mm xt5 rotor with 2-piston calipers. These work very well and pull the FTR up effectively even under heavy braking.
Dunlop DT3-R radials wrap the cast wheels, and although they almost appear to be knobby, they work quiet well on the road. We were surprised to see these fitted when we picked up the bike but they do suit the flat tracker persona and the ride.
The 4.3-inch Ride Command LCD touchscreen is mounted on the Pro Taper handlebars, which is a real quality touch, with a range of options available from the screen, including two alternate speedometer displays.
Both display speed, rev limiter, fuel range, gear selection and time, but in different formats. From the LCD you can also select your ride mode and integrate your mobile phone via Bluetooth connectivity.
One of the only hold backs for potential buyers may be the 840mm seat height. Not so much an issue for this particular rider, but shorter riders may find the seat height too high to be able to maneuver the bike when stopping or parking.
The other potential negative is the small fuel tank, at just 13-litres, which gives a range of around 160km. That aside, the 2019 Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200 S Race Replica is simply a truly stunning bike.
The livery is gorgeous and draws a crowd wherever you park it, with the Thunder Black base colour featuring a beautiful sparkle metallic effect. There’s also the 2-1-2 Akraprovic exhaust, an exlusive feature on the Race Replica that adds to the bike’s demeanor.
The attention to detail is exceptional, with small Indian logos placed around the motor and etched into what we can only describe as the most beautiful LCD headlights we’ve ever seen grace a motorbike.
With pricing starting at $23,995 ride away, there’s no reason not to have one of these beauties in your garage. At present it doesn’t really have any competition but we don’t expect Harley-Davidson will sit on their hands for long.
Our test bike was provided by Indian Motorcycle Australia. To find out more about the 2019 Indian FTR 1200 S Race Replica, contact your local Indian Motorcycle dealer. Pictures courtesy of CMC Photography
Very slow turn in but no mention of it, guess this isn’t s true review as every rider on every forum mentions it
What are you referring to as slow turn in so i can respond to your question?