{"id":6694,"date":"2021-01-26T14:37:21","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T14:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/american-v.cso2w.com\/?p=6694"},"modified":"2021-01-27T15:27:24","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T15:27:24","slug":"indian-2021-part-2-ftr1200s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/american-v.cso2w.com\/hub\/indian-2021-part-2-ftr1200s\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian 2021 part 2: FTR1200s"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you wondered why there was no mention of the FTR1200 in last year\u2019s 2021 model year announcement, that\u2019s because they weren\u2019t ready to tell us what they were doing with their newest range. They are now.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The good news \u2013 potentially the great news for performance-hungry road riders \u2013 is that they have tightened up the FTR\u2019s focus a lot to make it a better proposition for more people.<\/p>\n

The weird news is that while it is January 2021 and these will be in dealers an April 2021, they are actually being called 2022 models: nothing like getting ahead of the game, eh?<\/p>\n

The original bike was unquestionably good at meeting its original design brief of capitalising on the FTR750 reputation and creating a sporting motorcycle that was equally competent on paved as on unpaved roads. The only thing that was questionable was whether that worked outside the US, where there are still many miles of unpaved road for it excel, because the compromise required to make it good on both surfaces reduced its potential on either.<\/p>\n

Well, I say either but I\u2019m in no position to judge its prowess on the dirt, other than noticing that it was infinitely better on the unadopted road that I found for the purpose than a 20 year old Buell Cyclone. I can say, however, that the Buell was the more confident roadbike.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t have been the only person to have made those observations, because the 2021 FTR models have been through a major re-engineering programme to improve their road characteristics for 2021.<\/p>\n

President of Indian Motorcycle, Mike Dougherty said \u201cThe FTR is unlike any other motorcycle in its ability to deliver superior performance while making a powerful statement of style and self-expression. The updates we\u2019ve delivered further solidify that promise for even the most discerning riders. Indian Motorcycle has always pushed the bounds of motorcycling, innovated, and continuously improved and I think the new FTR is another great example of that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

About the only thing that has come out unscathed is intangible: the overall aesthetics.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The 19- and 18-inch front and rear wheels have been replaced by a pair of 17-inchers wrapped in Metzeler Sportec street tyres rather than the dirt-track-inspired Dunlop DT3-R block-tread radials.<\/p>\n

The rake is a tighter 25-degrees with a reduced 99.9mm trail \u2013 significantly down on 26.3 and 130mm \u2013 which when combined with a 30mm reduction in road-tuned suspension travel, has resulted in a more compact bike with a lower seat height: about an inch and a half lower than its predecessor.<\/p>\n

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And having targeted the tarmac, while they haven\u2019t increased the headline power and torque figures \u2013 still 123hp\/120Nm \u2013 the newly blacked-out engine has a new calibration with a smoother, more linear throttle response suited to the road, as well as cylinder deactivation to better manage the heat when idling.<\/p>\n

It might not sound like a whole hell of a lot, but this will transform the FTR, improving its presence on the road and its appeal to a much wider audience.<\/p>\n

Aesthetically, it is still afflicted by the second ugliest rear light cluster in our world \u2013 the Livewire still takes that honour \u2013 but we know that they will be removed by all right thinking owners within weeks of taking delivery, and before leaving the shop by anyone with a sense of style \u2013 but everything else is good.<\/p>\n