2020 Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200S Review: The Motorcycle We’ve Been Waiting For

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There's no getting around it: the current selection of American motorcycles is extremely lacking. As of 2020, it's mostly classic cruisers and then an assortment of electric bikes from Zero. Around the globe, brands like Ducati, Triumph and every Japanese manufacturer all have a smattering of options from neo-vintage to adventure-touring to full-on sportbikes. So when the Indian FTR 1200S came onto the scene it was burdened with more than the average bike. It needed to be more than just an "okay" motorcycle because it isn't just any new motorcycle. It's a sportbike from the States and the world is watching.

When you think "sportbike," it's easy to picture a plastic fairing-clad, inline-four superbike derived from MotoGP. The FTR1200S is indeed a sportbike, but no one is under the illusion it's competing with the Ducati Panigale or Honda CBR 1000RR. It's born from competition like the high horsepower exotics but, but the FTR comes from the realm of Flat Track racing, a form of motorsport as American as NASCAR.

Flat Track racing has seen a resurgence in recent years. And, since Indian joined in on the fun with its dedicated V-twin race bike, the trophies have been piling up. However, at first glance, and with no knowledge of Indian's on-track dominance, you wouldn't assume the FTR 1200S is as sure-footed on a dirt road as it is sweeping asphalt. After all, it's a 1203cc American V-twin motorcycle that weighs over 500 pounds.


Read full story at: Forbes.com