MAKING AMERICAN BIKES GREAT AGAIN
American bikes are big, brash and bathed in bling, right? Not this one. The new FTR1200 from Indian Motorcycle is sleek, stylish and, well, rather European-looking. Naturally, that’s no coincidence.
The FTR is a considered move from Indian. It’s an essential part of the company’s desire to transform itself from an American motorcycle manufacturer to a global player. For that to happen, the existing line-up of big cruisers and baggers needs spicing up with a bike that appeals to a global market – and that’s where the FTR comes in.
This bike, however, is just the sharp end of the wedge: Indian has confirmed that the same new 1200cc V-twin engine designed for the FTR will power a whole platform of new models in years to come. If everything goes to plan, we could be looking at a new major global manufacturer here.
But global aspirations are only one side of the story behind the FTR. The other is Indian’s FTR750 flat track racer that has dominated American race series for the last two years. The FTR1200
