A few months after Access Plus Philippines announced the arrival of the Indian FTR 1200 base variant during a grand motorcycle show held the Philippines, it was rolling out the red carpet for the better-equipped and more menacing FTR 1200 S Race Replica on September 26, 2019.
Brothers Toti and Ted Alberto of Access Plus, the local distributor of Indian, led the unboxing of the FTR 1200 S RR and, at the same time, took turns in emphasizing that the Indian cruiser models—the Bobber and the Scout—and the FTR 1200 are totally different animals in terms of some features and performance. All of them are US-made.
Here’s a bit of motorcycle history: Indian is known traditionally as a cruiser builder. Six decades ago, it deviated from its usual route and joined the motorsports arena with its flat-track racing machines. A team dubbed the Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew swept flat-track racing titles in the ’50s. As years passed, however, the outfit disappeared into oblivion, and Indian went back to its old business of manufacturing cruisers.
More than a year ago, Indian’s motorsports program was brought back to life, with its FTR 750 seeing action at the 2017 American Flat Track championship. The FTR 750 brought home the championship trophies, giving Indian an idea to build a street-legal version with a bigger, more powerful engine.
“The FTR is a lot more streamlined, compact, being derived from racing. Its engine is not only lighter and smaller, but [also] packs more horsepower,” says Ted Alberto of the model’s Scout-based 1,200cc mill.
Both the FTR 1200 and the Race Replica are powered by a 1,203cc V-twin engine with approximately 123hp and 120Nm of torque. Boasting a trellis frame and a sporty riding position, the two models feature an inverted front suspension with radially mounted dual Brembo brakes for exceptional control and stopping power.
The fuel tank is strategically located under the seat for a lower center of gravity and a more centralized weight distribution. Like in the FTR 750 race bike, the airbox is positioned directly above the engine to optimize airflow and maximize power. The FTR 1200 bikes also feature a similar rear suspension and swingarm design as the FTR 750. Newly developed Dunlop street tires with flat-track-inspired tread, a chain final drive, and ProTaper flat-tracker aluminum handlebars complete the race-bike stance.
The FTR 1200 and the FTR 1200 S are both equipped with full LED lighting, including a new headlight design, plus a fast-charge USB port, ABS, and cruise control. The Race Replica has three riding modes: Rain, Standard, and Sport. It also features fully-adjustable front and rear suspension (only the rear suspension is adjustable on the FTR 1200), a 4.3-inch customizable Ride Command LCD touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, lean-angle-sensitive stability control, traction control, and wheelie mitigation control for improved confidence and control.
The Alberto brothers, along with Jake Jung, international sales manager of IMC Asia-Pacific, capped the evening by turning over the keys of the first FTR 1200 S RR units in the country to their owners. Just a reminder: Motorbikes like the Indian FTR 1200 have a niche market, so they arrive in limited numbers.
If you want one, be ready with your bank accounts because here are the prices:
Indian FTR 1200 variants and prices
- Indian FTR 1200 (Thunder Black) – P995,000
- Indian FTR 1200 S (Indian Red over Steel Gray; Titanium Metallic over Thunder Black Pearl) – P1,195,000
- Indian FTR 1200 S Race Replica – P1,298,000
Also, with the FTR 1200, there’s a lot of room for customization to transform your unit into a scrambler or a café racer. Just make sure you have deep pockets.
