2019–2022 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
American V-Twin With Flat-Track Grit
The FTR's headline is not a number, it is the shape. Indian built a street bike around a flat-track silhouette and then gave it a serious engine: a liquid-cooled 1203 cc 60° V-twin with its roots in the FTR750 racer, good for 125 hp and 85 lb-ft. A steel trellis frame, 17-inch wheels at both ends and a tall, upright riding position complete the picture. ABS, a slipper clutch and cruise control are standard, so the old-school character arrives with a modern safety net rather than in spite of one.
Ride it and the appeal lands fast. Low-end pull is this engine's best trick, hauling from just off idle so you rarely need to chase revs, and in a class where most machines sell peak figures, the FTR sells shove, sound and the way it looks parked outside a diner. It suits the rider who wants presence and character first and spends weekends on open back roads. The honest caveat: a 3.4 gal (13 L) tank on an engine this size keeps the riding day short, and this is a big motorcycle that would rather flow down a fast road than thread stop-and-go traffic.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 125 hp (93 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1203 cc |
| Engine | 60° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 507 lb (230 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.4 gal (13 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock talk, long chats with owners, club-night conversations and the messages FTR riders send me directly. Put together, it points one clear way. Owners love the engine and the brakes. The most common complaint is about the throttle, and the wheel and tire choice on the early bikes comes a close second.
Riders consistently describe the V-twin as strong and usable across a broad spread of revs. What they bring up again and again is the rush at the top end, which makes the bike exciting without making it hard to live with. The brakes get similar praise. Owners talk about sharp stopping power and good feel at the lever, and they say the brakes suit the bike's sporty character.
The recurring gripe is the factory fueling. Owners describe it as lean and abrupt, especially at walking pace and on cold starts, and many say it only smoothed out after an aftermarket tune. Riders on the first bikes also criticized the original wheel sizes and tires as fashion over function, saying they gave less grip and less confidence in corners than the setup on later models.
Coolant junction leak (Safety Recall I-22-04 / NHTSA 22V636)
A defect in the coolant junction may cause hot coolant to leak during operation, posing a burn risk to the rider and a rear-tire contamination hazard. All 2019-2020 and 2022 FTR models are affected. Remedy: dealer replaces the coolant junction.
Brake lamp unintentional illumination (Safety Recall I-24-03 / NHTSA 24V-069)
A software error in the Bosch ABS 9.1M Plus module can cause the brake light to activate without rider input, potentially confusing following drivers. Affected models include 2019-2022 FTR 1200 series. Remedy: ABS module software update.
Notchy gear engagement, especially 1-2 and 5-6 upshifts
A number of owners have reported a clunky or stiff feel when shifting, particularly when upshifting into 2nd or 6th gear. The cause is not clearly defined and may vary between bikes; some find the transmission smooths out with mileage or use of the clutch.
Where this Indian FTR pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the FTR is actually built for.
If half your riding is Skyline and half is city streets, the FTR delivers hard on the looks and the sound. Just know it is a big, tall bike to paddle around town, and the small tank shortens the day.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
It hides its 507 lb (230 kg) better than the number reads, but it wants momentum, not flicking. Ride the torque through the switchbacks and repeat runs stay fun; chase millimeter precision and you feel the mass.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Angeles Crest suits it: strong drive out of slow corners, steady when the road opens up, and a soundtrack the canyon walls hand back to you. If you want the lightest, sharpest tool out there, this is not it.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
The Indian FTR also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard FTR — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Indian FTR. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2023
American V-Twin With A Track Conscience
Competitor · 2014–2021
Bologna Grunt With City Manners
~$3,700 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Competitor · 2019–2020
Dressed to Stop Traffic
Roughly $1,200 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Competitor · 2014
Pure Boxer Soul, No Compromises
Same Platform · 2020
Flat-Track Fury, Street Legal
