2019 Indian FTR 1200 S Review | Will It Track Day?

[@OM-sb2bd]

Man that’s a badass looking Indian. 🔥 Everybody and their mother is going to think it’s gorgeous. Old school. New school. Nice mix.

[@marktheman8049]

Glad you enjoyed the bike on the track ,to get the suspension dialled in for the track is very easy ,in the FTR manual there is a section that gives the exact settings (no guessing and you only need 2min and a flat head screwdriver) and it transforms the handling. So much ,to the point that I now leave it on track settings all the time (if the roads you ride are in a decent shape)

[@motoveezi9863]

Thanks Mark, you’re the man! We have great roads around here so I’ll definitely try it. Do you run the stock tires on yours? I’ve seen there are some sport touring options available.

[@mohmdakel]

Great video! Switch to street tires & you will love the bike even more! Yes options are a bit limited for the 18-19 set up, but trust me .. just the tire change difference is HUGE …

[@motoveezi9863]

Thanks! I am going to be due for tires in the not-too-distant future, definitely want to try something different even if it hurts the flat track look.

[@mohmdakel]

Try Dunlop Road Smart IV, same size as the original but with sport touring pattern, I got it & I think they are great. Thanks & good luck!

[@motoveezi9863]

@@mohmdakel Thanks for the recommendation!

[@toofastnobrakes]

If you get a chance ride the new 2022 ftr1200. Not sure if your aware of all the upgrades but they have made it a waaaay better street bike. 17in rims, street rubber, shorter travel, steeper rake. All making this bike handle sooo much better. Bike world has video of them taking it on track, and it handled pretty well! Edit: they also did some returning to the motor

[@yassassin6425]

Yeah - it handles better, and I prefer the steeper rake for sure, but it compromises what is supposed to be derived from a 'flat track racer' - particularly the loss of the 19 front and 18 rear. Much prefer the original which in the right hands is just as capable.

[@toofastnobrakes]

@540マンモス depends on what you want, I want better handling and more maneuverability out of a bike that’s supposed to be sporty. If I want a Cush riding bike with oversized wheels I’ll get a cruiser 🙄

[@josearzuaga1839]

Awesome bike. I own a 2022 R Carbon FTR and just Love it each day more and more. I get great compliments and looks to it. Just amazing

[@AntiPattern328]

You need a 2023 or newer. Sooo much better, faster and just fun. 17" wheels on both ends, great electronics package. If you havent played on a new one, you absolutely need to. I smash high end Japanese and European big dogs all the time, straight and canyons... Do It!!

[@grandpasmountain]

Nice job. I enjoyed the video and your comments. Thanks!

[@motoveezi9863]

Thanks for the kind words Jon! It looks like you've got a lot of great stuff on your channel, I'll check it out :)

[@grandpasmountain]

@@motoveezi9863 I am picking up a base FTR late this week. Tired of the same ol' - same ol' videos. I have been riding for 35 years (scary) and have never done a track day. I live just off the Snake in TN (rt. 421) and so I kind of have my own "track" I ride. About 14 miles of hard corners, switchbacks, etc. I'm looking forward to trying the FTR on it. You did a good job with varied camera angles, as opposed to the usual helmet cam --- which I cannot stand. Some dud blathers on about whatever crosses his mind as he rides the most benign roads on earth, lol. Glad to find your videos and look forward to whatever you happen to post!

[@DougErickson-m9y]

Would a small windscreen be beneficial? I’m 6’4” and ride a stock 2019 FTR1200S. It’s a super fun comfortable bike, but when I get well into triple digits I feel more like a sail in the wind! Thinking about my first track day, my son has done 7 or 8 and it looks like a blast. I switched to the Bridgestone T32’s and have been super happy with them.

[@racer2424]

There may be plans in the works to support FTR racing. I am the winner of the Mission Foods Indian FTR. Picked it up at the American Flat Track event in Volusia FL. Indian racing director spoke at the year end awards ceremony. People there wanted to know if Indian will maintain its support for flat track racing. His reply was something to the effect, "Indian will continue it's Flat Track support, we are making a big commitment to the expanded Bagger Series and looking at the FTR". Exactly what that means,,,I don't know. I do quite a bit of road racing and there isn't currently a class where the FTR would be competitive and as your well done video illustrated, it's not entirely at home on the track. All that being said, racers will follow the money and Indian seems to have funds to support racing. I am in the same vicinity of NW Georgia as you, maybe we cross paths someday.

[@NHlocal]

I followed your link from the other channel and didn't hesitate to subscribe for the motorcycle content. 😁 I enjoyed watching and listening to your "candid" reactions to the Indian. Your comments/reactions while riding on the track were great. I have only been to 3 track days but, I remember very well the first time I came off the front straight and into turn 1 and the ABS kicked in..... 😳 to say it felt strange would be putting it very mildly. Sounds like that FTR is a "fun" bike to ride. Thanks for taking the time to post up the video. Keep yourself safe! 😃👍❤🏍 Randy

[@motoveezi9863]

Thanks Randy! Appreciate your support.

[@NHlocal]

@@motoveezi9863 😃👍

[@AzazelCain]

I have a great time on mine. Never tracked it. During spirited rides i find the transition from left turn to right turn and vice versa is a pain. Still a good time though!

[@codysnell]

Nice review. That area is beautiful. I did a day at the go cart track a few years back.

[@motoveezi9863]

Thanks! We love living here. I really enjoy the kart track at AMP - there is a rental endurance race coming up soon that I might do.

[@joek81981]

I wish you could give my r-carbon a go. I never rode the big wheeled ones, but I'm sure it's a huge difference.

[@muscless89]

I am thinking of getting a 2019 FTR Carbon by the end of tge year. Any opinions on it?

[@khaccanhle1930]

That's really sweet. I'm jealous. Do you think you could put a wider "sport bike" tire on the back to get better performance? Those tires are not ideal.

[@motoveezi9863]

Hey thanks! I think the best you can do in terms of tires is a sport touring tire. Due to the bigger rim diameters there are no track-focused tires available. That said, I think sport touring tires are capable of surprising lap times. You might be able to go a bit wider than stock in the rear but I don't think it's generally a good idea to fit a tire that's too wide for the rim. On my Ninja 400 it's actually recommended to go narrower than stock on the rear.

[@yassassin6425]

@@motoveezi9863 The Continental Road Attack IIIs are the optimum tyres for this bike - outstanding. 160 rear. Saying that, in my opinion, they are not in the spirit or in keeping with a bike that purports to be a flat track racer. Far prefer the look of the Pirreli STRs which are standard on the rally version. Surprisingly grippy tyre on the road despite the block tread pattern. Did you take it on track with the OEM Dunlop DT3s?

[@motoveezi9863]

@@yassassin6425 Thanks for the tip! I agree it would be sort of sacrilege to stray from the flat-track style tire. Yes I had it on track with the stock Dunlops.

[@ericcwatts]

I'd guess if you stiffen the suspension a bit it might handle better on track. I assume it has fully adjustable suspension. I'm sure it's setup soft for regular street riding from the factory.

[@motoveezi9863]

Yep, fully adjustable. I’ll give it a shot and see what happens.

[@TheMostMetaTaco]

Great view and review, thank you! Next time please try to put it in Sport AND Track mode. It turns all the nanny assists off including ABS and wheelie mitigation. When you were surprised by the ABS I just knew lol

[@motoveezi9863]

Thanks! I did not know you could turn off the ABS, I figured it would maybe just disable the rear ABS. Food for thought next time. I don't feel like I'm quite at the riding level yet of turning off all the nannies but I'm working on it.

[@ryuketsugaming1487]

I bought a 2022 Indian ftr carbon r (sadly has just been recalled due to some leaky coolant junction ) I personally have noticed the fueling issues and personally don't like the stock exhaust, definitely need to upgrade. One thing I've noticed on stock exhaust and stock tune is she really only acts well at higher rpms, get in 2nd and get her up to 50 and she loves it, shift through economy and she acts kinda jerky. Personally love the bike more and more each day.

[@motoveezi9863]

Awesome, glad you are loving it. I feel the same way - it just never gets old and I never get tired of seeing it in the garage. I've owned mine for a while now and I still stop and look at it in the garage and say, "Wow, that's a great-looking bike!"

[@OM-sb2bd]

Love your helmet/visor.

[@AllenDeCastro]

im planning to get this 1200 FTR champion edition is it worthit?

[@aequitas8749]

All Indian needs to do is add fairings, clip-ons, and a windscreen and you've got a Panigale V2 competitor.

[@jamessankey01]

Hire did you get taxi time on such a glorious day by yourself? Very good video by the way. Your delivery and content was refreshing compared to others on KZbin.

[@motoveezi9863]

Hey James sorry I just saw this. I have a membership at Atlanta Motorsports Park. If I go out on a week day there are usually only one or two bikes out, if that.

[@monarka12]

Hi mate! i also have an FTR, and i was wondering if you could make a video describing how the bike changed with the tune vs the OEM configuration, Does it accelerate harder? Does it eliminate the top speed computalized limitator? is it any faster? does it have better fuel mileage? idk any changes that you could notice for better or for worse... If not a ideo just a reply would be amazing, theres is not any review of the running results on this bike on youtube... at least that i could find! Anyways, Great video man! cheers and have a good one.

[@motoveezi9863]

Hey thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. That's a good idea for a future video, I'll see what I can do. The reasons I did the mod were because I didn't want to drill out the silencers from the stock pipe to make it louder and because I was annoyed with the fueling, so I didn't pay much attention to the other aspects.

[@tedbaxter5234]

Very enjoyable, thank you,

[@dry509]

Have you ridden the new one with the smaller tires? Wonder what the difference is?

[@motoveezi9863]

I have not ridden the new one. I’ve heard that it has a less distinctive character - certainly to me it doesn’t look as much like the actual flat track bike - but it’s probably better on the track and you can put actual track tires on it. I’m honestly not even interested in the new ones, they seem like they’ve watered down the original vision for the bike.

[@dry509]

Debating on whether to get the 2019 or the latest one with standard motorcycle tires?

[@motoveezi9863]

To me, 2019 wins on looks. Based on what I've read, the newer bike wins on handling and tire choices. If you're just out riding for fun and you prefer the looks of the 2019, that would be my choice. If having a wider array of sporty tire choices matters to you and you want something that isn't quirky at all in the handling department, the newer model probably fits the bill.

[@ezekielchariot]

It's a little odd if the FTR is known to have a fueling issue but some tuning guy can fix it yet Indian are either still scratching their heads how to fix it or they know nothing of it. So what can we make of it ?

[@motoveezi9863]

I’m not an expert but I believe manufacturers are limited by emissions requirements and aftermarket tuning can use richer fueling because they’re not worried about regulations.

[@4biddeninja]

How's cornering on street w those tires? In the process of buying a 2019

[@motoveezi9863]

It does great on the street. Easily handles spirited riding in the twisties.

[@mohmdakel]

Can you share what tune did you use? & the link pipe? Thanks

[@motoveezi9863]

I got the dyno jet PV3 and link pipe from Fuel Moto - www.fuelmotousa.com/i-23897905-dynojet-pv3-indian-ftr-1200-pv3-29-04-power-vision-3.html#!year%3D2019%7C%7Cmake%3DINDIAN%7C%7Cmodel%3DFTR%201200 I will say I had trouble getting the link pipe to seal. Akrapovic makes a link pipe that costs more I think but might seal better and therefore be less of a hassle.

[@mohmdakel]

Thank you very much!

[@dry509]

Do you have trouble finding neutral on yours?

[@motoveezi9863]

It’s not the easiest to find neutral but I’ve gotten a feel for it and haven’t had much trouble.

[@dry509]

What about the lean angle?

[@motoveezi9863]

Lean angle left a little to be desired, I scraped a peg without pushing very hard. Internet says it will do 43 degrees.

[@dry509]

So what’s the verdict?

[@motoveezi9863]

Awesome street bike, looks great and is a ton of fun. Can surprise people on track, but takes a better rider than me to get the most out of it and ultimately not what it was built for.

[@dry509]

Is this model known for transmission issues?

[@motoveezi9863]

Honestly I don’t know. I didn’t do a ton of reading about reliability before I bought mine.

[@dry509]

Which track is this?

[@motoveezi9863]

This is Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville GA.

[@Lifeonbooks]

Jesus that track has some lax rules eh? My local track you can't go out with mirrors and you need all of your lights taped off + emergency kill switch wired.

[@motoveezi9863]

Yeah - they're pretty mellow, at least when it comes to member days. If a track day organization were to run an event there (and I think they will be sometime this year) I would expect the organization will enforce the typical rules.

[@A2ZGeek]

Hey Brother, lets link up! I also ride a 2019 FTR Race Replica and live in Atlanta. I am installing the Toce performance Low mount soon and have the Secret Sauce turn and a few other mods. Would love some riding friends who have similar interests. shoot me a message. great video by the way.

[@motoveezi9863]

Awesome that sounds like fun!

[@vertigo4ubob704]

More bike Less Chat. Sorry Bud i gave up .

[@motoveezi9863]

Working on improving as I go. Next time I have a buddy who will come out and film track-side footage for me. Might try to get more cameras mounted to the bike to get some variety there.

[@Fallen608]

Stupid. Sexy. FTR. Can't buy them in my country :(