Indian FTR R Carbon // Two-Minute Test Rides

What is the Indian FTR? Is it a sportbike for cruiser people? A retro roadster for sportbike people? An American V-twin for retro roadster people? The answer: yes. While there's no mistaking that the FTR is Indian's first foray into this peculiar crossover segment, it's still a nice bike.
MSRP: $16,999 US (2022 FTR R Carbon, before options & fees)
Motor: 1203cc V-twin, liquid-cooled
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch, chain final drive
Power: 120hp @ 7,750rpm
Torque: 89ft-lb @ 6,000rpm
Front Suspension: Fully-adjustable 43mm inverted cartridge fork
Rear Suspension: Fully-adjustable monoshock
Front Brake: Dual radial 4-piston monobloc calipers, 320mm discs
Rear Brake: 2-piston caliper, 260mm disc
Wheels: 17" front & rear, cast
Seat Height: 30.7" (780mm)
Wet Weight: 513lb (232kg)
Fuel Tank Volume: 3.4 gallons (13l)
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[@VanBlamm]

It’s worth addressing the hefty price tag. If $17,000 for the R Carbon trim makes you gag, you can forgo the Ohlins, TFT dash, and all of the electronics except ABS and cruise control, and pick up a base model FTR for $13,000. If that’s still out of budget, and you’re open to the idea of a third cylinder, there’s always the Yamaha XSR900.

[@duanedragon2]

Great video, thank you. The Bronx broke my heart. I would have bought one. Bought a Speed Twin instead.

[@notw312]

Good video. I subscribed after watching your tail of the dragon video. I still have yet to demo one of these bikes. I am a fellow triumph owner (2019 Speed triple 1050 rs) Cheers from Canada!

[@VanBlamm]

Thanks for being here! I'd take your Triple 1050 over the FTR any day

[@tomw5334]

Thats funny, I came here for a Speed Twin video and low and behold, I see the two bikes at the dealer the day I traded them in for my S1000XR.

[@VanBlamm]

Hah nice, which bikes? I hope the XR is treating you well

[@tomw5334]

@@VanBlamm 2008 ZZR600 and a 2014 Street Triple R. XR is fantastic. Dream to ride, crushes highway miles but super fun around the back roads. Still that Speed Twin exhaust note is just pure money. If I had room for a second, It would be that all day, everyday.

[@marcusgeorge1825]

Awesome video. Thank you. I recently rode a mates carbon edition FTR purely due to him wanting my thoughts as it’s not a bike I would’ve considered. I was humbly surprised how good it was considering it’s Indian’s first real attempt at something modern. It has several flaws that even with top shelf components can’t fix and does feel a bit vague and unsettling when pushed in corners. However, if that’s not your thing and you want a nice torquey engine that also doesn’t mind being taken to redline where it still pulls then take one for a test ride. Nothing to lose. 👍😎🇦🇺

[@VanBlamm]

Thank you for the input! Yeah, sadly I think this bike won't be perfected until it gets a new, lighter frame. Still pretty fun as is though.

[@davidfisch7654]

Great video! You didn’t mention the $17k price point. For $13k in stock form, you still get the great engine and suspension. As a fellow Speed Twin lover, I prefer the more classic look. I have ridden an Indian Chieftain and loved it!

[@VanBlamm]

Thanks for reminding me!

[@willhorsley2105]

It’s kind of quirky cool. Heavily promoted but rarely seen in the UK.

[@VanBlamm]

Kinda feels the same way here, I've always been very aware of it but I don't think I've actually seen one out on the road

[@undecodable6145]

I love this bike a lot but the tiny fuel tank is holding me back from buying it

[@j.francisward1897]

Lol, loved how he blurred out his speed

[@VanBlamm]

Haha I'll take any excuse to play with the effects tools in Premiere

[@Gee_Sus]

Mr. Vam Blamm, where are you mate?

[@VanBlamm]

I'm still here! I didn't mean to go away for so long but I've been working on videos again for the past few weeks and will be back soon

[@gryphongryph]

Doesn’t look right with that awful display, should be analog instrument cluster with some digital between as the Kawasaki z900rs

[@VanBlamm]

I'm with you. Anything a TFT can do that analog dials can't is something I don't need

[@eliottkim94]

If you had both the Speed Twin and the FTR in your garage, which one would you choose more often to ride?

[@VanBlamm]

GREAT question. If it were the FTR R Carbon, I'd probably pick the Speed Twin most of the time. The Triumph is just a friendlier bike overall. But if I had an FTR Rally, I could see myself taking that in search of light forest roads pretty often.

[@XxjoeyxXify]

First!