10 Things We Like About The New Indian FTR 1200 Sport

The new Indian FTR 1200 Sport a top choice if you are looking for a great standard motorcycle

It's a naked street-fighter! No, a brawler? A hooligan? An all-American flat tracker? The Indian FTR 1200 Sport, is all of that, intensified. The spicier variant of the FTR 1200 that originated as a road-legal offshoot of the flat-track race-winning FTR750, it has quickly established itself as an adrenaline-inducing contender in the naked bike segment in 2023. Captivating observers with its stunning design and wowing riders with its powerful but entirely controllable performance and advanced features, Indian continues to do justice to this diversion away from the cruisers that the company is typically known for.

Indian has throttled through over a century of technological advancement from 1901 to today as America's first motorcycle company. Building upon a rich history, the FTR 1200 Sport represents the evolution of Indian's heritage as a brand known for reliability and convention into one that continues those qualities but with the technologies and style that define the current generation of motorcycling. Here are the 10 standout features that make the FTR 1200 Sport a top choice for enthusiast riders in 2023.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Indian FTR 1200 Sport Is Pretty Amazing

At the heart of this motorcycle lies a powerful 60-degree 1203 cc V-twin liquid-cooled DOHC engine, generating 80 pound-feet of torque with around 111 horsepower. As is standard for current-gen motorcycles, riders can switch between three ride modes, including Sport, Standard, and Rain. With a compression ratio of 12.5:1, high-flow cylinder heads, a low-inertia crankshaft, and dual-throttle bodies, this marvel of modern motorcycle engineering is made lighter with extensive use of magnesium. Built upon the racing pedigree of a few wildly successful flat-track seasons, the FTR 1200 Sport carries an MSRP tag of $15,749, up from $13,499 of the base model, $14,499 of the FTR Rally, and lower than the $17,249 FTR R Carbon, which is roughly the same range as other motorcycles with equivalent technology. The New 2023 Indian FTR 1200 Sport represents a masterful blend of technology, performance, and beauty. From its advanced features and comfortable ergonomics to its powerful engine, this motorcycle captures the essence of a true sport riding experience cherished by enthusiasts across all genres of bikes.

The braking systems of the FTR 1200 Sport are exceptional at instilling confidence. Boasting a Brembo 4-piston caliper setup up front and a single 2-piston caliper rotor at the back, this flat-tracker-inspired motorcycle can hammer unwanted momentum in all road conditions. Paired with Dunlop's DT3-R Radial tight-grooved tires that come stock, the Brembo brakes provide excellent traction, grip, and controllability making the FTR 1200S an incredibly safe ride even in the chaos of rush hour traffic. Since the 2023 Indian FTR 1200 Sport features 17-inch wheels, riders have a dizzying variety of aftermarket tire choices to swap over the DT3-R should they burn out and stoppie the treads away.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, one cannot overlook the stunning aesthetics of the Indian FTR 1200 Sport. Taking a quick look from the side, the FTR1200S carries a design that rivals renowned motorcycles like the Ducati Monster, Triumph Street Triple, and BMW R nineT. The continuous bone line running from the tank to the oh-so-smooth tail adds a distinctive harmony to the design, creating an immediately striking profile. Indian's engineers have masterfully integrated the bone line with the bike's components, showing off meticulous attention to detail. The relocation of the gas tank under the seat and the faux-tank design further accentuate the bone line, creating a seamless flow from the front to the rear. Even the alignment of various elements, such as the headlight and suspension link, exhibits precise craftsmanship and significant attention to detailing. By various accounts, this FTR, especially in the white lightning/Indy red paint scheme, becomes eye candy that riders want to keep in their view all day.

Related: The Indian FTR Becomes A Dark Carbon-Clad Superbike

Indian has prioritized rider comfort in the design of the FTR series, and every element of the FTR 1200 Sport feels balanced and symmetrical, contributing to an intuitive and highly enjoyable riding experience, the kind befitting a hooligan bike. The under-seat tank design not only adds to the bike's aesthetic appeal but also provides a lower center of gravity, enhancing control and stability during turns. Furthermore, the addition of cruise control, albeit rudimentary compared to a few other competitors, adds convenience for longer rides and embeds the FTR1200S in the current-gen of motorcycles. Like syrup on pancakes and Marquez on a Honda, the Cornering Pre-Control and Wheelie Mitigation on the FTR help bring necessary temperance and control to the 1203 cc V-Twins' enormous power.

The FTR 1200 Sport's transmission exemplifies Indian's commitment to engineering excellence. Equipped with a smooth and responsive six-speed transmission, this motorcycle effortlessly transitions between gears, enhancing the overall riding experience. The transmission's precision and seamless gear shifting is actuated by a power-assist slipper clutch inspired by the race clutch used on the FTR750, and perfectly complements the powerful V-twin engine, handing over consistently smooth power delivery, anti-hop, and an easier learning curve to the rider.

There are various reasons for the FTR 1200 Sport's exceptional responsiveness. The under-seat tank design not only contributes to a lower center of gravity but also allows for better weight distribution. Its 43mm inverted cartridge front fork and rear side-mounted mono-shock both produce 5.9 inches of wheel travel with spring preload, compression, and rebound adjustability. Couple these features with lean-sensitive stability control, and you can make it through even the most unpredictable and hostile twisties and uneven roads with zeal. The suspension can be fine-tuned to suit individual preferences, optimizing comfort and performance.

Related: A Closer Look At The Indian FTR Sport

Whether you're seeking a thrilling adventure on open roads or a stylish street-scrambler to turn heads during your everyday commute, the FTR1200S proves to be an impressive contender that embodies the spirit of Indian motorcycles while making a bold departure from their century-long line of cruisers. The FTR 1200 Sport offers remarkable versatility, making it suitable for various riding scenarios. Whether you're navigating city streets or exploring winding B-roads, this motorcycle adapts effortlessly. The balanced riding position, with foot pegs right beneath you and handlebars at waist height, offers a comfortable and agile stance that is not too aggressive nor too relaxed and works well enough to counter air resistance. However, long-term testers warn against hooliganing on this bike in sub-zero temperatures or thunderstorm-level pours, as the FTR 1200 Sport's nakedness makes the elements encroach on the insides of your riding gear rather quickly. With its adaptable nature, the FTR 1200 Sport effortlessly transitions between urban commuting, long-distance touring, and joyriding on twisty roads.

The FTR 1200 Sport delivers on Indian's affinity for high-quality reliable machines. The bike's chassis construction and overall geometry exhibit sharpness, a close-knit structure, and perfect symmetry. The trellis swingarm flexes just enough to soak bumps without compromising stability, while the ZF Sachs fully adjustable shocks offer a comfortable ride, even on rough terrain. The engine delivers smooth and refined power delivery, coupled with instant throttle response. The choice of components, their materials, and the attention to detail in the design and construction of the FTR 1200 Sport reflect Indian's renowned craftsmanship, creating a reliable and high-performance motorcycle that breaks down less and wears out slower.

The FTR 1200 Sport features a streamlined TFT dashboard missing on the base model featuring a bare-bones suite of modern electronics, rider assists, and software. The 4-inch round touchscreen display serves as an access point to the Bluetooth-paired Ride Command system, linked to the add-on subscription-based navigation service RIDECOMMAND+, which empowers riders with a range of electronic rider aids and essential information. While criticized for lacking direct inbuilt satellite navigation, the simple but intuitive interface delivers a user-friendly experience, allowing riders to effortlessly customize their ride according to their preferences, answer phone calls, quickly read texts, and switch up ride modes on the go.

Last but certainly not least, the FTR 1200 Sport boasts an invigorating engine note that the overall riding experience would simply not be the same without. The FTR's exhaust delivers a grumpy-sounding engine note at the start and lower revs as if the bike is complaining that you aren't pushing it hard enough. When you do take it around its peak-torque rpm of 6000, the machine sounds like a cross between a cruiser and a supersport raring to crunch the miles (however, beware the small 3.4-gallon fuel tank). Revving this beast feels exhilarating by all accounts and is easily one of the most iconic aspects of this tradition-breaking motorcycle from Indian. You can listen to the engine note on the Indian Motorcycles' FTR Sport page.

Shantanu is a passionate motorcycle writer who brings together his versatile expertise in various forms of creative expression and experience writing for Electric Vehicle ecosystem stakeholders to TopSpeed. He has a preference for the most nimble & agile of sports and naked motorcycles over cruisers and tourers. A motorcycle enthusiast in real life too, Shantanu has owned and ridden bikes from various critically-acclaimed Asian motorcycle brands over a decade, and aspires to own a retro Honda Fireblade from the 90's someday because it reminds him of the game 'Road Rash'. Shantanu's hobbies include MMA & martial arts, video games, writing books, plotting for world peace, and animals. He fathers three cats- King Sunrise(Ginger), Saint Crystal (Black), and Sir Onyx (Grey).