Well, I Kruz'd the garage space. Just came across an Indian FTR 1200. A 2022 with 2k miles on it. Figured I'd pop for a 2nd hand bike till Mother Tea rolls out the next big honker. If not, I have this little squirt to lop around on. Going to pick it up tomorrow.

Didn't even ride it. Lit it off on the dealer floor, sounded good, took a chance on something different. Pretty much a bulletproof bike with zero problems. Some have 100k miles on some so they sort of can hold their own. As far as percentage wise, the Indian has something like 13-17% failure rate as opposed to the HD line with 26% or something like that. Sort of built better with less problems.

Wanted that HD sound. Even sounds better than the HD big twins. Going to keep it stock and ride the piss out of it. Figured time is short, why not have a little fun while the heart is still beating. Gave them an offer and they took it.

More like a little puppy with some punch to it. Says 120hp and 80 some torque. Will have a few photos tomorrow.

Show the pics! I was picturing a cruiser but this is something all together different.

Mr Rook I think the FTR refers to Flat Track Replica. I think the biggest complaint is throttle twichiness and the one I rode was barely livable BUT they have cruise !!!

That's a cool looking bike and even cooler because it's an Indian. It's a well recognized brand on something they're not recognized for. I'd like to see that one with matte black engine covers and exhaust. What color did you get Hub?.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO9nCkAoRkQlPNryK9Y2Wc05GUTQMDeVdQcWNB_

Lettuce sea WATT happens?

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Rook, I'll use another camera and load it on the hard drive. Give me a day or two.

I'm diggin this new bike Hub! The idea of blending tradition with innovation has always fascinated me and it goes one step further by being a sportbike that's unconventionally American. I mean, throw a set of clipons on there and a top cowl and you have the look of a modern race bike. That's going to catch some eyes when you roll up to a stoplight. It adds a big dose of class to the sportbike genre. Congrats on you new toy. Maybe one day I'll have the money and the space to acquire bikes off the beaten path but for now, I can only focus on the essentials.

This makes me wonder if Indian isn't positioning to compete with Buel. I just did a search and I see Buel is back in business. Maybe there will be an American sportbike industry after all. If so, I'd be in on that down the road, after I have my essentials covered.

Please give us a ride report. The "twitchy" throttle mentioned above alludes to some big power.

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/13/2024 @ 4:15 PM *

Took the set off and it says made in Spain or some other country. It seems to handle well. Haven't taken it thru the canyons yet so going wait to feel this twitch to the throttle?

No twitchy throttle yet. I think lytnin and I have the same year? A '22 with that color scheme and red line rims?

Yeah, already took the radiator shields off it, and the passenger grab rails. Ordered a rear rack and it mounts there. Tank plastic is coming off too. Going to see what it takes to pre-filter the filter the intake opening.

Manual is coming and I'm going to see what the throttle sync is all about.

Going to sell the ST1100 for cheap just to get it out of here.

Mr Hub the Harley is mine and the FTR is my friends bike. He has made alot of changes so I need a new pick of it and you see a big difference in them.

Thanks, lytnin. Yeah, I'd like to see the FT's new look.

Took the bike out today. Got a short ride the back way to the dealer. One complaint from another owner says his new FTR aims for a ditch if he lets go of the bars. Gave mine the no hands and it steered straight as an arrow. Throttle closed when doing it sure brings the speed down due to the compression.

Changed the oil with say 2000 miles on it. Ripped the filter open and the pleats were debris free. I mean nothing showing.

Handling wise It wants to steer, meaning, any input to a corner and it locks in sort of. Not a real test yet. The throttle loves the 1700 - 3000 rpm range for smooth cruising. Anything past that and it vibes/growls/wants to get it on.

That thing is pretty quick for it's size. Have to climb the rpm to gain the torque. Seems much faster than say an 883 or 1200 HD sportster. Locking in the cruise rpm does not want to hunt or surge. Anything pass that, it's more a get up and go kind of surge.

Trans is very snappy/clunky in a way. If I pull the lever all the way in, throttle off, it's smooth and does not crack into the next gear. Though I'm not sporting it much, bad area for it. Going to take a canyon run for a honey run. Just some excuse to load up on something sweet and take a ride somewhere.

I'll find out how it shifts with a more sporty standpoint.

Took a ride a few towns away for my favorite Chinese takeout and used cruise control on the surface streets and freeways. Man, that stock seat is a forward lean type and uncomfortable to boot. Went to the dealer for an oil change kit and was told the FTR has dropped from the line at Indian.

Guess (IMO) I have an automatic classic that is going to be worth more than I paid. Just will be dead when it's worth more. Maybe I'll let it sit like the other two collectables I have for my nephew to cash out with.

The show has ended for another year. European new bike show has nothing new for the ZX series. Just a passed along with a few dash upgrades, same body style, etc. the FTR will tie me over for another year or so.

Hub - I think I just got the Ducati version of your new Indian; a Diavel V4: higher bars, no wind screen (nekked), longer wheel base, rear wheel extended farther out back than typical sport bikes, very little rear structure / fender (clean lookin'), etc. That Indian is badass lookin' Mine is the new-for-'23 1,158 cc V4; maybe you're aware Diavels were always big twins until the V4.

https://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=2735055C-0923-23C1-F7857883BDD9ABD7

Here's she is with a possible top case sitting at the rear seat location setup I'm thinking about working on; otherwise the bike has zip for utility, not even any space under either seat:

She's got a big ol' rear ... I like big tires and I cannot lie:

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 11/13/2024 @ 2:25 AM *

I do like the aft hugger on both of these bikes although I think I'd feel compelled to take it off to shed weight at some point. Kind of like the belly pan on the 14, it's cool but it's extra weight.

Rook, yeah quite a few Diavel owners remove the rear fender, as do many MT-10 owners, although in both cases I actually like em, think they're unique looking, even tho they're an OEM piece, so kept em and no plans to remove. Prob means I'm getting old! BTW the Diavel's stops most water from getting on the rider, but the rear fender / hugger combo, with the big gap between the two, doesn't stop water and dirt from being thrown all up under the bike, all over the shock, swing arm and under tail ... so could just as well be removed. But I won't. MT-10 was exact same - Dirty right away up under there. I suppose DOT says you can't throw gravel on others, but go ahead and throw it at yourself all you want!

Yeah extrap, just notice you are on ducati.ms. I do like the style of the diavel's looks. Good crew over there. I just hit on the generic tech. Learning a lot on the site. Wanna smack those guys that cry about 2600 dollar services, all with changing shims, belts and other services like TPS syncing and stalling. smog purges, cheap battery cables by the OEM.

Good luck with that baby.

You got me a little nervous now, Hub, but we'll see. Just got the first service done this week. And already had to plug the rear tire at 600 miles, not that that has anything to do with it being a Duc. Crossing fingers!

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 11/30/2024 @ 11:40 AM *

There must be something in the air extrap, I had to plug my truck tire this weekend. It was not an easy job without removing the wheel and it was below freezing out there. It seems to have worked though.

Rook, that was my first ever time doing a tire plug. I drilled out the hole with a 1/4" bit, lubed up the tire plug with a bunch of rubber cement, and it went in pretty easy. A little tricky getting the tool back out without pulling the plug back out with it, but it seems I got it as it's been holding air. Assuming it continues to hold, I'll prob only put a couple thousand miles on it, just to get some money's worth, then replace it. 2 buds and me went in on a Rabaconda tire changer so I'll be able to do it myself instead of having to trust the loser local shop "techs" who tend to scratch rims and do who knows what else wrong. One of the techs actually wears a propeller hat

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 12/4/2024 @ 12:05 PM *