Indian has announced a limited run of FTR1200 machines featuring some special touches, lightweight parts and general bling in honor of the company’s recent success in the Progressive-sponsored American Flat Track (AFT) racing series. Only 400 of these bikes will be built.
Photo: Indian
The FTR bikes all feature the same 1,203cc liquid-cooled 4-valve V-Twin motor that produces a claimed 120 horsepower and 87 pound feet of torque, and the Championship Edition spikes the punch a bit with 19 and 18-inch front-rear wheel sizes and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust that cuts weight and adds some bark to the popular roadster.
American Flat Track national Champion Jared Mees with the tribute FTR. Photo: Indian
A special paint scheme with a splash of gold is capped by a list of Indian’s past five winning seasons on the gas tank. Other bits include a carbon fiber front fender, carbon headlight nacelle (among other CF bits) red paint on the trellis frame and wheels, adjustable Öhlins rear suspension, special Dunlop tires, rear seat cowl, and a full slate of digital helpers. The FTRs are of course based on the company’s winning FTR750 flat track race bikes, one of which will be piloted by rising star Shayna Texter-Bauman in the upcoming season.
Photo: Indian
“Since the FTR’s debut in 2019, riders around the world have expressed their passion and enthusiasm for the FTR’s flat track-inspired design,” Aaron Jax, Indian Motorcycle Vice President said in a press release sent to ADVrider.com. “While the 2022 FTR lineup optimizes the FTR’s on-road performance, the FTR Championship Edition reignites our flat track racing legacy and celebrates the Wrecking Crew’s historic success. Although this limited-edition bike is a commemorative show piece, it’s also an on-road ripper that performs in the twisties as well as turns heads on city streets.”
Image: Indian Motorcycle
The “Wrecking Crew” reference is a shout out to the current team as well as to Indian’s racers from decades ago, when Indian and arch-rival Harley-Davidson engaged in fierce competition at flat track events around the world before Indian went insolvent in 1953. Minnesota-based Polaris revived the brand in 2011, and soon brought a liquid-cooled V-Twin to bear , which bullied Harley’s air-cooled XR750 race bikes, which had been dominating flat track for much of the last 50 years. Harley-Davidson debuted a new, more modern flat tracker in 2016 with the liquid-cooled XG750R, co-developed with Vance & Hines before the two companies went their separate ways, but the team continues to look for success. Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and KTM are also involved in flat track racing.
Shayna Texter-Bauman with the FTR CE. Photo: Indian
Racer Shayna Texter-Bauman (above) is the first professional female flat track racer in history and has been shaming the fellas in single-cylinder races for the past few years while riding for KTM/Red Bull. She’s five feet tall and not quite 100 pounds, according to AFT stats. Here’s a quick clip of her coming from the back of the pack to win a race in 2020:
It will be her first year aboard the big-bore premier class SuperTwins 750cc V-Twin machines. Shayna, 31, is married to fellow flat tracker (and now teammate) Briar Bauman, who notched national championships in 2019 and 2020. Last year, he finished second to teammate and 2021 champion Jared Mees. Shayna’s brother, Cory Texter, also races flat track and the Texter family has deep roots in motorcycle and auto racing, along with operating motorcycle dealerships. Suffice to say, Indian has a powerful—and somewhat unconventional—team heading into the new season, which begins March 19 on Fox Sports.
Flat track racing is a highly kinetic and dangerous form of competition that requires enormous skill and courage, and dates back to the dawn of motorcycle racing. Crashes can be very brutal, as seen at 8:15 in this highlight video from 2021. The short race durations, easily viewable circle track format, sliding bike action and resurgent Harley/Indian rivalry have made the sport more popular over the last several years.
Photo: Indian
FTR models are Indian’s fastest and arguably highest-tech street machines, and have proven popular, but Indian also offers a somewhat stripped-down and perhaps more adventure-worthy FTR variant in the spoke-wheeled Rally version for $13,999.
At $16,499, The Champions Edition FTR won’t be the top model in the FTR line, however. That honor goes to the lighter-weight R Carbon variant at $16,999. The tribute FTR streetbikes will be available for delivery in April, according to an Indian press release.
What do you think of the FTR machines, and the FTR Rally specifically? We’re working to get an example in for review, so stay tuned.
