FTR London
Well-known member
Hi all, please don't flame me for this, and I understand that I may be labouring the point now - but why did some of you choose this motorcycle? I'm utterly bemused. I genuinely don't understand.
We have threads on windshields, luggage, fenders, comfortable seats, phone holders and USB connections, raised handlebars, back pain, posture, ergonomics, practical tyres...and yes apple car play, but very little about flat track racing. It's an Indian FTR 1200 - supposedly a road going flat track racer. The clue lies in the 'FTR' moniker. I'm increasingly perplexed by some of the threads on this forum. Why did many of you people purchase this motorcycle? Last year, I started a thread about the things I don't like about the FTR -yeah,, I hate the stupid TV screen, the gold forks and the ridiculous grandad handlebars - but largely the fact that it didn't even vaguely resemble the deceptive factory pre-launch hype and what lumbered out of Spirit Lake was an utter monstrosity. I was amazed to be greeted by responses like "a single rotor wouldn't have sold" (yeah, thanks for that) or "sounds as though you bought the wrong bike" - coming from someone that was discussing backrests. I can reference the post if you wish.
I've spent in the region of three grand, removing, revising and stripping the abortion that was the 2019 FTR...solely because I love motorcycle racing, and I have always held that the best and most entertaining GP racers came from the grit. I wanted a FLAT TRACK RACER - (excuse the caps), is that unreasonable? I think it's about there, but I've only just begun. No one one this forum has actually questioned why Indian sells a 'tracker conversion/accessory kit' on what is supposed to be a flat track motorcycle! 😆🤣
The beauty of this bike is that it's timeless, ageless and enduring. Couldn't give two shits about the '22..a '24...a 26 a '28 or a '30. I bought the original and it had a 19" on the front...so bollocks!
I want a spartan, pristine raw unforgiving motorbike because,correct me if I'm wrong - top box aside, that's what an FTR should be. In all honesty, no disrespect to anyone that disagrees, but if you want to tour, you want comfort, you want luggage, you want range, you want entertainment, you want practicality? fair play...then as emasculated and compromised as Indian's final offer was, why the fuck did you choose this motorcycle??? This forum increasingly reads like a Honda Goldwing site, yet the owner is clearly a very knowledgeable but affable laddo/petrolhead completely into the hooligan pedigree of this beast.
Again, please, no indignant replies. I understand, this bike is "whatever you want it to be", you've explained that to me.- providing you ignore the 'FTR' bit. I am actually at the point of questioning whether some folk that buy this actually understand what that means? The most savage and uncompromising motorcycle I have ever owned was the RG500 Gamma. A 2T racer for the street. Imagine if the internet existed in the 80s and forum members were discussing fuel consumption, comfort, saddlebags, seats, backrests and practical screens?
Please - no negative comments. The advice and technical support on Mike's forum is a Godsend and I'm honestly a massive beneficiary of that and the first to concede when I'm wrong. Am I mistaken here? Please don't begrudge me posting this because I'm genuinely bewildered by some of the threads I'm reading. The question has to be asked - and surely, that's what a forum is all about - debate. Motorcycles are irrational, irresponsible, dysfunctional, uncomfortable, uncompromising, antisocial...so why the fuck did some of you buy this bike? (No offence - and if any is taken, I'll gladly leave this forum - which will probably be a relief to many)
This...
This...
🤨
God bless @Charliemurphay for choosing form over function. Good lad.
We have threads on windshields, luggage, fenders, comfortable seats, phone holders and USB connections, raised handlebars, back pain, posture, ergonomics, practical tyres...and yes apple car play, but very little about flat track racing. It's an Indian FTR 1200 - supposedly a road going flat track racer. The clue lies in the 'FTR' moniker. I'm increasingly perplexed by some of the threads on this forum. Why did many of you people purchase this motorcycle? Last year, I started a thread about the things I don't like about the FTR -yeah,, I hate the stupid TV screen, the gold forks and the ridiculous grandad handlebars - but largely the fact that it didn't even vaguely resemble the deceptive factory pre-launch hype and what lumbered out of Spirit Lake was an utter monstrosity. I was amazed to be greeted by responses like "a single rotor wouldn't have sold" (yeah, thanks for that) or "sounds as though you bought the wrong bike" - coming from someone that was discussing backrests. I can reference the post if you wish.
I've spent in the region of three grand, removing, revising and stripping the abortion that was the 2019 FTR...solely because I love motorcycle racing, and I have always held that the best and most entertaining GP racers came from the grit. I wanted a FLAT TRACK RACER - (excuse the caps), is that unreasonable? I think it's about there, but I've only just begun. No one one this forum has actually questioned why Indian sells a 'tracker conversion/accessory kit' on what is supposed to be a flat track motorcycle! 😆🤣
The beauty of this bike is that it's timeless, ageless and enduring. Couldn't give two shits about the '22..a '24...a 26 a '28 or a '30. I bought the original and it had a 19" on the front...so bollocks!
I want a spartan, pristine raw unforgiving motorbike because,correct me if I'm wrong - top box aside, that's what an FTR should be. In all honesty, no disrespect to anyone that disagrees, but if you want to tour, you want comfort, you want luggage, you want range, you want entertainment, you want practicality? fair play...then as emasculated and compromised as Indian's final offer was, why the fuck did you choose this motorcycle??? This forum increasingly reads like a Honda Goldwing site, yet the owner is clearly a very knowledgeable but affable laddo/petrolhead completely into the hooligan pedigree of this beast.
Again, please, no indignant replies. I understand, this bike is "whatever you want it to be", you've explained that to me.- providing you ignore the 'FTR' bit. I am actually at the point of questioning whether some folk that buy this actually understand what that means? The most savage and uncompromising motorcycle I have ever owned was the RG500 Gamma. A 2T racer for the street. Imagine if the internet existed in the 80s and forum members were discussing fuel consumption, comfort, saddlebags, seats, backrests and practical screens?
Please - no negative comments. The advice and technical support on Mike's forum is a Godsend and I'm honestly a massive beneficiary of that and the first to concede when I'm wrong. Am I mistaken here? Please don't begrudge me posting this because I'm genuinely bewildered by some of the threads I'm reading. The question has to be asked - and surely, that's what a forum is all about - debate. Motorcycles are irrational, irresponsible, dysfunctional, uncomfortable, uncompromising, antisocial...so why the fuck did some of you buy this bike? (No offence - and if any is taken, I'll gladly leave this forum - which will probably be a relief to many)
This...
This...
🤨
God bless @Charliemurphay for choosing form over function. Good lad.