After years of teasing, it’s finally happening – Indian is releasing a production version of the FTR1200 Custom. Details are scarce but the announcement was made at Wheels and Waves this weekend and it’s going to be available in 2019.
I’m bringing this to your attention because Indian also announced a giveaway for one of the first production bikes! The winner will be selected by November 30th, 2018, and you can enter by filling out the information midway through this link.
Two things concern me:
1. This quote from senior Indian Motorcycle designer, Rich Christoph:
“We wanted to make sure that the FTR 1200 wasn’t merely a regurgitation of the FTR 1200 Custom, but something uniquely ‘street,’ albeit flat track inspired. We’re thrilled about the unique character this bike possesses, and its ability to take American V-twin motorcycles into brand new territory.”
I don’t want to read into this too much, and it’s obvious that some changes have to occur to ensure that the below concept becomes street legal. But consider Indian’s history with bikes like the Octane, I think it’s fair to be worried that the production bike could be a regular Scout with some bolt on parts instead of this concept with turn signals, a fender, and the other components that comprise the bare minimum of street legality. I don’t know about you, but I WANT a regurgitation of the concept bike!
Photo courtesy of Indian
2. The potential price. No number has been formally announced yet, but in the rules of the giveaway you’ll see the following line:
“PRIZES: Model year 2019 Indian FTR 1200, $15,000 package value”
Problem is, it doesn’t specify what’s included in the “package”. Is it a $13,000 bike with $2,000 of goodies? Or is the new bike going to be $15k?
A lot of people have been begging Indian to release this bike. Next year we’ll get to see if they were just talk. What do you think?