The Indian FTR1200 Is Great, But... | A Day In The Saddle 

Tried to keep this one a little shorter this time... If you enjoyed the video click that subscribe button to keep the channel growing!

The fact that this video has over twice the amount of views as Yammie noobs newest video has in half the time tells you everything you need to know. Spite keep it up your doing amazing!

I work at Indian and nearly every FTR we see is a dedicated commuter! Maybe its the crazy South Dakotans, it's in our blood being the home of Sturgis Bike Rally, but the FTR is nearly the most smile ensuring bike you can ride, especially when you're sick of mundane trips to work. Might as well be smiling on your way! Also, the FTR1200 races in the Moto America "Super Hooligans" race, against the Dukes, Hypermotards and many high end hyper-naked machines. The FTR is either in the top 3, or takes 1st, 2nd AND 3rd. Incredibly potent machine when race prepped!

This is officially the best FTR review I have watched. You are the first person I have watched that covered any potential negatives compared to the positives. Despite (pun) the negatives, I still want one, maybe even more now after hearing that laugh during the acceleration.

Hey Spite I just want to say a massive thank you for putting in putting metric measurements, it's actually a brilliant touch for some of us metric people! Yes I could just look up a conversion on my phone, however I really appreciate just that little touch of editing that another motorcycle channel never seemed to really care about. Keep up the great work man I love already seeing how well you're doing.

Like for the correct use of “elucidate.”

Indian is at the top of the list for a second bike. FTR is on the top of that list.... thanks for the honesty Spite. Keep it going

After riding for over 55 years, I've actually fallen in love with this bike, which I have not done since my Honda 400-4 way back when I was 16. So, I appreciate your review. Very nicely done, Sir.

I've owned my FTR S for 3 months now as a daily commuter and I absolutely love it! You make great points on the drawbacks of the bike but they're negligent when you consider the unique character and insane fun you can have on it at any time. Great vid 🤘🏻

I literally own this exact bike and while I do love it….. I’m glad it’s not my only bike.

Great Job. Probably the best, most accurate, and honest review of the FTR I've seen. Coming from a long term FTR Carbon R owner, all of your points, positive and negative, are spot on. Couple of those point I will touch on though. The jerkiness of the throttle down low and 100% correctable with a Lloydz tune. The bike is completely different and even more of an animal after the tune. So much smoother too. The other would be the Ohlins comfort. I thought the same thing about the harshness as you did at first. I then spent half a day starting with the recommended Indian settings and then tailoring them to my weight. After probably 8-10 test rides and minor tweaking it's much more compliant and handles amazingly. It took a lot of dialing in though. Again awesome review man!!!

Beautiful bike! Thanks for the consistent content, Spite, much love as always.

I like those kind of bike commentary videos most. when u actually ride the bike you are talking about. Bring more of them, Spite! You are doing very well.

Great to see consistent content from you!

Awesome review Spite! Keep uploading high quality content like this!

so fun to see the channel doing so good :D Great video :)

Thanks for the great review Spite. Congrats on your channel's success.

Happy RU-vid is recommending your vids :) Heard about how they did you, bro respect. You worked so hard that the community appreciates and is here for you 🤙🏽

Woah your POV setup is smooth as butter. Makes the riding vids that much more satisfying to watch

Already over 75k subscribers!!! Awesome. Now let's get you to 100k by the end of the year!!! Great content and solid information for riders and new riders.

They really nailed the looks and colors on this bike. Looks fantastic! That caught my attention when I was looking for a bike, but settled for something better (and cheaper) for my needs... That camera upgrade is really noticeable, good job!

You are KILLING IT! Keep up the hard work, it shows!

I test rode the FTR 1200 Sport a month ago and literally fell in love! Everything is exactly as it should be: power, power delivery (smooth but not boring), sound, vibrations, electronics (quite a few but not too much), handling, comfort (not track oriented, not boring everyday bike). And a real beauty! The only thing that was unpleasent was... its cost here in Europe. A possible FTR 900, more economic (in terms of cost, consumption, service), lighter and more nibble, but equally beautiful and well set-up... I would have bought it yesterday!

Enjoying the slow-mo cornering clips. Gives a good idea of the bike and rider interaction during a turn.

Good to see you in good mood Spite with your own channel! 💪😃👍 Really appreciate metrics not only imperial, because I'm from Europe 👌 Missing seat height in centimeters though 😉🤷‍♂️

You’ve been reviewing all the bikes I have interest in! You are nailing it! Would love to see a review of the new CB750 hornet if you can get yours hands on one!

Your content is on point and the topics you choose for your videos are genuinely interesting. Keep it up and you'll without a doubt become one of the biggest Motorcycle youtubers.

You are killing it already! Loving your videos

Knockin' on 75K... Yeah boy! The subs, clicks, likes, and comments will give you the juice you need to get your hands on motorcycles to create great content. Great to watch you rolling it on over and over and laughing. Fun bikes are, well, FUN! As for your inner AC/DC "oi! oi!" play with the preload and clickers. Just 'cause you're on a loaner doesn't man you can't fiddle with the adjustable suspension. As to competition, think Harley-Davidson Sportster S -edit- Note to self, don't comment until watching the clip all the way through! LoL

Would love to see a day in the saddle of the new Indian Chief. The one with the touch display and rear cylinder deactivation. Really been tossing back and for giving up eating so I can afford it haha.

Good to see the channel growth. Great job man.

I rode one of these at an Indian factory truck demo event, and loved the hell out of it. if I could get a second bike, this would be it.

I’m not a massive fan of American bikes but this is simply stunning I’d love to have one.

2022 FTR1200S White Smoke, $16000 0td. Daily commuter, I love, love mine!. I've always had real sportbikes, CBRs, ZXs, Gixers, both 600 and 1000s. I ride track and commute. This is the perfect commuter if you're coming from a pure sportbike world. Very comfortable riding position at 6'1". In my opinion very easy to use menu if you use touchscreen mode, the buttons are ridiculous! EXCEPT the cruise control button I LOVE IT!! Set it and off to work I go. The rush of power and exceptional handling are absolutely addicting. I ride So Cal mountains and can tell you it's fully capable of keeping up with the sportbike riders if you are. I'm 100% pleased with my purchase. Well done professional presentation even if agree to disagree.

I really like this video format, keep them coming man, good work!

Almost at 100k in less than 6 months. That's awesome!!!! We really support you!!! Keep up the great work!!!!

I love the look of this bike, it has a similar appeal to me as my svartpilen does

I’m getting one Tuesday. Loved the review.

Great job as always my dude!

Love the review... Really like the bike. Appreciate the Harley call out. The Bronx would be great competition to help both bikes push each other further. They are in a class/category of their own oddity. Would the XSR 900 potentially dabble in this grey area?

This bike was one of the last two on my shortlist for my latest purchase. The other was a Kawa z900 RS. I chose the Kawa precisely because of what you mentioned - bigger tank with longer range, better for commuting, and more all-rounder than the FTR. Fuel mileage was the main deciding factor, since I actually do commute to work - 60 miles each way. So to answer the question, in my mind the main competitor was the Kawa z900 RS.

You’re doing great Spite!👏 Good format good flow to your videos.

Excellent work on the video!

I got the joy of riding a '19 FTR at a local dealer used bike demo day, and it was incredible. All them torques felt amazing on the butt dyno, not what I was expecting from a "fuddy duddy" Indian V-Twin. Handling seemed great on the short course the dealer had laid out for us. IMHO your clarification of Fast vs Quick is spot on.

Agreed, man - this thing is screaming for a Bronx fight!

Just found your channel. An honest review, it shows the good and the bad. Great job!

Having a '19, the changing of ride modes are never and issue, you also didnt highlight that its a touchscreen so its easier to change that way even with gloves. Overall an awesome review! The gas tank is by far the biggest issue in my opinion... did a 2500km tour of gas stations across western canada haha

Once again, this is a very good review. I appreciated you answering the questions posed to you by the members. Especially the one about the back strain and the herky jerky throttle. I have to admit that this bike appeals to me because I ride twisty roads and no commuter travel. It also has a style that appeals to me. The downside to this brand is that the nearest dealer is 50 miles away from me ( I live in Harley land ( rural Wisconsin)).

Yo Spite Outstanding review, glad to see you are out there doing what you love to do. Keep up the great work, keep the rubber side up, and keep doing what you love to do. Happy for you.

Thanks for reviewing this bike. I dig your review style!

You should definitely see if you can get your hands on a Vmax. AWESOME bikes and definitely would love to hear a die hard cruiser boy review it.

Came over from yammie and i gotta say: this video has all the energy i am missing there now. You Make those so damn well! I would love a series like „lets drive…“ where you get in the saddle of peoples bike but with the people involved in the Video Not just as bike donors. Keep on going, greetings from germany!

So glad you have a channel. Big fan!!!

Very well presented overview of that bike. Thanks!

Brother, you're the working mans reviewer. Thanks for always keeping it real! Keep em coming.

Nice review of the FTR1200. Your review reflects most of what I've experienced as an FTR1200 rider (I've owned mine [a leftover 2019 Base Model] since March 2020). Does it have its faults - yes, but it's a fun motorcycle to ride. It pulls like freight train - especially above 4000 rpm, and is IMO a great naked American sporty motorcycle. It's limited to "only 130 mph plus" - so what? short of going to a racetrack, it's plenty fast. I've been on the wrong side of 110 a few times (I don't make a habit of doing so - don't want to list my license, and despite wearing protective riding gear, a get off at the speed, would seriously hurt me). Oh yeah, you can commute on it. I do it on mine. During the warm weather months, it becomes my main wheels, for a daily 50 mile round trip commute to work. Like you said, the suspension can get kind of choppy, and the gas range is mediocre (I typically fuel up every 2 days when I commute on the FTR1200, due to the dinky underseat gas tank), but it's stable at 80 plus mph on the Interstate, during the 25 mile commute in the morning to work, and is fun to ride on the winding backroads (I hate jousting with afternoon rush hour traffic on the freeway) I take home from work. It handles well, and it's a blast grabbing a handfull of throttle exiting a turn. Could the FTR be better? Yes, but I've certainly ridden much worse. Even its weight, while considered kind of heavy nowadays, would have been considered pretty light in the early 80s - GS1100s and GPZ1100s, and Laverda Jotas had heavier dry weights, than the FTR1200's wet weight.

WE LOVE SPITE WE DO! KEEEEEP IT GOING. Im so happy to see you do your own thing.

Yet again, you've done another brilliant job. Well done m8!

Cracking review and that new camera is sharp spite! I asked about direct competition for this bike because it's a question I can't answer either 🤷‍♂️. I love the styling and that beeefy frame but some of the issues you point out definitely matter to me so this was invaluable to hear. I'm test riding this and a Diavel next week so that should be an interesting comparison.

Sick looking bike. I’m starting to realize what my preference for bikes is. That being naked bikes or standard bikes. Comfort,looks, and performance. This is a awesome exotic that I would only own as a toy lol Right now I’m looking into the z900 or the mt-09 as it’s more budget friendly.

Keep it up Spite! I love how you haven’t changed how you make videos and you still have that passion and fun in the videos you make. I’m subscribed and unsubbed from another channel I won’t mention. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for answering my question! Great review.

Great video. Awesome in depth review.

This bike is bad to the bone, I'm super impressed with the looks and performance. However after watching your review it becomes clear that even the most desirable bike in many ways isn't necessarily the best bike overall. Great content Spite!

Hey spite, on the fuel range, it could be an adaptive fuel range meaning it pays attention to how you ride and changes the fuel range estimation to suit. Hence why it can go up and down.

Excellent review! Thank you.

Really enjoyed the video. Keep 'em coming!

This was on the top of my list along with the XSR900 and the z900rs. Its going to be my 45th gift to myself but man that price, despite looking like sex on wheels is a full RC390 more expensive. I have until April to decide and I stll haven't been on a Z yet but $16,000 on the black with the upgrade suspension is kinda nuts. This was super helpful though.

Spite I have the Absolute upmost respect for you! And u being the man u r thru all the BS that happened. But I just don't understand how you even mention that losers channel in ur vlogs! I don't think I would even be mentioning that channel if I was in your shoes. But I guess that's another reason y we love you.

Great review and a great video! Loving spites corner!!

Awesome work again spite! Cannot wait to see you get to three videos a week! And you gotta do a Podcast as well. I really enjoy your long form content

I'm feeding the algorithm. No need to reply.

You and Whitney would make a nice duo on this channel...If only you could lure her to escape Yammie's dungeon and join Spite's Corner...Just sayin'...(Mu Ha Ha Ha Ha)

Great video Spite! Love the new logo too!

Great Vid, and great commentary/review feedback... Keep,em coming !!!

Add some fiber to your diet...

Love your channel! Keep up the great work!

Keep up the good work, Spite!

Great vid man!

Keep on rolling Spite!

Congrats on the new camera, awesome video 👌👌🇺🇲💯

Glad to see you on your own Spite! I had avoided content that you were in previously but it had nothing to do with you. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing what you get up to.

Great review! I’m really digging your channel

Great video! Thank you again

Enjoyed the video. Keep up the great work.

What a great video spite, watched all 31 minutes! Keep them coming

Let's go Spite!!!!! Hoping the algo keeps pumping your content bro!

Great review. Love your work!!!

Thanks for the Spite review brotha!

Great review, love the channel. Thanks

Excellent work man, you and Big Rock Moto are the two best motorcycle channels on RU-vid. 👍🇺🇸💪🏻

Love the vids! Keep up good work

Good video Spite, this one is on my shortlist

Day in the saddle is a great series. Love hearing about all bikes whether I want them or not

Great stuff Spite 👏

Nice ride, awesome video, keep it up brother! Still want one for my stable!

78k already that's awesome I'm glad you can do this!

Keep up the great work man!

Sick bike. Great video Spite.

Another good one from Mr Spite! That bike its just beautiful!!! Keep on rocking Mr Spite ✌️💀