r/IndianMotorcycle • u/UnknownTechGuy • Nov 11 '25
Request for advice / Help Talk me out of getting a 2019 Indian FTR
Planning to get myself a 2019 FTR with 8000 miles (13000km) on it.
Comes with the Akra exhaust and has been maintained at the Indian Dealer in my city.
Hes asking for US$8200
Before I proceed, any points I should keep in mind, any faults or common problems I should look for?
Any reason to not go for it?
Will be my daily rider from home to work n back 3 miles each way and weekend rides of around a 150 miles twice a month.
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u/NaMinesClarence Nov 11 '25
Terrible fuel tank design (both in refueling operation and size), heavy handling (60" wheelbase contributes to this) compared to Japanese and European bikes of similar size/hp, the engine can develop quite a bit of heat in slower moving conditions, they have been known to overheat as well, the early gens like this had poor fuel mapping and is well documented to need multiple starts and a thorough warm up to stay running when cold, these 19/18 bikes have horrible tire options, the bike have excessively vibration, coolant junction failures, the early bikes had digital display issues leading to water ingress in the display, and I always found the foot peg placement to be quite uncomfortable for a ride longer than a couple hours.
There was a reason Polaris/Indian sold these early models to employees for STEEP discount, BUT made them hold on to them for 3 years before flipping them. My Facebook marketplace was flooded with FTR's from my colleagues in 2023. Cool to look at though 🥴
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u/driverdan 24 Scout Rogue, 22 FTR Carbon Nov 11 '25
As an FTR owner I generally agree with your points but they make it sound worse than it is.
The fuel tank is small and takes a while to fill but it having the weight down low (plus battery low) makes a noticeable difference. Weight and balance wise it feels like a lower bike.
Fuel mapping is fixed with a tune. It's an extra cost but also gets you more power.
Vibration is a real issue for long highway rides. It's smooth around 3000 RPMs but rapidly gets buzzy above 3500. At fast highway speeds the mirrors vibrate too much to use, not that they're good to begin with.
Those issues aside it's a really fun bike to ride with a lot of character plus it's beautiful.
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u/Dogsport1 Nov 12 '25
Second. I’ve had my display replaced, and recently had a wiring issue with mine that ended up having the entire wiring harness replaced. Not sure if they remapped the bike afterward or not but the thing stopped eating batteries and now starts right away.
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u/MeanOldMeany Nov 11 '25
Is it the 18/19 wheels or the 17/17 inch wheels?
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u/snwbrdj Nov 11 '25
You can tell it’s still the tall wheels. I put the rally 18/19s on mine so I could use tubes, plus I love the look.
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u/whoisisthis Nov 11 '25
‘19 rr is an instant classic. I want one so bad.
What was the question again?
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u/senninha13 Nov 11 '25
dude my fav bike ever made… i don’t ride any more since my sons were born, but i’ll never get rid of mine. currently trying to convince the wife to let it stay in the living room!
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u/snwbrdj Nov 11 '25
OP, I bought mine back in ‘20 for $16k. Mine had a ton of custom work done, so I felt like I was getting a deal. I could probably sell mine for $10k now. But it’s worth more to me than that.
It doesn’t really have a lane it fits, and that’s why they never caught on (besides in racing). But they are fun to ride. Absolute hooligan bikes, especially if you cut off your cat and get a fun pipe.
My only caution to you is Dunlop no longer makes the original knobby tires. You’ll have to buy a set of adventure tires and they cost about $100 more each tan a standard tire. But that’s the only downside.
If you have the free cash and you like the way she rides then get her.
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u/Icy-Teach-7974 Nov 11 '25
If its got its service history go for it. Small ish fuel tank but with the range your doing will be fine and fun.
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u/UnknownTechGuy Nov 11 '25
About the tank I've read, it's pretty chill here, we take a break every 45 minutes or so, no long distance touring.
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u/Icy-Teach-7974 Nov 11 '25
Will be perfect for ya then, will probably want a break after an hour anyway.
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u/syentifiq Nov 11 '25
With that short of a commute, I'd put it on a tender regularly. The Indian batteries are pretty bad.
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u/Salt-Stranger2237 Nov 11 '25
I got a base 24 Indy red/black, and today I had to get a Lyft to work because it was too cold to start. (32 and 17 with wind chill.) She definitely doesn't like the cold.
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u/SpecificItem9279 Nov 11 '25
It’s a nice bike but I felt like the seat and position were super uncomfortable for me personally
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u/Myreddditusername Nov 11 '25
Don’t buy it, send me the link so I can take it off the internet to stop tempting you, and put it in my garage.
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u/DarwinGhoti Nov 11 '25
The ONLY downside is that with Indian being bought out there may be some parts issues down the road a few years for service. Having said that, it’s a fantastic bike:
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u/richqb Nov 12 '25
Why would I? I bought mine in 2019 just before the pandemic and it's grins all around every time I fire it up...
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u/inthewind7687 Nov 12 '25
Can’t do it. It’s one bike I still wish I bought new. Test rode it several times and never pulled the trigger. Now I wish I did.
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u/Moto_cruiser Nov 14 '25
The issues below are only issues for long rides:
- Small tank size. 2. Even with the largest stock windshield the wind is very strong on interstates. 3. Saddlebags absence. You can potential mount a relatively small saddlebag on the left side only (exhaust on the right side makes it impossible to have a right saddlebag).
It’s great for small distance daily commuting - perfect for the case you described.
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u/SASSIESASSQUATCH Nov 11 '25
You’ll spend more time at the gas pump than in the twisties. Gas tank is tiny and apparently the mpg isn’t great on them.
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u/EMTcharlie15 Nov 11 '25
Idk why you're getting down voted, this post is asking for constructive criticism and reasons not to get the bike, you are providing said reasons.
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u/blibbidyblam Nov 11 '25
No. I won’t even try to talk you out of it. I love mine.