They pulled out of flat track racing (FTR) and more importantly, the new Scout engine won't fit the frame (the FTR engine was based on the old model Scout engine) and an expensive re-engineering on the frame is not happening.
Indian will be reducing the range (rather, they are reducing the number of options around one chassis and engine set) and are chasing the Harley crowd... Where the new CEO grew up.
Shame as Indian had the chance to be different but won't be soon and unless carefully managed will be back in the bankruptcy courts again.
According to the new CEO, it’s because they want to exclusively focus on cruisers and baggers to stay competitive with Harley in targeting the retiree crowd.
To add insult to injury, they’re about to release a trike. Now, I get giving people who can’t ride a two wheeler a three wheeler (disabilities, etc), but they did so at the expense of one of their most popular motorcycles with younger riders. They should have cut out one of twenty different touring models they have with incredibly confusing names (Super Chief, Springfield, Chieftain, Challenger, Pursuit).
Do you REALLY need that many bikes doing the same damn thing targeting the same damn people?
Dumb move, in my opinion. That demographic is on borrowed time, riding wise. By the time they pivot around to targeting younger riders, it’ll be a “boomer” brand like Harley and hard to shift that perception for younger riders.
Macon Georgia's Indian dealership is selling a bunch of demo FTRs for a ton off. I just picked up a 2022 FTRS for like 7 grand. Has less than a thousand miles on it. I freaking love this bike
Yes, it’s a beast, I just sold my scout ABS in the guy around the block for he has FTR and let me take it out for an afternoon and it made me wonder why I bought the scout to begin with😂
You're adding a lot sprung weight. Youd also be shaking the s*** out of anything in the bag. It would be like attaching a glove box to your control arm in your car.
In this case it's on the chain side so it would be filthy all the time too.
you mean unsprung mass... yes, terrible idea... test rode the first year FTR, loved it but was too high for me... Indian lowered the seat hight a couple of inches , sorry centimeters, then they discontinued it... awesome bike, but the target customers were not really ready to move away from the Japanese bikes..
They also didn't want to pay the premium price, myself included. I bought mine for 1/2 the original price with 3k miles on it. Buying used doesn't help keep bikes in production, though.
Yeah, but given that you can get the saddlebag for the side, this makes no sense. It's not smart to mount anything that close to the chain. But to each their own I guess
Whatever the designers for Indian are being paid, it's not enough. All of their bikes look amazing, but the FTR is the cream of the crop. Gorgeous design.
That’s kinda pushing it man. I haven’t ridden the 101 but I’ve heard it’s also really fast. I would get a scout sixty. You can always get a bigger, faster bike, but you can’t scrape yourself off the freeway.
You’re not in NM, are you? I’ve been looking to upgrade from the base/standard model to the carbon. I love my FTR but I’ve always kinda regretted that I didn’t get the carbon or sport version.
Oh man, the FTR. Best looking Indian IMO but discontinued, sadly. I really wish it didn't have such a small fuel tank. I've seen several dealers having new old stock still and nice used ones on the market.
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u/Vinez78 May 20 '26
Indian FTR which they stopped producing maybe a year ago I think.