Indian FTR Rally: American Style Meets Adventure Capability

Indian's FTR Rally applies adventure touring cues to their flat-track-inspired platform, creating something that doesn't fit neatly into existing categories. With 17-inch wire-spoked wheels, a small flyscreen, and 150mm of suspension travel, it's neither a proper adventure bike nor a pure street machine. Whether this positioning makes sense depends entirely on your intended use case and tolerance for compromises.

The 1203cc V-twin remains the FTR's defining characteristic. 123 horsepower and 120Nm of torque arrive with American V-twin character—strong low-end pull, charismatic soundtrack, and enough heat output to warm your legs on cold days (and cook them on hot ones). The power delivery suits the bike's dual-purpose intentions well, with tractable response that doesn't punish tentative throttle application on uncertain surfaces.

Off-road capability is modest. The suspension travel falls well short of proper adventure bikes, limiting rough-road speed to what the chassis can absorb rather than what the rider might attempt. The 17-inch wheels restrict tire choices to street-oriented options rather than genuine adventure rubber. Ground clearance, at 156mm, contacts obstacles that smaller-wheeled bikes clear easily. This is a motorcycle for gravel roads, not proper trails.

On pavement, where it will spend most of its life, the FTR Rally performs excellently. The flat-track geometry provides agile handling without nervousness, and the upgraded suspension (compared to base FTR) delivers genuine comfort over broken surfaces. For riders seeking a distinctive, characterful motorcycle that can handle light adventure duty without being purpose-built for it, the FTR Rally offers something no competitor matches.

At €17,990, the FTR Rally costs substantially more than equivalent adventure capability from other manufacturers. You're paying for style, exclusivity, and that glorious engine rather than functional capability. If those priorities align with yours, it's excellent value for what it delivers. If you actually need adventure bike capability, look elsewhere.