Indian Motorcycle launched the FTR 1200 back in 2019 as a road-legal model of the massively profitable Indian Scout FTR750 flat tracker that bagged eight consecutive AFT Grand Nationwide and Producer championships. It has lengthy been thought-about Indian’s coolest providing, nevertheless it’s now been discontinued.
The discontinuation was revealed in an earnings name printed by Polaris Industries, Indian’s guardian firm. It’s a tragic, unhappy finish for a motorcycle that was maybe one of the simplest ways to expertise an actual V-twin with out having to take care of the heavy weight of cruiser and touring bikes.
“The corporate realized sure prices related to the wind-down of the FTR product line starting within the fourth quarter of 2024,” the model disclosed through the earnings name. This means that the corporate is probably going cleansing away unsold FTR inventory in the meanwhile reasonably than promoting contemporary inventory.
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There was a little bit of confusion round precisely what this meant however quickly after Polaris got here out with an official assertion:
“After cautious consideration, Indian Motorbike made the choice to discontinue the FTR lineup. The choice aligns with Indian Motorbike’s long-term imaginative and prescient to deal with fashions and applied sciences that signify the way forward for the model, as FTR is a small a part of Indian Motorbike’s general portfolio. The choice permits the model to focus investments on platforms, in addition to future merchandise and applied sciences within the pipeline.”
So what led to this resolution? Properly, 2024 was a troublesome yr for Polaris. The corporate’s official This autumn 2024 and full-year 2024 monetary report, along with its monetary steerage for 2025 primarily based on these outcomes, have been introduced on the finish of January 2025 – and the figures weren’t excellent.
Full-year 2024 gross sales have been 20% decrease than 2023 gross sales, whereas This autumn 2024 gross sales (in {dollars}) have been down 23% yr over yr. And that is not unique to Polaris’ Indian Motorbike model; it applies to all powersports class segments that the corporate at the moment manages.
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Persevering with the gloomy projections, Polaris predicts that gross sales in 2025 will likely be between 1% and 4% decrease than in 2024. The Minnesota-based firm attributes this stoop to the restoration of its worker profit-sharing program, deliberate manufacturing reductions that resulted in unfavourable absorption, and margin headwinds from the unfavourable combine.
Looks as if Harley-Davidson isn’t the only one who suffered in 2024.
I’ve at all times admired the FTR for what it was. Unquestionably, it has been one of many model’s most recognizable bikes. With its teardrop-shaped tank, the flat tracker was closely influenced by the Indian Scout FTR750‘s design and magnificence.
It’s powered by a 1203cc, liquid-cooled, v-twin engine that produces 120 horsepower and 87 lb-ft (117.9 Nm) of torque. Constructed on a trellis body, it’s suspended by an inverted fork and an off-set monoshock system. In distinction to the Scout FTR750, which has 19-inch alloy wheels, the Indian FTR 1200 comes with 17-inch wheels in each model.
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As of this writing, the FTR collection continues to be accessible on Indian Motorbike web sites within the US and overseas. Nevertheless, after the remaining stock is bought out, will probably be taken down completely from each the web site and the portfolio.
I’d suggest you run to an Indian retailer and guide one of many previous couple of FTRs accessible when you’ve got been laying aside getting one. It’s a unhappy finish to a motorcycle that had a lot promise when it was first launched.
Supply: Polaris
