Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
I've thrown in the region of three grand at the thing, because contrary to all the marketing, what lumbered out of Spirit Lake was a complete monstrosity and looked nothing remotely like the road going flat track racer that Indian had deceptively marketed in the pre-launch hype.
I still hate the stupid TFT/TV screen, and loathed the gold forks and the ridiculous grandad handlebars - but largely the fact that it didn't even vaguely resemble the street tracker that it had disingenuously purported to be.
As sanitised and compromised as I make it sound, beneath it all Indian nonetheless created a beautiful, but gnarly flat track-inspired street hooligan that’s not for the faint-hearted or the inexperienced. It oozes character all of its own and the ill-mannered demeanour deliberately engineered from its flat track DNA make the FTR 1200 S a unique experience. I'd contest that few modern machines offer the same drama or challenge to the rider. The crude dynojet flash I had made it even more frisky. The front end came up faster than a virgin's .... in one of Shovelhead's brothels.
In addition to that, the original version (which is much better imo that the '22) is the worst fuelled bike I think that I have ever encountered from the showroom. The main problem was cold start on open loop in which it is designed to run excessively lean to satisfy Euro5 regulations. It meant this thing was borderline unrideable below 75°. Couldn't warm it up in the morning when working, because it takes five minutes and with an exhaust as loud as it was (this is even louder now) that wouldn't go down well at 6.30am. - so I had to take my chances and ride the animal. Used to take at least five miles to start behaving. Before that it would stall - so violently on one occasion that I thought it had simultaneously given me whiplash and put my back out - and jerk and judder so intensely that one morning it went onto one pot and the engine management light came on. Absolute ....... liability. It was like riding a wild bull. I won't even discuss the engine cut outs.
The Lloyd'z garage bench tune is designed around the Toce exhaust system, which in turn is engineered for the bike. So I whipped out the ECU and sent it to a newly licensed remote tuning centre in the UK. Fortunate, because prior to that it would have had to gone to the States now that the flash is discontinued. Once back in, jumped on for a test ride - straight from cold, instead of the usual half a dozen cranks, started immediately. Pulled off, tensed up and tentative ready for the bucking bronco ride...smooth as butter. Linear throttle, sharp, no irritable snatchiness, but fluid and immediate. Suddenly I'm riding a normal bike. It's as though a Priest, swinging the incense burner, has sprinkled it with holy water recited the Athanasian Creed and performed an exorcism ritual. The thing's still possessed and a beast, but a tamed one and thankfully one that isn't trying to kill me anymore like 'Christine'. The bike is smoother all round and the greatest enhancement is the throttle response. It has also eliminated most of the non-commanded throttle "blips" and the surging, and in tandem with the Toce exhaust system, feels altogether like a different motorcycle.
It's almost taken the challenge out of it. Granted, she was replete with more issues and attitude problems than a bi-polar ex, to an extent, I genuinely like elements of unpredictability. The notion that a bench flash lobotomised and sanitised this beast may have also erased some of that 'character' that I love which reminds me of some of the bikes I grew up riding. Stock, this is beyond doubt, the worst fuelled bike I've ever ridden, but I have to laugh at stories of people hastily returning them to the showroom. Christ, what the actual .... would these people have made of some of my previous bikes? So much as a cursory glance at my old 80s RG500 gamma would be PTSD inducing. Tyres, like concrete, elastic chassis, and lightswitch powerband. As well maintained as it was, I rode it with my fingers permanently on the clutch lever in the event of seizure! The tank slappers on the Vmax? Came with the paintwork - let's not even go there.
This is the best bike I've owned since my RD350LC - or my first bike, my DT175. Every day, feels like the first one - the anticipation and the thrill of riding it. I've had it since May '21 and the novelty is as though I've just collected it from the dealer. I love the fact that it's a challenging, temperamental, crotchety ........feed it what it needs, learn to tame all this with your wrist first, not a laptop or an ECU - and that's what gives it character.
Another highly amusing thing is the sound. I actually wanted in keeping with the flat track pedigree to fit the twin shotgun S&S system used by the factory bikes, but the customer version saps bhp and the midrange, in addition to the unbearable heat and compromised riding position. I'm very much form over function when it comes to motorcycles, but that was a big concession. I opted instead for the minimalism of the Toce low-mount full system which beautifully showcases the geometry of the bike - the tubular frame diagonally intersecting with the shock and the swing arm. I wasted no time with a cat delete and together with the former S&S Grand National slip on can gave a deep sonorous V twin rumble and sounded like a Gatling gun on the overrun. The Toce makes it sound like an e-scooter in comparison and is now more like an artillery barrage on closed throttle.
I also wanted aggressive tyres. The standard Dunlop DT3 dirt tyres look authetic, but are awful on the road, so I replaced them with Continental Road Attack 3s - in my opinion the optimum rubber for this bike. However, it simply wasn't in keeping with a street tracker, so I flung on some Pirelli Scorpion STR Rally rubber. Slightly less responsive, but t's frankly astounding how good modern silica rich dual sport compounds are. I can still drag a slider, but more importantly spend time doing this...
It's next to something louder - never thought I'd say that!
I'm afraid it's been usurped in the house by a Vox AC30. I did love my old 80s JCM800 though and this warhead comes nowhere near.
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Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
This is the new guy in my garage. Wasn't looking for a new bike. Did a road trip in Feb. from San Francisco (where I met up with the fabulous Bern) to LA. In LA traded the GS1200 for an XSR900 for a few days of riding the canyons. Soon as I got home, started looking for one. Great engine and chassis. The suspension is hopeless crap. Presently installing K Tech suspension from the fellers at Swadlincote (UK). The K Tech guy said with their suspension, "It will handle like a babydoll". Fingers crossed. No exotic stuff, just a inexpensive Delkivic pipe, Power Commander V, steering damper, and inexpensive generic faring off Ebay for which I had to hand fab the brackets. My paint job ain't pro quality but I'll get around to doing it right later; priority now is getting it on the road. Oh... and a quick jettison of the hideously ugly tailpiece/brakelight. Only 600 miles so far. Another 400 miles this one goes on the dyno for fine tuning.
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I currently ride a Harley Road Glide Customs and a Honda Hornet 600 CB600F, love my bikes, on harley changed the best motorcycle lift for harley davidson and on Honda completely changed the shock absorbers.
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Nice. I had a Hornet 919 CB900F until a few years ago. Great bike. A little buzzy through the bars, not particularly sharp when you crack the throttle, but durable, fun and well-planted.
Not sure what the 600 is like, but I always wanted one as a rev-ier sibling for the 900.
Joined Mar 2016
2K Posts | 2K+
FNQ
Just jumped into the adventure bike segment. Couldn't resist the price. Full electrics, 6 maps, all the safety gizmos. 95hp apparently, haven't opened it up fully yet. KTM 790 engine, and other tech. CFMoto MT800 Explore. 17k AUD, 3 year unlimited km warranty. What could go wrong? 
Just jumped into the adventure bike segment. Couldn't resist the price. Full electrics, 6 maps, all the safety gizmos. 95hp apparently, haven't opened it up fully yet. KTM 790 engine, and other tech. CFMoto MT800 Explore. 17k AUD, 3 year unlimited km warranty. What could go wrong?
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Have a mate that has a CF650GT and he absolutely loves it and while that may read as one would expect, this guy is both not new to bikes at all (he has been riding 55+ years) and is an absolute Honda tragic (CB/CBX/VF/VFR), so to accept the CF Moto is huge from an outside view of those that know him.
Good luck amd enjoy, keep us updated on it
I got one of these about a month ago (had the 2016 model before). It's absolutely brilliant 
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 508+
USA
I am on the look out for another adventure bike, planning a western ride later this year, leaning towards a BMW GS had good luck with those in the past, but I wouldnt mind something that would be a little better for single track to hit some of the trails in the national parks.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
You need Mapping 8.Just jumped into the adventure bike segment. Couldn't resist the price. Full electrics, 6 maps, all the safety gizmos. 95hp apparently, haven't opened it up fully yet. KTM 790 engine, and other tech. CFMoto MT800 Explore. 17k AUD, 3 year unlimited km warranty. What could go wrong?
Been riding a yellow XSR900 since they launched it in '16.
