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2020 Indian FTR Rally first look

Feb 07, 2020

Indian has announced the next variation on its FTR platform, a restyled model cashing in on the popularity of street scrambler styling and called the FTR Rally.

The changes are mostly skin deep: the brown seat, the flyscreen, the higher handlebar and subtle changes to things like the wheels and the exhaust, compared to the FTR 1200 and FTR 1200 S. Indian held the price at $13,499 in the United States, same as the FTR 1200. (The Rally's MSRP is $16,499 in Canada).

2020 Indian FTR Rally
2020 Indian FTR Rally. Indian photo.

Underneath the styling changes, much of the Rally's spec sheet looks the same as an FTR 1200 or the FTR 1200 S we tested last year and gave away. The wheelbase, rake and trail are the same. Brakes are the same and the suspension appears to be a combination of the 43 mm adjustable inverted fork from the S and the rear shock from the base model.

2020 Indian FTR Rally front wheel and brakes
The Rally has the same Brembo M4.32 four-piston front brake calipers as the other FTRs, and they are Spurgeon-approved. Indian photo.

The wheels are the same sizes, though the Rally gets different aluminum wheels with stainless steel spokes and red pinstripes around the rim. The tires are Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs to match the scrambler looks. Seat height is about the same, at 33.1 inches, and since the tank hasn't changed, you still can only carry 3.4 gallons of fuel.

2020 Indian FTR Rally windscreen
The small flyscreen is one of the accessories that differentiates the Rally. Indian photo.

Indian rates the Rally's output at 123 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 87 foot-pounds of torque at 5,900 rpm. That's up three horsepower and two foot-pounds of torque from Indian's figures on the 2019 FTR 1200 but it's the same rating Indian has for all three 2020 FTR models. Indian says the Rally weighs 511 pounds without fuel, which is a few more than the FTR 1200 S. Maybe the exhaust and wheels added a few pounds?

Naturally, the Rally retains some of the premium features found on the other FTRs, such as electronic cruise control, LED lighting, and the slip-assist clutch, which keeps clutch pull light. The original FTR was not a cheap bike, and neither is the Rally version, but you do get some uprated parts and extra features for your cash outlay.

2020 Indian FTR Rally brown seat
The brown seat will undoubtedly be Instagram-approved. Indian photo.

To get an idea of how the Rally will perform, a look back at Spurgeon's thorough review of the FTR 1200 S should give you a good idea, since so much of the equipment is the same, especially the 1,203 cc 60-degree liquid-cooled V-twin. Spurgeon was impressed at how many tasks the FTR 1200 S was able to handle competently, and the Rally should be at least as versatile.

2020 Indian FTR Rally on the road
2020 Indian FTR Rally from the less photographed left side. Indian photo.

The Rally's price puts it in line with competition like the Scrambler Pro 1100 Ducati announced recently. Ducati's Scrambler (capital S) is less powerful but also lighter than Indian's scrambler (lowercase S).

2020 Indian FTR Rally riders on the street
You're apparently going to need a cooler helmet if you get one of these FTRs. RevZilla can help with that. Indian photo.

Indian continues taking small steps to diversify its lineup beyond traditional cruisers and touring models. The company has edged away from American V-twin orthodoxy by using more liquid-cooled engines and employing different styles. The Rally is one more small step in that direction. It will be interesting to see what comes next from the FTR platform.