Indian FTR Championship Version Customized [Safety 3rd Riders Build]

I’ll be sincere—I’m not at all times the sharpest device within the drawer. After a few years and numerous examples of me doing silly issues, my associates christened me “Security Third”. And whereas I imagine I’ve turn out to be a reasonably protected motorcyclist as I’ve aged, Security Third does match me in any other case. The identify additionally appeared like a superb alternative for our fledgling motorbike gang. To be honest, we’re way more like “Grandfathers of Mischief” than “Sons of Anarchy”. So, our households prefer to level out that we’re, at greatest, a membership. No matter. We determined that Security third Riders match the group completely.

With our newly established membership/gang, I wanted a motorbike that match the theme; sure, I’ll shamelessly use any excuse potential to get a brand new bike. It needed to be a basic design—a little bit of a hooligan bike that evoked feelings and custom. A couple of 12 months in the past, I did a street journey into the desert, testing the BMW R nineT Scrambler and Indian FTR Rally. Whereas each bikes had been enjoyable, I fell in love with the engine and trip traits of the FTR. I knew it will be a enjoyable bike to personal and doubtlessly our new membership mascot bike!

I beloved the Indian FTR Rally’s upright stance with riser bars, 19-inch entrance wheel, scrambler aesthetic, and extremely tractable V-twin. With gobs of horsepower and torque, you’ll be able to simply sort out something going through you with out worrying about shifting a lot. The one drawback was that the Rally was fairly fundamental within the lineup. The higher speced fashions get superior suspension, extra subtle electronics, a decrease handlebar, and 17-inch wheels for a extra sporty trip and decrease total top. It might be ideally suited to have an FTR Scrambler with the suspension and electronics of the premium FTRs.

I believed I used to be out of luck till the restricted manufacturing 2022 Indian FTR Championship Version got here alongside to rejoice Indian’s flat observe racing successes. The bike included the digital and suspension wizardry I used to be searching for, packaged with the 19-/18-inch wheelset I most popular.

Whereas there have been solely 400 Indian FTR Championship Version fashions produced worldwide, I used to be capable of finding one at an area dealership in Los Angeles. Choosing up the bike, I beloved its colour scheme and stance.

Using it dwelling on LA freeways and thru the Hollywood Hills, I recognized a difficulty I had missed on my first trip—that earlier desert trip was in cooler climate. Within the Southern California summer season, I observed a good quantity of warmth developing from the rear cylinder towards the again of my proper thigh—a lot in order that I knew I needed to make a change there straight away.

Different issues I wished to vary included eradicating the ugly, giant, and heavy license-plate/turn-signal arm hugger unit hanging off the swingarm’s finish. Additionally, the FTR Championship Version has a lower-bend handlebar than the Rally, and an exhaust word that’s fairly tame regardless of having an Akrapovič muffler. Additional, the Champion Version has Dunlop DT3-R flat observe tires, and I wished scrambler-style tires. Lastly, to make it one thing I might do some journeys on, I wanted wind safety and a luggage-carrying set-up. With my to-do listing full, I began the venture.

The very best precedence was fixing the warmth/right-thigh challenge. That meant modifications to the seat, or probably a completely new saddle. My spare elements bin had a Wind Rider seat cowl ($160) that I had used on my Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled. It supplied a pleasant cushion and good airflow whereas driving the Sled, and I made a decision to attempt it on the FTR. Though it wasn’t a precise match, I made it work with a little bit of finessing. I anticipated this may be a short-term resolution. As a substitute, I used to be happy to seek out it solved the issue utterly. Apparently, the extra top the Wind Rider added and the airflow between my thigh and the seat evacuated the warmth completely. The primary drawback was solved with no incremental value!

The second activity was tidying up the rear by eliminating the swingarm-mounted license plate bracket. I discovered a tail tidy package from Bullet Proof Designs ($140). It mounted simply, saved at the very least 10 kilos of unsprung weight, and supplied a a lot cleaner look.

The subsequent modification was a taller handlebar bend. The FTR Rally has a higher-bend ProTaper tapered aluminum handlebar, whereas the FTR Championship Version has a ProTaper bar that places the grips about two inches decrease. The Indian Motorbike Elements & Equipment catalog presents the upper bar-bend, however being an underpaid motorbike journalist, I scoured the Web for one thing cheaper.

I discovered what appeared like an almost an identical handlebar for about half the value—bear in mind, Security Third. Sadly, that is the place I encountered my first customization drawback. After I eliminated the throttle and electronics modules from both aspect of the inventory handlebar, I discovered holes within the bars that held the clusters in place—my Web Particular handlebar didn’t have the identical holes drilled for the clusters.

After a number of weeks of gazing bars with no success, I MacGyvered an answer by drilling holes within the handlebar to approximate inventory positions. Luckily (okay, fortunately), I drilled the holes the place they wanted to be, and was in a position to make use of the generic aftermarket handlebar.

Taking the Indian FTR Champion out for a spin was a revelation. I used to be shocked at how a lot a few inches of added grip top modified the driving dynamics. Not like many riders—most likely as a result of I do most of my driving on ADV bikes—I want a extra upright stance somewhat than being over the entrance wheel. Skilled riders, notably those that trip sport bikes on observe days, normally want to be over the entrance wheel—not me. With the taller-bend handlebar put in, I felt extra snug coming into corners, notably throughout deceleration. It simply felt pure.

With the ergonomics dialed, I added a Puig windscreen ($128) to take the wind off the chest. I additionally had in my elements bin a bigger universally mounted Givi windscreen I might swap in for extra safety on longer rides. An Indian baggage rack ($280) was added behind the seat to haul cargo on these journeys.

The final bodywork add-on was a pair of Puig Classic 2.0 body sliders ($140). The sliders are lengthy sufficient to guard the bodywork and radiator, which implies they stick out fairly far and aren’t that enticing; these may not keep long-term.

To finish the scrambler look and filth efficiency, I swapped the Dunlops for knobby Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires that come on, naturally, the FTR Rally. I had a pair of those on my Desert Sled and was impressed with their on-road efficiency and for mild off-roading.

The final main change was to the exhaust. I wished improved sound, much less weight, and a sleeker look than the inventory twin cans. My first thought was to attempt a slip-on single can. Toce Efficiency was one of many few producers with a pleasant, streamlined slip-on prepared for the late-model FTR. I ordered the Toce Efficiency Visor Tip slip-on muffler ($639) with a refined end (+$70) and the dB Killer put in (+$86).

Swapping out the usual Akrapovič cans was a breeze, and no remapping was required. The only-can Toce muffler is considerably lighter and appears cleaner, whereas offering a particular enchancment in sound. Sadly, the polished look wasn’t pretty much as good as I had hoped; I ought to have caught with Toce’s customary powdercoated black end. Additionally, the connection to the usual Indian header system shouldn’t be very enticing.

After a number of weeks of driving, I additional upgraded the exhaust by putting in a Toce Efficiency Race Head + Hyperlink Pipe Equipment ($1149). This might drop one other 10 kilos and enhance efficiency with a fueling remap. I ordered the satin-finished headers, which can be utilized with the Toce slip-on or the OEM Akrapovič muffler.

After assuring Toce Efficiency that the package would solely be used on the observe, the headers arrived in a number of weeks. The match and end, much like the slip-on, was wonderful. As a result of tight tolerances and a number of connections, the set up was more difficult than the muffler, taking the higher a part of the day. I caught with the Toce Efficiency Visor Tip slip-on.

With the totally free-flowing Toce track-ready exhaust system put in, I fired up the DOHC motor; all wildlife in a 10-block radius fled, and I terrified my total neighborhood. The sound was deep and really loud, at idle and below acceleration. There was additionally a good quantity of backfiring, demonstrating the anticipated want for remapping the fueling.

After a number of journeys across the neighborhood “race observe,” I concluded I had gone too far. The bike was simply too loud and obnoxious. As I nonetheless had the usual Akrapovič cans, I put in them on the Toce headers. The change was straightforward, and the outcomes had been improbable. The V-twin now had an ideal throaty sound that was not annoying. It additionally had improved throttle response and minimal backfiring.

The modifications had been lastly full. I shaved an estimated 20 kilos off the 2022 Indian FTR Championship Version, and improved the consolation, sound, efficiency, and distance capabilities of the bike.

For me, I wanted an acceptable driving helmet to match the type of the bike. Torc Helmets has a line of retro-styled helmets, and the carbon fiber T-1C matched the Championship Version’s carbon fiber graphics completely. Along with being a great-looking helmet, the Torc T-1C has loads of venting, high-quality elements, dual-certification (DOT and ECE), and may be very snug.

The ultimate step for the Indian FTR Championship Version was designing a Security third Riders brand and subsequent sticker for the tank. All of it got here out excellent—really a factor of magnificence!

Indian FTR Championship Version Customized images by Don Williams

RIDING STYLE

Indian FTR Championship Version Customized Photograph Gallery