The bike we?ve been waiting for Indian to build is here. Well, almost. We?re told it?s a prototype, but we know it?s also a big step towards a production-ready Indian Scout tracker.
This is the world?s first glimpse of the FTR1200 Custom, to be revealed in the metal at the huge EICMA show in Italy. It?s inspired by the Scout FTR750 flat tracker, the race bike ridden by the Wrecking Crew to the first three places in the American Flat Track Series.

The FTR1200 has been built with the help of Indian?s race team, but it?s more than a thinly disguised racer. It?s a street tracker powered by Indian?s regular 1133 cc V-Twin road engine, which now exhales through a stunning set of high pipes.
They come from S&S, who also hand-built the FTR750 race systems, and they?re routed to the right-hand side of the bike as opposed to the left of the race bike.
Indian has only revealed top-line specs of the FTR1200, but they?re surprisingly close to the flat tracker?for now. From the side, the 4130 chromoly steel trellis frame and swingarm look virtually identical.
But on closer inspection, the twin front down tubes, widely spaced on the race bike, appear to have been squeezed together on the FTR1200?presumably for tighter packaging and a less agricultural look.

The wheelbase on the racer is adjustable from 55 to 57 inches, but on the FTR1200 it?s fixed at 60.
That?s a full seven inches shorter than the regular Scout, but still long for a retro naked. (The BMW R nineT sits on...