WHAT MAKES AN URBAN?
This Urban Adventure model is differentiated
from the standard FTR by several accessory
additions. Most helpful in an everyday sense is
the screen that does a good job of keeping the
wind blast and rain from your upper body. It also
has a handy rear luggage rack, left side pannier
rack with charcoal messenger bag and a charcoal
tank bag. All additions look well made, useful and
with great styling in keeping with the general
FTR design theme. While the bike can be bought
in this spec, any FTR1200 owner can buy this
Touring Collection for their own bike from their
local Indian dealer.
Twin 320mm floating discs give the pads of the
four-piston Brembo calipers something to bite
onto, and bite they do. Strong stopping power is
what you get, along with excellent initial bite and
feel. Outright stopping power is great too and a
sensible match for this machine’s strong punchy
performance and 226kg dry weight.
The FTR runs an unusual mix of wheel sizes.
A 150/80-18 at the rear and a 120/70-19 at the
front. However, I didn’t notice anything untoward
when road riding and those sizes certainly work in
your favour if doing some gravel road work. The
Dunlop DT3-R tyres fitted have a pattern that
looks a little like an old school wet weather slick.
No doubt done as a nod to the FTR’s Flat Tracker
heritage and they do exhibit a slight squirm
when the power is cracked on when laid over in
turns, but I never felt they wanted for grip in the
dry. In the wet I ride cautiously and so never really
put them to the test. They seemed to do the job
just fine.
98 KIWI RIDER