Indian Motorcycle introduced this flat-track-inspired streetbike for the 2019 model year, launching it as the more premium, better-equipped member of the original FTR lineup. It was built around the brand’s modern flat-track racing identity and translated the look and attitude of Indian’s track program into a roadgoing performance motorcycle with a distinctly aggressive stance. The nameplate arrived at a moment when Indian was expanding beyond its cruiser and touring roots, and it helped define a new, more contemporary side of the company’s lineup.
The 1200 S designation marked the higher-spec version of the debut FTR family, distinguishing it from the base model with added electronic and chassis equipment and a more upscale presentation. For 2020, Indian continued the same basic nameplate while broadening the FTR range with related variants such as the Carbon and Rally, but the original 1200 S remained the closest expression of the first-generation formula. The model is commonly associated with the brand’s revival of flat-track styling for the street and with the broader enthusiasm around Indian’s performance-focused return to mainstream motorcycle conversations.
By the 2022 model year, Indian revised the FTR lineup and simplified the naming, moving away from the 1200 badging in favor of the shorter FTR and FTR S designations. That makes the 1200 S a distinct early-era nameplate tied to the first two model years of the platform, rather than a long-running trim carried forward unchanged.