Intermot 2018 brought two premieres not to be missed: the Indian FTR 1200 and the Suzuki Katana 2019
Indian FTR 1200
The Indian FTR 1200 it's really hot stuff. The first type of a sportyish new breed by the American manufacturer. Is the street legal version of the serial flat-track winner, the Indian FTR 750.
It comes with a new engine, new -production oriented- trellis frame and a new (Ducati Monster like) low double exhaust that appears sort of misplaced on this kinda bike (being far from the flat-track vibe).
Nevertheless, the Indian FTR 1200 is totally fascinating. It’s racing-ish, it’s flat-track-ish, it’s a compendium of heritage and modernity. Style and performances are exquisitely blended. It’s a Indian.
It comes with a new engine, new -production oriented- trellis frame and a new (Ducati Monster like) low double exhaust that appears sort of misplaced on this kinda bike (being far from the flat-track vibe).
Nevertheless, the Indian FTR 1200 is totally fascinating. It’s racing-ish, it’s flat-track-ish, it’s a compendium of heritage and modernity. Style and performances are exquisitely blended. It’s a Indian.
Indian FTR 1200 S
indian ftr 1200 s gallery
Suzuki Katana 2019. Back to the future.
A premiere by Suzuki. Finally.
We waited for something like this for ages.
In fact, during the last years, we had the feeling (to put it mildly) that Suzuki decided to deal with the world’s financial crisis with immobility. Immobility is a respectable strategy, but in my humble opinion doesn’t lead to success: it’s like choosing to travel thanks to the continental drift: the easiest and cheapest way to move yourself, but expect no appreciable results in the medium term.
That said, the Suzuki Katana 2019 is very close to the Katana 3.0 created by Engines Engineering & Motociclismo. The bike designed by Rodolfo Frascoli got so many likes at EICMA 2017 that Suzuki decided to produce it. The Katana 2019 platform is from the well-known GSXS-1000 F (i.e. from the GSXR-1000 2005-2008 ) but the bike has tons of personality: it’s a cool throwback that looks to the future: in one word, a masterstroke. What do you think?
