Indian FTR 1200 vs Kawasaki Z1000sx | Roll on performance TorqueFest!

This video is about the Indian FTR1200 which we got our hands on for these last few months and forms part of our bigger review and opinion which should come out in the next few weeks. One of the stand out features of the bike is its absolute banger of a motor, featuring a 1200cc V-twin with 120hp and 87fl-lb of torque. However, stats are one thing, feeling and reality are something else… the FTR1200 is a true modern day muscle bike! The way the FTR accelerates in a real-world (40-75mph roll on accelleration) environment is breath taking.

In order of using making sense in our own minds how a bike performs, we often compare them to other machines we’re more used to… roll in Geoff’s own Kawasaki Z1000sx!

Obviously, these bike do not relate to each other in any way and we’re quite clear about that during the video, however, it is the torquiest bike that we had on hand at the time, and the way that Geoff rides the bike is always using the torque of the Z1000sx, 5-6th gear roll on performance etc. And no doubt, the Kawasaki Z1000sx is a fast motorcycle with excellent in-gear accelleration, a hugely well rounded 1000cc inline 4 cylinder with loads of everyday usable poke (140ps and 81ft-lb torque to be clear). The Z1000sx is one of the best selling motorcycles in the UK year in and year out, a favourite with riders swapping their sportsbikes for something more comfortable, yet retaining a sporty feel, powerful engine and great handling… anyway, this test is about performance!

As you can see from the footage, the FTR 1200 smashed it, its lumpy v-twin motor stomping on to victory in all of our comparisons and capable of significantly more. The only test the Z1000sx clearly won was when we dropped it down a gear which obviously played to the strengths of the inline 4 machine. Clearly, once both bikes get above 100mph, the 4 cylinder will get much more in the power and take over, but this test was about real-world in gear acceleration. To confirm, we think both bikes are great and have excellent real world performance.

Maybe people think this test is a bit silly, but in our minds it helps us make sense of what the Indian FTR performs like in comparison to what we know! Hope you find it interesting.

All the gear we used on test is here:

Aaron was wearing:
Knox Urbane Pro Shirt – https://www.planet-knox.com/product/u…
Knox Handroid POD MKIV – https://www.planet-knox.com/product/handroid-pod-gloves/
Richmond MKII Jeans – https://www.planet-knox.com/product/r…
Knox 2020 collection – https://www.planet-knox.com/category/…

Geoff was wearing:
Knox Urbane Pro Utility – https://www.planet-knox.com/product/urbane-pro-armoured-utility-shirt/
Knox Hanbury MKII – https://www.planet-knox.com/product/hanbury-glove/
Knox Shield Jeans – https://www.planet-knox.com/product/shield-single-layer-spectra-denim-mens-jeans/
Finally, all the latest specification and images of the Indian FTR1200 are available here https://www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/ft… . The latest specification on the Z1000sx is here https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/products/Sport_Tourer/2019/Z1000SX/overview?Uid=08FFWl1RWAxeCgwKC1lQXA0NX1EOUAlYCV8OXwxbC11ZUV4

Hope you enjoyed this video on the Indian FTR 1200 vs Kawasaki Z1000sx, please like, comment and subscribe for more!

Aaron
KNOX
https://www.planet-knox.com/

For clarification, we did this test on a dual carriageway with no other traffic on it.

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