New from Western NY

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styphonthal

New member
Just got a new 2023 FTR carbon this week. 9 years ago, I converted from a sports bike guy to Harley guy, but I didn't really know much about Indians as the nearest dealer was 3+hr away.

But as luck would have it an Indian dealer opened up in the next town. I had recently got a Sportster S and really liked the differences and similarities between the two bikes, so now I have both.
 
DJ121

DJ121

Member
Greetings and welcome, from a new resident in Georgia!

Btw, I'd love to hear your thoughts on those differences and similarities between the Sporty and the Indian :)
 
S

styphonthal

New member
DJ121 said:
Greetings and welcome, from a new resident in Georgia!

Btw, I'd love to hear your thoughts on those differences and similarities between the Sporty and the Indian :)
Click to expand...

So, I now own both bikes. I have owned the Sportster S for about 1 month and have put 500 miles on it, got it as soon as it was on the floor. I also got an FTR Carbon this week, after test driving it multiple times. Also new on the floor. Before this I have owned sport bikes (yamaha), multiple Road Kings, and Harley Dyna bikes.

They are direct competitors: Both are more "naked" than other bikes in their brands, both have a slight sporty feel, both have similar HP, with the Sportster S having slightly more torque, both have "regular" and "Sport modes". Both crush the other bikes of their respective brands. Both have uncomfortable seats compared to others in their brands.

Differences
-The seating position. You have a modified cruiser stance w/ the Sportster w/ Forward controls, of course the FTR has rear controls w/ a more sports bike stance. The stance also causes the Sportster to have less of a maximum lean angle than the FTR.
-The tires: The Sportster tires are very wide, "cruiser" style. It takes more energy/force to make it go into the corner, whereas the FTR requires much less force.
-Power band: The Sportster S rips, it almost pulls you off when you start, and you can gun it moving out of turns. You have a good amount of Torque up until redline. The FTR seems to have more power down low and tapers off in higher RPM, with the FTR I can't get the same launch although turning off that Cylinder deactivation helps.

That being said, if I didn't have to drive any long distances, and could have only two bikes, these would be the two I'd choose.

The scout doesn't come close to these two bikes. Completely different negatives and positives and is closer to the Cruiser line Harley has.
 
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