Leah Tokelove on the FTR: "I never get off the thing without a smile on my face!”
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Nineteen01.co.uk was lucky enough to speak to Leah Tokelove - one of Indian Motorcycle's competitor in the National, European and Hooligan classes of DTRA Flat Track Championship - fresh from her six weeks Stateside, racing, riding and generally having fun, on and off two-wheels. Ninteen01 Editor finds out what she got up to and her thoughts on the Indian Motorcycle machines she rode while out there...
Nineteen01: So, what have you been up to the last few weeks? Tell us more about your adventure!
LT: I flew over to the Pacific North-west to race the S&S prepped FTR 1200 at none other than the ‘One Moto Show’. The event certainly kicked off my trip with a bang as I managed to win my Super Hooligan heat race, giving me a direct transfer to the main where I got my best ever finish of a top 10 in very tough conditions!
From there I flew back to my favourite place and spent four weeks in Californian paradise. Riding around the golden state on an FTR 1200, once again clocking in the miles on the best road bike my ass has ever graced. I got lost on the PCH [Pacific Coast Highway], in the canyons and mountains. I think of getting lost in the sunshine as more of a gifted adventure...
I finished my time on the west coast by racing the second round of the Super Hooligan series in Las Vegas, this time on an Asphalt oval at the Mint 400 - one of America’s biggest desert races. After that, I hopped on a plane across the country to round off my trip at Daytona bike week! The original plan was to watch the AFT [American Flat Track] race and enjoy all that bike week had to offer but unfortunately the race had to be cancelled due to coronavirus.
Nineteen01: Is it possible to have a favourite moment? The whole trip sounds pretty awesome…
Nineteen01: Is it possible to have a favourite moment? The whole trip sounds pretty awesome…
LT: I had a blast hanging out with the S&S Cycle race team at Daytona, everyone was so kind to me and we had so much fun. I also admire their hard work and the effort they put into the factory Indian team. There’s no wonder that they dominate with such an unreal team of crazy talented people. I also had a lot of fun in Vegas as I’d never been - now that place is eye opening!
I have to say though, every time I visit friends that live just inland of Santa Barbra the ride just consumes me. It takes a little over three hours to get there and is a mixture of PCH, mountains and the most beautiful highway known as the ‘Chumash’, passing through the Native American reserve. It is gorgeous, and I love, love riding it.
Nineteen01: You did a lot of riding during your time in the US, and a lot of it was aboard the FTR 1200, what makes it such a special machine for you?
Nineteen01: You did a lot of riding during your time in the US, and a lot of it was aboard the FTR 1200, what makes it such a special machine for you?
LT: I think the fact that it’s not only an awesome road-going machine but it’s also the donor bike for my race bike, so that makes it something pretty special to me. And as a Flat Track Racer, it’s so sick to see a production motorcycle that has taken inspiration from the FTR 750!
When riding on the road, it’s comfortable for longer journeys as well as short blasts, making it the ideal commuter and adventure getter. It has great power delivery. At 1200cc, it’s obviously a powerful bike and can get you out of a situation but on cruise control it can tick along nicely at lower speeds. It’s just also a lot of fun, I love riding it - which is always a good thing for a motorcycle!
For racing flat track, the aesthetic and the style of the FTR make it the ideal donor bike for a Hooligan bike because it’s modelled off of a flat track race bike. The fact that the bike is higher and shorter than the scout sixty makes it much more nimble and easier to race. There’s a lot more power available too, although the ECU’s have been changed in the races bikes to tone them down for track purposes!
Ninteen01: When did you first get on the FTR 1200? As when you first started racing with Indian, you were on a Scout?
LT: It was halfway through the 2019 DTRA [Dirt Track Riders Association] season that the FTR’s were flown across to Europe. My first ride on one was just before Wheels & Waves - that then being my first ever race. It was a tough event to debut them at, especially with such little practice on them and with high expectations. But with more practice on the bike in the weeks after I was able to take back-to-back wins at Germany’s ‘Krowd Race’ and then, Dirtquake in the UK. The race in the UK was my first ever overall Hooligan win, so I was pumped on that...
Nineteen01: Can you tell us some of the main differences between the road-going FTR 1200 and the one you use for racing?
LT: So, obviously my race bike is not legal and to get the bike set up for the track quite a lot of adjustments had to be made…
For starters visibly, the front brakes have been removed - we don’t run front brakes in Flat Track - the race bike weighs 25kg less when compared to the street bike and there is a shortened wheelbase, with a swingarm 25mm shorter. Along with the addition of the sweet S&S 2 into 2 exhaust system, which really gives the bike that Flat Track racing aesthetic.
To improve the clearance for the lean angles we achieve when racing flat track the oil cooler, battery, starter solenoid and voltage regulator have all been moved from their stock position (behind the front wheel). This also allows the use of -2 degree neck cups in the S&S billet triple-clamps. For racing suspension the Hooligan bike features fully-adjustable inverted cartridge front forks and a Fox monoshock, specifically designed for flat track racing. Here’s a fun fact actually - I gave Fox their first ever motorcycle suspension win on board the FTR at Krowd Race!
The race bike also has Protaper bars, brought closer with risers (elbows up!). New frame spars reposition the footpegs for better clearance, the seat is also a new pimpin’ carbon fibre race seat tail unit. Along with 19” Roland Sands Design wheels with Dunlop DT3 Flat Track race only tyres. The race bike also has a 520 race chain running on the standard front sprocket and custom Vortex rear sprocket (which we can change). So yeah, just a few changes!
To improve the clearance for the lean angles we achieve when racing flat track the oil cooler, battery, starter solenoid and voltage regulator have all been moved from their stock position (behind the front wheel). This also allows the use of -2 degree neck cups in the S&S billet triple-clamps. For racing suspension the Hooligan bike features fully-adjustable inverted cartridge front forks and a Fox monoshock, specifically designed for flat track racing. Here’s a fun fact actually - I gave Fox their first ever motorcycle suspension win on board the FTR at Krowd Race!
The race bike also has Protaper bars, brought closer with risers (elbows up!). New frame spars reposition the footpegs for better clearance, the seat is also a new pimpin’ carbon fibre race seat tail unit. Along with 19” Roland Sands Design wheels with Dunlop DT3 Flat Track race only tyres. The race bike also has a 520 race chain running on the standard front sprocket and custom Vortex rear sprocket (which we can change). So yeah, just a few changes!
Nineteen01: After achieving what you have on an FTR and also now riding one around the US, what would I say to someone thinking of getting an FTR for the road?
LT: If you’re looking for something different, fun and engineered to a high standard then the FTR is the bike for you. If you’re on the fence, get out there and go for a demo - I think you’ll be blown away by the way the bike rides and handles. I never get off the thing without a smile on my face. Don’t let the height of the bike put you off either, I’m a 5ft3” short arse and I can get along with it just fine. Try something different and enjoy the open road…
Read more about the FTR family here.
Find out more about the Dirt Track Riders Association here.
Follow Leah and her adventures on Instagram here or visit her website: www.leahtokelove.com
Images courtesy of Tom Bing Photography.
Read more about the FTR family here.
Find out more about the Dirt Track Riders Association here.
Follow Leah and her adventures on Instagram here or visit her website: www.leahtokelove.com
Images courtesy of Tom Bing Photography.