Go Sportsters

I was looking at a similar mileage and condition one back pre-covid. Guy was asking $5500. I offered $5000, he turned me down. He sold it for $5500.

Santa Cruz, Northern CA.

So I replaced my worn through oil line, installed new shocks, and a new seat. At the same time I removed sissy bar brackets, passenger pegs, upper belt gaurd, and the annoying large curb scrapers from the pegs. So far if you count all the accessories and bullshit that I've pulled off of this bike it would have to be close to 50 lbs.

And it was well worth the effort! She's actually starting to handle like a real motorcycle! I could ride over bumps and pavement warts with no problems. She goes around corners way better than before and the controls are where I grab for them.

Hung out by the beautiful Cedar River for a bit.

Install straight wound springs (I prefer Race-Tech) for your weight. Set sag with spacers and try a 30 weight oil if you're over 220 LBS. You'll be surprised at that improvement.

It's amazing how the Sporty can go from handling (and riding) like a logging truck to really being a pretty capable motorcycle with just a few changes.

Have you guys seen this?



I immediately checked the accessories, they do have mid controls as an accessory, thankfully. Looks promising!

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/motorcycles/sportster-s.html

Problem is my Road King possesses more lean angle. So it wouldn't be all that difficult to show my tail lamp to one on the roads around here. Dammit Harley.

I hope they sell millions of them. I like it.

I hear you, and I’m hoping that we’ll see additional models as hinted at in the video. I hope they’ll make variants with more lean angle and mid controls standard, but I like the approach overall. 120 hp and a lot less weight is a nice surprise!

I’m ready for a test ride. I wonder if it’s faster than the PA. Better be.

It's within a couple lbs of a rigid mount sporty. My 1250 is putting down similar torque numbers to the new Revo. If they've done us right that bike will be a hoot right out of the box. If it has a gearbox like a euro or buell...well just wow.

Will it be chain drive like the PA?

And the big one: how much will it cost?

Actually, unless you've modified it, no it doesn't.

Harley specs on RK (standard, not the stupid lowered special) have been 32 deg lean angle for years (and same for most of the non-lowered FLH models).

Harley says 34 deg each side for this.

I believe this has more lean angle than any OEM Harley in the past decade or two EXCEPT the XR/XRX-1200

The answers to your questions are on the website link I posted, but since you asked, belt drive, $14,999 for black. Since this is the Sportster S model, I expect lower priced variants will follow (I hope so, anyway).

At 502 lbs. about 75 lbs. lighter than my porky rubber mount I'm hoping the new S uses 25mm axles like many other Harleys so wheel swaps might be relatively easy, I don't care for the fat heavy wheels and tires.
(FWIW many wheels from HD are very reasonably priced like about $330/ea for the XL1200CX Roadster)

Roadster wheels, roadster front end for that matter, and a taller rear shock would have the bike lookin right proper, not a squished cartoon.

I don’t think it needs to be a retro standard.

I like the flat tracker look. I just would be more stoked if it was more of a flat tracker look.

In my (probably worthless) opinion, I like what I see on this new Sportster S. Price seems fair enough, that awesome Revolution max engine (I think it's at 121hp and 92lb-ft of torque), and I read over at Cycleworld that the documents filed in Europe claimed 501 pounds wet weight. Also, HD's website says I can order with a mid-control kit (I've never loved forward controls).

I don't love the headlight, and the radiator cap sticks waaay out there. Very minor annoyances there.

What I really want to know is how hot those high pipes get. Triumphs Scrambler 1200 XC/XE's get pretty toasty according to inmates over on the owner's thread.

Otherwise, I just really enjoy the look of this thing.