Harley-Davidson Sportster

Last Traditional Sportster from H-D: Why?

by Bandit, Reg Kittrell, Lance Onan and Willie G. Davidson What Happened to the Sportster? H-D Factory Built the Last Traditional Sportster in November 2022 Last week the final production Sportster rolled off the Harley-Davidson assembly line with grand fanfare including signatures by each member of the crew. I’m sure they were very proud. So, what killed the iconic Sportster? Was it diminishing sales, technology, the EPA, a marketing push, Indian competition, what gives? And will it ultimately die or be kept lively and vibrant with the current technology afforded the aftermarket? Click Here to Read this Report only on Bikernet.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DON’T MISS This Week’s Thursday News, only on Bikernet.com – click to view News Department.

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Motorcycle Live: Inside the UK’s biggest motorcycle show

from https://www.standard.co.uk/ by David Williams It’s that time of year bikers dread – the days are shorter and the weather is colder and wetter, forcing fair-weather riders to leave their bikes parked at the roadside. Which means it’s time to head to Birmingham by train for Motorcycle Live, to see what they’ll be riding (and wearing) next year, when it all improves again. The UK’s biggest bike show rolls Birmingham’s NEC from Saturday December 4 to Sunday December 12, revealing dozens of new motorcycles, even presenting show-goers with the chance to try some of them out. More than 55 leading motorcycle manufacturers are showing off their latest machinery, and attendants are being encouraged to try them for size. New metal being revealed includes the Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT, the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, the Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak and the Husqvarna Norden 901. Kawasaki will be showing off its new Z650RS, while other new bikes include the CFMoto 700CL-X and the Honda NT1100. Show-goers also get to see the British-built Langen Two Stroke, as well as the Norton V4SV, while BMW will have its futuristic-looking CE04 electric scooter on show. Celebrating the future of motorcycling with electric technology is also high on the show’s agenda, with the brand-new Electric Test Ride Zone giving consumers an opportunity to try out a range of battery-powered models on a special indoor track. This feature will give riders a feel for the instant power and responsiveness typical of an electric motorcycle – all without any emissions. Electrically-assisted bicycles – e-bikes – will also be available for show-goes to try out. Elsewhere at Birmingham’s sprawling NEC there will be custom and classic bike zones, while race fans will be able to meet their track heroes, as stars from WorldSBK, British Superbike and road racing make

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Wild Hurst Sportster

By Bandit, Sam Burns and Ryan Sportster project in an old Amen sprung frame by a shop in Europe named Chopper Chrash. Ryan Woods, the Chief of Chrash at Chopper Chrash shared info about this Hurst, Olds 442 theme project. http://chopperchrash.bigcartel.com/ Ryan started with the old Amen, sprung frame and a random springer he found on eBay. Then he bought a ‘74 Ironhead basket case from a buddy. CLICK HERE To Read this Photo Feature Article only on Bikernet.com Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today!!! https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx See Cool Custom Builds in Bike Features Section https://www.bikernet.com/pages/bike_features.aspx

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Spec Showdown: Harley-Davidson Sportster S Vs. Indian Scout

by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com An American middleweight melee. For decades, the Harley-Davidson Sportster dominated the American middleweight V-twin class, mostly by dint of being the only American middleweight V-twin. Without a top contender to challenge its reign, the Motor Company only issued modest upgrades since 1986. However, that all changed when the Indian Scout burst onto the scene in 2015. Heavily based on the Victory Octane, the revived Scout paired Indian’s rich heritage with thoroughly modern equipment. The liquid-cooled, DOHC, 1,133cc V-twin was the antithesis of Harley’s ancient air-cooled Evo engine. Compared to the Sportster’s signature teardrop tank and engine cooling fins, the Scout’s low-slung stance and neo-bobber aesthetic presented a viable alternative to Harley’s aging platform. Facing a formidable foe and new emissions regulations, the Bar and Shield telegraphed its counterpunch when it revealed the Custom 1250 in July, 2018. Nearly three years later, that haymaker finally landed when Harley officially announced the 2021 Sportster S. Complete with a liquid-cooled, DOHC, 1,252cc V-twin, the new Sportster’s spec sheet now stands toe-to-toe with the Scout. Of course, we won’t know who wins the battle in the showroom until the Sportster S arrives at dealerships. For now, however, the tale of the tape tells a fascinating story. Overview 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S – Vs – 2021 Indian Scout Middleweight Might Featuring Harley’s shiny new Revolution Max 1250T, the 2021 Sportster now produces 121 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque. While the Scout previously set performance benchmarks for the category with 100 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque, Indian’s entry cruiser now looks outgunned. Of course, the Revolution Max V-twin touts a larger displacement, which helps the Sportster S steal that performance feather from Indian’s cap. On top of that power deficit, the Scout lugs around 59 extra pounds, weighing in

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Moto Nisto Custom Motorcycles Make the Humble Harley Sportster a Thing to Behold

by Todd Halterman from https://www.autoevolution.com Marcel Nistor and his cohort at Moto Nisto build something special out of bikes that are decidedly not special as they come off the showroom floor. He takes the base metal, often the Harley-Davidson Sportster, and then turns it into a showstopping custom machine. Nistor does his work with style and pays a bit of homage to the early days of motorcycling when bikes looked tough, were stripped down to emphasize performance, and offered no-nonsense whatever in the way of plastic. He and his team begin using modern powertrains, strip away what he calls “ugly factory body panels, useless gizmos and under-performing components,” and then sets to work adapting their own parts to create “machines envisioned by past racers.” For Nistor, it’s all about melding the functionality and reliability found in the motorcycles of today with the class and style of past decades. “We like to start off with a Harley-Davidson Sportster as a blank canvas and strip off everything it stands for. What do we like about it? Mostly the air-cooled, unit engine in a cradle frame,” Nistor says. “Time-proven, simple, reliable, honest performance, no-maintenance valvetrain, ground clearance, parts availability, inexpensive. What don’t we like about it? Everything else.” It’s a take-no-prisoners approach to building custom motorcycles, and Michigan resident Nistor, it appears, is that kind of guy. He once received a Citizen Award from the Ferndale City Council for his help that led to the arrest of a home invasion suspect. Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins presented Nistor with the award, which was given for his “actions and quick response which led to the arrest of a very dangerous criminal” who later confessed to an October home invasion. Nistor helped police locate the suspect who was wanted in for an attack on a

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Three Amazing Motorcycles You Can Buy Brand New for Less Than $10K

by Todd Halterman from https://www.autoevolution.com If you’re in the market for a new motorcycle, you could do worse than these three versatile, cruiser-style rides, and the best news is that you can have any of them showroom-new for under $10,000. And in yet more interesting news, two of the three are American. The 2021 Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS comes in at a wallet-friendly $7,599 and it represents a middleweight hybrid with somewhat brawny underpinnings. While it’s big and powerful enough to appeal to riders who require sporty performance, it also offers cushy ergonomics designed to suit nearly any rider size, no matter their skill level. The Vulcan S is powered by a 649cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin taken from the Ninja 650 line, and it also boasts a wide range of available adjustments for the seat, the footpegs, and handlebar positions. The 2022 models offer a base-model Vulcan S (sorry, no ABS included), and that’s what makes the 2021 model such an excellent value. For 2021, the Harley-Davidson Iron 883 comes in at the top of the range, and at $9,749, it offers an opportunity to join the HD fraternity at a price that won’t cause hiccups in a tight budget. The Iron 883 does have the Sportster lineage American riders often prefer, and it’s a bit of a throwback with some stripped-down street cred. Featuring a low solo seat height, nearly naked bike bodywork and the venerable 883cc, air-cooled V-Twin, there’s no doubt it’s an HD. And in a departure, it also happens to be the lightest, lowest, and most new-rider-friendly bike in the HD lineup. For your cash, you get low down bars, a low seat height, and a lowered suspension. Unfortunately, should you want ABS braking, you’ll find yourself over the target as that feature puts another $795 on

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Riding Experiences on Harley-Davidson Sportster S

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com In mid-July, American bike maker Harley-Davidson pulled the wraps off the Sportster S, one of the new Milwaukee models we’ve been waiting for for so long we kind of lost hope of actually seeing it. Yet, here it is, so fresh that it is only now beginning to be properly tested by users, and so promising it’d better not disappoint. Described by Harley as an “all-new sport custom motorcycle designed to deliver a thrilling riding experience,” the two-wheeler makes use of the most modern technologies brewed recently in Milwaukee, and, for a rather balanced price of $14,999, promises entirely new thrills for its riders. Massive in design, the bike holds in its frame the Revolution Max 1250 engine, an application of which some people are already enjoying in the Pan America. On this here beast, the V-Twin is officially titled Revolution Max 1250T, and comes with impressive performance figures: 121 horsepower and “tremendous torque at low RPM” as per Harley. That’s fewer hp than the 150 claimed for the Pan America, but more than enough for the lightweight bike: the thing tips the scale, after all, at only 502 pounds (227 kg). All that power is put to the ground by means of cast-aluminum wheels with a staggered design, 19-inch front and 17-inch rear, linked to the rest of the build by fully adjustable front and rear suspension – SHOWA 43 mm inverted cartridge forks and a SHOWA Piggyback reservoir rear shock. Stopping power comes from Brembo, forward foot controls are there together with a low handlebar to give the rider an aggressive posture while riding, and thanks to these the entire experience of moving on the back of the Sportster S should be one to remember. Harley threw into the Sportster mix the entire

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Harley-Davidson Sportster S 2021 First Ride Review

by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com Teaching an old dog new tricks. Harley-Davidson has produced the Sportster for over six continuous decades. Despite the nameplate dating back to the Eisenhower administration, the Sportster canon only contains two periods: the Ironhead years and the Evo era. Since 1957, a pushrod-actuated, 45-degree V-Twin always thrummed at the model’s core. Along with the vibey powerplant, a cradle frame, conservative styling, and spartan accommodations defined the platform. That all changes with the 2021 Sportster S, however. For the first time in the model’s history, the brakes read Brembo, the gearbox touts six speeds, and the lighting is LED. Boasting a feature-rich electronic suite, the historically entry-level Hog gains premium status overnight. A daring new design encompasses the brand’s acclaimed Revolution Max engine and aligns with the model’s performance ambitions. Of course, the 1,252cc, 60-degree V-twin doesn’t deliver the cruiser’s customary vibes. Instead, it delivers 121 horsepower. The Sportster may be a sexagenarian, but it’s spryer than ever in 2021. To prove the new model’s mettle, the Motor Company invited us to a day-long ride through the picturesque canyons of the Angeles National Forest and the man-made canyons of Downtown L.A. With such a dramatic makeover, questions naturally arose. Will the 2021 interpretation appeal to the customer base? Will it retain its David vs. Goliath attitude? Is it still a Sportster? Like all Harleys, the answers center around the V-twin mill. Engine Since 1986, the Sportster harnessed the MoCo’s Evolution engine. Long after the Big Twin class moved on to the brand’s Twin Cam V-twin, and subsequently, the Milwaukee-Eight, the Sportster continued championing the bulletproof Evo. Undersquare, air-cooled, and rumbly, the engine’s charisma overshadowed its crudeness. Instead of refining the platform over the years, H-D didn’t fix what wasn’t broke. Instead, it reinvented the model 35

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Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Launches the All-New GT503 Tire for H-D Sportster

With the announcement of Harley-Davidson’s new Sportster S, Dunlop is releasing the all-new GT503. With the announcement of Harley-Davidson’s new Sportster S, Dunlop is releasing the all-new GT503. The GT503 was designed specifically for the aggressive look and high performance of H-D’s new motorcycle. Developed to meet the high standards of Harley-Davidson, the GT503 combines construction, compound, and tread design to provide the ultimate in tire performance for the new H-D Sportster S. Riders will experience the kind of performance only Dunlop delivers. Features and Benefits • Aggressive tread pattern maximizes the land-to-sea ratio to offer superior dry-grip while also utilizing tread grooves that are long in length to enhance wet-weather performance • Radial construction featuring Steel Jointless Belt (JLB) technology delivers more responsive and consistent handling while also providing a more compliant ride • New compound has been formulated to provide excellent grip and mileage • Sidewall design proudly features the Harley-Davidson name and updated styling • New “wide” front tire size (160/70R17) provides a custom fat tire look, while still offering light and responsive handling • Available exclusively through Harley-Davidson dealers All-New GT503 Tire Front • Size – 160/70R17 • Load/Speed – 73V • TL/TT – TL • Sidewall – BL • Part Number – 45244727 Rear • Size – 180/70R16 • Load/Speed – 77V • TL/TT – TL • Sidewall – BL • Part Number – 45244726 About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S.A. For more information, visit https://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/

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