Of all the iconic motorcycles Harley-Davidson has produced in its 120-year history, none has been as long-lived or, dare we say, iconic, than the Sportster.
In production since 1957, it is only now being phased out in favor of the new Sportster S, with its modern liquid-cooled engine in place of the old air-cooled V-twin. What this means is that there will be plenty of used Sportsters on the market, and they make fantastic first bikes for anyone wanting to buy into the Harley-Davidson family.
10 Miss: It’s A Real Harley-Davidson
For some, Harley has moved away from what made their bikes great in the first place, especially with liquid-cooling for the new Sportster S, which eventually will have to filter down to all Harley models if they are to keep meeting emissions regulations. The air-cooled engine in the old Sportster is pure, traditional Harley-Davidson, with lots of vibrations and a great sounding exhaust. For some, the Sportster’s basic specification is what a Harley-Davidson should be, so if that’s your thing, then this is the bike for you.
9 Miss: No Two Sportsters Will Ever Be Alike
Having been in production for so long, the list of accessories is longer than both your arms and both your legs. Harley-Davidsons have always been a blank canvas for customization, whether by using official Harley accessories or the enormous range of non-official after market parts. With this being the case, it’s unlikely that any Sportster has been left completely original, meaning that you will be buying something completely unique, which you can continue to customize to your heart’s content.
8 Miss: They Made Hundreds Of Thousands In 60 Years
The Harley-Davidson Sportster was introduced in 1957 and ran continuously until 2022. That means that there will be literally thousands on the used market, which in turn means that you will be able to really pick and choose to make sure you get exactly what you want and need. It also means that there will be an abundance of spares for whatever year model you buy. Because they are so simple, even owners with a modicum of mechanical knowledge and ability will be able to have a go at fixing it, should it go wrong. If not, there is no shortage of expertise out there.
7 Miss: It Has Maintenance-Free Belt Drive
Anything that removes the need for regular daily or weekly maintenance can only be a good thing and, for all its simplicity, the Sportster has belt drive. It removes the need for regular lubricating (which really makes a mess of the rear wheel and, possibly, your pillion’s clothes) or adjustment which, let’s face it, is all too easy to be lazy about. Later models also have electronic fuel injection, negating the need for mastering the dark art of carburetor adjustment and tuning. It will start first time, every time and always run at the optimum mixture ratio, meaning you’ll save money on gas.
6 Miss: It Sounds Like A Real Harley
A large part of a motorcycle’s character comes from the sound the engine and exhaust pipes make. There are many motorcycle brands with a distinctive engine sound but are there any as instantly recognizable as that of a Harley-Davidson V-Twin? It’s such an intrinsic part of the brand identity that Harley once tried to trademark the sound, which is a product of the timing of the pistons firing in their individual cylinders. The company failed to trademark it, but no other manufacturer has ever been able to match it, no matter how they might have tried. A Harley sounds like a Harley and the Sportster is no exception: make no mistake, this is a real Harley-Davidson.
5 Won't Miss: The Engine Does Vibrate An Awful Lot
There’s no two ways about it: this engine is a shaker. Sometimes it feels as if it might shake itself to bits. Rubber mounting the engine in 2004 helped enormously, but it was always comical to watch the engine jiggling about in the frame when at standstill with the engine idling. Despite the flexible mountings, when pushing along down the highway, the vibrations really make themselves noticed to the point where it can get uncomfortable. After a while and your hands and feet will feel numb. Of course, vibrations can have an effect on the rest of the bike as well, so it’s always a good idea to check it over for anything that’s about to fall off.
4 Won't Miss: It Really Is Pretty Basic
Don’t expect any frills with a Sportster: there simply aren’t any. Fuel injection and belt drive notwithstanding, this is as simple as motorcycling gets. No ABS, no traction control and only the most basic instrumentation. Cruise control? Heated grips? Riding modes? Forget it. Of course, this basic approach was what attracted many to Harley in the first place but surely even Harley-Davidson were getting a bit embarrassed about it towards the end.
3 Won't Miss: The Suspension Was Garbage
It was almost as if Harley refused to spend any money on the Sportster, equipping it with the most basic suspension. Now, basic can be good if it’s not cheap and is designed well or, at least, up to date. But that wasn’t the Sportster’s way. Minimal suspension travel at both ends and what travel there was, was badly controlled. If you really hate your partner, take them on a long ride on the pillion: they certainly won’t thank you for it, to put it mildly. The rear suspension will bottom out at the first hint of a bump, sending their spine up into their brain. Some of the standard pillion seat options must have been designed by torture specialists.
2 Won't Miss: The Engine Kicks Out A Lot Of Heat
It’s OK when you’re moving, although the rear header sits close to your right calf, so it will be possible to roast it slowly on a long ride. The real problem comes on a hot day when the traffic is barely moving, and you’re at a standstill. It is then that you wish you had worn your Special Occasion asbestos pants. Or, better still, left the bike at home and taken the car. Or a bus. Anything would be preferable to having your delicate parts - and by that, I mean your inner thighs as much as your cojones - not-so-slowly burnt to a crisp. Unpleasant doesn’t begin to describe it.
1 Won't Miss: The Brakes Live Up To The Rest Of The Bike
What that means, really, is that the brakes are just as bad as suspension, the heat problem and the vibrations. In this day and age of unbelievably, intensely brilliant braking systems, the disc brakes on the Sportster are about as good as the drum brakes from the 60s. They have such a wooden feel that they might as well be made from teak or oak. They will bring the bike to a stop, but you’ll have cramp in your hand before you do it and forget any type of modulation of braking effort: you just have to grip as hard as you can all the time and hope for the best.