Harley-Davidson reshaped its popular sportster lineup last year with the introduction of the flat-track-inspired Sportster S. Not just that, the American bikemaker equipped it with the new Revolution Max 1250 engine instead of the common Milwaukee 114 mill. Though a cruiser, Harley was marketing the Sportster S as a…well, sporty motorcycle and for a brand specializing in cruisers, this was a bold claim.

So the question of just “how fast the Sportster S is” led us to the and we’re happy to report - it’s plenty fast!

Disclaimer: We don’t support or appreciate speeding on public roads and we urge you to follow the ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time) rule by heart.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S Top Speed

Before getting to the video, allow us to tell you that the Sportster S employs a 1250cc, twin-cylinder engine borrowed from the Pan America 1250. However, the engine tune focuses on low-end grunt instead of peak power, which is why the former makes 121 horsepower, 29 ponies less than the latter.

Without further ado, here’s the video:

Top Speed Says

As you can see, the Sportster S records a commendable top speed of 231kmph (143mph). For reference, this is comparable to the top speed of the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS. Judging from the video, we believe the Sportster S is the fastest Harley cruiser in the current crop and lives up to the sporty promise.

That being said, the real strength of the Sportster S is its torque curve which helps it pull strongly regardless of the gear or the speed you’re in. Not to mention, this would make it super tractable for city riding as well as quick overtakes on the highway.