Cruisers have a stereotype. They are supposed to be large, heavy, and lean towards the low-and-slow side of things. Oh, and they shouldn’t lean – literally – too much. With time, though, many different types of cruisers have made it to market. And with so much choice, picking a cruiser that feels modern and appeals to a wide audience isn’t very difficult.
It’s got to have a V-twin for that torque delivery, needs to be a confident handler, and the size can’t be too big, else you’ll think twice before reaching for the keys. It’s a big bonus if it has grin-inducing performance. Which one cruiser today does all this, you ask? Well, the answer is simple.
The Harley-Davidson Sportster S Is The Cruiser That Feels Compact, Confident, And Surprisingly Quick
Harleys are the quintessential cruisers. They are usually the first choice for cruiser buyers, provided they are within budget. With Harley-Davidson dropping prices judiciously across its range, it has become more attractive than ever. And hidden in the midst of all this is the Sportster S. This was a leap of faith by The Motor Company, making an all-new, modern product unlike its predecessor, and anything it ever made before. But it is a dang fine motorcycle, and it is the cruiser that feels compact, confident, and surprisingly quick.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S Price: $15,999
The Sportster S is priced at a dollar under $16,000. Given its power output and features, this makes it a steal deal by Harley standards. There are other power cruisers available at a similar price, but they either fall short on performance or features. None of them have the combination of features that the Sportster S has.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S Engine
The Sportster S is powered by the Revolution Max engine. This is a thoroughly modern engine, with liquid cooling, a short stroke design, and variable valve timing for all its valves. Did we mention that it is a V-twin, as it should be? This Revolution Max 1250T is a 60-degree V-twin and generates 121 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 93 pound-feet at 6,000 RPM.
It is mated to a six-speed gearbox and a belt final drive. There is an assist and slipper clutch as well, although a two-way quickshifter is missing. Elsewhere, a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU are present. That means its engine features are as good as a modern motorcycles, with ride modes, cornering traction control, cornering drag-torque slip control, and enhanced wheel lift mitigation, a.k.a. wheelie control.
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Harley-Davidson Sportster S Chassis
The Sportster S matches its engine’s modernity with its chassis. It utilizes a steel trellis frame with the engine as a stressed member. The swingarm design is unique, too, and there is nothing else like it on sale even today. As for suspension, you get 43 mm inverted forks and a hidden single shock at the rear. It is fully adjustable at both ends, with adjustment available for preload, compression, and rebound as well. The travel has been increased to 3.2 inches at the rear now, while the front travel stands at 3.6 inches.
There is a single front brake disc with a 320 mm diameter. It is paired with a radial four-piston fixed caliper. This joins hands with a 260 mm rear disc with a single piston caliper. It uses a unique 17/16-inch alloy wheel rim size shod with tubeless tires. All these help the Sportster S be a compact motorcycle, at under 90 inches long, with a sub-60-inch wheelbase. The laden seat height is under 29 inches as well. It has 3.5 inches of ground clearance, weighs 502 pounds wet, and has a 3.1-gallon fuel tank.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S Features
The Sportster S has a circular 4-inch TFT color display, which has Bluetooth connectivity and navigation capabilities as well. There is cruise control as a standard feature. Being a Harley, there is a really long options list. On it are items like pillion footpegs, a mid-position footpeg set for the rider, better seats, a tail bag, a windshield, and what we think everyone should add to their Sportster S: the $900 Mystic Shift paint.
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Harley-Davidson Sportster S Competition
The Sportster S is a modern sporty cruiser, so we’ll be looking at similar cruisers from other brands at a similar price point. The Street Bob from the same stable is available for $1,000 less than the Sportster, but it won’t offer the same sort of performance because of the choice of engine and chassis. Those choices do make it a better option for customization, though.
The obvious place to look for a Harley competitor is America’s other motorcycle manufacturer: Indian. The 101 Scout is a credible alternative to the Sportster, although it is down on power and has more weight because of the cradle frame. Another power cruiser is the Suzuki Boulevard M109R ($15,799). This has a gem of an engine and the front suspension and brakes from a sport bike, but its design is twenty years old, so there are no modern features like ABS, traction control, or a by-wire throttle. If you’re really on a budget, then the Honda Rebel 1100 SE DCT with its $11,199 price tag will also do.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S Vs Indian 101 Scout
|
Model |
Harley-Davidson Sportster S |
Indian 101 Scout |
|
Price |
$15,999 |
$16,999 |
|
Engine |
60° V-twin |
60° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,252 cc |
1,250 cc |
|
Power |
121 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
111 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
|
Torque |
93 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM |
82 LB-FT @ 6,300 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
502 pounds (wet) |
549 pounds (wet) |
Source: Harley-Davidson USA