Harley Davidson Sportster has existed since 1957, that is, longer than, for example, some famous sports cars such as the 911 or Camaro. And for the entire time of production, this model had only a couple of serious upgrades. However, the Sportster S model released in 2021 is new – this is not only a brand-new motorcycle, but it is also a completely new concept that throws everything that was previously, except for the name Sportster, into the trash.
It was first introduced back in 2018 when the company showed the Pan America tourist enduro. Following this example, the Sportster S abandons air cooling and non-existent electronics in favor of modern technology. The motorcycle is primarily aimed at attracting new customers. The Sportster S, built on the Revolution Max platform, looks squat. Each design element of the model is an expression of the power of the motorcycle. The fuel tank and tail section frame the engine as the dominant central part of the bike.
The Sportster S seems to combine several styles at once, the massive front wheel resembles the front part of the classic bobber without wings, while the tail part, The high-mounted exhaust pipes, and narrow single seat are inspired by the Harley-Davidson XR 750 flat tracker model. At the same time, the inverted fork and wide-profile tires tell us about a high-performance sports bike. The mechanical heart of the Sportster S is the 1252 cc Revolution Max engine, which is installed in Pan America. It stands out with a chocolate matte finish of light magnesium lids. And all textures, colors, finishes, and details were selected in such a way that the Sportster S model looked like a custom-made cruiser bike, which is accidentally parked at the cafe.
This version of Harley-Davidson’s latest liquid-cooled V twin engine is tuned to deliver huge torque at low revs, as the letter T in the engine name tells us. At the same time, the thrust remains even throughout the entire power range. Thanks to other settings, peak power has decreased compared to the Pan America version of the engine, from 150 hp at 8750 rpm to 121 hp at 7500 rpm. The torque also decreased slightly from 128 nm at 6750 rpm to 125 nm, but now at 6000 rpm.
In order to minimize the overall weight of the motorcycle, the power unit is used as a reinforced chassis element, eliminating the traditional frame, this design significantly reduces the weight of the motorcycle and provides a very rigid chassis that promotes precise handling, plus lightweight materials were used during the construction of the motorcycle, which also helped to achieve the desired power-to-weight ratio. In kerb condition, the Sportster S weighs 228 kg, at which the engine power is more than enough for a dynamic city ride. At the same time, the average declared fuel consumption is amazing, only 5 liters. per 100 km.
Since this motorcycle is lean, its volume is a ridiculous 11.8 liters. The Sportster S suspension consists of SHOWA components, it is a front fully adjustable 43 m inverted fork, and a fully adjustable mono shock absorber is also installed at the rear, while the preload adjustment is carried out using a convenient handle, located on the left side of the motorcycle. Although the premium Brembo system is responsible for braking, it was possible to put two discs in front. And so this is one 320 mm disc with a Monoblock four-piston caliper, and one 260 mm disc with a single-piston caliper is installed at the back.
The Sportster S also has a modern electronics package, there are three riding modes – road, sports, and rain, inclined ABS, plus tilt-sensitive and traction control, round 4-inch TFT display, fully LED lighting, and cruise control.
Harley Davidson Sportster S Technical Specifications
LENGTH 89.2 in.
SEAT HEIGHT, LADEN 28.9 in.
GROUND CLEARANCE 3.66 in.
RAKE 30
TRAIL 5.8 in.
WHEELBASE 59.8 in.
TIRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION 160/70R17 73V
TIRES, REAR SPECIFICATION 180/70R16 77V
TIRE, TYPE Dunlop® Harley-Davidson Series, radial
FUEL CAPACITY 3.1 gal.
OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER) 4.75 qt.
WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED 486 lb.
WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER 502 lb.
ENGINE Revolution® Max 1250T
BORE 4.13 in.
STROKE 2.85 in
DISPLACEMENT 76.4 cu in
COMPRESSION RATIO 12.0:1
FUEL SYSTEM Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
EXHAUST 2-into-1-into-2; catalyst in muffler
PERFORMANCE
ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHOD J1349
ENGINE TORQUE 94 ft-lb
ENGINE TORQUE (RPM) 6000
HORSEPOWER 121 HP / 90 kW @ 7500 rpm
