Let me set the record straight by debunking these three “myths”…
Myth #1 - The Sportster is a “Starter/Girls” Bike.
Granted, there are a good number of women and new riders
who choose the Sportster but this doesn’t make it a “starter” or a “girls”
bike. In fact, many would argue that any bike over 750 cc is too large to be a
“starter” bike. I’m of the opinion that
you should start on whatever bike you’re comfortable with -- realizing of
course, that larger displacement generally means more weight, which can make a
bike more difficult to handle, especially in low speed situations.
Although the Sportster is the lightest bike in the
Harley-Davidson family, it has other characteristics that make it less than
optimum as a “starter” bike. First is
its overall seat height. The Sporty actually
sits taller than most of its bigger siblings, giving it a higher center of
gravity. This causes it to feel a little
top-heavy and can negatively affect handling (again, at low speeds). Don’t be fooled…unless you’re Hercules, 582
pounds isn’t “light”.
2012
Sporty
1200
|
2014
Fat
Bob
|
2014
Breakout
|
2014
Street
Glide
|
2014
Road
King
|
2014
CVO
Softail
|
2014
CVO
Limited
|
|
Running
Wt (lbs)
|
582
|
706
|
710
|
810
|
814
|
782
|
944
|
Seat
Height (in)
|
28
|
27.2
|
24.7
|
27.4
|
28.2
|
25.8
|
29.1
|
Torque
(ft-lbs)
|
79
|
98.8
|
95.2
|
104.7
|
104.7
|
107.7
|
115.1
|
RPM
|
4000
|
3500
|
3000
|
3250
|
3250
|
3000
|
3750
|
Calculated
HP
|
60.17
|
65.84
|
54.38
|
64.79
|
64.79
|
61.52
|
65.75
|
Pwr-to-Wt
|
0.103
|
0.093
|
0.077
|
0.080
|
0.080
|
0.079
|
0.070
|
Comparative Data for Select H-D Models
Another characteristic that blows the “starter” bike myth
out of the water is the fact that the Sportster has a better power-to-weight
ratio than other stock Harleys. This
means the Sporty will generally have better off-the-line (stoplight-to-stoplight)
performance. The Sportster has great
throttle response and is quick.
Definitely not a good characteristic of a “starter” bike.
Myth #2 – The Sportster isn’t Capable of “Touring”
This is laughable. I
can say with 100% confidence that the Sportster can go anywhere a big touring
bike can go. With the right seat, you
can ride a Sporty all day and all night long and get-up the next morning and do
it again. I know, I’ve done it. The Sportster may not offer the BarcaLounger
comfort of the Road King or Ultra Glide but it’s a very capable touring
machine. You can ride a Sportster hard,
put it up wet, and it’ll never complain. Don’t let anyone tell you
different.
Myth #3 – The Sportster isn’t a “Real” Harley-Davidson
This may be the most obscene myth of them all. The Sporty has been in continuous production
for 57 years (62, if you count its predecessor the Model K). That’s longer than
any other bike in Harley-Davidson’s line-up.
How anyone can say that the bike produced for more than half of the
Motor Company’s existence isn’t a “real” Harley is beyond me.
For those that say a “real” Harley is measured by
displacement, consider the fact that before 1999 Harley-Davidson’s largest
displacement engine was 1340 cc. Does
that mean “real” Harley’s have only been produced for the last 15 years of
Harley-Davidson’s 110-year history? I
think not. I’m sure William Harley and
Arthur Davidson would agree with me.
The truth is the Sportster is just a fun bike to ride. It’ll put a smile on your face and won’t
break the bank doing it. I’m glad women
and new riders are selecting the Sporty, it’s a great all around bike. Hell, it might be the most versatile
motorcycle Harley-Davidson makes. You
can modify it to be whatever your heart desires…café racer, bobber, touring
bike, you name it and the Sportster makes a good foundation. One could argue that based on its
versatility, the Harley-Davidson Sportster is the most “real” Harley ever
made.
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