Harley-Davidson Sportster S. In Depth Look

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Paul Van Gaans
Suite 27
1201 Howitt Street
Wendouree, VIC 3355
Australia
Email Contact: [e-mail]

[@robclarke7602]

I'm a Harley guy. I have a Road King that I love. This new Sportster looks perfect for buzzing around the countryside for a day - not necessarily a long trip. Long Haul = Road King. Day Trip = Sportster. I want one!

[@Gwosts]

You can modify the Sportster S for long distance, upgrade seat, install risers and add a fatbob fairing and you're good

[@jeffreylavergne3090]

Love love love the bike best thing HD has done in forever I already reserved mine cant wait .

[@mightyhavan]

Thank you for doign the "Do I Fit Series Playlist" this channel is gold !

[@BikesILike]

Glad you enjoy it! 👍

[@oldrover3007]

Great Imfo thanks, I only saw the last 2 or 3 I’m thinking about the Sportster S , I’ve had and have a Harley now, for over 40+ years . I just wanted A good review on one . You did it !

[@rogerwilliams2629]

I'm with you, mini apes was the first thing I thought about for what I would want . Nice bike. Too expensive.

[@ricinphx]

I agree, kind of pricey. Maybe $15,000 “out the door “ all the fees, taxes, and registration costs and maybe the new helmet that is specifically made for the S models tech. I think that would make me look closer at buying the bike.

[@nickwilliams4120]

It costs the same as the Indian FTR S, and is three hundred bucks less than the Thruxton R

[@chrisfree6372]

What other HD bikes can you get for $15000? And do they allow a passenger ? I mean the power of the Sportster S is nice .but honestly I will never use 121hp to ride around town or go to bike night or even ride in a group ... If I was racing or something. Sure ... I feel all that power would barely get touched

[@jimibones178]

@Chris as far as i know, all sportsters of the past were under 15k new. I paid 13k for one new with a stage 1 kit already installed, that was just 2 yeas ago. Also, as to the hp. My street bob has 124hp, and even more impressive, 146 lbs of torque. Its fast, but i use every single bit of that power every time i ride. When its available at will, youll use it lol. Trust me, its too fun not to

[@detroitbloodrunsinme8194]

It’s a Harley bub, high price isn’t in our vocab, matter fact this sportster shouldn’t even be a Harley but so be it

[@LesterSuarezGonzalez-dz9ns]

No doubt at all The Amazing Harley Davidson Sporster S it's one of my favorite Harleys, So it's Powerful, Majestic and Beautiful, Great explanation and video as well, Thanks for sharing 👊👍✌️!!!

[@amanslivearth4356]

34° lean angle? Awesome, the scout is at 28 if I'm not mistaken. Great video, thanks for the info!

[@BikesILike]

Close enough, 29°. 👍

[@jackwood2328]

These are all good videos with sensible criteria covered. 100%.

[@michaelhabada3493]

I bought an 02 V Rod. Still love it to this day. Nice nice Harley.

[@s.v.gadder1443]

That's pretty much what this is

[@fritzk9118]

Can't wait to see this machine bobbed out.

[@oldrover3007]

Another Great review , I’m so glad I happened to find this channel . I saw and sat on a Sporster S for the first time Saturday and I hadn’t been following these new Liquid Cooled Harleys .The Older I get the less distance from home I go mostly under a couple hundred miles in a good day. I really liked it and wanted to learn as much unbiased Imfo about it as I could . I would have to sell my Breakout , but I still have a Panhead also . I’m wondering if I can put a single bag on one side like my B.O. for longer distances . Thanks again for your Imfo !

[@rogerburns8478]

I have a couple points. First he's right about the cross shopping I've done it myself. Bought the fz07 over it's competitors in 15 when it first came out, based on price and fit/finish. Second the reason they retuned it and lost hp is because alot of traditional Harley people ride differently than traditional import riders. They keep the rpms lower and expect immediate throttle response which is the wrong way to ride imports, but would affect their first impression of the bike in a negative way.

[@Heritagejim5339]

The right move! This baby rocks😁…. Ride hard or stay home 😎

[@MFMP007]

Excellent video review. I really enjoyed the riders height measurements explanation. I think this is something all motorcycle reviews should do. Good job.

[@BikesILike]

Thank you! 👍

[@rickymahoney6664]

Definitely one of the best looking bikes I’ve seen in awhile but $15k is pretty steep for me. I also don’t think I’d buy a bike without quick shifters

[@grahamtricker4103]

That's a great "in depth look" at this new Sportster S model 👍

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Graham! 👍

[@bharsen]

Hey Paul! Long time no talk! I just ran the 1/4 mile last Sunday with the Sportster S. This is how it broke down. 60ft - 1.658 1/8 mile - 6.917 @ 100mph 1/4 mile - 10.939 @ 119mph

[@BikesILike]

Nice! They're great figures, thanks for letting me know! 👍

[@dakkanTM]

Yep I think the 2021 lineup has been their best line up for years. I actually went out and bought a Street Bob and I thought I would never buy a Harley.

[@BikesILike]

Totally agree. The Street Bob 114 was a stroke of genius really. Harley took one of their more basic models and turned it into something highly desirable. 👍

[@albodoin]

Wanted to upgrade my sportster to a dyna for years, but as soon as I saw the fxbbs I jumped on it. They finally nailed what the new generation wants.

[@t-royjk964]

Same here, I used to be a Harley basher until I saw a fat bob about 2 months ago. Bought one within 2 weeks.

[@deantaylor1512]

Got me lotto ticket for the weekend... fingers crossed 🤞

[@MaxMeridius0920]

Finally a (new) Harley that I would consider buying! Good looking with the exception of the exhaust

[@bradmilkowski9786]

Im a motorcycle guy who has harleys And hondas. I believe the more diversity harley offers the more new riders will be interested in the brand. The adventure bike market is a great spot for them also. My wife and I currently in the market for the hd S and im glad to see a new direction for them. The classic bikes are still here and the new style hds will only add to the legacy

[@valencia1135]

looks nice. this could be my upgrade bike!

[@douglas9607]

Thanks for the vid.

[@chrishogan4010]

Paul, awesome video. As always

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Chris!

[@davegoldspink5354]

Think HD has done a great job on the bike and for a HD here in Australia the price maybe a little high but it’s a step in the right direction especially when you look at the Livewire and that bike’s massive price tag and limitations. Saying that I wouldn’t be putting cash down on the first Sportster Ss I’d wait and see how it goes for a while.

[@Anthony9592]

Great review, Brother!! I second your opinion that Harley sure is opening its door for success with the introduction of Pan America and Sportster S. This bike is already my absolute favorite even before seeing it in the flesh..

[@BikesILike]

Thank you! 👍

[@rockylion4382]

Let me commend you on your great content and presentation. I have a 2020 Indian scout bobber sixty. Entry level to the bobber in this video. About 78 hp. I absolutely LOVE it. Has all the power I need. Old school looks and just gorgeous. I feel like Marlon Brando or James Dean when I ride it. I also have a 2021 Honda CBR (love love that bike). Honda rebel. And Ducati monster 797. But hands down, my Indian is my favourite. Thanks for the great videos ...from 🇨🇦

[@BikesILike]

Thank you and you're welcome! Nice collection of bikes there. 👍

[@loumartinez33]

The Sporster S has slightly better mechanical specs but the Indian Scout is a much better looking motorcycle!

[@JetCooper3D]

I have the 3R Rocket - when it is time to add a new ride, this will be my first choice. Great Vid.

[@BikesILike]

Thank you! 👍

[@jmblues]

As much as i love the videos, you cant measure in this way and be accurate. I have a Sportster S and at 6'4" with a 35" inseam i fit very well. My legs are much more forward and lower on the tank than the video. I tend to start all the way back in the seat but end up scooting up slightly. My arm stretch is also very comfortable with a slightly aggressive stance. I shyed away from Sportster in the past due to them being to small for me but this one is a great fit.

[@beyond_exist6456]

It's good to see HD stepping up and manufacturing bikes that will compete with Indian Motorcycles and other manufacturers.

[@seandaniel8677]

The looks grew on me really quickly.. After looking back at my old favourite Harley (sportster ‘48) it suddenly looks incredibly dated… love the direction Harley are going, but think it would look better with some V+H ‘short shot’ style pipes

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

The pipes look great as they are.

[@seandaniel8677]

That’s the beauty of personal preference, I think it would look better with different pipes :)

[@sniperon2wheels]

I think it will look great with the heat shields coated either black or to match the bronze colour already on the bike

[@seandaniel8677]

@@sniperon2wheels True, bronze would look great

[@oldrover3007]

I always liked the 48 but by the time it came I was already in my 4’th decade of Harleys. Including 4 Iron Head Sporty’s way back , a couple of Softails and my 3rd Glide . But I walked into the Harley shop Saturday and a Sportster S that looked allot like the 48 only HiTech and possibly very fast & Nimble . It was used and the plate holder was a simple one with built in Directionals . I have been making Harleys “My Own “ without going overboard for years . I could improve it easily. Now I think I have to sell my Breakout .

[@northrider8628]

You are exactly right about people looking at bikes in 15k price range. I may be wrong but i would say a lot of them start looking at bikes in a price range then go from there... just my opinion i could be totally wrong but 15k is out of the ball park for this bike... a swing and a mistake/miss Harley Davidson... i also believe the younger generation buyers don't have the brand loyalty to step up and pay more for the H.D. name, and the people that would don't care about this bike... Harley Davidson make the Bronx and keep the price in the 13k or under range. Long live Harley Davidson 🤠

[@nickwilliams4120]

It costs the same as the FTR S, and is three hundred bucks less than the the Thruxton R

[@martin4819]

I really like your clever perspective on reviews. Well done! Also well done is the new Sportster. Eek HD, we wanted a TFT display to bring a bike into the 21st century but this bike doesn’t need all that other electronic garbage that puts its price into pass territory. It’s not a sports bike or long distance cruiser. It looks to be a gonad roaster with the pipes so high and the heat shield looks plastic....which is not HD. Otherwise, great job!

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Martin I appreciate that! 👍

[@arthurn8952]

Loving the Pan America and the Sportster S design. Automatically the Fat Bob too

[@Scout4x]

Well done, Paul! I enjoyed it so much, I watched it twice! 29 HP down for not much gain in torque range from the Pan America....what are they thinking? Probably listening too closely to their lawyers' fears of liability from too much power....bunch of ninnies!

[@BikesILike]

Excellent! Thanks Gregory! 👍

[@nickpapagiorgio8038]

It's actually a VERY lively ride. Don't let the numbers cloud your judgement. Ride it, then decide.

[@CjLao]

Same idea with Kawasaki’s Z650 & Vulcan S. Same engine on both, but detuned for its cruiser frame. With this ridiculous price range, I’d rather buy a Rebel 1100 or a used HD softail. Then buy mods with the remaining money.

[@kirkdavis3929]

This Bike reminds me of a loaded shotgun, awsome job, as a desert dweller who used to ride a liquid-cooled Honda Shadow that NEVER got hot in the Hot Arizona sun, liquid-cooled cruisers are the best.

[@thearrival7828]

I take them both

[@nuruddinshahkamil3889]

For this time, I'm with Harley

[@barryblack5562]

Nice one mate👍 the toggle on the left handlebar I assume is an indicator switch I know some Harleys have one on each side but I couldn't figure out where else it could be. Loved the revue and comparisons unfortunately this is outve my price range when I upgrade from my Duke. Although I can't stay off that thing so it'll most likely be an additional bike. Cheers

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Barry! Ah yes that makes sense. Cheers! 👍

[@guyfuller1369]

Responsiveness to market demand is a new corporate value for HD. They’ve spent the last thousand years telling us what we want. We shall see whether this shift pays dividends. Excellent review, Paul. You might have thrown the Triumph Bonnevilles into the mix, especially the Bobber and Speedmaster; nevertheless, I now know everything I need to know about the Sportster S. Cheers!

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Guy! You hit the nail on the head here "They’ve spent the last thousand years telling us what we want". Yes there are a heap of bikes I could've included and the Speedmaster and Bobber would probably have been better matches but my heads been thinking about the Z900RS and CB1000R a lot lately and they're the two that could readily draw me away from the Sportster. So that's I went with those. 😉

[@alp3781]

I will never buy an HD, but I do like the new Sportster. Not too shabby.

[@nicholasssebulibak8271]

Best motorcycle review ever✨👌

[@BikesILike]

Thank you! 👍

[@BobJones-zf6ie]

This is a beautiful bike...and for me aesthetics is important. I love the specs and I can look past the big fat tire in the front; its still a beauty of a bike and I love the scenes of it in motion. The Fatboy front just seems so massive and antithetical to quick, nimble motion. Love the Livewire. Love the Pan America. Love the Sportster S. and there are some legacy Harleys I think are quite beautiful but I would still focus on the these three latest efforts: Livewire, PanAmerica and Sportster S.

[@BikesILike]

The front tyre has been especially designed with a unique profile for the Sportster S. It tapers down to a narrower surface area and contact patch for quicker lighter steering. Quite clever! 👍

[@nickpapagiorgio8038]

The bike actually handles incredibly well. Way better than you'd think with that front tire.

[@rodriguezahr]

Thank you Paul for this amazing video. Comparing it to the scout bobber is just what I was looking for. Love both, maybe the scout is coming with an upgrade soon. Styling of the sporster is almost as stunning as the bobber with a small advantage still to Indian for the classic vintage look. What you didn’t mention is ground clearance or lean angle between the two. Looks like Harley has more clearance right?

[@BikesILike]

You're welcome and thank you! I too am looking forward to seeing a new Scout, I hope we see something soon. I had to draw the line somewhere with specs, I'd already spent to hectic days putting that video together. Ground clearance for the Sportster S is 3.66" (93 mm) and for the Scout Bobber, 5.1" (130 mm). Win to the Scout there! 👍

[@rodriguezahr]

@@BikesILike really?! The Harley is lower! Wow looks the opposite, probably it’s the scout design that makes it look lower. Love for the scout.

[@timclapin3488]

its what the xr 1200 should have been a long time ago, stance is nice and its only about 20 kgs heavier than my speed triple amazingfor a harley

[@SiggyCloud]

This was the kind of bike I wanted...

[@bharsen]

Hello Paul, I'm happy to inform you that the 2" of suspension travel in the rear seems to ride a ton better over bumps than my Vulcan s which had 3 ½" of travel. It felt sloppy during my initial ride but then I adjusted it to my weight and it made all the difference. For a sportster? I'd say it's a more plush ride than the Forty Eight. So it's an improvement over their older evo models imo.

[@BikesILike]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Valuable information for others. 👍

[@bharsen]

@@BikesILike Another update! After 1,000 miles with the sportster s, I finally got around to putting it on the dyno. 111whp @ 8,400rpm 84ft lbs @ 6,400rpm What's nice about it, is the torque below the curve, which comes on strong and early, 75ft lbs @ 3,000rpm and 80ft lbs @ 4,000rpm respectively.

[@BikesILike]

@@bharsen Thanks for the update nice rear wheel figures! Wow the bike's producing 90% of its torque at 3,000 rpm... that's impressive. Should feel nice and torquey to ride. 👍

[@eclipseshadowyt5917]

150 mpg not enough ? My current bike lasts maybe 110 lol I want to do some touring and 150 works

[@Jimmynguyen7370]

Indian scout bobber still the best choice

[@zraybroske2416]

The Sportster S is now comparable to Indian Scout Bobber, Ducati X-Diavel S, and Triumph 3. It fits right in between (and I’ve owned the Ducati and a 48). I wanted more tech, and more power, but the Ducati is too much power and is a little scary for someone who wants a power cruiser that gets up and goes, but doesn’t want to ride wheelies in 3rd gear. Boom.

[@geraldscott4302]

The ONLY bike you mentioned that I would consider buying is the Kawasaki ZEEEEEEE900RS. It's the only one that actually looks like a motorcycle. But nothing can replace the feel and sound of the REAL Sportster.

[@Geagly_The_Giggling_Eagle]

Thank you, it was a great review. Do you have any experience with a passenger? How would it ride with a passenger on the back?

[@BikesILike]

Yes I've ridden with a passenger a lot but not on the Sportster S. I feel the seat would be suitable for short rides only in terms of passenger comfort.

[@yamaharider8014]

Not sure if I'd buy a Sportster S, but it has some desirable features. The Honda Rebel 1100 is around $9300 which is alot less than Harley and Indian....👍😺

[@ImFAULKn]

The Sportster S is the better bike forsure but for the price it seems the bobber will be my next bike good thing they both look amazing

[@loop1479]

Hell yeah

[@harrellfelty5049]

I'll still keep my Indian. Nothing personal toward Harley-Davidson but other motorcycle companies like of course Indian are ahead of the game. The Indian scout of course is 11:33 CC with a 6-speed transmission what most people don't realize and understand is that there is now a Big bore kit for the scout which make it a 1300 cc. I'd rather spend the money and do that then bye a new Harley-Davidson. I do own a 2012 super glide custom I do enjoy riding it but I really like riding my Indian it just handles better than a Harley-Davidson

[@nikitis13]

Indeed the right move. Personally, the price, suspension length/travel and odd wheel/tire sizes would keep me away... No longer will it be Harley's entry level bike, price wise. That now goes to the Softail Standard 107 which seems like a bargain in comparison and certainly the bike I'd be purchasing. Even a Street Bob 114 with cash to spare... All things considered we can't be too far away from another "cheaper" model based on the Sportster or Pan Am platforms... A sub 20k AUS model is surely coming.

[@BrokenHeartSlayer]

Hi, can you do comparison between sporter s and nightster(HD)?

[@BikesILike]

I'll definitely look into that!

[@marlontamina9711]

How about the exhaust? Is there effect in terms of heat on the legs if you have passenger wearing shorts?

[@BikesILike]

That's a good question. I'm test riding the Sportster S next week, watch out for that video 😉

[@evil_musclemuscled3814]

Let's see that bike race against the Polaris Challenger

[@Nifilheimur]

In Norway the price is eye watering 28,5k usd....

[@fedricoekkelenkamp5384]

Pricing in the Netherlands begins at 18495,00 euro's in vivid black the other two colours cost 18808,00 euro's.

[@BikesILike]

Thanks for letting us know and hello Netherlands! 👍 My parents birthplace. 😉

[@Ben-wq4zf]

The sportster s has an adjustable rear shock

[@adnanyusof6]

In Malaysia is about RM98k

[@sathishrao7926]

I’m not sure if Pan America is the right direction for HD since there may not be many Adv enthusiasts who’d be looking at HD as a brand for an Adv, but this modern Sporster certainly is ! How often do we get to see a Harley motorcycle beating its competition in technology, performance and weight ?

[@BikesILike]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Agree, Harley have done their homework on this one! 👍

[@stephenchigwidden7504]

How often? I would like to be kind and say not very often but to be honest I think this is the first time but they are killing it and I think the adventure market is big enough and the sort of customer that buys them is flexible enough to be open minded iff a better mouse trap comes along. I don't think adventure riders are quite so tribal. They are more like explorers than bikers.

[@mightymikethebear]

I am happy to see HD updating the Sportster but the price is much too high.

[@jimibones178]

I am super happy about the new sportster. They needed a leap forward. However, im not all that happy with the new look. Thats not a deal breaker though. Best thing about harley is how much you can chamge the ike to make it exactly what you want. However, the scout bobber performs about the same but is dope as fuck right off the floor.

[@RulgertGhostalker]

mini-apes bring the grips closer, not further....not until the grips are higher than your shoulders, do they make the grips further away. ( if you're trying to keep the same look angle ) i have long arms for my height, and run drag bars; which sets the grips out much further than standard bars; of course i also have short legs, so run mids

[@stogie0608]

Months ago Indian sent me a survey about scout bobbers (bobber owner here) it focused primarily on HP and gas mileage. they must have known Harley would be releasing this nice looking bike and they wanted customers opinions on wether they’d pay more for horsepower and less gas mileage etc.

[@BikesILike]

Interesting, thanks for letting us know. Maybe they have something new on the way?

[@MrAndrew1953]

I'm just wondering if a Pan America tank could be fitted to the Sportster S for a tank with some decent range. After all, it has a 1250 cc engine. Mini Apes, that screen should be able to handle some distance touring.

[@BikesILike]

You know what that's a really good question Andrew. I had a good look at the spacings on both bikes and it looks like it should be doable! You might have to make some modifications but I reckon it would fit. Yes I too was pleased to see a screen available at launch. I hope they come out with mini apes quickly. 👍

[@amanslivearth4356]

I wonder if they share the same frame. if they do, it certainly would be easier to share the tank

[@MrAndrew1953]

@@BikesILike That’s good so if you bought the bike off a large dealer, they should have a mechanic that could do that. I like that bum bag that fits on the pillion seat. Crash bars, mini apes, and screen make the bike look like a GT. Whole thing just needs a decent sized tank and Vance & Hines cans.

[@BikesILike]

@@MrAndrew1953 It might be that easy but I'm thinking there may be some customisation required which may be beyond the scope of the dealer. Based on what I'm seeing, I'm thinking H-D might have a hit on their hands. They've really thought this out.

[@BikesILike]

@@amanslivearth4356 It would be great if that was the case and looking at the spacings it certainly looks like it could be a possibility.

[@windtherapy99]

If it was like 12-13k usd and had a quick shifter it would be perfect

[@eljefeog]

You should be comparing the sportster s to the Indian FTR, not the scout.

[@BikesILike]

No to me the Sportster S is clearly targeted at the Scout. But the FTR is more inline with the other bikes I showed so in that sense you're right! If someone's looking at new Sportster S there's no reason they won't also be considering the FTR. 👍

[@eljefeog]

The Sportster S at 14,999 is clearly targeted at the FTR S at 14,999. Comparing engine specs and design.

[@Tu-Liki]

​@@eljefeog Perhaps you're right mate, it may have been their intention alright! However, hence I'd say it is boldly arrogant move on their part still (if it is so), I'd still think the entry level price of "S" should have been 12.999$ (targeting Scout) and the follow up model "R" to land on FTR "Territory", whether at 14.999 $ or thereabouts! HD by my humble opinion stepped from one bucket to another there (especially considering entry level "Ladies market", which they are undoubtedly craving upon now! They are playing on brand loyalty card too much for the younger generation but this market segment does not have one (unlike us more senior folks) and FTR in that matter looks so much more appealing still (despite comparable characteristics) and what HD as a brand makes up with consistency, Indian covers with a sort of inexplicable mystery (with lack of better words) about it so all in all, I cannot see how HD would get an upper hand here at that pricing level and I am pretty sure the market will resolve that dispute in a year or two, reflected by after sales values! I'd be glad to be proven wrong though!

[@georgecatalin138]

... stay tunned for the new Iron 975

[@mohammadnashitsiddiqui2168]

I feel its a bit of an odd comparison, a Street Bob vs Indian Bobber is more suitable. imo the Sportster S is a better bike, but the Scout is a better Cruiser, kinda obv.. the real comparison is Sportster S vs Ducati Diavel, 2 different takes for the same goal, a sporting cruiser, one from Italy's biggest sports bikes maker and the other from USA's biggest cruiser bikes maker.

[@pharoah1200]

1st time viewer. Great review 👍👍

[@BikesILike]

Thank you! 👍

[@markh.harris9271]

Sportster S , hands down bar none... Scout Bobber is a fine motorcycle , but the Sportster S has it beat hands down , totally dude! marcus PS love mine... Midnight Crimson

[@jasonshortphd]

Smart move by Harley. I think the bike looks good.

[@user-vf3gf4xq3v]

Great looking bike. But I hate forward pegs. Couple that with minimal suspension travel and you’re going to have a bumpy ride over pot holes and construction zones.

[@tmjonasson]

I saw on their website that you can buy mid controls to the Sportster S. I also belive that would be better.

[@BikesILike]

I'll have to check that out. Thanks for letting me know! 👍

[@mitchburk5112]

Sold my 1200 Sportster a couple of years ago and bought a Kawasaki Z900RS. Even if the new Sportster had been available I would have bought the Zed. It's plenty fast for me and handles great something I doubt the new Sporty does with that limited suspension travel and fat tires. Main thing was it went out the door for a little over 10K with a deep dealer discount. Also, the only thing I have added to it is a grab bar and center stand. I had spent over 4k on my old Sporty to upgrade the performance and handling. That's one of Harley's main profit centers. Sell a basic bike with a number of crappy parts and then sell you expensive upgrades. Try getting that money back when you sell. The trade-in value is just going to be for the basic bike.

[@nickbazan27]

hey ik this is old - was thinking about getting a lighter bike for cities to go with my old road king which can be cumberssome. How does the z900rs compare to sportster 1200? is the power way too much for city? front lifts too much etc? jerky in traffic? just wondering if id be alright going from 1200 old sporty to z900rs too big of a jumpm

[@mitchburk5112]

@@nickbazan27 Kawasaki makes two versions of the z900. The retro z900rs version is tuned to produce better low end grunt and mid range than the other model. I have never felt like the bike was "over powered". You can short shift and ride quite comfortably in traffic but if you want to wind it out the bike will get down the road. The suspension is very forgiving and it handles much better than a sporty. Also the dual discs in the front with abs are much superior.

[@nickbazan27]

@@mitchburk5112that is what i figured - it be better all around from chasis suspension handling cornering etc. than pretty much any harley. is the front end pretty controllable? my only worry was if it was like u barely tap throttle and boom power wheelie type of stuff.

[@mitchburk5112]

@@nickbazan27 If you are coming from a bike with a carb the throttle response on this bike with fuel injection will seem more sensitive. Need to get used to smaller throttle movements. But I've never sensed any sort of attempt to wheely, even when I got on it pretty hard. They have traction control that are set to control any wheely. In settings 1 and 2 the ecu senses the speed of front and rear wheel and cuts engine power if speeds differ.

[@nickbazan27]

@@mitchburk5112 sportster 1200 that is fuel injected. 50 hp to 100+ with the kawai. i just love the root beer color classic looks

[@michaelgurgone1611]

What country is this new model made and assembled in???

[@BikesILike]

My 2012 Thruxton was assembled in Thailand I believe and it was one of the most reliable bikes I've ever owned.

[@Ritalie]

The engine is so unique, and actually odd. Are there any other companies out there with a 60 degree, liquid cooled V-Twin? It seems like such an unusual configuration, with most high performance engines being a 90 degree V-Twin.

[@BikesILike]

Actually it's more common than you might think. Most notable is the Indian Scout which has a 60 degree V - Twin (2015 - present). Other notable bikes with 60 degree V-Twins were Harley's V-Rod from (2001 - 2017), Aprilia RSV Mille (1988 - 2003), Yamaha XV250 (1988 - present), Yamaha DragStar 250 (2001 - present).

[@regularguyfritz9450]

As usual, a great detailed video. I actually like the looks and can’t wait to ride it and compare it to my Triumph Bobber. As a matter of fact, do that comparison. 😉

[@BikesILike]

Thank you! I have compared the performance figures of the Sportster S VS Triumph Bobber in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5jGe5aKbMSJm6c

[@marcoapdantasify]

Nice bike ! But not sure about riding position. The price range seems to be fair (for a Harley) if you know what I mean!

[@BikesILike]

Agree. I think the riding position will be a deal breaker for some people. 👍

[@Metla666]

Nice bike, First Harley in 15 years I'd consider buying, if it weren't for the price. Perhaps they shouldn't have called it a Sportster.

[@nicksundby]

Looks like a bullseye to me

[@Derchizul]

starting price in Denmark is $38900 us... :/

[@nikitis13]

😳 WTF!! Thats robbery.

[@Stevebarker66]

A friend of mine has just bought a new Fat Bob; he was offered £2K off the list price. I think Harley know the Sportster S will eat their Fat Bob lunch: more power & accessible torque, less weight, very similar visual appeal. This bike has thrown the ball back at Indian and the Scout is due a makeover. We know the FTR engine can produce 120bhp and all Indian need to do is throw that in a Scout frame with USD forks, the instrument cluster from the new Chief and a re-styling job. I've owned my 2017 Scout for 4 years now (srd not a Bobber) and it's great to see H-D tempting me with something cool and competitive. But I'm never the first to buy a new model and I'd like to see what Indian's response is. But if I had no bike and was buying today, I'd buy the Sportster S over the Scout. That said, I didn't upgrade to the Bobber because when I rode it the suspension was too hard and too limited compared to my standard Scout. Thanks for a great, insightful and comprehensive video. As ever, a test ride would be needed 👍

[@BikesILike]

Thank you and you're welcome! I read every word of your comment and found myself agreeing with everything you said! The ball's definitely now in Indian's court and as you rightly said it wouldn't take much for them to catch up. Looking forward to seeing what a future Scout brings to the party. 👍

[@bernardlesperance742]

Hey?! What about Canadian pricing?! ;)

[@BikesILike]

They're starting at $17,999 Canadian dollars. 😁 Would you like me to include Canadian money in future videos? (Where possible). www.harley-davidson.com/ca/en/motorcycles/sportster-s.html

[@bernardlesperance742]

@@BikesILike I was just joshing. Go ahead if you want to but no need. That Sportster S looks like it means business ... but I'll stick with air cooled sportsters ... for now anyways

[@DeathByCactus]

Weird. HD put out a bike that's appealing for a change. Not gonna trade my Striple for it or anything, but..

[@timkis64]

whether it fails or is a huge success,i applaud harley for TRYING to look forward in the bike market.not constantly pushing the 1950s heritage crap that allowed them to get lightyears behind all the other bike manafacturers.hell the japanese make better harley clones than harley can make the originals.

[@planetisabelabeyond6593]

100% true

[@BMWHP2]

What I dont get, is why you compare it to the Honda, Kawa, Yamaha, . . and the Scout? Instead of the FTR. The FTR has around the same HP, TQ, Weight, etc as the Sportster S and both have the same sort of Flattrack/streetfighter DNA. my 2 cents.

[@BikesILike]

I have compared the Sportster S to the FTR in this video. 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5jGe5aKbMSJm6c

[@BMWHP2]

@@BikesILike sorry, good job.

[@BikesILike]

@@BMWHP2 Thank you! 👍

[@USNVA-yn6cp]

just close your doors HD

[@stevejobs3895]

I love that bobber style of the Harley. But the Indian is $5000 cheaper...

[@jlg3315]

i like the looks of the bike but every time i see someone sitting on it it looks tiny. not tiny for an HD, just tiny.

[@glennt3207]

The riding position is the deal breaker for me...forward controls on a bike is the most uncomfortable position for myself as a rider. HD should make a standard with this motor to spark my interest.

[@BikesILike]

Depends on your height, at 6'1" I find forwards more comfortable. There are more bikes based on this platform coming. I believe mid controls may be available as an option for this bike. 👍

[@glennt3207]

I am 5'6 which would make a sportster a good option. Lord knows how much HD would charge for the mid control option.. Hopefully we will see some new bikes coming from HD.

[@BikesILike]

@@glennt3207 I'm sure the new bikes are on their way. I remember reading somewhere (maybe a comment) that the mid controls were $600. I did research to confirm that figure but couldn't find any concrete info.

[@glennt3207]

@@BikesILike I am in the US and follow HD. I owned a sportster in the past. Love their new engines. As a shorter rider and an owner of a Japanese bike I wish they would stop with the niche type styling..good video ,I dont usually comment.

[@BikesILike]

@@glennt3207 Thanks Glenn and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! 👍

[@robbyclark6915]

I know the 3 Japanese bikes are a better value for power and features and such but, I could never be satisfied when I take a look back at one of them sitting in a parking lot. They just are not something I could see myself riding long term. Aka, they ugly! IMO of course. The Honda is about the best looking of the bunch but still not even in the same league as the Harley in the all important “looks” category. Which btw, I don’t know why more people don’t use that as a category when comparing bikes? It’s extremely important in the decision making process! I would pay more and take less for a good looking bike vs one I don’t think is attractive. Actually I did just that when I bought my iron 883. I could have gotten a lot more bike for the $$ but I love the look of the iron 883 so I bought it.

[@spacecoastz4026]

I have a 2015 Yamaha FZ-09 and absolutely love that bike. And it also looks better than the most recent model...IMO.

[@fauveride]

$14995? That's Indian Chief price! omg

[@thebob6385]

I want HD to do a better job of competing with Indian. If they're looking to out-gun the Scout, I'd say they did it with style. Unfortunately this is significantly more expensive than the Scout to the point that it's not really competing with the Scout anymore. It's competing with the Chief. The Chief is air-cooled and less sporty so it's not really the same thing. If the Chief is what you want, I'd say the Sportster S probably won't satisfy for desire for a classic cruiser. If the Sportster S is what you want, you probably aren't considering an air cooled bike like the Chief. Many Indian fans like myself have wanted a bike the size of the new Chief with the PowerPlus 108 (or bigger) and were disappointed with Indian for going the air cooled route. This misstep left a niche for HD to put the Sportster S and now Indian needs to step up to the plate with what we've been asking for or risk losing out. Good job Harley Davidson. I hope this marks the beginning of the great HD comeback and an epic one-upsmanship between Indian and Harley.