Top 5 Reasons to buy a Harley-Davidson Sportster

[@juliancrooks3031]

Not everybody has 30 to 40,000 to buy a new Harley the Sportster is always been the budget bike for those of lower income and it's been an extremely reliable machine over the past several decades

[@ironridermoto]

I agree! 👊

[@thomasrishj228]

Im from Denmark and have to ask, does a sportster really cost up to 40,000 $ in the U.S ?

[@ironridermoto]

@Thomas Rishøj Nah Julian meant $30-40k for a new big twin (like CVO at that price). The new Sportster S costs $19k, and previous models would cost $13k new. I'd go used all day every day 🤘

[@traviswhitworth6506]

@@ironridermoto yes, used all day! I just got a 2002 Sportster 1200 with 4800 miles in outstanding condition for 3800 (this is my first bike😁)! It has several upgrades too! Screening eagle pipes, seat, quick revocable windshield, oem Sportster later side saddle bags, 2 helmets. It was a steal

[@ryanbrown3538]

Cannot understand why anyone would spend that much on a bike when you can get the sportser for between £4k-£9k

[@clintwoodruff1187]

Rode Ironheads daily for 25 years. They're great motorcycles! However, require more maintenance than evo's. Not for folks that like gas gauges, and digital gear selecters, etc. If that stuff pleases you, keep on steppin'. What you find in Ironheads is real old time, raw machinery. If you love it, ( spell that, tinker with it regularly) it will love you back. If you like to spend your time in your garage, rather than on the couch with video games, this may give you more thrills than anything you ever imagined. Happy Trails....

[@bonz2877]

been riding 2015 XL1200V since it was new, still loving it

[@phildiegidio4658]

Hard to argue with your choices. I have a 2014 Sportster Custom. Tank is 4.3 gallons. Now that the EVO engine is discontinued….the Sportsters value just went up. Gotta love it.

[@ironridermoto]

Long live the EVO!

[@ajfoyt1163]

Been riding dirtbikes and street bikes and crotch rockets all my life. Bought my first ever Harley this past August; 2001 sportster 1200 custom with stage 1 mods. Put 12" narrow apes on immediately. Most comfortable bike I've ever had the privilege of riding. I'm absolutely in love, and will probably ride sportster from this day forward.

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats! They're a great all-around bike! 🤘

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I have had my Sportster for 25 years and four hundred thousand miles on her.The engine is all original.

[@keithstone6411]

@@frankmarkovcijr5459no way, that is super inspiring

[@paullesho2693]

I really like the 2005 1200 custom I bought. it is all O.E. I would not change a thing. Great bike !

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats on the Sporty! Thanks for watching 👊

[@markjulianoriginalhooli2217]

Had a Pan a Knuck a flathead WL 67&68 BSA choppers both hardtails both with dual amals a 58 triumph frisco style chopper now I'm on my fifth Sportster All Hail the Mighty Sportster 😎

[@ironridermoto]

All Hail the Mighty Sportster! 👊

[@chE3z1]

I am on the lookout for an evo sportster (883 or 1200 I am not picky), partly because I am a smaller guy and like the idea of a smaller, lighter cruiser. But also I love the idea of doing a 1250/1275 kit on it + handling upgrades and making it rip! Something about a small/light cruiser that handles with gobs of power just really calls to me, and those evo sporties are pretty cheap nowadays!

[@ImminghamIronhead]

Ironheads have an amazing crackley exhaust note, and lots of top end noise, and the cams can be quite vocal if they're not shimmed. Slightly less powerful than the Evo's on paper, but seventy mph feels like a hundred because of all the noise and vibration. I'm told the XL's were developed as race bikes to beat the British twins of the fifties, and it really shows on twisty roads; '79-'81 models even have what looks like a Norton Featherbed frame (presumably AMF had a lot of unsold XLCR Cafe Racers on their hands at the time), but most people prefer the traditional Harley frame of the earlier models

[@planetx5269]

Wow, what a great video! I like all Harleys but the Sportster has always been my favorite. I have a beautiful Italian 500 cc Moto Marino and really like it and it's great. I also have a 2006 Harley Sportster 883. It's the last year of the carburators and I like carburators. I love how it looks and sounds and it's loud and vibrates and it's just a joy to ride. I also love the belt. I hate messing with chains. The Sportster has such charm and nostelya. I hope they always make them.

[@ironridermoto]

Thanks PLANET X! The MoCo might always make a "Sportster" but they'll never be the same as these air cooled carbureted models. And that's not saying the new line of Sportsters are bad, they just need to be relevant with the times. Saying that, I'll stick with my old bikes 🤘

[@MOTOZILIANS]

hello i have a 2000 sportster 883 and i love it i swap the primary sprocket from a 27 to a 29 tooth for better top end speed for touring...she rides amazing and gets great gaz milage great video i am a new subscriber to your channel

[@ironridermoto]

I appreciate it! Taller gearing does wonders for sportys! 👍

[@donhenderson5100]

Great video. Look how great that Sportster treated you on your ride. No foof or 800 pound luxo sled. Just a great bike to ride.

[@ironridermoto]

Couldn't agree more! 👊

[@bigd4561]

I have a 2001 883 stage 1 ... selection bias makes me feel good. Ahhhh self justification feels great. 😊

[@boomdawg56]

I have a 1980 Ironhead, a 2010 883 Iron and a 2016 1200 "72". I love the Sportster. The Ironhead does sound better than the evo Sportsters but the ride on a rubber mounted engine is so much better.

[@ironridermoto]

I completely agree, nothing sounds as good as my ironhead!

[@dan1769]

Was Lucky enough to buy a 2002 Sportster 1200 Custom for 3,000 from a friend with just 4,000 mile on it.

[@traviswhitworth6506]

Nice! I just got a 2002 for 3800 with screening eagle pipes, oem saddle bags, quick revivals windshield, Harley cover, forward controls, 2 helmets, upgraded side mirrors. I think I stole this bike! Guess up instantly and rubs and sounds amazing.

[@ThatThrottle]

Excellent video! I completely agree that solid-mounted evo models are the best. I'm currently on the lookout for an '03 Sportster myself. Ride safe, and cheers!

[@jimstenlund6017]

That’s what I’m thinking too. My FZ1 is too much for my 45mph commute.

[@geraldscott4302]

The M8 engine on the newer big twins DOES NOT have that Harley feel. I love Sportsters. I have owned several. All bought used (buying a new Harley of any kind just does not make good financial sense) You get the Harley "experience" on a smaller, lighter, simpler bike that is still big enough to take you wherever you want to go. The 1200 Sportster is only 140cc smaller than an EVO big twin, yet it has a lot less weight to move around. Sportsters handle very well compared to larger Harleys. I have never tried to put a windshield on a Sportster, I'm just not a windshield guy. I have put sissy bars/backrests and saddlebags on them, that's about it. Loading them down with stuff not only makes them heavier and harder to throw around, but IMO it completely ruins the look. If you want a touring bike, then get a full sized Harley (just not an M8) I also strongly advise staying far away from the EFI models, it is now possible to convert all Twin Cam models to a carburetor, but I've never heard of converting an EFI Sportster to a carburetor. If someone comes up with a way to do that, that gives you a lot more Sportsters to choose from without having to deal with the garbage technology of EFI. For me old tech is the ONLY way to go. I am a vintage vehicle enthusiast, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. None of that "modern" trash for me. The hard part about finding a decent used Sportster is finding one that has not been butchered. I have seen some of the most vile things imaginable done to Sportsters.

[@juhansuits6555]

You can convert them to carb, easiest way is to get an aftermarket ignition. Quite a lot of information online actually, people do it all the time. For me, a setback worth to mention of the rubber mount Sporty is that there's no easy access to the transmission anymore. With the rigid mount Sporties it's about a 20 minute job to have the gearbox out. Don't need this feature often, but i personally needed it last summer and would have hated to have had to take the motor out of the frame and split the cases to solve that little issue I had.

[@grayghost1423]

What exactly is the Harley experience? I have had mostly Harleys since 1988 and want to make sure I'm not missing something.

[@topherdalrymple6535]

I have a 2005 883XLC, ive done some stuff to it, put 4000 mies on it in a year, its badass.

[@ironridermoto]

Right on! Ride safe 🤘

[@dieselrotor]

45 years riding. Just bought an 05 883 w/7k miles on it. Looks show room clean for $3,500. The Electra Glide nor the Goldwing have been ridden since I bought it lol !

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats! Sounds like you got a good deal! 👍

[@dieselrotor]

@@ironridermoto Thank You. I think so. He just fits a perfect niche, not too small, not too big for town. I think "the only" mod I want to do is an 8 over. Thanks for the video too, liked it.

[@clintwoodruff1187]

@@ironridermoto - you sound like a perfect candidate for an 'Ironhead'. The average Sportster rider today, is not! They want gidgets, and gadgets, and something to say what gear they're in. Personally, I get rather resentful about these guys. Maybe shouldn't, but it just happens. When I fell in love with Sportsters back in the mid 60's, they were the fastest production bike in the world. (Or at least they had that rep.) The competition was not baggers, it was Triumphs. Nortons, BSA's, etc. And Sportsters were not cheap! By the mid 70's, when I finally had the bucks for one, they were $2350.00, compared to a Triumph was probably $1800. / $1900.00, or so. Don't remember exactly. But a Sportster was going to cost you a lot more than all the other bikes of it's type. Honda 750's were $1700.00 , and swarming all over the streets with their little formula car sounding motors. God, I hated that sound...still do! Sportsters sort of grumbled down the street. They had their own distinctive thunder that was unmistakable. I put a set of bolt in Sifton cams, and an S&S carb on my '72 1000cc, and blew off every Honda AND Kawasaki 900cc I could find on the freewway! Man, were they ever surprised! They would never come back up next to me after that, they just got off at the next off ramp. I didn't have 'gear selectors, or abs crap... just pure Sportster. Didn't even have a tach, or Speedo. I knew what gear I was in when the RPM's were happy, it was the right gear. And my speed was right when I was going just a little faster than the traffic around me...or in the case of a Honda or Yakadookie, when I was in front ! 25 years I rode Ironheads, day & night. Mostly didn't even have a car, didn't need it...I had my Sportster. Nobody laughed, or got away with the "girls bike" thing then. If you thought you had a fast bike, you wanted to find a Sportster to try out your stuff on, to see if you measured up. Most times, they went back home mumbling to themselves about "getting lighter", or some such crap. Best days of my life! You form a relationship with an Ironhead that's very hard to ever find with anything else. Hard to describe. Set the valves real often...it becomes like a love affair taking care of it that way. You also learn the value of locktite ! Sorry, guess I'm missin' it these days in my old age. But if I could do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing...I'd find me another Ironhead, fix it up 'my way', and ride the wheels off it . Late at night sometimes when I can't sleep, I still hear the unmistakable grumble of an Ironhead off in the distance... and it all comes back... and it takes me back to a place where I was in perfect harmony with the world around me. Love those Ironheads !

[@backnine]

I am 65 and had not ridden in 40 years. Still have my M license. I had a 1972 Sportster back in the late 70's. I started looking at Harleys and saw the model 72 and bought a nice 2014 1200 cc. This bike would be how I would build one. I paid $8000.00 for the bike. If I would have waited a little while I could have bought one for $6000.00. I did a few up grades like FP3 Tuner worth every penny. Memphis windshield

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats on your new sporty! The 72 is a sweet model 🤘

[@larrysimmons9732]

Memphis shades detachable windshield, Harley saddle bags and a saddleman seat. I put 1200 miles on it in 4 day back in may without any fatigue! 2004 sportster, got a few go quicker mods. I will never sell it!

[@Saveamerica0000]

Memphis windshield for sportster

[@tylerjames8773]

Watching this video because I'm picking up a sportster tomorrow and I'm obsessing, couldn't help but feel like you were cruising through my old stomping grounds then I saw the ancaster sign. I'm in Alberta but moved here from Lynden. Glad to see the area. Great video man!

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats man! And I appreciate it! The back roads around here are nice to zone out and feel those engine vibes 🤘

[@juliancrooks3031]

My 83 xlx went over 900,000 miles before it gave up the ghost

[@1sttimegunowner]

Oh wow thats nuts

[@ironridermoto]

That. Is. Impressive! Wow - thanks! 👊

[@keithmcmenamie1382]

Riding Sportsters since77,best looking bike

[@chrishoesing5455]

I just bought a '77 sportie

[@keithmcmenamie1382]

@@chrishoesing5455 hope it wasn't my 77, I'm still looking for it,wish I didn't trade it in back in 87,darn good bike,kick start, enjoy

[@chrishoesing5455]

@@keithmcmenamie1382 not your then, this ones elec start

[@shanetorney]

I have a 883with 1200screaming eagle upgrade,2004 I love it not to Heavey,and you're right penut tank looks the best,and it goes like shit of a shovel

[@BigD11B]

My all time favorite Sportster is the 72, XL 1200V.

[@pricetag30]

Love my 2014 883 Superlow!Its my first Harley and i’ve done 13k in 2 years.Going to do a 1275 Hammer Kit soon😄

[@RCTUN748]

Wow, boy wanna be a beast!

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats! She's gonna be a ripper! 👊

[@superdivemaster]

I like your windshield ...

[@martincvitkovich724]

what windscreen are you running in this video, and does it help with head winds beating helmet at all

[@ironridermoto]

Sorry man, I have no idea. Probably got it from a swap meet or something. For wind buffeting, you've got to play with the angle and height of your windscreen. There's lots of videos to get you started but in the end you've just gotta adjust it until you get it right.

[@mikeriley3938]

Reason number 6 is that they are fun to ride.

[@ironridermoto]

Completely agree! 🤘

[@jamesthompson7969]

Lead-Sled? I'm riding a new 2021' CMX1100 Honda Rebel, I already have Two Brothers exhaust, because of the sound. I have plans to get a Harley-Davidson Soft-tail S'!

[@ironridermoto]

Led Sled Customs 👍

[@jamesthompson7969]

"Thank You, Sir!" For the information.

[@jamesthompson7969]

@@ironridermoto "Appreciate the information, Sir!"🙃

[@blackholeentry3489]

My last Harley was a '65 Sportster I bought new and sold it in 68. Most uncomfortable bike I ever owned. In '72, my BIL rode into my driveway on a brand-new Honda 750. Took it for a short ride.....goodbye Harley and I never looked back. Now, facing 82, I have two Honda ST 1100's I'm going to sell and put my 66 year motorcycle career in my past.

[@goldilocks913]

That’s a long time buddy, well done 👍🇬🇧

[@ironridermoto]

Different strokes for different folks - 2 wheel is 2 wheels in my eyes! Congrats on your moto career! 👍

[@blackholeentry3489]

@@goldilocks913 Thanks. Really appreciate it. I've aways known the best part of the entire motorcycle experience is the other riders.

[@blackholeentry3489]

@@Rob-lj1jl Thanx. Right now I'm not ruling anything out, but everything has a life and I've long said I do not want to quit riding due to an accident.

[@blackholeentry3489]

@@Rob-lj1jl I'm really curious as to where you live. In 1980, I drove my old pick up on the Al-Can all the way to Circle, AK. (still have the pick up and am shortly going to use it to move in with my wife. We have been married for over 10 years, but routinely drive 210 miles to spend time with each other) Also, rode my motorcycle to Bahia de Los Angelos, which is on the east side of Baja, CA. While there, I met some Canadians who invited me to visit them at their Canadian home, which was at Crofton, on Vancouver Island. I did, then, when I left, took the ferry to Vancouver, rode north to Whistler, then headed east for two days, eventually reentering the states in northern Idaho, and then on to visit a brother who lives about 40 miles east of Lewiston.

[@fullblownredneck9623]

'01 Sporty, low power, loud Screaming Eagle exhaust. What more could I want.

[@ironridermoto]

🤘

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

IMO, HD has all but guaranteed all EVO/previous Sportsters icon status with the release of the liquid cooled Sportster S. That bike is over $20k out the door. A gently used or even late release EVO can easily be had for around $10/11k. Easy choice for many if not most as the bikes are from 2 different worlds despite sharing the Sportster name. Maybe that’s all part of the plan… It’ll be interesting to see where the Sportster goes from here. Time will tell

[@Darkrider8500]

I’m am on my 7th 1200R. My Fav

[@bradleyj.fortner2203]

I inherited an 88 XLH. It's been sitting for 20 years. I'm thinking real hard about dusting the cobwebs off of that thing and doing something with it.

[@ironridermoto]

An 88 XLH was my first Sportster about 10-15 years ago, loved that machine! I say get that thing back on the road where it belongs! 🤘

[@johnscaife2725]

I love my 04 XL 1200 C. The fuel tank is a fuel tank, no tricks.

[@ironridermoto]

An amazing design, nice and simple 🤘

[@Rundark-]

Bought a brand new '06 1200R, was a total beast! Blew the doors off big twins with 70hp and 79 ft pounds of torque. I could take corners so fast by rolling back the throttle lifting the front end and it would naturally set it self straight. I sent every piece of chrome to the powder coaters and murdered it out, nxt thing you seen Harley do was copy my idea and turned out the Nightster. I'm sorry, but that was just the corniest name they could come up with. I'd have called it "Black Iron" as that Iron name was cool. I ended up selling it to a good friend who bought it for his son, it was nice having friends getting into riding street bikes after I got into it. These guys rode dirt forever and the transition was seamless for them. I ended up with an '05 1200 Custom I bought on the cheap from a guy who was wrecked by some thoughtless @-hole who pulled out in front of him. Put him in a wheelchair dead from the neck down. Know what though? He was the coolest most upbeat person I think I have ever met. I called him on a Sunday and had to wait till monday to get the money out off the bank, called him Monday to tell him I was a grand short and I apologized for wasting his time. He didn't know me from Adam and told me he would float me till I got the rest and let me take the bike home while he held the paper. A month later I showed up with $500 and he gave me the paper and said not to worry about the rest. I had to replace the entire front end of that bike, the wheel was bent in half like a taco shell. I took it all apart down to the spoke nipples and put them on a leather lanyard and wore it for a while. My intent was to give it to the man after I had all my people hold it and put good spirits into it. About a month after I gave it to him he regained the full use of his left arm, I'm choked up right now remembering how over the top thrilled he was. Like he just received a new lease on life, I swear he looked like he was going to float right outta that chair. I'll never forget that man, Al Viado, a hell of a good human being who could have sank into the darkest recesses and no one would have held it against him. But he went a different way and was all the better for it and his positivity was infectious no one could escape it.

[@charliesmith9528]

Is a 1200 considered a girls bike,,im 67 and need to downsize from my roadglide ,,,will a 1200 work for a man

[@brb653]

The reason some people might think they are girls bikes is because they are smaller and easier to handle, which sounds exactly like what you are looking for. Huge step down in comfort though, you could also try a Dyna or Softail which are also smaller but more comfortable. I don’t know anything about the newer models.

[@charliesmith9528]

I have held off from buying the 1200 for exactly what you said,,ones i have rode are pretty rough riding compared to a dyna or heritage...presntly looking for a deal on marketplace,,alot of overpriced dynas but the heritage models are reasonably priced...trying to spend less than 6k as i wont be riding that much..def miss not having a bike for those afternoons when i want to get away for a hour or two

[@brb653]

@@charliesmith9528 I would have to pay double that for a good used example of those over here in the Netherlands. You guys are lucky!

[@charliesmith9528]

@@brb653 What do people in Netherlends think of our countries present situation with a clearly demented pres and a cackling vp qho just may be our next pres,,im always curiuous how people in other countries view the USA as it is today,,its changed alot for the worse,,so much immoral crap made legal in last 4 years,,soory i know its off topic but had to ask as i fear with ptrsent leadership we will soon be dragged into war with russia and iran...as for pricing on bikes i live in sc ..harleys here are 3k higher than same harleys in northern states like wisconsin,,really makes no sense..

[@davidkeck1878]

You said it right. The Sportster was the perfect machine for the guy that wanted a bare bones riding experience. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Unfortunately Harley decided to fix it.

[@crimsonking2023]

I got my 2008 sporty last year for 3k with 9k miles on it it was a 883xl relly great deal I bought to build a 1275cc bobber out of it and that's what it is now lol.

[@ironridermoto]

Congrats! I've heard the 883 has slightly different gearing so when big bored to a 1200 they produce better than a stock 1200... 1275 is a ripper though! 🤘

[@crimsonking2023]

@@ironridermoto yes they have a taller first gear than the 1200

[@walterfechter8080]

Thanks Ironrider.

[@ironridermoto]

Thanks for checking out the video Walter! 🤘

[@calimilk1113]

Agree 110% not everyone wants a big ass bagger mobbing in town or bar hopping!!!!!

[@lovingmylifeasIage6741]

My sportster is Rock & Roll.

[@ironridermoto]

🤘

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I have had my Sportster for 25 years and four hundred thousand miles on her.

[@ironridermoto]

This! I love it man, congrats! 👊

[@Moto-me]

I owned a 75 ironhead 1000. Loved the sound and also wasnt very much vibration. Sold it to a guy who wanted to make a chopper. Kicked myself.

[@Dontex1949]

Where did you get the windshield!?

[@ironridermoto]

Can't remember, probably a swap meet?

[@MS-un9zq]

DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR...the best Harley on the road...becareful with too many customizations....the more you customize...the more repairs you will need.....beautiful bike.

[@ironridermoto]

Thanks and I completely agree! 🤘

[@TeensierPython]

If I could find an xr1200 i could afford. I’d grab one.

[@pirrychavez683]

Love sporty's!!!

[@robertrogers7939]

Sporty !

[@pricetag30]

3rd fluid would be Brake fluid

[@ironridermoto]

Naturally 🤘

[@bill392]

I like a nice Sportster 72 but I'm not really a fan of the small tanks for going to the gas station every other day. I have an '09 1200 Custom that I bought new with 4.5G and I just love that bike. Never had a single problem with it. This is my bike kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn7OgYd-gsemppo before I put on the Arlen Ness air-cleaner and progressive shocks.

[@ironridermoto]

Looks great! I like the 3.3gal tanks, still has that peanut style/shape with a decent amount of mileage 🤘

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Let's see how many Stormbreaker the Chinese sells.They did not copy the big twins .

[@bigd4561]

Kilometers? A fellow Canadian?

[@ironridermoto]

32,000 kms - and yes sir! Southern Ontario - how about you?

[@bigd4561]

@@ironridermoto North of Montreal, small town named Two Mountains.

[@larrylong4407]

Yes 2006 1200 its my baby and shes. BAD

[@projectohgee4988]

They sound like a sewing machine 😂 I love mine they don’t really have a problem keeping up with other bikes either

[@MarsOrBust-d9h]

A 2.4 gallon tank is like 16 sticks of dynamite

[@JohnSmith-wv4or]

They,call,the,sportster,iron,883,abitch,harley,got,news,for,you,women,ride,harleys,better,thanmen,do.

[@jaywinters2483]

kill the bs music & Ill watch it

[@victorwest8041]

why not show the bike instead of the usual handlebars going down the road, can you not stand by the bike and talk about it ???

[@ironridermoto]

Check my other videos, I did exactly that 👍

[@jimstenlund6017]

Because we all know what a Sportster looks like.

[@w.stuart668]

no thanx, never. ill stick with my rigid big inch choppers

[@jdd6447]

That road is the worst road in usa

[@ironridermoto]

I'm in Canada 👊

[@jdd6447]

@@ironridermoto shit you have bad roads like we do🤣🤣

[@MarsOrBust-d9h]

New 1986 XLH liberty 1986 cost 5900 dollars Machine Gun sound. My old 1880 iron Sportster was better loud with an old seventies carburetor, later with a S &S and not as loud pipe didn’t sound good as the 1986 1100cc liberty. The 2001 1200cc with loud Vance pipes really doesn’t even sound as good as that 1100cc did with the original exhaust pipes