Selepas tiga tahun sejak memperkenalkan model konsep menerusi 1250 Custom, Harley-Davidson akhirnya merasmikan Sportser S, sebagai penyambung legasi model Sporster jenama itu.
Sportster S ini juga dilihat bakal sertai Pan America sebagai penyelamat jenama syarikat dari Milwaukee itu, ekoran saban tahun merekodkan penjualan yang kurang memberangsangkan.
Bernadikan 1250 Revolution Max, enjin 1,252cc V-Twin DOHC dengan penyejukan cecair itu menawarkan 121hp dan 127Nm sekaligus menjadikan model ini antara yang paling berkuasa dikalangan model Harley-Davidson.
Bagi meningkatkan lagi pengalaman menunggang, Sportster S turut dilengkapi ciri variable valve timing (VVT) dan ‘self-adjusting lifters, fungsi sama yang terdapat pada model ADV, Pan America.
Dalam usaha menghasilkan jentera yang ringan, bahagian enjin kini juga berfungsi sebagai bahagian yang menyerap tekanan (stressed member engine) yang bertindak sebagai elemen struktur aktif sekaligus mengetepikan fungsi kerangka konvensional.
Hasilnya, Sportster S ini hanya seberat 227 kilogram lantas meningkatkan kawalan tunggangan.
Antara ciri lain ditawarkan adalah penyerap hentakan belakang (jenis piggyback) Showa boleh laras dan fork USD 43mm juga dari Showa, paparan TFT 4″ dengan Bluetooth connectivity, lampu LED penuh dan tiga mod tunggangan dengan dua mod custom, port USB-C , tangki 11.8L dan cruise control.
Sistem membrek dikendalikan kaliper Brembo jenis radial yang dipadankan bersama cakera brek (tunggal) 320mm depan dan 260mm belakang. Namun, kami berasakan dengan tayar depan berukuran 160/70-17, Sportser S ini wajar diberikan cakera brek berkembar dengan dua kaliper monoblock Brembo.
Sportster S ini juga dilengkapi dengan fungsi moden antaranya 6-axis IMU yang menawarkan cornering ABS, traction control, Drag-Torque Slip Control dan tekanan angin tayar.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S ini didatangkan dengan pilihan warna Vivid Black, Stone Washed White Pearl, and Midnight Crimson dan ditawarkan pada harga bermula USD14,999.
Harley-Davidson first unveiled the 1250 Custom in July 2018, a concept motorcycle dubbed to be the heir to the throne of the ageing Sporster range.
Three years later, the Milwaukee-based company finally unveiled the finished product with the 2021 Sportster S.
The new Sportster S set to take the world by storm thanks to the acclaimed 1250 Revolution Max, a liquid-cooled, DOHC, 1,252cc V-Twin powerplant capable of producing 121hp and 127Nm.
In an effort to make the riding experience even better, the Sportster comes with variable valve timing (VVT) and self-adjusting lifters, the same function available on the Pan America.
According to Harley-Davidson, the powertrain also function as a stressed member, thus eliminating the traditional frame, which significantly reduces motorcycle weight to just 227kg and results in a very stiff chassis that contributes to precise handling.
The Sportster also comes equipped with a preload-adjustable Showa (piggyback) rear shock connected to the steel trellis swingarm and a fully adjustable 43mm Showa upside/down fork.
A four-piston Brembo radial calliper handles the braking with a 320mm disc at the front and a two-piston Brembo calliper at the rear with a 260mm disc.
Harley’s even generous enough to fit the motorcycle with a six-axis IMU that offers cornering enhance antilock brakes, enhanced traction control, Drag-Torque Slip Control System, and tire-pressure monitoring system.
To complete the 21st-century features, the Sportster S sport a spherical 4″ TFT instrument, all-around LED-lighting, three riding modes with two custom setups and Bluetooth connectivity.
Other notable functions include:
The all-new Sportster S is available in Vivid Black, Stone Washed White Pearl, and Midnight Crimson and is available at a starting price of USD14,999 (RM63k).
The Harley-Davidson Sportster line-up has just gotten even more attractive in conjunction with Art of Speed 2019.
Harley-Davidson Sporter models are now produced CKD (complete knocked down) in Thailand. That qualifies them for NAFTA exemption, hence lower selling prices.
But lower selling price or otherwise, the Sportster still exudes a livelier and characterful ride compared to its bigger brethren. It’s not saying that the bigger Softail and Touring families are not good, but the Sportster 883 or Sportster 1200 models are lighter, more agile and accelerate quickly. Those qualities make them more practical for daily use.
Now, you can experience the Sportster through the special deal.
Get one at the Art of Speed 2019 and Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) will throw in a set of Screamin’ Eagle exhausts. On top of that, enjoy worry free 2-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Those are great reasons to just get a brand-new unit.
But hurry because the offer is only for a limited number of units.
Priced from RM 62,600, loans are arrangeable through HDPJ – up to 7 years repayment at 3.6% per annum.
You can view the new Harley-Davidson Sportsters at the Art of Speed 2019, happening on 27thand 28thJuly, at MAEPS Serdang.
Do you own a Harley-Davidson Sportster? Or do you know someone who does? Then this would be a good time to pay attention as you stand a chance to save some serious cash on maintenance cost, or possibly even help someone save some cash.
What’s happening?
Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) and Harley-Davidson of Penang (HDPG) are hosting a special Sportster service campaign specially for Sportster owners. It does not matter which year the bike is or where it was bought from, HDPJ and HDPG will be happy to welcome you and your Sportster for this service campaign.
When is it happening?
Now until 31st January 2019, HDPJ and HDPG are offering a special “buy one and get one free” service package.
Will it blow up my bank account?
No! What would usually cost close to RM900, is now available for just RM549. The package includes one Major Service (that involves a engine oil change, transmission oil change, filter change, a brake flush as well as a diagnostics and general inspection) as well as a Minor Service that also involves all of the above expect except for a transmission oil change.
If I buy the package now, do I have to use it immediately?
No! The best thing about this deal is that you can buy the package now or at any point before Jan 31st 2019, and use it anytime within 2019.
Wow, great deal! Where do I buy one of these packages?
Interested? For more information, you can call +60379559399 if you would like to visit Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya, or call +6045062200 for Harley-Davidson of Penang.
We would be bluffing if we said we didn’t drop our jaws at what could be the all-new Harley-Davidson Sportster for 2020. It looks like something Wolverine would ride right into the heat of battle. Whatever it is, the new Harley-Davidson 1,250cc Custom is stunning.
It features the classic cruiser design lingo with a low and long stance that gives it a hardcore roadster like stance. And powered by a 1,250cc, liquid-cooled, V-twin engine, you can expect this bike to be quite a beast.
Harley-Davidson has not released much details besides this photo and some information regarding its engine such as the fact that the engine uses a 60-degree V configuration. The cylinder heads are also unusually large and our source suggests that the engine could feature a dual-overhead-cam valve train. Also from the photo you can tell that the cylinders do not have any fins for cooling, which means the engine relies on a water-to-air radiator to keep the engine running at its ideal temperature.
The engine may look visually similar to the 975cc unit powering the Streetfighter (click to read about the new Streetfighter), but the displacement is obviously different, suggesting that Harley-Davidson could be building two variants of the same engine.
Watch Harley-Davidson’s promotional video below, showcasing its past, future plans, and the 4 new models it plans to introduce next year.
Just like the Streetfighter, the engine is mounted inside a blacked-out tubular steel frame, with multiple engine-mounts located in front and behind the cylinder heads. The swing-arm has obviously been stretched and elongated to accommodate the massive 16-inch Pirelli tyre. The rear suspension is kept out of view but the front is obviously managed by an inverted fork with a 17-inch front rim kept in check by a pair of hydraulic disc brakes.
The sitting position appears to be a mix of performance and comfort, suggested by the forward-mounted foot controls and the tracker-style handlebars.
From the photo, you can also make out other aesthetic features such as the cable-actuated clutch, Fat-Bob style LED headlights, and dropped mirrors positioned beneath the handle bars.
Harley-Davidson has confirmed that it plans to introduce this bike as a production model in 2020 alongside the Pan America and Streetfighter.
So where the Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200 is the hardcore chopper with performance that could make a sports bike blush, the Sportster 48 is the chilled out cruiser with a design that looks like it came right off a 60s era vintage Harley.
That iconic fat front tyre, the low slung body, forward controls and single-passenger seat are all meant to make the bike look retro cool. And cool it definitely is.
I have always been a huge fan of the 48. I have a 2014 Sportster 48 and love every bit about it, especially because of its laid-back yet powerful character, and because of its classic good looks of course. So if the weather is not too hot and I am having an easy day, I usually take out the 48.
The Iron 1200 may have that iconic chopper like styling and the ergonomics of it makes you feel totally in control weaving in and out of corners. But the 48 is different, it encourages you to slow down and enjoy the ride, some call it a thinking-man’s bike, the man with a free spirit but yet has places to be and people to see.
The 48 is lower than the Iron, a little over an inch closer to the ground, with a little more rake and trail and a shorter wheelbase. Then of course there are the tyres with the 48 getting beefier 130 section front tyres and a smaller 16 inch rim while the Iron 1200 gets 100 section tyres and bigger 19 inch rims. Both share the same 150/80B 16 rear tyre.
The wheels and the sitting position are the only difference between the two bikes, but the bikes are far from the same. The Iron 1200 lets you carry lower lean angles into corners which means more speed and agility, while the 48 feels like it is hardly done bending over when the foot pegs meet the road.
The build of the bike gives it a heavy metal feel to it, you will come to appreciate the weight of the bike. Cables running down the handle bar and beneath the frame all suggest that this is bike that will give you plenty to customize later on in its life, so you may never get bored of owning it.
Living in Kuala Lumpur means you’re constantly surrounded by traffic, construction and buildings, and though the 48 felt at one with the roads carved into the cliff side roads of Split, Croatia, I will confess through experience that it is also perfectly adapted to life in the concrete jungle. It does not have a very good turning radius for tight u-turns, but at least you will still look cool while clumsily turning around.
And so, after spending some time with the Iron 1200, I hopped on to the new 48 Special. The Special variant gets some chrome highlights around the exhaust and other shinny bits. It also gets the same mini-ape bars as the Iron 1200 but not the headlight cover.
At first ride both bikes offer about the same character, and why shouldn’t they as both are powered by the same air-cooled evolution 1202cc engine with the same 100Nm of torque. Even the gearbox and all of its ratios are the same.
But the similarities end at the first corner, each bike has its own unique character in a corner. There is an immediate feeling that the 48 is a little reluctant to bite in as compared to the Iron. This is because of the thicker front tyre, but once it settles in the front end feels more confident especially during the exit where the Iron can feel a little nervous as soon as it squats under power.
The Iron 1200 is also better to cover miles with. The 8-litre peanut tank of the 48 gives it a range better suited to city riding. And its outreached handle bars, foot pegs and smallish seat will kill your back after about an hour or so of riding. It becomes so uncomfortable that you simply want to get off the bike. It is a common problem with the 48, I suffered the same with my own bike and the solution was to get a bigger, more supportive seat. The seat on the Iron 1200 though is fantastic to say the least.
The 48 also comes with the same retro AMF-era paint job which just lends to its classic looks. The two new Sportsters, though visually different, are nearly identical in geometry yet completely unique in character. The 48 Special is obviously the more stylish sibling in the Sportster family.
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Sportster 48 Special is yet to hit the Malaysian market but we hear that may happen towards the later part of the year, and when it does arrive, this is one Sportster that would be worth giving a look at the Harley-Davidson KL showroom at The Gasket Alley in PJ.
The Harley-Davidson Sportster is the oldest continuously produced motorcycle. It has been in production since 1957, and though a lot has changed, park new and original together and you will still be able to pick out some similarities through 60 years of evolution.
This is something the geeks in product development call ‘product continuation’, it is the retention of the DNA of a particular model so it can develop and evolve but yet stay true to the original. Sometimes in design, sometimes in purpose.
But the Sportster is special because it is one of the few motorcycles that is perfectly adaptable to being multiple versions of the same bike.
And that is what has made it immensely successful, because it can be a bike to ride up to the mountains or go touring with. It has spawned variants that were absolutely devilish in corners yet perfectly friendly for newbies to get started with.
The popularity of the Sportster grew at about the same time as the Triumph Bonneville’s, the Norton’s and the Enfield’s. The rise of today’s modern retro machine is considered to be a revival of this era, and the Sportster Iron 1200 is the perfect salute with its classic styling.
Fast and stylish with radical chopper styling, the Sportster Iron 1200 we rode in Croatia is everything Harley-Davidsons were meant to be from the start, fast and stylish.
To the uninitiated, the Iron 1200 may look just like an Iron 883 with taller mini-ape handle bars instead of the usual flat-bend handle bars on the regular Iron. But the Iron 1200 is not just the same motorcycle with a bigger engine, it is very much its own motorcycle.
It has plenty of style to begin, it could have been on the cover of U2’s Achung Baby and would have fit right in with the AMF-era tank stripes.
And just like the original Sportster intended, the Iron 1200 is brilliantly fun in corners. It shares the same chassis as the Iron 883 so it has the same frame, wheels, suspension and just about everything else. In fact, despite the fact that the it has a bigger engine and taller handle bars, it manages to be less than a kilogram heavier than the Iron 883, which is a feat by itself.
So the two are clearly siblings, just with different characters. You sit with your fists in the wind, the mid-set foot pegs giving you a perfectly adapted peg-scrapping sitting position, and the big 19-inch front wheel makes this Sportster one of the best handling in its class. It also has an amazingly comfortable seat, much much more comfortable than the 48 Special.
But it is that engine that suddenly makes this Sportster Iron everything it should have been right from the start. The Iron 883 was great but it was also very much an “entry-level” model at one point of time so it felt limited when it came to performance. The Iron 1200 obviously built around the fun package of the 883, but with heaps more fun.
So it all begins with a new air-cooled evolution engine which has 30% more capacity than the 883 and produces about 100Nm of torque. The engine is connected to the same 5-speed gearbox as the 883 though with different gear ratios. As with most Harley-Davidsons, the best way to ride the 1202cc engine is just to leave it in a higher gear and ride the mountain of torque is offers through the corners. Of course, you could bang down the gears and catapult out of corners too. Either way the Iron 1200 is happy to oblige.
But as fun as that sounds, there’s an unnerving feel as you get on the throttle though. Just as the bike piles on some speed, the front goes into a mini-wobble as the bike squats on maximum acceleration. It is not very noticeable but it is there everytime you blast out of a corner.
And matching all the fun and power is some fantastic handling. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t have fun with Harley-Davidsons because the Iron 1200 is brilliant in corners. Purists will love the fact that it does not come with a lot of electronics like ABS (optional) and traction control. And the entire meter cluster has been flushed down to the bare necessities, giving you only the most important information. And don’t let that headlight cover fool you, it sucks at deflecting the onslaught of wind, the Sportster Iron 1200 is still very much a city bike than it is a highway cruiser.
But despite the new herculean engine, the brakes and suspension are the same as the Iron 883, which means the same dual-piston calipers front and rear with a single disc keeping you in check. But this just means adjusting your riding style to allow for more foot-peg scrapping fun as you get to carry more speed into corners.
And because there is no electronic interference to control the wheel from slipping, you have to be gentle with the throttle, ask for too much and you risk lighting up the rear on exit. Which can be fun in experienced hands, but scary for the rest.
We spent the entire day literally carving up mountain roads, scrapping foot pegs on both the Iron 1200 and the new Sportster 48 Special (which we will get to in a later article). There is no doubt that the Iron 1200 is one of the greatest Sportster’s to date, just a pity that it has not made it to the Malaysian market as yet, but when it does, pay attention as only a few bikes have the talent to back up good looks, and this Iron 1200 is more than just talented.
Do you prefer a bigger bike? How about something like a Road Glide? Click here to read our review and to watch a video on it. Or do you prefer the classic styling of the Street Glide? We rode that too! Watch our video review here.
Harley-Davidson has just introduced it’s latest addition to the Sportster family, and calls it the Roadster.
The new Roadster has been stripped down with a minimalist design with only the “essential elements of a pure riding machine,” as Harley so eloquently put it.
The new Roadster also marks the continuation of a legend that began when the Sportster was first introduced back in 1957. The Sportster is also the longest continuously produced motorcycle in the world, and it is not about to lose steam.
The new Roadster will join Harley’s Dark Custom line-up with a design inspired by the barebones classic racing motorcycles and the latest trend in simple, basic, ‘naked’ builds.
The new Roadster may not look very different than older Sportsters, especially the Iron range, but there is a lot that is new; the Roadster gets new exclusive 5-spoke cast aluminium wheels and tyres (the front are 120/70 R19, the rear is 150/70 R18) and are mated to a new rear suspension and a front fork which is now set at a steeper angle. Harley says the 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels together with the revised suspension will deliver better ground clearance. The seat however is still set low at just 785mm.
The brakes are also new with dual 300mm floating discs up front with ABS-enabled twin-piston callipers, and a 260mm rear disc with a twin-piston caliper. The low-rise handlebar is also new while the mid-mount foot controls are supposed to centre the rider’s weight, while the fuel tank is the same 12.5-litre Sportster fuel tank.
Visually, keen Harley fans will notice that the rear fender is shorter than before while a drilled and slotted belt guard and exhaust shields seem to mimic the lightening holes in a race bike. Also new is a single four-inch clock up front tucked low in front of the triple clamp. The meter has also been changed from the usual analogue speedo, to a large analogue tacho, and a digital panel for the speedometer and other information.
The new Harley-Davidson Roadster will be available in the US in June in four colours together with a wide range of custom parts in the official Harley-Davidson catalogue. The bike shown here features a modified bike with blacked-out exhausts, a new seat, rider footrests, transmission and engine cases, blacked-out heads, removable numberplate hanger, new bar grips, mirrors, darkened indicators, a new fuel cap and a performance air filter.
Features
1200cc Evolution engine
Premium emulsion technology rear suspension with screw-style pre-load adjustment
43mm inverted front forks with premium cartridge dampening technology and triple clamp design
Dual disc front brakes with ABS
Optimised steering geometry for a responsive, confidence-inspiring ride
Two-up seat with ribbed detail and minimalist styling
Lightweight offset-split 5-spoke Cast Aluminium wheels – 19in front, 18in rear
Mid-mount footpeg controls
Chopped front and rear fenders
Low rise handlebar
Nual-function clock
Finned cast timer cover
Custom tank graphics
© Copyright – BikesRepublic.com 2023 Trademarks belong to their respective owners. All rights reserved
