Page 18 - Riding On Autumn 2022

Get your

Sport+er On

B orn in 1957, the Harley-Davidson Sportster :H FRXOG SUDWWOH RQ DOO GD\ DERXW WKH WHFK VWX໤ ZKLFK
you’ve probably read already. But take note of the claim that
celebrates 65 years this year and has
H-D’s Variable Valve Timing (VVT) does not require periodic
demonstrated lasting desirability with
adjustment, so common in other engines thanks to hydraulic
Harley fans and riders.
Conceived as a stylish, lightweight sports bike it lash adjusters.
has remained the longest-lived motorcycle line in the entire So let’s throw a leg over and see what all the fuss is about.
Harley-Davidson family. Derived from the side-valve 750cc
0RGHO . LQWURGXFHG LQ WKH 6SRUWVWHU ZDV NQRZQ DV At the Sydney launch in December, it was a bit of a
the XL series until last year (2021) and had surprisingly little FKRUHRJUDSKHG D໤DLU DQG QRW D JUHDW LQGLFDWLRQ SDUDGLQJ
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chance to unleash the beast on a proper weekend outing
The 883 cc (53.9 cu in) and 1,200 cc (73 cu in) Evolution as an owner may choose to do. To this end, I rounded up
engines replaced the older ‘Ironhead’ in 1986 and the cousin Jason on his big BMW sports tourer and headed north
transmission uprated to 5-speed into 1991. Now, when 65 out of Adelaide into familiar territory.
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most radical reworking ever. On the twisty, serpentine roads of the Adelaide Hills, the new
Sportster can really show its mettle. I’ve ridden all kinds of
Earlier this year, the Revolution Max engine broke cover in bikes on these roads and the new ‘Sporty’ is quite at home.
the guise of the Pan America and had the critics in a tizz. The fat, specially-designed Dunlop GT503 tyres reduce
This engine is a complete departure from the archetypal air- nimbleness slightly, but for regular riders like myself, there’s
FRROHG GHJUHH 9 7ZLQV WKDW KDV VR GH¿QHG WKH 0LOZDXNHH more than enough control.
brand for decades. As we found in the Pan America, it is
lively, smooth and full of surprises. First impressions. While some have made comparisons to
the V-Rod, my recollections come more from the short-lived
Demonstrating the versatility of this new powerplant, the FXDR, certainly in terms of riding position and wind-in-your-
1250cc, DOHC 60-degree, water-cooled V-Twin is designated face nakedness. Our test bike came with the small solo seat
T for the Sportster S, whereas the Pan America was S. This and the standard forward controls which, again, reinforced in
SDUWLFXODU 5HY0D[ HQJLQH LV GL໤HUHQW LQ WKDW LW SURGXFHV PRUH my mind its intended habitat of (sub)urban use. A few hours
torque at lower revs and it actually produces less power up on the road at highway speeds and this old guy’s dodgy back
high than in Pan Am indicating, in my mind, its suitability was starting to give grief.
for urban environments rather than long-legged highway
cruising. The rear suspension is easily adjustable for preload like
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The Sportster S is a good 30kg lighter than Pan Am and riders who’ve racked up some highway miles, rear travel is
despite some structural similarities, looks for all the world OLPLWHG DQG FDQ EHFRPH XQFRPIRUWDEOH LQ WKH EXPS\ VWX໤
OLNH D FRPSOHWHO\ GL໤HUHQW ELNH 7KH 5HY0D[ HQJLQH LV D My fat butt left the seat once or twice on the back roads.
structural element of the chassis, eliminating a traditional
IUDPH + ' WHOOV XV WKLV IHDWXUH VLJQL¿FDQWO\ UHGXFHV ZHLJKW If your intention is to do extended touring, you’d be better
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RIDING ON 18