When it comes to Harley bike reviews, we all know the drill – potter around town, rave about the effortless torque, bitch about the fact that it can’t go round corners, and then state categorically that while they may not be the best motorcycles in terms of sporting ability, they still charm with their rich history, character and classic “look-at-me” cachet.
It’s promising, then, that the 2014 Harley we have here has the word “sports” in its name. But at first glance, it looks suspiciously like any other Harley, with its high and wide handlebars, a low seat and feet-forward footpegs. In fact, if you’re scratching your head right now and thinking it looks like a beefier, pumped-up version of the laid-back Harley 48 we road-tested about a year ago (in our March 2013 issue), you’d be exactly right.
When I rode the 48, I was smitten by its cool looks, comfort (for a Harley) and agility. Well balanced and manoeuvrable, it was an absolute blast. With the 1200 Sportster, um, sporting a bigger tank, new cast wheels, uprated brakes and upgraded instrumentation, I’d expect the 1200 to be a better version of the 48, but things aren’t as simple as they seem.
Packing the same 1202cc version of Harley’s Evolution engine, it delivers its 65bhp and 107Nm of American beef with typical Harley oomph, thumping along with generous portions of low-down grunt and “deep-down” character. The torque peaks at 4000rpm, but you rarely have to go up there looking for it. Straddle between 1000rpm and 3000rpm, and you’ll be more than happy with the train-pulling performance (or at least it feels like it) of the V-twin motor.
There’s none of the mechanical smoothness that characterises the company’s newest liquid-cooled powerplant – this air-cooled relic is vintage Harley. Rumbly and vibratory, the engine’s earthquake-like tremors, together with the loud exhaust note, are addictive initially, but if you prefer some peace and quiet on a slow ride home late at night, you feel the urge to drop a diazepam pill in the fuel tank to calm its “spasms.”
The ride quality is typical Harley – harsh and firm, the short-travel rear suspension sends the jolt of every road imperfection directly up your spine. It doesn’t matter what the setup is up in the front; you’re seated so far back that it’s inconsequential. To compound matters, the cast wheels feel like they have less give than the spoked wheels on the 48, making the ride even less forgiving. Thankfully, the Sportster comes with spoked wheels as an option.
Perhaps my biggest gripe with the Sportster is its seat. The curved front profile of the seat means I sit with my crotch slightly raised, rather than flat, arching my back more than usual to reach the bars and making even short journeys uncomfortable after a while. Some will point to my less-than-healthy back as the reason for this, but I don’t have the same problem with the 48’s flatter, more ergonomic seat.
On the plus side, the improved ABS-equipped brakes, with their new discs, callipers, lines and reservoir, are more powerful and less grabby than before. Also useful is the inclusion of a tachometer and gear indicator. And the 17-litre tank (a lot bigger than the 8-litre one in the 48) means you don’t have to hunt for a petrol station after you ride the length of Orchard Road (to pose in your designer leathers, of course).
Like the 48, the Sportster delights with its agility and relaxed nature. With a chassis, engine and dimensions identical to the 48, the Sportster skirts around traffic with the same poise and nimbleness as its stripped-out brother. This is impressive, especially when you consider the Sportster’s hefty 255kg dry weight.
Harley-Davidson’s definition of the word “sports”, if you haven’t realised it by now, is slightly different from how the rest of the motorcycle world defines sportiness. If you’ve only ever ridden Harleys, then the Sportster 1200 will blow your mind with its handling and sportiness. But if you’ve ridden what the rest of the world (specifically Japan and Europe) has to offer, I can only think of the Sportster’s undeniable presence and compelling character, and not its actual abilities, as reasons to justify buying one.
Let’s face it, no other motorbike feels as special and attracts as many eyeballs as a Harley. In that regard, the Sportster is no different.
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE 1202cc, 4-valves, V-twin
MAX POWER 65bhp (rpm not available)
MAX TORQUE 107Nm at 4000rpm
GEARBOX 5-speed manual
0-100KM/H 6sec (estimated)
TOP SPEED 180km/h (estimated)
CONSUMPTION 20km/L (combined)
PRICE EXCL. COE
$27,900
ALSO AVAILABLE
XL883 SPORTSTER
