Harley-Davidson’s Sportster S is here to breathe some fresh life into the brand.
The new Sportster S features the Revolution Max powertrain that you’ll find in the new Pan America and is a feet-forward, sporty bike more powerful than the current lineup.
While a new Sportster S is a welcomed addition to the HD lineup, I’m not sure this is really the way to go. It’s not a bad move but not totally the right one. Let me explain.
A New Harley-Davidson Sportster S
Thick. That’s what I see when I look at the new Sportster S. It’s a design trend that has been plaguing automobiles for decades now. Everything made for the American market looks as fat as our asses. What happened to lithe, thin, and elegant designs?
In cars, I can get it. You have safety standards and crash ratings to worry about. So you walk a balance between design and safety. But on a motorcycle, crash testing isn’t something you need to worry about, so why make a motorcycle that looks this chunky?
To be fair, this is a move Harley has been pulling for years. Appealing to boomers with chunky thighs and fast-food diets. But Harley is attracting a new crowd or at least trying to and I worry this new Sportster S isn’t different enough to do that.
Is The Sportster S the Right Bike for This Moment?
The Bronx concept bike would have been better. But Jochen Zeitz, the HD CEO kill that model, or so I hear.
Zeitz recently said this about the Sportster S: “This is a next-generation Sportster defined by power, performance, technology, and style. And it’s part of our commitment to introduce motorcycles that align with our strategy to increase desirability and to drive the legacy of Harley-Davidson.”
I don’t outright disagree with Zeitz here. The bike is obviously a step forward in many ways for the Sportster, but it could be better. For example, the bike makes 121hp. That sounds fantastic until you realize the Pan America (which uses the same engine) makes 150 hp.
When I first thought that, I figured HD would have just given the Sportster S more torque, which sounds fantastic, but no. It’s 94 lb-ft of torque for both the Sportster S and the Pan America, so what gives?
I will say the price isn’t too bad. $14,999 is perfectly reasonable, so HD seems to have learned something there. For far too long it’s priced itself far too high, and my first thought on price is that it’s not a bad spot to put the bike.
My biggest issue with this bike is that it doesn’t seem to take enough chances in terms of overall style and design. Harley has a great opportunity here to go in a new direction as it has with the Pan America, and it chickened out. The Sportster S is undoubtedly an impressive motorcycle—I will already say that without having seen it in the flesh.
But I wish Harley would have gone more the route of the Bronx, or done something a little more in-line with naked sportbikes out there. Right now, I see the Sportster S as a budget alternative to the Triumph Rocket III, and the horsepower isn’t there to compete. That said, a few modifications to the Sportster S and it will.
So, in short, Harley has a fat-looking, fast bike (that should have been faster) that’s reasonably priced. I hope it sells, but at this moment I’m unsure. And I wish HD would have taken a few more chances with this design. Still, it’s a small step in the right direction.
