Why the Sportster S Is the Hidden Gem Harley-Davidson Enthusiasts Are Overlooking

Old-school riders

can be a surprisingly mercurial lot when it comes to things new and unusual. Let’s take a trip in the way-back machine when FL and XL models ruled the American roads and the new FX hit the scene as a full-size
cruiser
model, where it was immediately derided as “too Japanese” for the U.S. market. Then the FXR rolled to the same accusation, then later the
Dyna
. I would point out that, in spite of this, all the above eventually became the “real Harleys” of their era.

One model that has always been on the receiving end of near-universal hatred since the days of the K-Model is the
Sportster
, which, as a family block, is usually completely disregarded along with its riders. This ingrained attitude coupled with the decidedly modern, sporty look and performance of this new generation, the

Sportster S

is definitely not on many older riders’ radar. In short, they ain’t the “

skirtsters

” of the past, but the name association alone is enough to turn off the riders from older generations. The price is the first stumbling block,

with a $15,999

starting sticker.

Why The Sportster S Engine Breaks All The Harley Rules

A high-revving, liquid-cooled V-twin that’s too wild for the old guard

The very beating heart of the
Sportster S
breaks several of the established yet mostly unspoken rules. Sure, the

Revolution® Max

1250T is a V-twin engine, but it is liquid-cooled with little of the charm of a more traditional air-cooled mill, though you can barely see the thing in the black hole under the fuel tank. Additionally, the internal layout is another departure from the norm with a short-stroke bore-to-stroke ratio. That results in an engine with more horsepower than torque, which is the reverse of the
Harley
norm.

Torque maxes out at 6,000 RPM while the ponies top out at 7,500 RPM, making this a rather peaky engine that will prefer to be wound up most of the time. The factory packs on the electronics with Cornering-Enhanced

Traction Control

, Drag-Torque Slip Control, and Enhanced Lift Mitigation. That’s right; it’s a Harley-Davidson with an anti-wheelie feature, and that should tell you volumes about this engine and what it’s capable of. Unfortunately, it’s exactly this performance that makes it less than desirable by older riders who may prefer to loaf along on a long-stroke V-twin instead of this newfangled and

stupid fast

lump.

Sportster S Engine And Performance Specifications

The Sportster S Purposely Looks Nothing Like A Harley

Lightweight, high-tech, and frame-forward

The bones on the

Sportster S

give it a sporty shape that’s more in line with a foreign
sports bike
builder than anything H-D would normally have in its lineup. Not only that, but it uses the engine as a stressed member in order to eliminate a large chuck of the Trellis frame, which is also not in H-D’s usual playbook, and all cause for criticism and sarcastic observation by the age group in question. The swingarm is

weird

as well, with a split tubular construction that is doubtlessly both light and rigid to handle the stresses of such a sporty setup.

I’m a little surprised at the single front brake given the performance this

sporty

Sporty brings to the table. However, it weighs in at only 502 pounds soaking wet, so with the Cornering-Enhanced

ABS

feature on board, the solo front brake is enough to get the job done. Another front disc would still be a welcome addition if Harley is taking feedback.

Sportster S Chassis And Suspension Specifications

This Sportster Offends Harley Purists And That’s The Point

Stripped-down, single-seat, and all this performance-first rebel breaks design rules

Perhaps the
Sportster
S’s gravest sin is its looks. Sure, it’s pure muscle, but there’s the problem as this is a form-follows-function situation for a bike that places performance at a premium. The front fender is barely there, the rear wheel is poorly covered, and don’t even get me started on the subframe section, which will never mount storage boxes or serve as a platform for a bungee net, and you can go ahead and forget about carrying a passenger.

The build brings to mind the old
XDiavel
from
Ducati
with its sports bike looks and windsock rider’s triangle. Honestly, mid-mount foot controls may have been the better option, but we’ll never know now. At least the King of Paint has some nice colorways from which to choose.

Sportster S Design Specifications And Dimensions

The Nightster Is The Sportster For Traditionalists

Classic looks, smaller engine, and lower price

The new Sportster lineup is limited to only two other models from which to choose in 2025: the
Nightster
and

Nightster Special

. For our purposes, the base model

Nightster

will serve nicely as our alternative to the Sportster S within the current lineup. A more conventional look meets the eye here with lines not entirely unlike the Sportsters that came before. It’s still a rather compressed build, which is in keeping with family tradition, and the fuel tank bears the influence of the old peanut tank that, for decades, has topped Sportster models.

The Revolution Max 975T is a bit smaller and occupies the slot previously held by the

Evolution

883 models. Naturally, it puts out less

oomph

than the Sportster S, but is still a relatively high-performance machine compared to Sportsters just a handful of years ago. Sticker shock is lower as well,

with a $9,999 MSRP

.

Sportster S Vs. Nightster Engine And Performance Specifications

BMW’s R 12 nineT Takes The Fight To Harley’s Sportster S

A power cruiser with boxer punch, sporty posture, and German tech to match

Sport cruisers, or power cruisers if you prefer, aren’t very popular with older riders, but there is definitely still a market for them in a younger buyer base, and
BMW’s R 12 nineT
fits into the same niche. It has a somewhat more standard build with actual fenders and a two-up seat over jockey footpegs that pair with the short handlebar that pull the pilot into an aggressive, forward-leaning riding posture.

Like Harley,
BMW
has its own iconic twin to power its machines, and in this case it’s the 1,170 cc Boxer-twin that does the trick. It also prioritizes power over torque with slightly lower performance than the Sportster S, but still plenty for a fun and sporty ride. Top-shelf adjustable suspension meets H-D on even ground, and the electronics suite is also almost as robust. The base model

will set you back $16,595

.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S Vs. BMW R 12 nineT Engine And Performance Specifications