Is the Harley Sportster a good motorcycle to buy?

I like the Harley Sportster. It’s relatively inexpensive and it has all of the Harley good stuff. Power, hot looks and the Harley sound. Potato, Potato, Po-ta-to, I can hear it now, I love it!

What are the pros and cons of a Sportster?

Everything has some pros and cons it’s just that the Sportster cons just stay there and don’t go away. You experience them each and every time you go for a ride. For me, the ride was too high. By that I mean that the seat was just too far from the ground.

Why did I Turn my Back on a Sportster?

Height, weight and vibration were the three biggest things that turned me off to the Sportster after I had some serious riding experience on it. But hey, that’s just me. There are a ton of Sportster enthusiasts who will ride forever on their beloved Sportster (the cafe racer) forever.

How many miles can you put on a Sportster?

There are a ton of Sportster enthusiasts who will ride forever on their beloved Sportster (the cafe racer) forever. As it turned out, I put 12,000 miles on my Sportster before I made a change.

Is the Harley Davidson Sportster 883 a new bike?

2020 Harley-Davidson® XL883N – Sportster® Iron 883 , This 883 is just a gem of a bike, and we love the color too! It is as clean and new as you can 2020 Harley Davidson Sportster Iron 883.

Can a Harley Davidson 883 be bored out to 1200?

If your Sportster is an 883 and built before 2008, it can be bored out to 1200 using the existing cylinders and a set of 1200 conversion pistons. This will give you a 40% increase in power and cost around $450 DIY on top of the budget given above or $1,000 fitted.

How tall is an Iron 883 Harley Davidson?

2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 XL883N, Front brake diameter: 11.8,Rear brake diameter: 11.8,Ground Clearance: 5.5,Height: 44.9,Length: 86.0,Seat Height… 2018 Harley-Davidson® XL883N – Sportster® Iron 883 , 2018 Harley-Davidson® Sportster® Iron 883™ Aggressive throwback styling taken to a place al…

Can a Harley Davidson Sportster be faster and louder?

Your Sportster will now be faster and louder! There is no downside to this level of upgrade, as it lets the bike do what Harley Davidson designed it to do way back in the day when exhausts were louder and life was less regulated. Skill Level – Moderate; you will need the manual and possibly some specialized tools, or the ability to make them.

What kind of suspension does a Harley Davidson use?

Harley-Davidson even offers their own premium cartridge kit that they claim “…converts the standard suspension into high performance suspension with superior ride quality that improves resistance to front brake dive, improves cornering, and enhances bottoming control.” which is now standard on some bikes.

What should I do when I Ride a Harley Davidson?

When you ride a Harley, that grants you entrance into the biker family. When not using your left hand to clutch, always acknowledge other bikers by simply extending a cool, waist high wave. It is acceptable to suspend this practice at rallies or events where there is very high bike traffic.

What makes a Harley Davidson Sportster a rough ride?

Sportsters usually get knocked for having a somewhat rough ride, and the Custom’s short-travel suspension make its limitations known on the freeway as well as on jacked-up city streets.

When did the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom come out?

The Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is one of those classics that’s been a staple in Milwaukee’s lineup since 1996, but for whatever reason we hadn’t had a chance to ride in 1,200cc engine form.

What kind of paint does a Harley Davidson Sportster have?

For 2018, the Custom also got a host of cosmetic tweaks, like new chrome uppers and blacked-out eyebrow hood and rocker boxes, laced wheels with black rims, and black paint on the gas emulsion coilover shocks to give them some pop against the chrome fender struts. A racing stripe graces the tank with Harley-Davidson script filling the space.

What kind of shock does a Harley Davidson Sportster have?

The spring-preload-adjustable emulsion shock does the best it can with a sketchy situation, but cornering clearance is limited and it’s pretty easy to touch down the peg feelers (or boot heels) without really trying.

What’s the weight of a 2007 Harley Davidson Sportster?

2007 Model XL 1200C Sportster FXDB Dyna Street Bob FLSTC Heritage Softail Dry Weight (lbs) 589 634 725 But the real deal was the vibration. My experience was on a new 2003 Sportster and since then Harley has added rubber and made significant vibration reduction improvements to the newer models.

How much horsepower does a Harley Davidson Sportster have?

After a successful Stage 1, 883cc Sportsters should begin seeing horsepower in the low to mid 50s, and torque numbers at about the 50 ft-lbs mark. Soon we’ll have a step by step instruction on how to use a Power Commander 3 USB on a Harley-Davidson Sportster.

How to Stage 1 kit a Harley Davidson Sportster?

We’ll look at what it means to Stage 1 kit a motorcycle, what the required components are, how to do it, and what benefits you can realistically expect, no matter what model of Sportster you have. What is the Stage 1 Kit and where can I find / buy it?

Do you need a jet kit for a Harley Davidson Sportster?

If you have a carburetted Sportster (1957 – 2006 models) you’ll need to look at changing your carburettor jetting via an appropriate carburetor jet kit. For 2007 and newer Sportster models you’ll need to re-map the EFI (electronic fuel-injection).

What kind of air cleaner does a Harley Davidson Sportster use?

There are a variety of hyperchargers and air cleaners available for the Harley-Davidson Sportster and for other motorcycles. My 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL-883 has a Screamin’ Eagle Performance Air Cleaner on it. This cleaner has a surface area of roughly double the stock cleaner from the factory.

When did the Sportster clutch issues found me?

Discussion in ‘ Sportster Models ‘ started by jterby, Jul 1, 2010 . Hi everyone. I just thought I’d post a quick…look what happened to my bike message. I had some clutch adjustment issues recently, and have now found the problem. I did the typical stuff that is suggested on this site. I bought the service manual.

Why is my Harley Davidson Sportster not starting?

Place your Sportster in second or third gear for the best results. A battery that can’t start your engine may no longer be recharging properly because of its age and current state of charge. The ground cables that connect the battery to your Sportster frame must also be undamaged and free of corrosion.

I like the Harley Sportster. It’s relatively inexpensive and it has all of the Harley good stuff. Power, hot looks and the Harley sound. Potato, Potato, Po-ta-to, I can hear it now, I love it!

What kind of engine does NRHS Sportster have?

NRHS writes: “Customer is in the US Military serving in the Middle east currently. Bike is a 2009 Sportster with an 88ci engine built by NRHS making about 110 hp and 105 ft lbs of torque. Dan Dunn NRHS V-Twin Performance”.

Who is the owner of the LSR 2-1 Sportster?

The bike belongs to Paul, formerly of Branch-O”Keefe Co., the famous firm, Branch Flowmetrics, founded by industry legend Jerry Branch. In 1977 Jerry ported the cylinder heads for our 24 Hour Endurance Racing bikes…things come full circle. Multiple year winner Mikuni HP Shootout.

What is the fuel capacity of a Harley Davidson?

You can see that Harley has fixed this with the newer models. 2007 Model XL 1200C Sportster FXDB Dyna Street Bob FLSTC Heritage Softail Fuel Capacity (gal) 4.5 4.8 5.0

How many miles out of a 02 1200 Sportster?

Tileman2692 has them both beat with 58,000 miles on his ’02 1200 Sportster. Same story, too — zero problems. One member, son of the hounds, points out that some bikes weep oil from the rocker cover gaskets between 30,000 and 50,000 miles.

How many miles does an 883 Sportster have?

Several members chimed in with promising anecdotes. Terrytori states that an 883 that has always been serviced at his local dealer has upwards of 120,000 miles! That’s incredible, but maybe that’s an outlier. Another member, xxxflhrci, throws in his two cents.

How many miles does a 2005 TAPPS Sportster have?

He also believes that a top end can last for over 100,000 miles, and the bottom end can go well beyond that. Wolhar states that they have 28,000 miles on their 2005 883 with no issues. Tapps has an ’05 1200 Sportster with 44,000 miles. Again, no issues.

Is it OK to use rear view mirrors on a Sportster?

My experience was on a new 2003 Sportster and since then Harley has added rubber and made significant vibration reduction improvements to the newer models. My 2003 vibrated so that using the rear view mirrors for anything other than looking for big stuff (cars) unusable. But that was OK.

Do you need aftermarket for a Harley Davidson Sportster?

This is also true for aftermarket Harley-Davidson Sportster accessories. Add some custom flare to your ride with our selection of top-name aftermarket gear, including: When you need Harley-Davidson Sportster parts, you want to make sure you’re getting top quality.

When was the first Harley Davidson Sportster made?

The Harley-Davidson Sportster range has been in production since 1957 and is marked with the product code “XL”. The K model from which the Sportster was developed was the first Harley-produced bike with hydraulic shock absorbers on both wheels.

How do you install exhaust on a Harley Davidson Sportster?

Installing nut plates to muffler. Slide the exhaust clamps onto the nose of each muffler, then proceed with installing the mufflers onto the head pipes. Be sure the crossover pipe properly aligns and engages with the muffler’s crossover ports.

Can you modify a Harley Davidson Sportster engine?

A heavily modified Sportster. Waking up a Sportster is easy initially, as you just have to overcome the neutered state the EPA requires them to leave the factory in. So pipes and an air cleaner will give you an effective boost.

Which is better a Softail or a Sportster?

But it is more than the physical height of the seat. The Sportster has a higher center of gravity than the Dyna or the Softail. When I ride a Sportster, I feel like I am sitting on top of the motorcycle (Well, that’s because you are sitting on top of the motorcycle, idiot), not part of the motorcycle, kinda just hanging on.

You can see that Harley has fixed this with the newer models. 2007 Model XL 1200C Sportster FXDB Dyna Street Bob FLSTC Heritage Softail Fuel Capacity (gal) 4.5 4.8 5.0

Can a Softail seat be replaced in a Sportster?

One inch doesn’t seem like much but it makes a difference. You can always replace the seat with a lower profile seat and get right down to the Softail height. Of course you can do the same with the Softail seat and get right on down to some serious lowrider height.

What kind of engine does a Harley Davidson Sportster have?

A Harley Sportster motor is a small four-stroke V-twin engine that has a displacement of 1200 cubic centimeters (CC) and a compression ratio of 9:1. These new or used motors can produce 58 hp at 5,300 RPM and have a stroke of 3.8 inches and a bore of 3.5 inches.

What was the name of the 1981 Harley Davidson Sportster?

While other bikes required the gratuitous downshift, the Sporty only needed a tweak of the throttle and it would give you what you wanted. There were, of course, some minor problems with the 1981 Sportster edition, but those things were easily rectified by Harley.

Can a Sportster engine be repaired after an accident?

A Sportster engine from a wrecked bike should be fine for purchase if the engine was not damaged during the accident. Any major physical damage to the engine should be noticeable and you should find all necessary information in the product description.

What’s the rev limit on a Harley Davidson Sportster?

Motorcycles with a higher rev threshold and multi-cylinders were introduced in order to give rider the power and speed they had so long desired. But at the same time, Harley-Davidson’s Sportster continued to give all of that with a consistent 5,500 rpms.

What should I know before buying a used Harley Davidson?

There are important considerations to acknowledge when buying a used Harley, rather than a new bike. Prospective owners need to do a little more homework and investigation before taking ownership of a used Harley-Davidson. What should riders know about buying used?

Can you buy a used Harley from a private seller?

Buying from a private seller may not offer any protection to a bike owner if they so happened to buy a lemon. Some people who are thinking of buying used are willing to get a used bike from a Harley-Davidson seller for a little extra assurance that no outstanding repairs need to be made on a bike.

What’s the best way to buy a motorcycle?

The first is to buy a secondhand bike that won’t cost too much to repair when and if you drop it. The second is to buy a lighter, more manageable bike that you’re less likely to drop. The decision is yours. If you’re mostly riding in heavy traffic or a stop-start urban environment, check how heavy the motorcycle is.

Is it worth it to buy a salvage bike?

The first great incentive for buying a salvage (damaged) motorcycle is the cost savings. You can easily save thousands of dollars by fixing the bike. The parts will cost so much less than buying a new or undamaged bike. But before you jump the gun and buy salvage, you must know a few things…

Can a used bike be used on a racetrack?

Some people simply want to fix the bike and run it on a racetrack, which is great, since you don’t need to worry about titling and registering the bike for track use. But should you want to register and ride the bike legally, you must find out your state’s qualifications and rules for salvage.

Is it good to buy a used Harley Davidson?

While it faces an image problem, Harley-Davidson does still make some impressive motorcycles. Especially when it comes to tourers and cruisers. Although some of its newer bikes can be fairly pricey, Harley’s reputation for design conservatism means used models offer similar looks at a discount.

What makes a Harley Davidson a reliable bike?

The stator is what lets the bike’s alternator produce current, Motorcycle Cruiser reports, and if it fries, the charging system fails. Luckily, many bikes have 3-piece alternators, so the stator can be serviced separately. Not only are Harley-Davidson Sportsters reliable, but they’re also fairly affordable.

Are there any problems with the new Harley Davidson?

This is one Harley to avoid. Yes, it’s a new bike, but the Livewire has had numerous problems in its short on again off again life. The electric bike has experienced problems with its charging system, which in turn led Harley to stop production of the bike in October of 2019.

Which is the best Harley Davidson motorcycle of all time?

Its motorcycles are sold worldwide. These are the top 10 Harley Davidson models of all time. The 1915 11F brought the motorcycling world to a completely new level. It was the first Harley motorbike with a three-speed transmission, as well as an automatic oiler and gigantic intake valves that allowed it to spit out a boisterous 11hp.

Is the 2000 Sportster better than the 1200 Sport?

Although the Sportster has its vibration issues, the 2000 Sportster can still cruise comfortably and works better than any Sportster before it, with the exception of the 1200 Sport. That also may explain why the 4.4-gallon tank fitted to the 2000 Custom at the time of its introduction last July didn’t make production.

What makes a Harley Davidson XL 1200 s Sportster Sport?

Regarding the chassis characteristics, responsible for road holding, handling behaviour and ride confort, the Harley-Davidson XL 1200 S Sportster Sport have a frame with front suspension being and in the rear suspension it is equiped with . Stock tire sizes are on the front, and on the rear.

What are the specs of a Harley Davidson Sportster?

Harley-Davidson XL 1200 S Sportster Sport Specs. The Harley-Davidson XL 1200 S Sportster Sport model is a Custom / cruiser bike manufactured by Harley-Davidson . In this version sold from year 2000 , the dry weight is 240.0 kg (529.1 pounds) and it is equiped with a V2, four-stroke motor.

Is the Harley Davidson 1200 Sport a cruiser?

A few cruiser zealots say they aren’t true cruisers, and the sportbike set acts as though they are low-tech throwbacks, a forgotten branch on the motorcycle family tree. Things are even worse for the Sportster 1200 Sport. “Sportster Sport? That’s not only redundant,” proclaimed one sportbike snob, “it’s an oxymoron.”

How to buy a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200?

CALL US AT 304-768-1600 OR TEXT TO 304-550-7036A bike that gives you the best of both worlds: custom street-inspired styling and power that offers no… Well cared for low mileage Sportster 1200 Low with many extra features. Nothing physically wrong with the bike just chose to upgrade.

2009 Harley-Davidson® XL1200C – Sportster® 1200 Custom, 2009 Harley-Davidson® Sportster® 1200 Custom Packing plenty of power and just the right mi… 2009 Harley-Davidson® SPORTSTER 1200 CUSTOM, Engine Type: Evolution® Displacement: 73.40 cu. in. (1202.81 cm³) Bore and Stroke: 3.50 in. x 3.81 in….

What kind of wheels does a 2009 Harley Davidson Sportster have?

2009 Harley-Davidson XL1200L , HAS A APE HANGER KIT,,, SADDLEBAGS,,, SISSY BAR ,,, CHROME SPOKE WHEELS, WIND SHIELD,,, GREAT PAINT HAS HIGHWAY PEGS WI… 2009 Harley-Davidson® XL1200C – Sportster® 1200 Custom, 2009 Harley-Davidson® Sportster® 1200 Custom Packing plenty of power and just the right mi…

2009 Harley-Davidson® XL1200L Sportster® 1200 Low, Vance & Hines Exhaust, Polished Lower Legs…. 2009 Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom motorcycle with Blue Ice/Black Ice Metal Flake paint (Limited 2009 paint color). The bike is garage kept, never down

How many Sportster hammers are there in the world?

By comparison, 883 heads have pretty much the same performance capability from 1986 to present. If you’re interested in more of the details of 1200 heads and their differences across generations, read this tech article .

What kind of CARB do I need for a XL1200 Sportster?

Proper fueling is critical. If your bike is carbureted (86-06), this means jets. For a CV40 carb (commonly used up to a little over 90hp), a good starting point is a 185 main, a 45 pilot, and 3 turns out on the idle mixture screw. On the higher power packages we recommend a Mikuni HSR42 or HSR45 carb.

How tall is the Softail seat on an XL 1200C?

XL 1200C Sportster FXDB Dyna Street Bob FLSTC Heritage Softail Seat Height 26.5 25.8 25.5 One inch doesn’t seem like much but it makes a difference. You can always replace the seat with a lower profile seat and get right down to the Softail height.

Is the Sportster XL 1200C in good condition?

Brand new Frankenstein trike kit just installed on a 2008 Harley Davidson Sportster XL 1200C that is in excellent condition. Always garaged. Mileage i… Mint condition. 10,000 miles.

What’s the difference between a Harley Davidson 883 and 1200 Sportster?

The Harley Davidson Sportster is a popular choice among Harley Davidson fans. You can get an 883 Sportster or a 1200 Sportster. The only difference between the 883 and 1200 Sportster is their emblems that indicate which model they are.

How much does a 2008 Harley Davidson Sportster cost?

2008 Harley-Davidson® XL1200L – Sportster® 1200 Low, 2008 Harley-Davidson® Sportster® 1200 Low The 1200 Low offers all of the performance of a fue… 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200L – Sportster 1200 Low – Like new with only 16,000 miles.Price $6,500.Recently serviced and professionally detailed.

There are a ton of Sportster enthusiasts who will ride forever on their beloved Sportster (the cafe racer) forever. As it turned out, I put 12,000 miles on my Sportster before I made a change.

How long has the Harley Davidson Sportster been in production?

It’s an important question to know the answer to. The Sportster has been in production since 1957 and to this day comes in a wide variety of models and variations. The Sportster model you have could be Low, 883R, SuperLow, Iron, Nightster, Custom, Standard, Roadster, or more.

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