Harley-Davidson New Sportster S Test Ride | Unique in its own way, this is a challenge from Harley!

Harley's most popular sports model with 60 years of history

Since the first generation of the Sportster series was born in 1957, it has fascinated fans around the world for more than 60 years as a nimble sports model that uses an air-cooled V-twin OHV engine.

In its long history, the Sportster was not only a custom motorcycle, but also a model with an aggressive side, setting the world record for the fastest record-breaker and dominating traditional American dirt track racing. The Sportster S is the unmistakable successor to that name, with all-new styling and a new look.

Pan America's latest unit optimized for the modern Sportster

The power unit is the newly developed liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin DOHC 1,252cc Revolution® Max 1250T engine, based on Harley's first adventure tourer, the Pan America 1250, which debuted this year. The engine features the same variable valve timing system as the Pan America 1250, but the head has been redesigned from the ground up, with different pistons and combustion chambers and optimized intake and exhaust for more low-to-mid range torque.

The chassis has been lightened and simplified to make use of the engine as a rigid part of the chassis. The front and rear suspensions use Showa φ43mm upside down forks and linkage monoshocks, and the front and rear are fully adjustable to suit a wide range of driving styles. The front and rear brakes are made by Brembo, and the front has radial monoblock 4P brakes.

In addition to five ride modes (Sport, Road, Rain, and two Custom modes), ABS and TRACTION CONTROL for cornering, C-DSCS to electrically control excessive engine shake, and cruise control are standard equipment to support a safe and comfortable ride. These devices can be easily operated via a round 4-inch TFT display, and the most advanced technology in the two-wheeled industry today has been generously applied. In a nutshell, this is a reconfiguration of the Pan America's successful combination of engine, chassis and electronic package into what a modern sportster should be.

A completely different model with a Sportster mindset

My first impression of the new Sportster S is that it's a Sportster from the future. The 2-1-2 high exhaust system is reminiscent of the flat trackers of yesteryear, and the ultra-thick front tire is reminiscent of the Forty-Eight. While the overall silhouette is reminiscent of the past, nothing is the same up close. It's a completely different model with a Sportster mindset.

The stretchy style stretched out front and rear is the Harley way. I'm relieved that they didn't try to make it too sporty by raising the seat or making it too compact. Even if it is a sport model, the dignity of the king is seen in the fact that it stubbornly keeps the traditional style.

The ride position is large as is typical of American-made motorcycles, but the seat is low and flat at 755mm, making it easy to straddle and very comfortable to stand on. The weight of the motorcycle is 228kg, which is light even for a Harley in this class and especially light for a Harley. The low center of gravity gives the motorcycle a stable and well-balanced feel from the moment you put it up on the stand.

Its acceleration, exciting and spicy!

The roar of the engine wakes you up with a bang. The pulsating pulse of the big-displacement V-twin is even more powerful than the Pan America, but once you get going, the revs are so smooth you'll be stunned. It's a different kind of feeling from the image of a conventional Harley with a heavy crank thumping around.

The power output is focused on the low and mid range, and while the peak power is limited to the 120ps range, the torque is extremely strong, increasing by up to 10% between 3000rpm and 6000rpm compared to the Pan America. It's great on the road, but if you push the accelerator a little harder in Sport mode, even the most seasoned riders will recoil in disbelief. Exciting and spicy, it's just like a drag machine on the open road. The response becomes much more gentle and easy to handle in "Rain" mode. It's just right for everyday street driving.

Arm strength is ultimate justice! Super Individualistic Handling

The handling is very unique. Checking the front and rear tire sizes, we found a combination of 160/17 and 180/16. The front tires are the same size as the rear tires of a normal motorcycle. That's why the front end is heavy and stubborn, always asserting its presence. It's a hunt for the image of a masculine American twisting and turning with arm strength.

"Why is it like this?" When I first started riding the motorcycle, I had a lot of questions in my head. (lol), but once you get used to it after driving around Tokyo, the brawny ride becomes quite addictive. When you think about it, this is a huge amount of torque. If it was too light, it would have been scary, and the front end would have needed to feel grounded to match the size and power of the motorcycle.

In this day and age where it is commonplace for the word "handling" to be accompanied by the word "nimble", this crook feels good in reverse.

This is the Harley style, a sports machine with a USA soul.

The caster is upright, the fork offsets are modern, and the front tire profile is relatively sharp, so the steering response is sharp. The front tire profile is relatively sharp, so the steering response is sharp, and if you give it the right impetus, the motorcycle will turn in a straight line.

Even in low-speed turns, it's no good if you're too intimidated by the steering's sharpness to hold it back, but if you let it do the work, you can make small turns. The higher you go in the speed range, the more stable the motorcycle becomes, and the more you enjoy the solid and solid Harley-like ride. For better or worse, the handling is responsive.

This is Harley's way of sport riding, and this is the best of Made in the USA!

From inches to centimeters, everything is new and unique

The brakes are firm and effective, the clutch is light and easy to start and stop. The LED headlights are bright, the round TFT gauges are stylish and easy to read, and there are no corners left to chance. Speaking of which, the size of the bolts has been changed from inches to centimeters starting with the Sportster S. It seems that the reliability of the machine has been improved in many ways. Everything is new, everything is unique. The Sportster S is a challenge from Harley.

The last thing that bothered me was that the step position was too far forward for this machine, and the rear suspension was too stiff. This is a matter of personal preference, and with the availability of custom parts such as pillion kits and mid control kits, it should be possible to make it your own.