A Sportster History

May 6 2010 by Jason Fogelson

Harley-Davidson owners are divided into two camps: Those who love and respect the Sportster, and those who deride and dismiss the Sportster. I own a 1993 Sportster Deluxe, and I am definitely a Sportster lover. If you're a hater, I hope that you'll read on so that I convert you.

The Sportster, or XL in Harley alpha-parlance, traces its roots back to the 1950s. Harley introduced the Model K in 1952, and it was the most technologically sophisticated bike the company had built to date. Capable of 16-second quarter miles and with a top speed over 100 miles per hour, the Model K was the best-performing Harley of its day, and quickly became the bike of choice for adventurous young riders. The bike evolved over the next few years, and in 1957, the Sportster name and XL designation was attached to the line.

Looking at a 1957 Sportster today, the bike still looks incredibly capable and cool. Though it had not yet been fitted with such modern features as disc brakes or belt drive, the basics were all there: twin-shock rear suspension, beautifully shaped "peanut" gas tank, pushrod V-twin engine, separate transmission case with derby cover, clean lines and tons of attitude.

From 1957 to the present, Sportster has evolved in parallel to the Big Twin, taking on features like electric start (an option in 1967), electronic ignition (1978), its own version of the Evolution powerplant (in 1986), and other modern conveniences. Sportster's big breakthrough, in my opinion, was in 2004, when the engine was rubber mounted into the frame, similar to the way that the Dyna and Touring engines are mounted. Before 2004, Sportster riders were subjected to substantial vibration, especially at freeway speeds. A day of riding could produce an evening of numb hands, feet and buns. With rubber mounting, much of the Sportster engine's vibration is quelled, and the bike becomes a much more civilized ride.

Elvis Presley was the most famous Sportster rider ever, and if that doesn't convince you that the Sportster is a cool bike, you just don't know what cool means.

Because the Sportster is smaller than the Big Twin, it has accumulated a reputation as a starter bike, or derisively, as a "girl's bike." While Sportster's compact size can make it easier for a smaller rider, it is definitely not a beginner's bike. Sportster's power to weight ratio was the best in the Harley lineup for many years, until the water-cooled VRod came along. Sportster is also a relative bargain, coming in thousands of dollars cheaper than the rest of the Harley lineup. I bought my Sportster while I was living in New York City, because I needed greater maneuverability and visibility than a Big Twin gave me. I never regretted the purchase, even though I could have afforded a Big Twin back then. And whenever another biker made a remark about my "girl's bike," I just offered to compare odometers. My Sportster got more use than their Big Twins almost every time.

The 2010 Sportster lineup is the most radical in the bike's long history. Seven factory editions are available: The 883 Low, the Iron 883, the Nightster, the 1200 Low, the 1200 Custom, the Forty-Eight and the XR1200. The last two, the Forty-Eight and the XR1200, are the most unique of the bunch. The Forty-Eight is designed to recall the classic bad-ass styling of a hot rod Sportster from the 1950s, while the XR1200 is decked out in Harley racing colors, and is the sportiest Sportster ever to emerge from the factory.

It's a great time to be a Sportster fan, and an even better time to be a Sportster owner.

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