HD is going after the Indian Scout, similar design influences, remains to be seen if HD's bike at $14,999 can compete with the scout that runs $9-12K.

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As part of its lineup overhaul, Harley-Davidson officially pulled the sheet off its new 121-horsepower Sportster S model, topping off the performance bike range with double the output of its Iron 1200 model.

Harley has been teasing the new Sportster S for a while now, touting its performance and hinting that it would render the bikes it replaces obsolete. Power comes from Harley-Davidson's new 1,250cc water-cooled V-twin, dubbed the Revolution Max 1250T. It makes 121 horses and 94 pound-feet in the Sportster S (as opposed to the 150 horsepower it produces in Harley's Pan America 1250 adventure touring bike). Despite nearly doubling the Iron 1200's horsepower, its fuel economy is expected to be 1 mpg better (49 vs. 48).

“The Sportster S is the next all-new motorcycle built on the Revolution Max platform and sets a new performance standard for the Sportster line," said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO, Harley-Davidson. "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."

"Every visual design element of the Sportster S model is an expression of the motorcycle’s raw power," said Harley-Davidson design boss Brad Richards. "This is a wolf in wolf’s clothing."

The Sportster S is more than just a new engine. Its powertrain is a structural member of the chassis, which means it doesn't have a conventional frame, but sub-frame elements bolted directly to the driveline. H-D says this significantly reduces the bike's weight (it weighs 62 lbs less than the Iron 1200) and helps centralize the mass better for superior control. Its high-mounted exhaust and forward-mounted controls reinforce its performance ambitions, but H-D will offer a relocation kit for those who want a more relaxed posture.

The Sportster S will be available this fall with a starting price of $14,999.

Autoblog Link

They coulda made it unfugly

Good LORD, that thing is BUTT fugly!!!!

Click out to 8 min to miss all the corporate speak and see it in action..

Geez, HD needs some design pointers from the Italians and Japanese. Engine isn't even all that impressive for a V-Twin. Thing fell out of the ugly tree and hit every single branch (and I'm guessing they drug it back to the top to let it have another go )

From that R side shot, the exhaust & swingarm are the only pain points for me.

Will be interesting to see them once the aftermarket gets things going & cleans it up a bit.

Would probably still get an Indian Scout over this, though (probably for less $$ too).

I kinda like it. Sort of Mad Max like.

Minor point but the tail light looks odd to me. I would have to ride it before I come to any conclusions. The seat looks good for 15 minutes of ride time. Looks heavy but specs say it is 500 pounds wet.

And this is what HD is putting that Sportster up against. Game, set, and match, Indian.

Indian Scout


Indian FTR 1200

Meh.. I think the Indian FTR 1200 would get my money if I wanted this type of bike.

“Okay folks, Remember how everyone hated the V-rod, well imagine if we take that engine and put it in a Sportster……. Wait , no cone back ! My story gets better!!!””


LoL, I love Harleys up to & thru the 2000’s. But once Willie G Davidson left the designs went to shit. Harley needed to start shifting its design direction but I feel it went to quickly & drastically in a direction that’s irritated almost every owner & rider I talk to.
Companies with historic / legacy images should look at Porsche & take a hint.
Small steady progression & improvements over time while sticking to the classic design cues.

My .02¢

Aaagghhh! It is insanely ugly! I can't believe H-D would even offer such an ugly bike. Sportsters are supposed to be clean, uncluttered machines and this one is anything but. Epic fail.

flashguy

I wouldn't be caught dead sitting on that thing, even in the showroom. Harley came up with a new way to define ugly that's for sure.

Jim

It's perfect.

The sporster is the ladies model, and well hey chicks on bikes. I'm ok with it.

Cheers~

HD sure is getting good at making ugly motorcycles.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Game, set, and match, Indian.

I am the farthest thing from a motorcycle guy; however, that Indian Scout picture is making me wonder why I'm not.

In the 70's the Sportster was a good looking bike. This new one, not so much.

That's really a bad looking motorcycle IMO, the look just seems to be for styling's sake and following the trendy fat tires without fenders and scrambler high, burn your thigh, exhaust. Function or elegance were never considered by whatever team styled it. Just look where the seat and rear fender stop, they don't even make it over the rear axle. Once the initial wave are sold I can't see it selling very well because it's ugly and not cheap.

It's clearly not for everyone, obviously HD is targeting youth buyers, upgrade the engine, improve the electronics, do away with the old styling.

If you take the time to look at the video, click up to 8 min and you can see the advanced electronics, three mode riding selection from Rain, Normal, Sport, digital output in a round traditional look some of the new tech.

This bike along with the PanAmerica shows that HD is addressing their product line toward the youth market.

We are the old and busted, they are the new hotness