The cruiser that offers style, appearance and real functionality

Cruisers offer a sense of freedom that other types of motorcycles can’t always match. There are few things a motorcyclist will enjoy more than a steady pace on a road to the horizon while lazy twins count down the seconds below. But cruisers have also turned into big, thirsty motorcycles that are a handful in a parking lot or in traffic. An open road is great, but you have to go through traffic to get there. That’s why a cruiser that can deliver both weekdays and weekends is invaluable.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a real cruiser if it didn’t manage to attract attention, so it has to have the good looks we expect from our cruisers. He needs to have big tires and an aggressive attitude that says, “Don’t mess with me.” At the same time, it should be kind to your knees and wallet. Here is the cruiser that offers style, presence and real functionality.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster S delivers style, presence and true functionality

Harley-Davidson chose to break with tradition when it introduced the current generation of Sportsters in 2021. These are modern cruisers with very few of the things we associate with a traditional HD cruiser. The V-twin engine remains, but it is a high-revving engine with an emphasis on performance. There is a full electronics suite. And it looks like no other Harley in the lineup. But all these factors make the Sportster S a truly usable cruiser and not just a usable Harley; the fact that it comes from Milwaukee is just the icing on the cake.

The base price starts from $15,999

The Sportster S is quite reasonably priced, thanks to recent price revisions. More on what other products are available for the price in the last section, but suffice it to say there’s a pleasant overload of features and safety for the price. Again, we’re not talking ‘for a Harley’ here – we’re judging it regardless of the decal.

If this brave new world has given us value-for-money Harleys, we’re all for it, because it’s the consumer who benefits most. With its signature muscular appearance, light weight, performance and safety package, the Sportster S is the cruiser that offers style, presence and real functionality.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S motorcycle

The Sportster S is powered by a Revolution Max engine, specifically the 1250T. This is a fully liquid-cooled engine with variable valve timing on all valves (currently the only engine with this feature). Combined with its short stroke design, this means it has both torque and high revs, which is very different from a traditional Harley.

A by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU are present. There are driving modes, traction control in corners and cruise control. The power output makes it one of the most powerful in its price range, which suits the requirements of its power cruiser.

Transmission and final drive

A six-speed manual transmission is the only option on the Sportster S. A two-way quickshifter will make the Sportster more practical and more fun at the same time, and this feature is available on the same engine in the Pan America 1250. HD’s choice not to offer this when it is available on another product is baffling. The tradition is maintained with a belt that drives the rear wheel.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S chassis

The Sportster S has a trellis frame that uses the engine as a load-bearing part. This is very different from a Harley cruiser and is unique to the Sportster S and Nightster. The swingarm itself is a trellis frame, and no other production motorcycle has anything like it. The suspension consists of inverted forks at the front and a hidden monoshock at the rear. Adjustments are possible at both ends for preload, compression and rebound. Rear suspension travel was almost unusable before a recent update brought it to 3.2 inches.

The wheels are a 17/16-inch combination and the brakes have a single disc at both ends. With the kind of performance it delivers, it could do with an extra disc at the front, even though it currently has a radial-mount four-piston fixed caliper. Still, there’s cornering ABS and wheel lift limitation to keep the rubber side down.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S dimensions

The trellis frame keeps weight down to just over 500 pounds, which is great for a full-size Harley cruiser. The seat is a bit high for a cruiser, thanks to the monoshock hidden underneath. The fuel tank is a bit small, but that’s to be expected from these types of motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S features

When HD decided to make a modern cruiser, it pulled out all the stops. The Sportster S gets a 4-inch TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation as standard. The six-axis IMU also offers access to the brand’s full safety package, at a price befitting the most basic cruiser in the Softail lineup. The options list is extensive, with different seats, footrests, passenger footrests, a windscreen and a rear bag.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S Competition

There are really excellent options for the Sportster S for the price. If you’re looking for a no-frills power cruiser with 100 percent reliability, the Suzuki Boulevard M109R ($15,799) is the answer. If you prefer a European-flavored option, the BMW R 12 nineT ($17,245) is quirky but capable, albeit at a premium price. Both cruisers use shaft drive.

But we’ll stick with American Iron for this. The Indian 101 Scout is at the top of the Scout range, has a traditional cradle frame setup and dual shock rear suspension, but offers modern touches such as connected features. However, with less power and more weight, it probably won’t match the performance of the Sportster S.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S vs. Indian 101 Scout

Sources: Harley Davidson USA