Harley-Davidson Sportster

Harley-Davidson Sportster
Manufacturer Harley-Davidson
Also called XL
Production Since 1957
Predecessor Harley-Davidson KHK

The Harley-Davidson Sportster is a line of motorcycles produced continuously since 1957 by Harley-Davidson. Sportster models are designated in Harley-Davidson's product code by beginning with "XL". In 1952, the predecessors to the Sportster, the Model K Sport and Sport Solo motorcycles, were introduced. These models K, KK, KH, and KHK of 1952 to 1956 had a flat head engine, whereas the later XL Sportster models use an overhead valve engine. The first Sportster in 1957 had many of the same details of the KH including the frame, fenders, large gas tank and front suspension.[1]

Construction

1947 Harley-Davidson mod. WL 739 cc engine
Harley-Davidson 45° V-twin, Sportster Evolution engine

Sportster motorcycles are powered by a four-stroke, 45° V-twin engine in which both connecting rods, of the "fork and blade" or "knife & fork" design, share a common crank pin. The original Sportster engine was the Ironhead engine, which was replaced with the Evolution engine in 1986. Sportster engines, the 45 cubic inch R, D, G & W Models 1929 side-valve motors, and the 'Big Twin' side-valve motors, which were: the flathead 74.0 cu in (1,213 cc) Models V, VL etc. (1930–1936), Models U and UL (1937–1948), and the 80.0 cu in (1,311 cc) models VH and VLH (1935–1936), models UH and ULH (1937–1941) have four separate cams, sporting one lobe per cam.

The cam followers used in Sportster engines, K models, big twin side valve models, and the side-valve W model series were a slightly shorter version of the followers used in the larger motors, but with the same 0.731-inch (18.6 mm) diameter body and 0.855-inch (21.7 mm) diameter roller follower since 1929. The company used similar cam followers for decades with minor changes, from the 1929 to the Eighties.

A typical 5-gear, foot-shift transmission on an HD Sportster

Sportster engines retained the K/KH design crankcase design, in which the transmission is contained in the same casting as the engine, and driven by the engine with a triple-row #35 chain primary drive and a multi-plate cable-operated clutch. Models since 1991 have five speeds; 1990 and earlier models had four speeds.

The engine was mounted directly to the frame from 1957 through the 2003 model year. While this system allows the bike to be somewhat lighter with more precise handling, it also transmits engine vibration directly to the rider. Sportsters released in 2004 and later use rubber isolation mounts and tie links to limit engine movement to a single plane, which greatly reduces vibration felt by the rider. Buell motorcycles built with variants of the Sportster engine have used a rubber mount system since 1987.

The Model K, from which the Sportster evolved, was the first civilian motorcycle produced by Harley-Davidson with hydraulic shock absorbers on both wheels. Common usage calls this a K Model.

Model K series

This is developed from the earlier 45 W model, but with the revised flat head engine and new 4-speed transmission contained in the same castings as would become the Sportster. The connecting rods would be inherited by the Sportster along with many other design elements and dimensions.

XL series Sportsters

1957 Harley-Davidson XL Sportster

XLS Roadster 1979-1982 1000cc ironhead / 4 speed, stock components -- 2" longer forks, 2 up seat, sissy bar, highway pegs, 3.3 gallon tank


In XLCH above, the letter C stands for California, the letter H actually stands for low compression. Source = Allan Girdler's Sportster book from early '90s

Significant changes by model year

1971 Sportster XLCH
1978 XLCR1000 Cafe Racer

Production and notable Sportster models

2001 883 Sportster Hugger
2002 Sportster 883 Custom
2003 Harley-Davidson XL1200 Custom Anniversary Edition
Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 2007

Nightster

2008 XL1200N Nightster

Introduced in 2007, the XL1200N Nightster included (then) unique elements such as a bobbed rear fender, front fork gaiters, and a side mount license plate. The riding position and 25.3-inch (640 mm) seat height of the Nightster are the same as those of the XL883L Sportster Low - UK version (along with Iron 883 and Forty-Eight) has central number plate, 13.5-inch rear shocks, tapered silencers, and combined LED indicator/tail/brake lights.

The Harley Iron was released in 2009 as a smaller displacement version of the Nightster. The major differences are blacked out engine, cast wheels instead of laced; narrower handlebars; and of course the smaller engine displacement.

XR1200

In the 2008 model year, Harley-Davidson released the XR1200 Sportster in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The XR1200 had an Evolution engine tuned to produce 91 bhp (68 kW), four-piston dual front disc brakes, and an aluminum swing arm. Motorcyclist had the XR1200 on the cover of its July 2008 issue, and was generally positive about it in their "First Ride" story, in which Harley-Davidson was repeatedly asked to sell it in the United States.[7] One possible reason for the delayed availability in the United States was the fact that Harley-Davidson had to obtain the "XR1200" naming rights from Storz Performance, a Harley customizing shop in Ventura, Calif.[8] The XR1200 was released in the United States in 2009, in a special color scheme including Mirage Orange highlighting its dirt-tracker heritage. The first 750 XR1200 models in 2009 were pre-ordered and came with a number 1 tag for the front of the bike, autographed by Kenny Coolbeth and Scott Parker and a thank you/welcome letter from Harley-Davidson, signed by Bill Davidson. The XR1200 was discontinued on the United States Market for the 2013 lineup.

Forty-Eight

In the 2010 model year, Harley-Davidson introduced the XL1200X "Forty-Eight" model. It is similar to the "Dark" Nightster style but has the classic 1948 style small peanut tank, wire wheels, forward-controls, a wider front tire with a fat front end and chopped front fender, a slammed speedo with under mount mirrors, low solo single seat, and low suspension.[9]

Seventy-Two

In the 2012 model year, Harley-Davidson introduced the XL1200V "Seventy-Two" model. It has the classic styling of the early '70s chopper/bobbers that were prevalent during this time. It has the peanut gas tank, wire wheels, white-wall tires, forward-controls, a bit of extra rake and slightly longer front forks, a chopped (bobbed) rear fender, side-mounted license plate, low solo single seat, mini-ape hanger handlebars, and low suspension.[10]

Current models

The Sportster is offered in a number of different models. The 2015 models, which are not all offered in the same countries, are:

Buell

Buell started with water-cooled two-stroke square-fours and ended with a water cooled four-stroke V-Twin, but the vast majority of their bikes used reworked 883 and 1200 Sportster engines.

References

  1. ↑ Margie Siegal (May–June 2011). "1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  2. ↑ Richard Backus (March–April 2010). "1972-1985 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1000". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  3. ↑ http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/2010_Motorcycles/family/sportster.html?locale=en_US#/model/xl1200x/features
  4. ↑ Harley-Davidson Confederate Edition, Motorcycle Classics
  5. ↑ Roland Brown (Premier Issue). "Harley-Davidson XLCR". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2009-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ Clement Salvadori (November–December 2010). "The Harley-Davidson XR1000". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  7. ↑ Cathcart, Alan (July 2008). "First Ride: 2008 Harley-Davidson XR1200 - Get Sporty!". Motorcyclist (Source Interlink Magazines): 49–53.
  8. ↑ Richard Backus (September–October 2009). "2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  9. ↑ http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/2010_Motorcycles/family/sportster.html?locale=en_US#/model/xl1200x/features
  10. ↑ http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/seventy-two.html

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