Review Sportster 1200 Sport
by Olivier "Becanosaurus Rex" Hermon
The first Sportster in 1957, with its suspended seat
The Sportster has got a long history since it was born in 1957. Built as a competitor for the britt bikes who ruled the world at this moment, it was always loaded with a strong personality and at its beginning, the Sportster was even the most powerful bike on the market !
Meaned for competition, it has four camshafts, thus enabling easier adjustements on diagrams than the unique cam of the Big Twins.
Almost stock in June 1996, still with the standard 19" / 16" wheels.
After my 18 years old son died in a car accident in May 1996, I decided abruptly to sell my Softail to get my hands on the one and only H-D to be a motorcycle before being an Harley : the Sportster. I choosed the 1200 Sport model, wich comes equipped with front and rear adjustable suspensions.
Numerous mods were scheduled from the beginning : replacement of the 19" and 16" alloy wheels by Sun spoked rims models of 18" (thus leading to the installation of a new front fender and demultiplication), installation of brakes wich could probably stop a Jumbo 747, braided wires everywhere, exchange of the pipes, air filter, jets, electronic ignition and coils, plus many "cosmetic" touches.
I rode 600 000 + km almost all days since 28 years, so now when I buy a bike I like the "special" or custom made stuff. :-)
The check is rather high, as it costs more than $ 20 000.
Hey, remember one thing : I live in France. Everything here is more expansive than in the US, for example a brand new '98 XL1200S is $ 12 800 :-((( But we can have them in no time at our H-D dealers. No wonder, eh ?
But, speaking about pleasure, the result is exhilarating !
The incredible torque of the engine allows to get quickly on the top of any hill, at any revs, into any gear, with no effort. The inimitable potato-sound is a joy, the brakes compare with the modern J-hypersports and, most of all, this motorcycle has a tremendous personality : a particular blend with classic and american bikes.
The frame doesn't bend, only some movements are felt at high speed, mostly due to the swinging arm wich could perfectly fit a 125 cc trail-bike. :-) The XL can be driven at good speed on small twisty roads, but the suspensions are way too hard to be effective, and you'll have to throttle down before getting real fast in curves.
Who cares ? When cruising, or at a quicker pace, this real beauty delivers extraordinary sensations.
Of course, vibrrrrrations are present, but nuts don't fall on the road and bulbs don't go out. I just changed two times the rear fender, but it was because the stock fixations were not proprely aligned.
Except for the scheduled maintenance and some recent little troubles with the petcock, nothing has been done on this motorcycle in two years and 12 000 km.
40 years old and still an awesome 10 m/kg as low as 1 900 rpm !
The riding posture is not too much "feet-FWD". A little, though.
A cruising speed of 80 mph can be sustained indefinitely with a reasonable wind pressure, but in poor comfort conditions, due to the shock absorbers and the saddle. This one gives a pretty fair seating (you can't slip when accelerating) but is way too hard. I think I will have a good saddleman working on it to make a real comfy pullman. Now on, I use a H-D "Diamondback" solo seat wich doesn't improve the comfort in any way but has a great look.
What ? When I take my Old Lady with me ?
Well... This can be done when commuting, but a passenger on a Sporty has to be in deep love for her pilot is she plans to make a long trip on the bike. :-)
If it wasn't for wind pressure, the 74 ci engine could take the motorcycle at a 90 - 100 mph cruising speed without being affected. It can even roar at an astounding 125 mph, but then you need to concentrate to keep a straitgh line on the highway. :-)
The Sportster is particularly good at one thing : making the hole-shot at the green light.
This scout can make unbelievable runs on a very short distance (let say, no more than a 1/16 mile) and can leave almost anything behind it. Many powerful rice burners feel very surprised when they can only nuke the Sporty in 2nd or 3rd. But... Well, when they pass, that's for good, I must admit it. :-)
January 99
This bike doesn't attract crowds as BT do. It's not comfy. But it gives extraordinary feelings and an always renewed driving pleasure.
In a bad day, a simple ride can make the sun shine in your head. In a good day, it will take you to Heaven.
I don't want to sell it, even though I will probably one day buy a bigger, more comfortable, more roomy Electra, for those rare days when I have to make long trips.
XL 1200 S Standard Specs
Sorry, Pal. The standard specs are in french.
You can have them in english at your local H-D dealer. :-)
But the mods are in english. And below.
- Moteur
- Distribution
- Cylindrée
- Rapport volumétrique
- Puissance, couple maxi
- Alimentation
- Lubrification
- Mise en route
- Allumage
- Boîte de vitesses
- Embrayage
- Transmission secondaire
- Cadre
- Angle de colonne / chasse
- Suspension avant
- Suspension arrière
- Frein avant
- Frein arrière
- Pneus
- Hauteur de selle
- Empattement
- Garde au sol
- Essence
- Poids avec pleins
- Répartition
- bicylindre en V a 45°, 4T, refroidi par air
- par tiges, poussoirs et culbuteurs
- 1 199 cm3, alésage 88,8 x course 96,8
- 10 à 1
- 54 ch à 5 300 t/mn, 9,3 m/kg à 3 200 t/mn
- 1 carburateur
- par pompe, carter sec
- démarreur électrique
- électronique paramétrable
- à 5 rapports
- multidisque en bain d'huile, commande par câble
- par courroie crantée
- double berceau en acier léger
- 30 degrés / 114 mm
- télescopique réglable déb. 175 mm, diam. 38
- combinés à gaz réglables, déb. 92 mm
- double disques semi-flottants 292 mm, étriers 2 pistons
- simple disque 292 mm
- 100/90x19 AV et 130/90x16 AR
- 734 mm
- 1 430 mm
- 168 mm
- 12,5 l, dont réserve 2 l
- 241 kg
- 48% AV, 52% AR
Power and torque
Curves measured on a Fuchs dyno
This curves have been measured in March 1998.
75 hp at 5 400 rpm, 11.8 m/kg at 3 700 rpm.
To get this result, the modifications described below were made.
Mods
- Engine
- * Kuryakin Hypercharger air cleaner
- * Dynojet kit
- * Supertrapp exhausts
- * Crane HI.4 ignition w/coils
- * Smaller front sprocket (because of the 18 " rear wheel)
- * H-D oil cooler
- * Braided oil wires
- Chassis and others
- * Sun spoke wheels, 2.50x18 front and 2.75x18 rear
- * 100/90x18 front and 120/90x18 rear tyres
- * 4 pistons Performance Machine front brake w/braided wires, stock rotors.
- * Front fender
- * BMW front fork rubber boots
- * H-D "Diamondback" solo seat
- * Electrical wires go inside the handlebar
- * Leatherbags supports
- * Black H-D battery cover
- * "Stealth" type flashers :-)
- * H-D "Vintage" handgrips
- * Leather tank panel
