Back in 2018, Harley-Davidson teased a host of upcoming bikes as a part of its “More Roads” initiative to cater to different riders across the globe. At the time, the LiveWire and Pan America were undoubtedly the stars of the show, but amongst the proposed releases there lurked an unnamed 1,250cc Custom concept.
Well, at long last, Harley has unveiled that mystery motorcycle, and it’s even better than we could’ve imagined. Dubbed the ‘Sportster S,’ it makes for one of the most performance-oriented models in the Sportster line to date, combining the laid-back riding position of a cruiser with the aggressive handling of a modern sportbike. In practice, this is because it’s based on Harley’s latest Revolution Max platform, meaning it gains an all-new chassis-integrated 1,250cc V-twin complete with double overhead camshafts, variable valve timing, and, for the first time: liquid-cooling. As such, it’s good for some 121hp and 94lb-ft of torque, making it almost twice as powerful as its predecessor. But that’s not all; along with the new engine, the Sportster S also gains features like stainless steel high-mount exhaust, a Bluetooth-enabled 4″ LCD, as well as three pre-programmed ride modes for condition-optimized traction. It’s available now starting at $14,999.
