Would you buy a Sportster S?

[t.c. Johnson]

No. That new Sportster S is the ugliest bike I've ever seen. And I've owned some ugly ones.

[ZCarFan]

Nope... That's Super Duke GT money there. And the KTM comes with side cases and 30 more HP.

Not likely I'll be shopping for anything in that price range any time soon, but if I did, it would have to be a "one bike" solution. It would need to be slab friendly, easy handling on tight back roads and have enough clearance for unpaved county roads. The S doesn't do any of that but a number of Euro and Asian bikes do with similar performance.

[Sporting Lad]

Why can't HD just let the Sportster be what it is? Most of the big manufacturers are making 'retro' models now, so let's see MoCo retain the XL in their line-up as their 'retro', being reminiscent of the 1960s.
Sure, develop some fancy new model using all the latest modcons and go-fast technologies, but don't call it a 'Sportster'. Call it a 'Jetster', or a 'Landspeeder'.
I like my Sportster just the way it is, and I love it for what it is; it does not have to be made "better".
The first time I heard the exhaust note of the New and Improved 'Sportster', I did a spontaneous and genuine "laugh out loud". Do they really expect their new sound to replace that 'stuttering potato' we've come to love over the past 70 some years? That's music to my ears. What they're replacing it with is something that reminds me of a runaway party balloon. "P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-pooh...." ("lol!").

[Cmd11]

I wouldn’t buy one don’t like the looks at all. They did the same thing with this model as the custom models. Where with custom they used a fatboy rear wheel hub. With this they used the fatbob pipes.


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[xlerate]

I agree with Sporting Lad and would argue that, while the "old" Sportster may not be the best bike on the road, it is the best bike in the world! It is easy to live with, easily modified and damn good looking in any guise. And goes and goes and goes according to the mileage some members are doing.

Having said that, I think the Sportster S looks good, but for that money ($28k new in NZ) I'd get the Street Bob 114 ($25k new) instead to continue my penchant for a 45* air-cooled (mostly) long-stroke push-rod V-twin engined motorcycle.

[jimmyess333]

NO.
I think it's ugly, overpriced, and overcomplicated.

[perfesser]

ah.....no.

[84rzv500r]

At 60 I'll stick with my 1999 Sportster S... With the XR1200X kit it handles and brakes and rides just the way I like it and it can use a bit more power... just one more thing to do and that's Hammer 1275 it.. 120 HP is not that alluring to me as the new styling Kinda Sucks... and power to weight is king... I have a 320 lb wet road racer that makes 110 RWHP and I had and sold a 450lb 50th anniversary R1 yamaha with the full on Graves Motorsports engine something over 160 RWHP... I ride my 99 Sportster S every day...

[Akdawg]

Having got a few thousand on the Pan America now.....It runs the roads just fine (freeways are a waste of a good motorcycle), gets me on back roads the belt drive had me cautious of. The 85 IH is still here, fun to ride chasing parts n to the bar and will probably be the last to leave if when that happens. Both of them capable of getting me tickets. But horsepower, experienced, is very addictive. One thing I do know...next set of tires on the 85IH gonna be the Michelin Scorchers, man do they grip! Far as I'm concerned.. the PA is the next Sportster

[sportsterpaul]

NO, that riding position would kill my lower back for one. Mids are a must,(probably an expensive upcharge for what should be standard. The tiny seat might get me 50 miles?Little tanks don’t work for me, pipes could be a hell of a heat scorch on the inner thigh,eh? Those tires just don’t look flickable, sorry.