Harley-Davidson Sportster S Name and Details Revealed

[Admin]

European type-approval documents have shed some light on the upcoming July 13 Harley-Davidson model announcement. The new Revolution Max 1250-powered bike will be called the Sportster S. (Harley-Davidson/)

Harley-Davidson is planning a global reveal of its water-cooled 1250 custom—a bike that was first teased as a concept a full three years ago—on July 13. But details of the production version have now emerged ahead of schedule, courtesy of the firm’s official type-approval documents.

We now know the new machine will go under the name “Sportster S,” confirming that this liquid-cooled DOHC machine is the successor to the long-running Sportster line of air-cooled pushrod V-twins.

The model’s official designation is RH1250S, in line with the Pan America that shares its 1,252cc Revolution Max engine. The adventure model’s designations are RA1250 for the base model and RA1250S for the Pan America 1250 Special.

A screengrab from Harley’s July 13 teaser shows the DOHC 1,252cc engine. Documents reveal it will make less power than the unit powering the Pan America 1250 adventure motorcycle. (Harley-Davidson/)

The fact that Harley showed a concept for the new Sportster S in 2018, and has teased the production version overtly since then, means there are few surprises in store when it comes to the bike’s appearance. However, these are the first definite technical details to emerge.

The 2018 concept for the Sportster S is very similar to the finished product seen in the H-D teaser video. (Harley-Davidson/)

The engine might be essentially the same Revolution Max 1250 design used in the Pan America, but it has been detuned from the Pan America’s claimed 150 hp to 121 hp, with significantly lower peak revs. This might be a clue that the Pan America’s variable valve timing system isn’t used on the Sportster S, which would help reduce complexity and cost. But regardless of how the power reduction is achieved, it means the new bike’s max output arrives at 7,500 rpm instead of 8,750 rpm.

Torque is also reduced, albeit by a smaller amount. The Sportster S manages 92 pound-feet at 6,000 rpm, whereas the Pan America is good for a claimed 94 pound-feet at 6,750 rpm. (On the Cycle World dyno, the Pan America 1250 Special produced 128 rear-wheel horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 80.8 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm.)

Despite a reduction in power and torque, the Sportster S isn’t any slower than the Pan America. Type-approval documents list its maximum speed as 137 mph, the same figure listed for the Pan America in its equivalent type-approval info. With peak torque arriving at lower revs, plus a significant reduction in weight, the Sportster S will probably outrun the Pan America in a race from the lights.

The Sportster S has a type-approved weight of 503 pounds wet, including a full tank of fuel. That’s 66 pounds less than the Pan America 1250 Special in the same state and 37 pounds less than the base Pan America. Note that these are the European type-approval figures, not those claimed on Harley’s spec sheets. For the US, Harley quotes the Pan America Special at a slightly lighter 559 pounds (534 pounds for the base Pan America). If the same proportions apply to the Sportster S, the US version is likely to be around the 495-pound mark.

European documents reveal a 503-pound wet weight, but it could come in slightly lighter than that. (Harley-Davidson/)

As on the Pan America, the Revolution Max isn’t just the Sportster S’ engine but also a major component of its chassis, providing the main structure between the swingarm pivot and the separate upper frame section, which is bolted to the top carrying the steering head. That means its dimensions can’t stray too far from the Pan America’s, and documents show both bikes are identical in overall length at 2,270mm (89.4 inches). The new bike has a slightly shorter wheelbase at 59.8 inches compared to 1,580mm (62.2 inches) for the Pan America, but of course it’s substantially shorter and narrower overall; its total height is 42.7 inches, down from 59.4.

With less mass, there’s a reduced need for braking power as well, so the Sportster S uses a single front disc instead of the Pan America’s twin disc setup.

The original concept version was notable for its massively wide front tire, and the production Sportster S doesn’t scale it down. The front rubber is 160/70ZR-17—big enough for the rear of many streetbikes—while the back hoop holds a 180/70ZR-16.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster S will sport wide front and rear tires and a flat and low stance. (Harley-Davidson/)

Harley’s decision to use the Sportster S name for the RH1250S gives a couple of clues to the firm’s plans for the future. It suggests the bike is a genuine Sportster replacement rather than a parallel model, and shows that Harley-Davidson’s recent trademark application for the Nightster name wasn’t destined for this model (although it may yet be applied to a variation on the same theme). The fact that the initial version of the new Sportster is the “S” also hints that a lower-spec, non-S version of the bike may also be in the cards, perhaps built around the smaller-capacity 950cc version of the Revolution Max engine originally destined for the canceled Bronx streetfighter.

The final questions will be answered at the bike’s official unveiling on July 13, at which point Harley’s plans for the future of the Sportster will surely be revealed at least a little further.

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[Bender]

@fastbobSportster with a sporty engine 

[fastbob]

10 hours ago, Bender said:

@fastbobSportster with a sporty engine 

I , and many other Sportster owners , are getting a bit tired of this nonsense . While we wish Harley Davidson every success with this new bike , it will have absolutely no appeal to the majority of existing "Real " Sportster owners who have bought their bikes for entirely different reasons . So HD can call it whatever they like but it will only appeal to those who want to buy into the brand and not the bike . 

[Bender]

So your saying the bike won't appeal to anyone,  bit harsh, it's non the wonder they are in the pickle they are in. 

[fastbob]

19 hours ago, Bender said:

So your saying the bike won't appeal to anyone,  bit harsh, it's non the wonder they are in the pickle they are in. 

No , I'm not saying that . It will appeal to first time buyers or anyone who just wants to buy into the HD brand . But it will not appeal to anyone who appreciates the  existing Sportster with all its character and shortcomings . 

[Gerontious]

46 minutes ago, fastbob said:

No , I'm not saying that . It will appeal to first time buyers or anyone who just wants to buy into the HD brand . But it will not appeal to anyone who appreciates the  existing Sportster with all its character and shortcomings . 

 

You mean progress. I remember seeing exactly the same kind of comments in MCN when Triumph reappeared out of Hinckley. or when BMW shifted over from Carbs to FI in 1993.

 

The sportster was always aimed at first time buyers, that was its sole reason for existing, which was why in its primary market the deal was you buy a sportster and when it came time to move up to a 'proper' Harley the dealer would offer you exactly what you paid originally for the bike as part of the trade-in deal.

[fastbob]

43 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

 

You mean progress. I remember seeing exactly the same kind of comments in MCN when Triumph reappeared out of Hinckley. or when BMW shifted over from Carbs to FI in 1993.

 

The sportster was always aimed at first time buyers, that was its sole reason for existing, which was why in its primary market the deal was you buy a sportster and when it came time to move up to a 'proper' Harley the dealer would offer you exactly what you paid originally for the bike as part of the trade-in deal.

I might have been inclined to agree but I have been a member of the UK Sportster Sickness FB group , whose membership now tops 10,000 ,for three years now . Maybe it is  a bit of an echo chamber but I believe the majority will fiercely  reject any attempt by HD to market another bike and call it a Sportster . It's not the bike , it's the use of the name . Since 1957 the Sportster has been redesigned many times but it has always retained its original character . This new machine is a quantum leap in technology though and for that reason it just needs to be called something else , that's all , anything but a Sportster . In the eyes of a Sportster fanatic it looks like this . 

Edited July 9, 2021 by fastbob