Six months after its official launch in the US, the new Harley-Davidson Sportster S is now available here in the country, with an SRP beginning at PhP 1,030,000.
6 decades of Sportster
Since 1957, the Sportster lineup of Harley-Davidson remained relatively unchanged, save for some cosmetic revisions, until now. What started as the “XL” equipped with a V-twin “ironhead” air-cooled engine, today’s new breed of Sportster sits around the most powerful production engine Harley-Davidson has ever produced – the 1,250cc Revolution Max engine – which is also the same powerplant underneath Milwaukee’s first adventure bike, the Pan America 1250.
Design
In profile, the Sportster S appears crouched and powerful. The fuel tank and tail section frame the engine as the predominant centerpiece of the motorcycle. The massive front tire recalls the fenderless front end of a classic bobber, while the tail section, high-mount exhaust, and slim solo seat draw inspiration from the Harley-Davidson XR750 flat tracker. The thick inverted forks and wide-profile tires suggest a high-performance sportbike.
“Every visual design element of the Sportster S model is an expression of the motorcycle’s raw power,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson vice president of styling and design. “This is a wolf in wolf’s clothing.”
The powertrain is highlighted with a Chocolate Satin finish on the lightweight magnesium engine covers. Textures, colors, finishes, and details were selected to give the Sportster S model the look of a custom show bike that just happens to be parked in the owner’s garage.
Technology
Like any modern motorcycle, the new Sportster S boasts an arsenal of key electronic features that would help the rider make the best out of this new motorcycle. This includes three pre-programmed, selectable Ride Modes (Sport, Road, and Rain), two Custom modes may also be used by the rider to create a set of performance characteristics to meet personal preference or for special situations.
Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson, a collection of technologies intended to enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or adverse road conditions, are designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, in a straight line or while in a turn.
A round, 4.0-inch-diameter TFT screen displays all instrumentation and supports infotainment generated by the rider’s Bluetooth-equipped mobile device and helmet headset, including music, incoming and outgoing calls, and navigation supplied by the Harley-Davidson app. All-LED lighting includes a Daymaker Signature LED headlamp designed to produce a homogenous spread of light, eliminating distracting “hot spots.” The headlamp has a distinctive oval or capsule shape that adds style to the front end and will identify the Sportster S model to other riders and motorists.
Availability and pricing
Dr. John Ragasa is the proud owner of Wheeltek Harley-Davidson of Cavite's first Sportster S
Louise Ortiz, marketing manager for Wheeltek Harley-Davidson of Cavite, shared with MotoPinas.com that the new Sportster S will be available in three colors: Black, Stone Washed White Pearl, and Midnight Crimson. Price starts at PHP 1,030,000 for the Black, while the Stone Washed White Pearl and Midnight Crimson will retail for PHP 1,050,000.
