Motorcycles have always had the reputation of belonging to a specific population. The more rebellious, thrill-seeking, and free-spirited individuals tend to be the stereotypical motorcyclists. While most motorcycles are exciting to ride, not all of them have the prestige, perfectly built engines and American flavor of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been America’s most popular and respected motorcycle brand for more than five decades. Thanks to their roars and huge engines, Harleys are considered the best cruisers ever made. Although foreign brands such as Yamaha or Triumph have tried to copy Harley-Davidson, they have never come close to achieving the same result. Ultimately Harleys such as the Sportster have become some of the most iconic motorcycles.
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First athlete
After World War II, the American economy exploded. As a result, the middle class has grown. With substantial disposable income, families across the country wanted to have toys and engage in leisure activities. Motorcycle fans from coast to coast have been eager to get their hands on technologically updated versions of the legendary Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The first XL Sportster was released in 1957. Available in a 900cc version, the Sportster was a serious American-made motorcycle developing 40 hp from its four-stroke V-Twin engine. The Sportster eventually became one of the most iconic Harley-Davidsons ever made. Some of the early XL Sportsters are now vintage bikes and cost over $ 45,000.
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British invasion
While the US economy was booming, European economies were recovering. In order to accelerate the recovery, European countries such as the United Kingdom have kicked off by doubling their production. Thanks to legendary European attention to detail and a dormant domestic supply, British motorcycles instantly became popular.
Consequently, American motorcycle manufacturers were forced to step up their game. Harley-Davidson was among the most prominent. The Sportster was a direct competitor to the Royal Enfield 350 Bullet and the Triumph Tiger T110. Needless to say, the Sportster became a huge hit with American buyers who were more inclined to buy domestic rather than imported products.
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knee to floor
Harley-Davidson motorcycles have a reputation for being good only in a straight line. In fact, many American vehicles have this reputation. In fact, American car and motorcycle manufacturers have worked hard to get rid of this reputation. The new Sportsters are far from incapable of handling a tight corner.
The Sportster, for example, is perfectly suited to winding roads. Designed to be a cruising bike, the Sportster proved to be sportier than other HD offerings with huge engines and rear tires.
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Copiers
When it was founded, Toyota produced cars largely inspired by American cars. When Huawei started making phones, it copied the already existing phones produced by Apple and Samsung. Overall, when a product has a proven track record, the competition will do their best to replicate a similar product and gain market share.
The success of the Sportster inspired manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha to produce similar motorcycles. The Honda Shadow Phantom and the new Honda Rebel have some of the characteristics of the Sportster. However, when looking at the Yamaha Bolt, it is obvious that the Japanese manufacturer has looked into the design of the Sportster to come up with a similar product.
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Legendary Evo
The Evolution engine (known as Evo) is the result of meticulous and successful research and development by Harley-Davidson. First introduced in 1984, the Evo was originally manufactured in the 1340cc displacement for Harley’s large V-Twin motorcycles. The Evo engine was said to have been the engine that saved Harley-Davidson from bankruptcy.
The Evo engine was therefore modified to fit the 883 and 1200cc versions of the Sportster. It replaced the aging Ironhead engine and finally gave the Sportster another life in the mid-1980s. The Evo engine was eventually installed on other Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
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Races
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are not known to be racing motorcycles. In fact, most Harley-Davidson motorcycles are known to be cruisers or choppers. When racing bikes are mentioned, most people think of Japanese motorcycles like Honda or Yamaha, or European motorcycles like Ducati or Triumph.
While mostly on the drag track, Harley-Davidson Sportsters will tear up a regular track as well. With its ability to take turns and get back into position, the Sportster is a very versatile motorcycle that has surprised many motorcycle enthusiasts.
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Darling
There are so many motorcycles available in the market that it seems almost impossible for any of them to differentiate themselves from the rest. If several motorcycles have reached the status of icons, they are often unknown to the vast majority of the general public.
The Sportster has won over a growing number of people both nationally and internationally. Thanks to the many improvements made to the Sportster over the years, it has become one of the most popular Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the world. The Sportster is one of the motorcycles that have kept Harley-Davidson as a serious motorcycle manufacturer.
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Ready to be personalized
The Sportster, after 63 years of existence, has logically become one of the best American motorcycles to customize. As you can see in the photo above, the Sportster can go through some major makeovers and look like an absolute gem. This result would not be possible without many suppliers of spare parts in the market.
The wide availability of spare parts is a telling sign that the vehicle is enjoying great success. In addition, aftermarket parts for the Sportster are available for most budgets, allowing people with different budgets to tastefully and successfully modify their beloved motorcycle.
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Custom
Gone are the days when a production motorcycle was enough to satisfy bikers. With a plethora of aftermarket parts now available, it’s possible to turn any Sportster into a nasty cafe racer, as pictured in the image above. While it won’t appeal to everyone, the layout of the cafe racer will certainly satisfy some riders.
Fortunately, the Sportster wasn’t just made to turn into a café racer. This particular Sportster has been transformed into a cool looking scrambler and will appeal to both Harley-Davidson fans and scramblers alike. Sportsters can be modified in many more styles, hence its popularity in the motorcycle community.
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Monster
The best part about motor vehicles is the ability to turn them into absolute beasts. The Sportster is far from the exception. It can be tweaked to be one of the meanest, most aggressive, and fastest cruising bikes out there. While the budget required to achieve this result can dramatically reduce disposable income, the result is mind-boggling.
The Punisher-style Sportster is nothing short of impressive. The all blacked out coupled with the polished single exhaust is simply stunning. Team Dark Custom made an already racy motorcycle look like a scary outlaw. The Evo engine has also received some treatment. The chrome applied to it contrasts beautifully with the overall black tone of the bike.
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