Harley’s CEO says that their new Sportster S “sets a new performance standard for the Sportster line”, and looking at the spec sheet, he might have a point…

Sure, most people either seem to love or loathe or Harley-Davidson, but you cannot deny that they’ve had a lot of success over the years. What’s more they’ve been impressively brave in terms of reaching into new markets of late – think of the electric Livewire, and their new Pan America adventure bike, as a couple of pretty feisty examples. But now, they’re heading back to their cruiser roots and looking to push the envelope in creating a sportier and more intuitive ride with their new Sportster S.

Powered by the latest take on Harley’s legendary V-twin configuration, the 1250cc Revolution Max engine has been crafted to produce a load of torque at the very bottom of the rev range, with a smooth curve all the way up through the rpms, where you’ll find 121bhp to haul you on. The engine is actually integrated as a stressed member of the chassis too, like you’d find on top-of the range sportsbikes.

With this, and a whole host of other weight saving methods that include lightweight materials and cast aluminium wheels, the new Sportster S weighs in at 228kg. It’s also equipped with premium, fully adjustable, Showa suspension front and rear, alongside Brembo Monobloc calipers and host of electronic aids, including three rider modes (Sport, Road and Rain) and rider aids that include traction control, ABS, cruise control and even a USB port. This is all fed through a 4” TFT screen that can be paired with your phone, with LED lighting throughout, alongside a whole host of accessories if you want to modify it to your tastes as well.

The new Sportster S will be hitting dealers from September this year and will have a starting price of £13,995. We can’t wait to swing a leg over one…