Harley-Davidson XL1200 Sportster (1995-current)

When I bought the XL1200C I found it comfortable and the handling good for a custom but the performance was rubbish for a 1200cc. I added Screamin Eagle pipes and a Stage 1 Thunder Slide kit to the carb, set the mixture a little rich via the adjustable needle (Trial and Error)and what a difference, goes more like a Buell than a Harley and calmed the vibration down a bit too. Well worth some time in the garage.

Covered about 2,500 miles on mine so far. Stage 1 exhausts, etc. Engine vibration took some getting used to, esp. at low revs, but secret sees to be in rider attitude - don't rush it, just cruise at around 55/60mph and you'll love it, and have lots in hand if needed. Surprisingly comfortable and easy in traffic. Dual discs mean brakes are fine. You WILL spend lots of money on customisation! 52mpg.

Had one for five years, foolishly sold it to get a Fatboy. Stage one with open pipes, solo seat, 16" apes, forkbrace ( it did make a wee bit of difference ), etc. Rode it all year round. Front brake is pants, but if you keep on top off it, it can do the job ( add braided hoses and don't skimp on the quality pads ). Rear brake fine. Riding position was good, longest covered in one day was about 340 miles. Good gas milage on the motorway, but I had a small tank ( 2 gallons ) on mine so frequent top-ups needed. Oil consumption wasn't a problem. Parts can be expensive but the second-hand market is very good and if you punt around you can get some real cheap parts to keep you going ( buy you service items from the states with a mate or two, get 'em for half the UK, including the postage. Change your oil frequently, it does make a difference. Cover the external parts that can corrode quite quickly with Corrosion X ( used in the aircraft industry ). If you don't want to buy chrome parts you can once again get the standard parts very cheaply, as most people buy shiney bits and biff the standard finish. Loved it, would have one again any time. Don't let Harley snobbery put you off. Some think that Sportsters are not "big" or "real" Harleys. This is B.S. Think of it more as an evolution from the big old British bikes in their day. Best off all, get an older one ( post '91, with the five speed box. Trust me, it makes a difference on motorways! ) for £2500, ride it for a while, if you don't like it you will get your money back on it. Cheers!

Get the stage one modification carried out. This takes off the draconian engine restrictions that Harley Davidson put in place (amusingly called "Harley Tax"). It rides fine before. It rides even better after the stage one modification has been carried out! Strengths: Tremendous torque of the engine. Awesome Harley Davidson V-Twin rumble. Lack of need to be travelling at 90+ mph all the time, like when you are on a sports bike. Weaknesses: Engine vibration at "real" motorway cruising speeds (you know, like 90+ mph). Lovely at 70 -80 mph. Perfectly capable of overtaking at up to 100+mph, you just wouldn't want to keep it there for any length of time!

Traded in a Kawasaki W650 for this. Had the Stage One done from scratch which does improve performance but makes a hell of a noise. It even began to annoy me, let alone the neigbours. Changed back to standard pipes after a 1000 miles. "Rolling thunder" has now been replaced by "Passing Flatulence". How hard can it be to achieve a happy medium (obviously too hard for HD). Now I have the quiet pipes on I'm amazed how clattery the engine is. The bike is penty fast enough (about 100mph) but is hard work on the motorway. The twin front disks are perfectly good (unlike the single disk on the custom and 883, which barely works at all). The Sportster is a bit like a 60s muscle car. Great to look at, good for a laugh, but not really that practical. Strengths: Looks great, good fun for short blasts. Weaknesses:
A bit crude, hard work above 70MPH.

I have recently taken my first step into the cruiser market and bought a Harley 1200 Sportster Custom. I have always had Japanese sports bikes in the past and increasingly moved up the speed scale...Gsxr6, Fireblade, Blackbird, R1. In the end I got so fed-up with the frustration of riding a sports bike on the road I decided to take up racing instead, and vowed never to have a sports bike on the road again. Cutting a long story short - Totally forget about the speed thing before you even buy this bike.... vibes,easy torquey cruising and shop window posing is what this bike is all about. Lots of people asking you about the bike wherever you stop, and no worries/pressures about speed camera's, knee down's and wheelies. Whilst still getting my speed fix on the track, this has been a breath of fresh air on the road. Try to go for a bike with as many extras fitted as poss, as harley bits are pricey. RECOMMENDED :o) Strengths: Sound "with decent pipes and filter". Torque, Chrome, Harley street cred. Weaknesses: Suspension on Custom models a bit crude/harsh. Better on Sport models aparently. Some models lose a tiny bit of oil through the air-filter...sorted with a £25 kit. Cleaning it is a bit of a bugger!

Never thought I'd ever own a Harley but you know what? It's just great fun - I've escaped the sportsbike rat-race and am really enjoying biking once again. You can have a lot of fun below 80mph and this bike is proof - and when it looks and sounds this good, who cares if it doesn't have 140bhp? 1200 conversion well worth having - makes a huge difference and doesn't cost a fortune. Sportsters are all about biking in its crudest, most basic form - long may it continue!! I'm a convert.

Bloody marvelous! Sounds fantastic, very economical, never ridden a bike thats generated so much comment and intertest, just love ridding it. Buy an 883 and convert it to a 1200 - have ridden conversion and not only v.quick (for a Harley) but you build a great 1200 for less than it costs to buy standard. If you don't believe me then check out www.sportster.org. My only piece of advice - if your a sports bike rider/fan DON'T BY A SPORTSTER or any H-D for that matter, I guarantee you won't like it.

Before I owned this bike ( h-d xl833r)and as a born again biker who had never ridden a bike biggger than a 250 in the last 33 years, I had in 4 years bought new a cbr250rr, vt250, hornet 600, ducati 750 monster, and a 20001 cbr600 f4i. Since I think knees down, stoppies and wheelies are total crap I bought a harley- davidson xl883r sportster where my feet sit directly below my knees, the handle bars allow the mirrors to see pass my shoulders , I have a belt drive, hydraulic tappets, twin disc front end, a front end that is rock solid, a great colour scheme and design and "the" badge. If this bike doesn't give you the urge check your pulse... I also still have the monster.

The coolest bike on the road