I have been riding on the street for 46 years. I have never felt the need to ride a motorcycle above 65 mph. Anything above that really takes a lot of the enjoyment out of it. When riding on the freeway stay in the right lane. It won't usually take long to find a semi truck doing around 65, just stay behind them (not too close) and let them set the speed for you. I see no reason to overtake other cars on the freeway. Why would you want to? Going fast is NOT what a Sportster is all about.
There is a 31 tooth front pulley for your belt. It turns an 883 into a very close performer to the 1200. Another tip is DO NOT put 3 qts of oil in your bike. It takes 2.8 qts, do not overfill and it will not blow oil into your filter.
Good tips. If you’re willing to give up the low end for lower RPMs at the upper end, swapping out the pulley makes a lot of sense. I like that low end too much and don’t mind the higher RPMs. The thing about Sportys is they are not built to precision. One Sporty I had had a ton of oil blowing into the filter no matter how much or little oil I put in. Another I have I can overfill it and have no issues. Another one if I put a drop over 2.5, I get oil in the filter. No matter how you manage it, it’s still a bad design, unfortunately.
Mann!!! Why everytime I watch your videos talking with passion and love about the sportster, I feel I miss my sporster and want to rebuy one??!! 😅 Great video as usual, keep rocking mate with your beautiful sportster and ride safe ✌️
Amazing review of the flaws Joe! I was beginning to wonder why my Iron wasn't leaking oil and thought perhaps mine was just better made 😅. That comment about the seat looking like Alf's face was golden hahaha now I can not unsee it
While I was editing, i thought two things about the Alf segment. 1. That only riders of a certain age will get that joke. 2. Someone will comment that they can't unsee that now 😂.
I’m going to do some mods today then hopefully head out for a ride this afternoon. I haven’t ridden a motorcycle further than 20 miles since last year. That’s gotta change.
My son has the 2020 Sportster 883, last Christmas we upgraded to the 1200, fantastic. He is 6’2” we put highboy bars and Corbin seat on, fits him perfect. We’ve done a lot of other mods, may be best looking bike in the Harley chain! I have aSlim and a Road King Special, and I love riding his sportster! 6’4”, 260, and I feel fine on it! Great review! Thanks for new info you provided! Ride safe!
So glad to see you back with a vengeance and another Sporty! Your videos were the main reason I ended up getting a Sporty. I have since sold it and now have some other bikes, but may end up with another Sporty in the near future. The sound on that bike with aftermarket pipes is like nothing else.
I just purchased a 2022 HD Sportster 48. It is my first HD and man, I am loving this bike! Prior to purchasing my 48, I have always admired the bare bones, minimalistic look of bobber motorcycles. I feel that HD created this bike that was closest to a bobber bike style that I was looking for, and I needed to have one. Since owning the Sportster, I have installed a aftermarket air cleaner kit with an external breather system and added Vance and Hines Short Shots full exhaust. The HD dealership installed their Screaming Eagle tune to keep the factory warranty in effect. This bike has been nothing short of fun and I find myself looking for reasons to hit the road and enjoy my Sportster!
Man there’s something to be said for that raw, old school, feel you get from a Harley sportster! Such a unique experience and so versatile! Don’t have mine anymore, but I’ll likely replace it once my FXLRS is paid for. There’s just nothing like that iron for modding and getting that raw Harley feel and sound. It’s also one of the best looking bikes on the road. IMO.
Hey man, I saw your comment on my latest video. When I went to reply, it was gone. I just want to say that Feel for you brother, and I'm sorry for your loss. I like that you will continue to ride. My first ride this year, I'll quietly be thinking of you and your son.
@@GreatEgret Thank you. I was a little intoxicated when I wrote it and didn’t want to leave something out there that was “influenced” by substances and not the “real” me if that makes any sense? I probably should have just left it but it’s done now. It’s been 2 months now since my son was killed on his motorcycle and while I still break down daily, I can actually get through the day now without being a useless, blubbering, pile of emotions. I cannot explain to anyone the trauma and incredible sense of loss and pain you feel when you lose a child. Unless you have been there, even your wildest imagination is only a tiny fraction of the reality of the true experience. Anyway, thank you, and ride safe!
I love my noisy evo sportster more than ever. In 2021 I put a hammer 1275 stage 4 kit on it and it sooo much fun! Bought it new and it turns 20 in June! 🎉
Hi Joe , you are well informed thanks. The forward control will definitely need a very good suspension, or your back will sue you. Mid control allow you to lift your back before impact with ease. after all Harley is all for style before confort. I went with the 1200 over 883 because I was planning to ride with passenger on highway. Here in Europe in general the speed max.speed is 120Kmh no issue for my lovely 1200, it sit at 3400rpm on 5th. but not confortable for my wife she hate highway on sportster.
That’s another reason I like mids over forwards. Anytime I’m about to hit an something I can’t avoid, a branch or a weird object in the road, I can stand up and brace for impact. Harley is definitely style over comfort.
Picking up my first sporty (let alone cruiser) this coming week and I can’t wait! I opted for a 2002 to get the engine mounted without rubber to get the old vibrating feel! Next winter I’m gonna throw everything into a hard tail frame and I can’t wait 😂
Congrats man! Rebuilding it into a hard tail is a damn fine idea. If you haven’t found your way to Saddletramp’s channel yet, check it out. Corey has some awesome builds on his channel. Tell him I sent ya.
Hey good video,im 65 i have ridn a lot of Harley's started on my dad's 58 pan at 14 , i have a 2021 XL 1200 NS Sportster Iron with mini apes I've added chopped windshield with bags highway bars and pegs, rear heat Shields, cruise control, small saddle bags, getting ready to put a small rear fender luggage rack, looking to upgrade front & rear shocks, im into short touring the farthest ive been on the sporty is around trip 1000 miles on my last bike was a 1999 roadking classic twin cam fuel injection was to New York & back to Texas Panhandle so im use to long haul riding, but at my age now closer to home & riding to work every day 52 miles round trip, i love my sporty , so keep on riding & the video's 😊
Thanks, man! That a nice collection of awesome bikes and adventures. Just turned 50 this year and I’m hoping to get a few more long adventures in before I get settled. Rude safety friend!
If I didn’t love that stock gas tank so much I would say do a green paint match on a bigger aftermarket gas tank… just for road tripping of course. I’m thinking of tracking down a old vintage sportster turtle tank for both my vintage sportsters,I think they are 4 gallons or more. But man, Its sure hard to look at! Lol
Question. How did your sportster handle on the route 66 trip with all the stuff on the back? Was it top heavy? Reason I'm asking is to see if I should use saddlebags to get the weight lower or pile everything on the back.
I felt it handled great, but I only had about 50lbs of gear and at the time I was only 150 lbs . Having all the weight inline rather than on the side made it very stable. If I had more gear, I might use saddlebags, but most of time going light is better.
Love the video Joe and i was smart i kept my iron 1200(and now they do not make them after 2021) its a 2012 and great and fun bike and sounds Mean LOL....your right the stock seats on Sporty suck and you end up buying a new seat ASAP LOL.
Thanks, man! For me top RPM depends on where I'm riding and what I'm trying to do. in the city it's pretty much the same for 1-3: anywhere between 2500-3000. If traffic is heavy, I'm on the lower end of that. If I have open roads, I'm on the upper end. 4If I'm lucky enough to get an open road in the city where I can shift from 4th to 5th, I'm always 3000+ and rarely shifting into 5th before I hit 60MPH. On country roads it's a different story. I'm shifting 3500 - 4000RPM. Especially while trying overtake another car on a two lane road. Rev limit is 6500 on a non-tuned Sporty 1200, so you can really push it if you have too, but I never have a need to go above 4500.
Ofc they leak oil , they are made in the us what would tou expect? And they fall apart , otherwise they are nice looking and soundibg and feeling bikes