The Motorcycle that Saved Harley

Here's how the Sportster saved Harley, as they faced relentless competition from British and then Japanese Manufacturers from the 50s through to today

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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

[juliancrooks]

Got my first sportster at age 14. My dad bought home a frame and 6 boxes of parts and then handed me the repair manual and told me to put it together or he'd sell it. I worked on it after school and weekends for two months till it was road ready then drove it to school till I graduated. I'm 63 now and building my 9th sportster to start riding this year.

[nicksundby]

I read that an F-15 Eagle requires 12 hours of maintenance per hour of flight. My ironhead sporty only needs 4 hours of maintenance per hour of riding.

[tiptopdadddy]

Fun fact: the sound of the bike being kick started at the beginning of Wild Angels is an Ironhead.

[scottholzwarth]

I've owned 3 Ironhead Sportsters. I have to dispute saying that the AMFs were as unreliable as Triumphs (I've owned them, too). I rode for daily transportation, always got to work.
After a few Big Twins, I'm on a Pan America now. Harleys are fun again.

[RulgertGhostalker]

integral valve guide seats ... that's why they opted for the iron head.
one less setup, and simplified production process; anticipating higher volume.

[rangerlongshot]

XLCH literally stood for Extra Light Competition Hot, which is pretty darn cool.

[martinkeet]

1998 Sportster S
Best road motorcycle Flexible, fast enough, great handling and Harley to the bone.
I am 64 and I have owned more than 60 motorcycles... It's the most fun and everything else on the road. The dirt is different, you can't

[felipedourado]

Air cooled Sportsters are so relevant today that once Harley-Davidson gave up on building them the Chinese gave birth to their copy. I keep thinking (and not understanding) why Harley gave the contemporary enviromental laws as an excuse to stop building air cooled Sportsters once the Chinese "interpretation" of it is more powerful and fast than the original one and is still Ero 5 compliant. 🤔

[carlmarkwyatt]

I can't really comment on Harley twins but I've tried many engine configurations (large singles, twins, triples and fours) but my absolute favourite so far is my Moto Guzzi's pushrod v twin smallblock which on paper is underpowered and old fashioned but so much fun to ride, I'm guessing Harley's are similar.

[ashleysmith]

The XLCH Sportster is still one of my (many) favourite bikes. After owning a number WW2 WLA's the Sporty was something fantastic - foot change and hand clutch; almost a British bike ! Although I had a Kawasaki A1 Samurai and a Kawa A7 Avenger, and a Honda CB 450/500; the Harley was a joy to ride. I sold it when I got my H1A Mach III, and have regretted parting with it ever since ! Recently sold my last Mach III KH model, and am now riding a Kawa Vulcan 900; the closest thing Japan has produced to a Sportster !

[Happyfacehotwheels]

I have a 10 iron 883, and it's a nice around town bike. It don't have much in the Pony Department, though.

[CathodeRayNipplez]

Government bail outs and import tariffs have helped HD survive.
In 2008 HD tapped the Federal Reserve CPFF on 33 separate occasions for an amazing $2.3 billion.

[patim]

The XLCH 1000 was my first HD, the second was what I thought back then, a "real" HD, a 1200 FLH. The FLH did not brake, had no ground clearance and no power. But it was beautiful, sounded great and, important, had an electric starter. After that I switched to BMW, Moto Guzzi and the last 20 years, Honda Goldwings. But I still wish I had an old knuckle head or flathead HD, to bad they are over here rare and extreme expensive. A motorbike is still my daily driver since 1984

[mikey]

I remember when the Sportster first came out it took months to order to order one..

[Spookdog]

Recognized a couple of the streets I rode my BSA on.

[dchall]

I'd say the bike that saved Harley was the Yamaha XV500 Virago. Before that Harley bikes were noted for leaving a trail of oil on the pavement while the Virago could be parked in your living room without making a mess. Once Harley reverse engineered the Virago they had a bike worth buying and keeping.

[MrPomdownunder]

Certainly in the last few years the best thing about the sportster was the name on the tank as it has to be the best brand - tonnes of T shirts sold !.... I like Sportsters- fun to blast around town ...Remember that the British bike industry suffered with the avalibility of smaller cars like the Mini, I remember seeing BSA A10s etc with Double adult sidecars in daily use. Also the US government seemed more helpful to the home bike industry (compared to Maggie Thatcher !)

[AndrewFleek]

Harley was able to survive due to the US government limiting engine size of imported motorcycles - specifically to protect Harley.

[robertjones]

Sportsters are the greatest American motorcycle ever made, The newer EVO sportsters are the best of the best anything 1986 and newer is indestructible. You have way less problems and engineering screw ups on the newer models vs the twin cam and Milwaukee eight engines, I have spent over 5, 000 on my 2017 Ultra to make it bullet proof like a sportster right out of the box.

[Itsjustpinchy]

Need a video on mtt y2k been asking you for ages!