Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200 MY2018: the eagle soars alone [ROAD TEST]

Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200 MY2018 – More than six months have passed since the press presentation which took place on the sinuous curves of the Croatian hinterland where the new Harley-Davidson products for 2018 were previewed to journalists. However, regarding that timeless myth which takes the name of Sportster Iron 1200, the press kit appeared almost reductive because it limited itself to highlighting the characteristics of a model which presents itself in an even different guise, faithful to the past but with references to motorbikes built in garages like they used to do. But the Sportster is a motorcycle that made history.

Starting from 1957 - the year the first example was marketed on the American market - this milestone of HD production has seen its appearance continuously change: the Bobber, Chopper, Scrambler and Café Racer style interpretations have accompanied specific preparations for Flat Track competitions and acceleration races on the famous American strips. And she, insatiable, also tried it as a cruiser, thanks to its construction simplicity and easy handling that made it an entry-level vehicle accessible even to novices in love with the historic logo universally known as "Bar&Shield". The Sporty - this has always been its nickname - was designed to counter the sales of Triumph, very popular in the USA during the 50s, and filled the void in the HD range in the segment below the Panhead powered models.
“The Sportster is a relatively simple bike to strip and reinvent. What we did to create the new Iron 1200 is what Sportster owners have been doing with their bikes for generations”: these are the offspring of Brad Richards, vice president for the HD brand of the Styling & Design department. Thus the new Iron gains a street-fighter aesthetic and the 1202cc Evolution engine with V-Twin architecture which guarantees a 36% increase in maximum available torque compared to the more classic 883, consequently increasing driving pleasure.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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No limits to customization

More than 60 years after the first example, the Harley-Davidson Sportster is still available today with the same name and, during its journey, it has undergone various aesthetic mutations that have seen it evolve without ever distorting the relationship with the past: characterized from a reliable basic technology - but obviously updated over the years - it remains a safe motorcycle that keeps up with the times. In fact, since the middle of the last century, the Milwaukee giant has produced numerous versions of the Sportster, all different from each other depending on the use for which they were conceived.
Resting on the side stand, the Vivid Black color harks back to the past with those Cafè Racer style references that make heads turn. On the Iron 1200 the satin black Mini-Ape handlebar of clear chopper inspiration is raised by 22cm and set back by 16 for a width of approximately 81cm: sitting in the saddle, the grip of the grips is at shoulder height to emphasize that sensation as much as possible of riding with your fists in the air that characterized the most famous Harleys of all time.
The distinctive element of the model is undoubtedly the tank which, by will of Brad Richards himself, was decorated with graphics strongly inspired by the 70s, simple in lines but effective in look because the shades of blue are available in different shades , enliven the all-black style that distinguishes it from its colored sisters.

On this example we deliberately move away from complex designs to return to simplicity and leave the buyer with greater possibilities for customization. Beautiful and comfortable thanks also to the rear lip that prevents you from slipping backwards when the V-Twin comes together, the Fastback Cafè Solo saddle is obviously a single seater and in quilted leather. To cover the simple instrumentation we find the small West Coast style fairing, rigorously glossy black, completing a side line "sitting" on the 16" rear wheel compared to the 19" front. The staggered shorty exhausts with double muffler in matt black integrate well with the dimensions of the bike, never weighing down the look which is, once again, very personal and well balanced. The Iron 1200 respects the classic canons of the world of customization and the elements chosen by the Styling&Design department are confirmation of this. If you want to exaggerate, HD has an almost infinite catalog of accessories that allows you to transform each model into a unique example: the Sportster is no exception and indeed, all you need is a little patience (and extra money) to choose as many upgrades as possible feel like giving them as gifts.
Simple but well made, the instrumentation positioned behind the fairing respects the stylistic dictates that aim for essentiality without ever taking away all the information necessary for the biker: the electronic odometer dominates the view while the odometer, double trip odometer, fuel reserve warning light and warning light are available. low oil pressure, engine self-diagnosis display and LED warning lights in the lower part. Everything appears clear and tidy and we, specifically, found it very useful to set the display to "GEAR/RPM", a function that allows you to always have the gear engaged and the engine rpm at which you are traveling under control.
If total black is a look that doesn't particularly suit you, you can choose your Sporty in the Twisted Cherry or Billiard White variants, perfect if you want to give it a touch of color while remaining faithful to the Sportster concept in a modern way.

Engine and performance:

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The salvation of the Milwaukee company

The Harley and Davidson families arrived in America with the migratory flow of the mid-800th century. The Harleys came from England, the Davidsons from Scotland. The closeness between the two allowed William Sylvester Harley and Arthur Davidson to deepen their friendship which had a very specific objective as its aim: inserting a combustion engine into the frame of a bicycle. Ole Envinrude also came to support his friends, but he left the group after a short time and dedicated himself to the development of marine engines, creating the well-known Evinrude Outboard Motors based in Sturevant.
In 1903 the two friends gave birth to the first Harley-Davidson "motorcycle" powered by a small single-cylinder characterized by very strong vibrations; even though the prototype was a disaster, the two did not lose heart and persevered in their intent, creating – in 1909 – their first 1000cc V-Twin motorcycle. In 1912 the "Bar&Shield" logo was patented and used as an official trademark and, at the same time, construction began on the warehouse that would become the headquarters and main plant on the famous Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee.
The rise of the brand went hand in hand with their popularity but, after years of success, the pressure from competing companies was starting to be felt. It was precisely the Evolution engine (known as Blockhead due to the shape of the heads) that decreed the salvation of the Wisconsin company when - in 1984 - the models of the Softail range with the new engine revived the fortunes of the American giant, narrowly avoiding bankruptcy. The Evolution, which in fact was not an absolute novelty but a development based on the predecessor Shovelhead, was the first engine entirely designed in Milwaukee respecting the most modern standards of the time thanks to the use of advanced software certainly not within the reach of everyone. The incubation of the EVO engine took 7 years to see the light and arrived with heads and cylinders in lower alloy and aluminium, classic 45° V architecture with rod and rocker arm distribution, redesigned pistons, lightened shaft, air cooling and with 15% more torque and 10% more power than its historic predecessor.

The engine, reliable and robust, did not undergo changes until 2006, the year in which the technicians made improvements to the engine supports and the transmission department. In 2007 the transition from the carburettor to electronic injection occurred. When talking about Harley-Davidson, it is impossible not to retrace the history of the brand and its engines, at least in part: whoever chooses this historic brand takes home a piece of American history that has left a deep mark on the two-wheel sector. In a simple but modern motorcycle such as the Sportster Iron 1200, a strong heart beats that does not need to be tested because history speaks for it. Always available torque, cruiser-like draw length and straight-line stability make it a trusted travel companion ready to tackle the endless American roads.

Ride and handling:

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Harley DNA: stable and easy to handle but don't ask it to bend!

The Fastback Cafè Solo saddle accommodates the rider by positioning itself at a height of 735mm from the ground. When you are stationary, your legs rest on the ground without problems and your arms are extended to grip the generously sized grips positioned at the ends of the emblematic raised Mini-Ape handlebar. With the 883 first and then with the Iron 1200, Harley makes you immediately feel at home: this model is the gateway to a brand full of transversal meanings associated with a particular way of interpreting life. Whoever chooses to sit on a two-wheeler branded Bar&Shield, chooses his family for life: in the saddle the sensations of riding leave room for the emotions of belonging to a group that hides the key to success in tradition. It is precisely by not falling into the traps of passing fashions that HD has remained true to itself without ever disappointing its fans. The 1200 with rods and rockers with original exhausts (a pair of Street Cannon by Screamin' Eagle would be a must) has a nice back and the 96 Nm of torque are just the maximum expression of a generous engine that delivers its power in a linear and without tears. The clutch has an operation that requires a little force and, once in motion, the typical HD gearbox reveals the usual long clutches that you get used to after covering a few kilometres. Croatia was chosen as the presentation location last March and today we drove it on the roads of Italy but she dreams of American Highways or, even better, the Interstates that connect distant places where driving is an integral part of the journey. Just thinking about these endless roads characterized by ever-wide curves, one realizes that "bends" are not his daily bread given that we are talking about really small inclination angles which stand at 28° on the left and 27° on the right .

The blocks are simple and without frills: on the left we find the button that allows you to rotate the data on the digital display and the light control while, on the right, there is the on/off button and the emergency button. There are no controls that could put the rider in difficulty, which is another reason to enjoy riding in total relaxation, thanks also to the footrests placed in a central position which do not force the arms and legs to be at unnatural angles. For the type of motorcycle to which it belongs, the Sportster Iron 1200 brakes quite well thanks to the two-piston calipers on both the front and rear; when the front end braking seems not to be sufficient, just press the rear brake and the response will be truly immediate and well manageable thanks also to the impeccable functioning ABS system. Fork and rear shock absorbers have a perfectly balanced calibration and absorb bumps well, giving a sincere riding feeling, thanks to the speeds at which you normally travel which never make you regret a more rigid set-up.

Price and consumption:

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Instant Classic at the right price

First picture
You need €11.500 fc for a Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200, "only" 600 more than the historic 883. With this figure you put the Vivid Black version identical to the one on test in the garage, while you need 11.700 for the colored versions named respectively Twisted Cherry and Billiard White.
Engine block, transmission unit, fairing, 9-spoke rims, handlebars and exhausts are strictly black and only the rod cover tubes and tappet covers are chromed; by choosing the Vivid Black color you can't go wrong and the overall vision is satisfying and refers to that Cafè Racer style that Brad Richards himself wanted to reinterpret in a modern key.
If instead you want color but without overdoing it, you can focus on Twisted Cherry which is a nice middle ground between light and dark; the black of the engine block matches wonderfully with the shades of cherry color shown on the profile of the tank but, if you want something that catches the eye, the Billiard White is simply fantastic. The contrast with the white enhances the muscular shapes of the engine and transmission while giving more lightness to the upper line of the bike. And then we would have to talk for hours about the infinite customizations that HD has in store for its Sporty: if the motorbike is still in the catalog from 1957 to today, there must be a reason... and it also lies in the possibility of making it unique thanks to accessories from every type and genre that can totally change the look of the motorbike. What is certain is that if you start drawing from the after-market catalogue, the price will increase accordingly, but the satisfaction of having an unrivaled motorbike is a sensation that few bikers can escape, especially when we are talking about a family like the one created by Harley Davidson.

A characteristic element of the Sportster series and a design emblem has always been the tank which, also for this Iron 1200, has a capacity of 12,5 liters equivalent to 3,3 gallons. It doesn't take long to realize that a full tank, in states like New Mexico, Utah or Arizona - just to mention lands that are home to some of the most incredible Scenic Byways in all the States - costs just over 9 dollars. With an average consumption of 5 liters per 100km, you cover enough road before having to stop; unfortunately we are not in America and the Sportsters purchased in our country will never see US soil but... what will never change are the sensations and emotions that each Sporty contains inside. By choosing it, you take home a piece of American motorcycling history that has contributed to the commercial development of an entire country.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Driving position
Vivid Black color
V-Twin torque

We do not like it:
Braking not very effective
Old style instrumentation

Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200: the Motorionline Report Card

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Matteo Pozzi collaborated

Tester clothing:
Gloves: Dainese Blackjack
Jacket: Dainese Bryan Leather Jacket
Pants: Dainese Bonneville Regular
Shoes: Dainese Street Rocker D-WP
Helmet: Cast MT II