Riding it’s not nearly so bad as many would have you think either( see Gabe Ets-Hokin on Hate) . No matter how many crotch rockets you’ve flogged over the mountain, you have to admit there’s something to be said for a bike you just ride and 569 pounds of road-hugging steel. You’re not going to win many dragraces against other bikes with 62 horsepower, but you’ll be right there for the first 50 feet courtesy of the 1200’s torque and stout clutch, and the gearbox is solid but fluid and never leaves your left big toe in doubt. Those blade-style control levers are non-adjustable but seem to fit everybody’s hands anyway, and 2014 saw a bigger front brake disc, more powerful front caliper with 34mm pistons, more efficient all-aluminum master cylinders with reduced friction, and braided steel lines add up to a harder-stopping Sportster. ABS is a$795 option.
Rumbling along in the fast lane is surprisingly stress-free and even comfortable, thanks to the rubber engine mounts; it’s easy to break 100 mph if you need to, though you’ll never escape the past. There’s still just 2.1-inches of rear-wheel travel, but you only notice over really bad pavement. Harley does make bikes more suitable for touring, but they’re not Sportsters, are they? When it’s cold outside, the Mini-Apehanger handlebars on our bike( another HD-1 option) might be a bummer, but when it’s hot they’re great for keeping your pits aerated, and they don’t detract from the bike’s surprisingly light, linear handling characteristics.
