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Harley-Davidson Sportster

The Harley-Davidson Sportster was introduced in 1957 to compete against the best-selling British bikes that were invading the United States market. The 2021 Sportster S is the third major design in the series, and belatedly drags the Sporty into the 21st century.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster’s original 40 hp Ironhead V-twin engine gave a top speed of approximately 100 mph and stayed in production until 1985, when it was replaced with the 1986 Evolution motor.

There is a vast market for spare Sportster parts and accessories, and many owners transform their bikes into something else—whether a chopper, cafe racer, or scrambler.

In our extensive coverage of Sportster customs, you’ll find bikes that are tuned up (and dressed up) by the world’s top custom Harley builders. Dig in, and get inspiration right here for customizing your own Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Custom Harley-Davidson Sportster by Colt Wrangler

Giddy up: Colt Wrangler’s prizewinning Harley Sportster

5 MONTHS AGO / NO COMMENTS / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

With a name like Colt Wrangler, it’s safe to assume that the man is from Texas and probably a bit of a cowboy. Hot dang if you aren’t right on both counts—Colt has been riding broncos and bulls competitively since he was a kid. But what you’re less likely to guess, is that this young…

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Rough Crafts Asphalt Glider Harley

Greatest Hits: Rough Crafts’ Best Harley-Davidson Customs

5 MONTHS AGO / NO COMMENTS / TOP 5

Bringing a truly unique style to the scene is not an easy task, and it’s even more impressive if you can make it stick. Winston Yeh started Rough Crafts in Taiwan more than ten years ago, and every bike he builds is a fresh take on his signature style. With a list of regular collaborators…

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Riva-inspired Harley Sportster by Hazard Motorcycles

Lakeside Racer: A Sportster inspired by the Riva Aquarama

6 MONTHS AGO / NO COMMENTS / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

If you’re a classic watercraft aficionado, this custom Harley-Davidson Sportster should feel familiar to you. That’s because it’s modeled after one of the most exquisite and unique boats ever built: the Lamborghini Riva Aquarama. The storied Italian boat maker Riva started out building ferries, and has since graduated to super yachts. But they’re best known…

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Harley-Davidson Sportster flat tracker by Mule Motorcycles

How to build a Harley Sportster flat tracker, the Mule way

7 MONTHS AGO / NO COMMENTS / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

If you’ve ever fantasized about building a Harley-Davidson Sportster flat tracker, there’s a good chance that you’ve pinned a couple of Richard Pollock’s bikes to your mood board. Better known as Mule Motorcycles, Richard has been building flat trackers since day dot and has mastered the art. He can make a Sportster go fast, turn…

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Custom Harley Sportster Seventy-Two by Zen Motorcycles

Sportsters Forever: A custom Harley Evo Sporty from Australia

On November 18, 2022, Harley-Davidson rolled the last air-cooled Sportster ever to be built off their assembly line in York, Pennsylvania. The…

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Harley-Davidson Sportster chopper by Sowing Garage

Evo ain’t dead: A Harley Sportster chopper from China

It’s barely been a month since Harley-Davidson announced they were ending the Evolution-powered Sportster line, but great custom examples continue to roll…

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Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight, Triumph Thruxton, BMW R80ST, Ducati MH900e

Speed Read, December 4, 2022

It’s all about café racers this week, with a Harley Sportster from Thailand, a Triumph Thruxton from Hong Kong and a BMW…

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The latest motorcycle news, customs and oddities.

Speed Read, November 27, 2022

We continue in our quest to bring you the most diverse Speed Read selections we can. This week includes a Honda Monkey…

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Harton Sportster-powered cafe racer by Stile Italiano

Baked to perfection: A Sportster-driven Harton café racer

Building the perfect custom bike is a lot like the science of baking. You’re combining ingredients in the correct ratios to produce…

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Harley Ironhead Sportster café racer by Rodsmith

Gleam Machine: Rodsmith’s Ironhead Sportster café racer

A sleek frame, a mechanical aesthetic, a distinct lack of plastic and a lot of polished metal. This Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster café…

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Harley-Davidson Sportster Roadster street tracker by Mule Motorcycles

By the Book: A Sportster street tracker from Mule

If we had a stock Harley-Davidson Sportster and a hankering for a top-shelf street tracker, we’d probably call Richard Pollock. Better known…

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Harley-Davidson Sportster scrambler by One Way Machine

Still Got It: OWM scrambles the outgoing Harley Sportster

With the release of the Nightster, the decades-old Harley-Davidson Sportster has now fully passed the torch on to the next generation. But…

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