The Frijole 883: Biltwell’s heavyweight Harley race bike
Anyone who runs a modded Harley will know Biltwell Inc. The Californian company is a big player in the upgrade market, and…
Read more »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 2018 Sportster range starts with the base model SuperLow, and then rises in price and specification to include the Iron 883, 1200 Custom, Roadster and Forty-Eight bikes.
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.
Raging Dagger: Rough Crafts hot rods the Harley 48
When it comes to high-end Sportster customs, the weapon of choice for most builders is the Forty-Eight. Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts…
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Heart Of Glass: Jared Smith’s sweet 1966 XLCH Sportster
Jared Smith has a pretty diverse skill set. He has one foot in the digital world as a user experience and software…
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Building a Sportster Iron 1200 with five total strangers
Harley-Davidson has just launched two new Sportsters: the Iron 1200 and the Forty-Eight Special. Both have throwback styling and graphics to commemorate…
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Power Trip: XTR Pepo tackles the Harley Sportster
There aren’t many builders with a strike rate like Pepo Rosell. Since the early days of his Radical Ducati shop, he’s been…
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One Way Machine’s lightly scrambled Sportster
Julian von Oheimb is one of our favorite custom Harley builders. There’s a low-key elegance about his work at One Way Machine,…
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This vintage ‘1957 Sportster’ is actually a brand new bike
Last year, the Harley-Davidson Sportster turned 60. It’s an extraordinary milestone, with only the Royal Enfield Bullet having a longer unbroken model…
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Turning Granddad’s Harley into a Champion Flat Tracker
Some people find it hard to hold onto a bike for more than a couple of years. It doesn’t take long before…
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Dutch Master: Pancake’s simple, sublime Sportster XLS
Harley-Davidson’s new Softail range has set the interwebs alight, which has us thinking: isn’t it about time the Sportster got refreshed too?…
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Period Incorrect: A Harley Sportster XLCH beach racer
One of the greatest spectacles in motorcycling is The Race Of Gentlemen, held every summer on the Jersey shore. It’s a recreation…
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Kuzuri: A Harley XL1200 Sportster custom from Thrive
If there’s a rising force in the modern custom world, it’s Indonesia. It’s no longer surprising to see a world-class middleweight café…
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Subtle Deception: A Harley Sportster bobber from 2LOUD
Old bikes are unquestionably cool. But if you buy one, you’re on the fast track to becoming a self-made mechanic, specializing in…
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