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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 Nightster 1200 by Fangster

Textbook: A Harley Nightster 1200 custom from Taiwan

There’s a staggering number of aftermarket Harley-Davidson Sportster parts on the market, and nobody knows this better than Jimmy Chou. His father…

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Harley-Davidson Sportster scrambler by Purpose Built Moto

Pay Dirt: A Purpose Built Harley Sportster Scrambler

Not all scramblers are created equal. Some wear high pipes and knobbly tires, but may never go off-road, while others are made…

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The S&S Cycle 'Death Tracker' Harley Sportster

100ci of madness: The S&S Death Tracker Sportster

There are literally dozens of companies making tuning parts for Harley-Davidson engines. But not many have the experience of S&S Cycle, the…

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Top customs from the Indonesian Sekepal Aspal show

Sekepal Aspal: Top customs from the big Indonesian show

A pause on motorcycle shows has been one of the many disappointments of the COVID-19 pandemic. But rather than sulk, the organizers…

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Vintage Harley flat tracker by Paul Hartman

[Mostly] Vintage Twin: Paul Hartman’s Harley flat tracker

If pushed to pick a golden age for flat track, most folks would suggest the late 60s to the early 70s. It…

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Replica Harley XR750 tracker from Gasoline Motor Co

Backtrack: A replica XR750 tracker from Gasoline

There are a handful of classics out there that look amazingly ‘right.’ In that category, we’d put machines like the Norton Manx,…

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The latest motorcycle news and customs

Speed Read, August 15 2021

It’s an outdoorsy week, with a 1970s Harley Sportster equipped for the Vintage 1000 rally, another Husqvarna Norden 901 teaser, and an…

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Top five Harley-Davidson Evolution Sportsters

Top Five Harley-Davidson Sportsters, Part Two: Evolutions

The new Harley-Davidson Sportster S signifies the first major redesign in decades for the illustrious Sportster. To celebrate, we’ve been looking back…

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Top five Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportsters

Top Five Harley-Davidson Sportsters, Part One: Ironheads

Harley-Davidson has just rebooted one of the world’s longest-running model lines, with the launch of the new Sportster S. But remarkably, it’s…

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2021 Harley Sportster S review: specs and riding impressions

Review: Riding the new Harley-Davidson Sportster S

Engineering is easy. Lean on decades of technological progress, R&D like hell, and a modern manufacturer can build a mechanically competent motorcycle…

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The latest customs, motorcycle news, and electric bike launches

Speed Read, July 18 2021

The French are out in full force this week, with a Katana from Lucky Cat Garage and an R nineT from Le…

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Win a custom Harley Sportster in the Waves For Water giveaway

Win a custom Sportster from a dream team of builders

Charity motorcycle giveaways are a dime a dozen, but this one is a cut above the rest. If you live in the…

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