Harley-Davidson XL1200S Sportster
Harley-Davidson XL1200S Sportster | |
Manufacturer | |
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Also called | XL 1200 S Sportster |
Production | 1996 - 97 |
Engine | Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder. |
Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
Ignition | Digital |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: 39mm Telescopic Showa forks, preload , compression and rebound adjustable. Rear: Dual Showa shocks, preload , compression and rebound adjustable. |
Brakes | Front: Single 292mm disc 2 piston caliper Rear: Single 292mm disc 1 piston caliper |
Front Tire | 80/90-19 |
Rear Tire | 130/90-16 |
Weight | 240 kg / 529 lbs (dry), |
Fuel Capacity | 12.5 Liters / 3.3 US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder.. The engine featured a 9.0:1 compression ratio.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 80/90-19 front tire and a 130/90-16 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 292mm disc 2 piston caliper in the front and a Single 292mm disc 1 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 39mm Telescopic Showa forks, preload , compression and rebound adjustable. while the rear was equipped with a Dual Showa shocks, preload , compression and rebound adjustable.. The XL1200S Sportster was fitted with a 12.5 Liters / 3.3 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 240 kg / 529 lbs.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Harley Davidson
XL 1200S Sportster
The Sportster series of bikes has
been with us now since 1957 At that time riders were getting a brand new
machine and not just another revamp of a previous model. Here was a machine
that extracted sheer excitement from every inch of the way; a whole new
reason for riding was born. More than four decades later the name is still
kicking hard.
After
some time in the doldrums Harley-Davidson started to build sales and improve
its product line, offering the public machines that could be identified with
quality build and typical Harley-Davidson charisma. In 1998 came the
announcement that, on January 6 of that year, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
celebrated the first motorcycles off the production line at its newest
plant, just completed in Kansas City, Mo.
This set the stage for the 13th consecutive year since the company went public in 1986 that the number of motorcycle deliveries to customers had increased. The company told us that the Kansas City facility would manufacture the Sportster line, including the Sportster 1200, Sportster 1200 Sport, Sportster 1200 Custom, Sportster 883 and Sportster 883 Hugger, ranging in price $5,245 - $8,670. The company's York, Pa. facility, which then manufactured the line, would incrementally transfer Sportster production to Kansas City by mid-summer and increase production of Harley-Davidson's Big Twin product lines.
The Sportster range is therefore comprehensive and the 1200cc (73.22ci) model comes in several different styles. When Harley-Davidson announced the intention to present uprated and updated machines for 1998 people couldn't wait to see what was in store. When the machines arrived they were not sure if all the hoopla had been a worth the wait. Many said that Harley had hampered the possible technical advantages of the new machines for the sake of keeping them within the mandated Harley look. The real enthusiast, though, was able to boost power on the Sportster Sport, for example, by fitting a new pipe, airbox, jet kit and ignition module. The 1998 Sportster Sport has been endowed with chrome, high polish and silver paint, which makes the bike look quite stunning.
While much of Harley's range is based around the 1340cc (81.74ci) so-called Big Twin Evolution engine unit, the company has produced a unit for the Sportster range based around a unit construction engine. There are two displacements available, 883cc and 1200cc (53.86ci and 73.20ci). The 1200 engine is a four-stroke V-twin and handles a top speed of 110mph (176kph). The unit is fed by a 40 CV carburetor which in turn is supplied by a 3.3 gallon (12.5 litre) slim tank, of which one gallon of this is a reserve. There was some criticism of the brakes, which seem to work well but only when applied at full force, in which case the machine stops in good time and without too much trouble.
The brakes are discs all round and are supported by full floating callipers. The Sportster Sport is one of the few Harleys with a tachometer, not only a useful instrument for keeping an eye on your revs, but it also balances the numbers of items on the handlebars, giving the speedometer some company. There is a red line marked on the counter at 6200rpm; when the needle reaches this point the engine will cut out and all acceleration will terminate, which can be a little alarming at times.
Make Model | Harley Davidson XL 1200S Sportster |
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Year | 1996 - 97 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder. |
Displacement | 1199 cc / 73.1 cu-in |
Bore X Stroke | 88.8 x 96.8 mm |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Compression | 9.0:1 |
Induction | 40mm Keihin carburetor |
Ignition | Digital |
Starting | Electric |
Max Power | 58.5 hp / 42.6 kW @ 5200 rpm |
Max Torque | 87 Nm / 64.1 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Final Drive | Belt |
Front Suspension | 39mm Telescopic Showa forks, preload , compression and rebound adjustable. |
Rear Suspension | Dual Showa shocks, preload , compression and rebound adjustable. |
Front Brakes | Single 292mm disc 2 piston caliper |
Rear Brakes | Single 292mm disc 1 piston caliper |
Front Tire | 80/90-19 |
Rear Tire | 130/90-16 |
Dry Weight | 240 kg / 529 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 12.5 Liters / 3.3 US gal |