Harley-Davidson XL1200S Sportster

Harley-Davidson XL1200S Sportster
Manufacturer	Harley-Davidson
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

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

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

Overview

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
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