2022 Harley Davidson Sportster S Review
250 miles into the new Sportster S; therefore, I feel slightly qualified to give a review for you all who give a shit about bikes other than baggers or who want to read a take on this bike.
First, the pics do not do it justice just how visually appealing this is. It gets a lot of questions, compliments, and looks. Harley definitely took their bike model, threw it into a shaker, and came up with something different from their norm. Tapping into the sport/millennial market is a wise choice, and although I am a Gen X, I am not at the point of wearing White New Balance with cargo shorts. Hell, that will never happen.
Second, the LCD display is incredibly convenient. GPS, bluetooth (admittedly I do not use it for calls or texts, fuck those distractions), diagnostics, tire pressure, and more. Downloading the HD app means you can connect their navi system to your display for road trips. It is nowhere near as clean and cool as Google or Apple maps, but it also prevents a cell phone mount on your handlebars. Not sure which one is ideal, because the HD navi is flawed. The app gives you road challenges (miles and dealership check-ins), sample scenic rides in your area, and the ability to contact your dealer via app. Cool little things to have for ride enjoyment.
Third, performance. I am not yet at the 500 mile unleash, and I am doing everything in my power to not push that bitch into sport mode 24/7. I did one time, and she went from 0 to 60 in less than a block. I then said, “shit, I need to not do this until 500 miles,” and promptly married Becky (the bike’s name — you know you do it, too) to road mode until she loses her 500 mile virginity. Road mode is basically cruiser mode. Quick enough, smooth RPM, no jumping off the gate like the classic Harley feel, but a smooth move from stopping to go. Some people love that gate jump, I do too, but I see the value in a smoother start.
The fat tires grab the living shit out of the road. On a 500 pound bike, I was pretty impressed by how well she handled high crosswinds on I-35 going 80+ MPH. It was flat out windy, and she stayed straight, stable, and I didn’t have to lean into the wind like Michael Jackson in “Smooth Criminal.” Maybe if I played that song via Bluetooth on the ride, it would work. Food for thought, right?
She handles like a cruiser/sport hybrid. Not quite as responsive as a sport bike, but way more maneuverable than a classic cruiser. You have to push into a hard turn, which I prefer because you “feel” it more, but the 34 degree lean offers some peace of mind during in-and-outs. All in all, this is a fun goddamn bike to ride and definitely takes the Sportster concept and throws some Habanero on it.
Suspension is adjustable both front and back, but some adjustments are a little pain in the ass to get to. That is fine, as you shouldn’t have to spend 3 weeks adjusting your ride. The owner’s manual does a great job telling you what settings to start with for your weight, and you can tweak from there. The rear monoshock gets about 1.5" to 2” of travel, so I felt bumps rather profoundly. With forward controls, this can be jarring after a while, so I found a small “hack” which allows me to absorb more bumps and not change to mid-controls. I bought the Wild Ones foot pegs which offer more foot space, and when I am riding my right foot is set on the ball of the foot on the peg so I can absorb bumps easier and use my legs to push myself up slightly and allow the bike to take the load over my spine feeling that oh-so-lovely pothole. My idea was using the 3” mini-footboard from the dealer, and after pitching the idea to the parts department, and doing some digging and researching with them, we concluded it may not work as neatly as I thought. Hint to Harley — this is an idea worth pursuing from a HD part add-on. So, Wild Ones pegs it was, and I “hacked” a better ride out of it. Using forward controls on a bike like this is a bold move. Harley stuck with the classic forward controls for a reason, but it works well.
The tactical heated grips are *chef’s kiss*. They get damn warm, and yesterday on my long ass rides, that was embraced fully. The controls on handles are decent, but need a touch of ergonomic work. The turn signal toggle could be bigger, but that is just one minor complaint. The high beam toggle is easy access and makes for flashing drivers to GTFO the fast lane doing 55 pretty easy.
The tank is 3.1 gallons and gets about 44–50 MPG. You can cruise with this bike. Just make sure you cruise on roads where you can stop for gas. With a 155–160 mile range on a tank, you really don’t need to take adventures to roads in the Canadian Wilderness unless you have a follower in a car with some spare gas. For most of us, that isn’t an issue minus more frequent stops to fill up on road trips.
Weather permitting Saturday, I will ride to Salina, KS as two of my gym members compete in a Strongman contest at Driven Fitness Center. This is a nice 5 hour round-trip ride and we will see how well this bike works for longer trips. I expect it to be fun, minus the road wind at my face, which may make me invest in a detachable windshield. We shall see. I don’t want it to be permanent, but if the wind at my body proves to be a little rough on a long trip with this bike, that shield will meet Becky’s body ASAP.
I am 6’2”, 220 (right now), and I sit in the off-season at 235–240. I lift weights like most of you drink Budweiser (I kid, I kid), own a gym downtown, and compete in Men’s Physique. I am big, muscular, and long. I fit just fine on this bike, and enjoy the ride. Living in midtown means I am dealing with assholes on streets constantly. Idiots eyeballing their cellphone to Snapchat while going 30 MPH down Main Street, running red lights, shifting lanes without warning, and let’s not forget the JoCo Range Rovers at the Plaza who feel they own the road. I want a light bike, a bike I can turn quickly with, and one I can take for a couple hour ride to anywhere with ease. I don’t want a bike that looks like something my grandfather would drool over. No offense to anyone, but that’s not me or my style. I’m a city boy, give me an urban look and feel. Anyone who mocks a bike for being too “small” or “a girl’s bike” is a flat out clown. Ride what you enjoy, even if you enjoy bikes that are bigger than my car. I am here for it.
This bike is a lot of fun. Is it perfect? No, but for me it is ideal. A few small changes and tweaks would be cool for upcoming years, but Harley absolutely nailed it with the design, performance, and extras. No bike is perfect, and each person has their ideal ride. For those looking for a sport cruiser hybrid that moves well, handles like a champ, and looks like something a little Blade Runner-esque, this is something to look at.
Thanks to Outlaw Harley-Davidson, Peyton Jacobs, and Kyle Kochanowski for making my experience stellar thus far.
