1998 Harley-Davidson XL1200S Motorcycle

Description

Dating back to 1957, the Sportster remains Harley-Davidson's longest running model family, evolving from dirt track racers into a series of popular road-going bikes.  All Sportster derivatives came with a V-twin engine mounted rigidly in the frame (until 2003), giving very direct handling.  The X-series Sportsters remained in production until 1985, using both 900cc and latterly 1000cc overhead-valve engines with cast iron heads, hence the nickname “Ironheads”.  The original XL could reach a maximum of 90 mph on the open road, putting the big Harley’s performance on par with the best of the Brits, while niceties like electric starting were added in 1967, Kayaba forks in 1973 and a front disc brake the following year.  Although somewhat dated by the 1980s, the old school Sportster best represented the Harley-Davidson spirit, a simple, raw machine that communicated every facet of the riding experience directly to the rider.  Indeed, the XL rider liked the fact his bike an anachronism, thumbing its nose at the technology-laden machines emerging from Japan.  The variant offered here, the XL1200S, features adjustable suspension with twin disc brakes up front, 13-spoke mag wheels an hotter cams.  From 1998 twin plug heads, new ignition and high performance cams were introduced, boosting torque by around 15 per cent, making it one of the quickest Harleys of its era.