The Harley-Davidson Sportster S is easily one of the most enticing options from the Harleys motorcycle portfolio and with the arrival of the 2022 iteration, Harley has further taken the game forward. Coming with the capable all-new Revolution Max 1250T motor mated to a smooth-shifting 6-speed transmission, the 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S is unlike any other Harleys, especially in terms of performance.
Along with the powertrain that is capable of accelerating the motorcycle like the bat out of hell, the 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S is excellent in terms of braking and handling. There are minimal vibrations on offer too. Apart from that, a decent list of features and driver-assistance tech is on board as well. With the fierce competition from the likes of the Indian Scout Bobber and the Ducati Diavel, here are 10 things every motorcycle enthusiast should know about the 2022 Sportster S.
10 The 1200cc V-Twin Motor Is Supremely Advanced And Refined For A Harley
Offered with the same Revolution Max 1250T DOHC liquid-cooled 60° v-twin motor as the outgoing 2021 model, the 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S is very smooth, refined, and advanced for a Harley motor. This motor gets variable valve timing, and hence the torque on offer is superior in comparison to many of the other motorcycles from the Harley lineup.
With a claimed 120 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque, the 2022 Sportster S has an addictive low-end and mid-range performance. The vibrations are minimal, and the 6-speed gearbox is well-laid out and offers a positive shift feel. Even though you cannot expect much in terms of top-end performance from this long-stroke motor, it is pretty adequate, especially in comparison to the rivals.
9 Vibrations Are Well Under Control
This is quite a modern motor and that does help it to showcase the true potential of the Sportster S. This Revolution Max motor doesn't vibrate as much as many of the others from the stable and that is a big plus point, especially for people who are interested in those long freeway trips. Due to the lower level of vibrations, the fatigue experienced by the riders will also be less.
One major reason for the lack of any vibrations is the rubber-mounted components of the motorcycle. As a result, the footpegs, mirrors, handlebars, etc lack vibrations in the low and mid-range RPMs. However, the rider could experience the vibrations when the motor approaches close to the rev limiter.
8 Typical Harley Riding Position Is Retained
Harley purists are going to enjoy the upright, relaxed riding position of the 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S. The handlebar is quite wide and easy to reach without leaning too much forward. As a result, most of the riders wouldn't have any wrist pain or shoulder pain, both of which are common for the more sporty riding positions.
The forward set footpegs also add to the comfort. The perfect positioning of switchgear, a very readable instrument cluster, and a well-sculpted tank that the rider could lock his legs on to are some of the other benefits of this design. However, this is a single-seater and hence there is no provision for the pillion to sit.
7 Sportster S Is Quite Decent Around the Corners
With a curb weight of 502 lbs, the 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S would not be the most confidence-inspiring motorcycle that the money could buy. However, with decent weight distribution and the steel trellis frame with stamped and forged junctions, it is reasonably fun to ride.
Though the Sportster S is a lazy motorcycle for sudden direction change, which can be mainly attributed to the heavy curb weight, it is quite capable of taking corners without feeling too nervous. The motorcycle dives into corners decently well, sticks to the roads with no issues, and exits with great speed. However, the footpegs restrict the lean ranges quite a bit, as it tends to scrape very early.
6 Gas Mileage Is Better Than Some Of The Rivals
The 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S sees no changes to the powertrain and design, and hence the fuel economy figures come unchanged as well. This motorcycle offers a combined gas mileage of 49 mpg, which is about 16 miles more than what the Indian Scout Bobber offers.
The 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S retains the fuel tank capacity of 3.1 gallons, which is not the best of the segment. This restricts the touring ability of this motorcycle. With such a minuscule tank, the 2022 Sportster S could only achieve a combined tank range of about 151 miles.
5 One Of The Sportiest Looking Harley-Davidsons Ever
This is easily one of the best-looking motorcycles from the Harley stable, and that is one of the reasons why the Sportster S became a sales success. The front end looks pretty handsome due to the massively wide tire (Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series Radials; 160/70R-17), LED headlights, and the raised handlebar.
When it comes to the side profile, the 2022 Sportster S gets a long sweeping tank with the Harley-Davidson logo neatly embossed. The side-mounted mirrors, massive exhaust system with golden accents, and golden engine components add to the sporty credentials. The rear gets a neat setup which is complemented by the 180/70R-16 tire, LED taillight, and LED indicators.
4 Build Quality Is Superior To Many Of The Other Models From Harley
One of the major gripes of many of the models from the Harley-Davidson is the mediocre quality control and terrible craftsmanship. Being a brand that offers many expensive motorcycles, there were frequent reliability issues as well. However, the Sportster S is a notch above most of these Harleys and feels exceptionally well built.
All the panels that are present on the motorcycle feel very dense and solid and don't flex like some of the rivals. The paint quality is impeccable and feels very premium. Even the switchgear quality, which many of the Harleys have a pretty mediocre reputation, is superb for the Sportster S. There are no exposed wirings anywhere on the motorcycle either.
3 Riding Through The Streets Is A Breeze
The 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S is a decent proposition if you intend to ride through the congested city traffic conditions. Even though the heating is a bit on the higher side, there are a few qualities that made this motorcycle quite livable as a daily rider.
One of the main qualities is the weight distribution, which makes it pretty comfortable for in the stop and goes traffic. The heavy curb weight is well hidden because of this, and that is quite an advantage. The fueling is well calibrated and doesn't feel very choppy like the Honda Rebel 1100. However, the ride quality is not the best of the lot.
2 Highway Riding Is Pleasantly Comfortable
This cruiser comes with fully adjustable Showa 43mm inverted forks at the front and this system has a suspension travel of 3.6". The rear end gets the fully adjustable Showa mono-shock system with just 2" travel. Even though the system is quite stiff at slow speeds, it gets adequately comfortable at highway speeds.
The stiff suspension setup offers rock-solid stability at highway speeds, and the motorcycle doesn't get affected by the crosswinds. All the irregularities on the roads are absorbed reasonably well too. However, due to very low suspension travel, the biggest of the potholes do pose problems.
1 Feels Very Sprightly For A Harley
Unlike the other Harle- Davidsons, this 2022 Sportster S feels very sporty and fun. The main reason for that is the excellent powertrain embedded between the chassis and the tank. The sharp throttle response on offer from this motor is addictive, and the motor doesn't require any downshifts for a quick overtake, both of which make it extremely fun on the back roads and on the highways.
The 6-speed gearbox is pretty competent as well. There were no false neutrals, and the gearshifts were pretty crisp for a Harley. This is also one of the few Harleys which didn't feel like exploding higher up the rev band. The torque spread is wide across the rev range and the motorcycle never goes out of breath.