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I used to ride my '73 XLCH to work in the winter time in sub-freezing temperatures. When I would first try to start it in the morning, I could stand on the kicker pedal, and it would slowly go down. After many kicks, the engine would loosen up and finally start. I was a young (and very dumb) lad at the time. 😃

As a US serviceman, I arrived in the UK in 1981 and spent the next six years in east anglia. It was a very unique perspective living in the UK. You might say I was on the front line as much as anyone in the UK. I very much enjoyed my 1985 XLCH and it lasted until 2023 when in suffered a catastrophic unscheduled disassembly from a broken connecting rod at 87,000 miles.

My 1973 had 3 problems dealer fix s

I thought the "cafe racer" looked incredible when it came out, I wanted one but I was a Yamaha 50cc rider at the time, so it was a dream bike. It looks just as good today in my eyes. Great video thanks.

My current rides are a 2009 Sportster 883 xlc and a 2016 Triumph Thunderbird lt,1700 cc parallel twin, basically its a British Road King classic

What a load of rubbish we have here.

First, that bike doesn't sound like any Speedmaster I've heard. I have the same 1200HT engine in my Bonne and my bike sounds different. Second, you are a patient man...I would have lost it long ago and traded her in! I do agree they look amazing, but I count myself lucky I didn't get a Friday afternoon special. Cheers

I'm surprised they didn't charge you to use the toilets in the dealership 😅😅

I remember two places in Sydney selling Harleys in the mid 1970s and there could've been others and I was told about another place that was selling them new in the 1960s and I imagine they would've been sold in other states at these times

Hey. How tall are you? Regards

Its mid 2024 & am planning to go for a used Roadster 1200. Mainly for the hassel free Belt drive. Many Ducatis Triumphs Kawasakis in that range but the smile is exactly what am looking for. Just a simple raw proven basic engine and no fancy electronic frills apart from the now mandatory ABS. Data Specs can be ao deceptive😅. All in all you nailed it from the word go when you said 'specs tell a different story'. 👌 Cheers and Love from ❤ India

Im so glad i watched your review. They are probably overwhelmed with repairs. Made in India and. What a nightmare for you and the dealership. Seem like there in survival mode. Thornton custom parts could make you happier .

Your story makes me think there should be a "lemon law" for motorcycles similar to autos.

CHAZ THE TURD

I am really sorry to hear all about this machine, but then again why do you think they went out of business?? I think some people are in love with the idea of having a british machine but lets face it they are absolutely unreliable , I am at a loss as to why to put up with all this messing about and being blamed for so much , let alone love the bike .... I would get rid of it asap . Appauling service

I own a 77 shovel sportster that I built in my living room ground up….love it.. really enjoyed the video always thought a good move would be to put the VRod motor in the sportster …. make one version a V4 now you got a sportster it would eat up everything on the road…lol

Probably shouldn't go back to dealer x anymore

Brilliant I will do something like this too.

Chris, I rewatched this episode today and then glancing at my previous comment, realized I had said nothing about your losing your father, let alone in such a tragic manner. Please do forgive this thoughtless and insensitive oversight on my part! And please do accept my most sincere sympathy for your loss. May our Covenant Keeping Lord continue to bless, use, and keep you always! Henry +

Heap of shite sorry mate but disgraceful, would have never kept it

This must have been so frustrating.. i bought a brand new ducati which was clearly a friday bike. Within weeks it was cutting out while riding at speed too! Countless times it just wouldnt start.. painful to have a sunny weekend and some free time only for a bike not to start on you... 1000 miles and id had enough ... back to a honda.. never had an issue .. starting to think of a T120 but this puts me right off

All kinds of folks out there capable of cutting your screen down to exactly where you want it. Good carpenter, for example. Tape, cut, sand. Right on the bike!

Hi, my Speedmaster is a 2019 with 42000 km on it (26250 miles) A very beutiful and reliable bike that has NEVER given one problem, and is incredibly economical Maybe your bike was built on a Friday!

I typed vlog , but the word got auto-corrected to blog. Sorry.

Hi Chris, I went back in time to view your blog and look at your bike. Are your hsndlebars of the Heritage Classic style? I need more ride and pullback on my 2013 1200C. Thanks.

What a nightmare. I would have got shot of it long ago.

I have a sped master, great bike love it, if you’re not willing to some jobs on your bike and go to the dealer will charge you plenty for very little. Think you better get back to Harley

Chris, I finally subscribed! Thought that I had done it already. Enjoy your video content. Glad that you are up and about. Prayers to you and your wife. Question: What type of handlebars do you have on your Sportster Custom? I ride a 2013 with the stock bars; feel like I need a bit of a lift up and back. Thanks!

How tall are you and your arm length?

MF is signing his comments like he is writing an email. Cheers Ryan

Best bike I've ever owned. No problems. Perfect ergonomics.

I think that if you're to discuss the long history of the Sportster, it wouldn't hurt to throw in a few images now and then of some scantily clad birds along the way. It helps one stay focused.

It seems to me that the last design feature that manufacturers consider is rider comfort. I’d love a comfortable ride, without bump shock going up my spine, and my lower region delicate parts.

Also I have owned 3 sportsters 1200 and they don’t come near the ride as the speedmaster

I sat on the new speedmaster I love the look it is better than my 2007 speedmaster but a 12 litre tank . I hate a lousy 16 litre tank.

Pretty unusual. The Bonneville line has a good rep for reliability. Just like anything, you only really hear about something when there’s issues.

All your woes sound very British, poor service in any area you like to choose, keep away from so called mechanics, having a service is asking for trouble. There is something wrong with the British psyche. 🙄

Why didn’t Harley’s executive see what the customers were doin with there stock bikes…an get ideas to build the stock chopper wow it would of been iconic.

Great bike, but (a) bangs hard over the bumps like it has no shocks at all, (b) more subject to wind sway than larger bikes on the highway, and (c) really is an intermediate bike...not best for larger riders. Else, great bike, well made, runs well, excellent part fit and finish. Would buy again? Yes.

I’m here because of Bart’s plug as well. I’ve really enjoyed this journey through the Sportster’s history. I love my Low Rider, but I often find myself missing my Sportster 1200c.

14:00 According to BRAD RICHARDS, VP OF STYLING DESIGNER AT HARLEY-DAVIDSON, THE SPORTSTER MODEL HAS NOT BEEN CEASED IN PRODUCTION. BRAD RICHARDS, VP OF STYLING DESIGNER, indicated that the people involved in the 2021 Harley-Davidson “SPORSTER S” RH1250, BROUGHT SPORTSMANSHIP BACK TO THE SPORTSTER. That is, they did not create a new model to replace the SPORTSTER model MANUFACTURED CONTINUOUSLY FOR MORE THAN 67 YEARS AND WHICH WILL BE 68 YEARS OLD ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2024. Note: On September 1, 1956, the first H-D sportster arrived on display for the first time, according to BILL JACKSON, ARCHIVES MANAGER of Harley-Davidson. BRAD RICHARDS added THAT: “When the H-D SPORTSTER was born it was considered a “GIANT KILLER”. It was a super bike: 1. Both on Flat Track circuits 2. acceleration racing 3. On the open road. 4. It was characterized by its high performance. and For Harley-Davidson, the SPORTSTER legacy is a very important part of Harley-Davidson history. BILL JACKSON, ARCHIVES MANAGER, highlighted the merit of staying ahead of time and even more so, staying ahead of the times. “This is what SPORTSTER MODEL has been doing throughout its history,” he noted. At no time does it suggest anything like the SPORTSTER is finished being produced. His name for his third engine, THE THIRD PLATFORM (THE THIRD GENERATION OF SPORTSTER ENGINES) says it “clearly”: 2021 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER S 1250. BRAD RICHARDS, VP OF STYLING DESIGNER, for his part indicated: “and today, with the birth of the new REVOLUTION MAX platform, WE GO FROM EVOLUTION TO REVOLUTION.” “With the SPORTSTER S, we knew we could bring back - the sportiness - to the SPORTSTER and that time has come.” “We knew we had the technology to do it with the new Revolution Max (1250T) engine.” “In the end, motorcycles like this come out that surpass ALL LIMITS, offering the purest Harley-Davidson experience. HE NEVER SAID THAT PRODUCTION OF THE SPORTSTER MODEL WAS ENDED. SOURCE: VIDEO “From evolution to revolution - Sportster S 2021” By: Harley-Davidson.

Thankyou. I was thinking of adding this to my garage. You've pursuaded me not to. Sounds like you got a lemon Very unfortunate.

Very nice vid. Also enjoyed your Sportster history series. I currently ride a 2002 883R. Love the carb and solid mounts, not to mention the look and feel. TWD

A separate comment...... I make it a policy not to comment on the politics of other countries, and I find your comments on the past, and, current politics of the US offensive. I would NEVER voice my opinion on the British monarchy to my UK friends, it's just not proper. So, please do shut up about my nation, thanks.

Harley farmed out many components on the Sportsters, not just the ones on the fake racer. In 83 I purchased an XLX, I liked the minimalist styling. The only option I did purchase was the matching pillion pad, I made my own passenger pegs. Only after a few miles the bike started to vibrate worse than your typical Sportster, it also started smoking and using oil. The dealership dismissed it all as my imagination, and a conversation with a Harley rep went nowhere, he claimed I had abused my bike because of my "lifestyle." (I was patched at the time.) In frustration I wrote Willie G and told him he should be ashamed his name was on such junk. Long story short, I did get an apology, and my engine was replaced. It turned out that the cases were made by an outside contractor that had improperly cast them. The steel sleeve supporting the flywheel bearings failed, causing the entire flywheel/rod/piston assembly to run out of true. That was it for me and Harley, my next bike was a BMW R80, that in twenty years of ownership never skipped a beat.

No matter if it was 1978, or 79, you are seeing the first example of the "ham can," air cleaner, I remember these as mostly mounted on the new frame Sportsters. Most riders binned them in favor of the oval, or an aftermarket item. The exhaust on the XCLR actually flowed very well in comparison to the standard duals of the time.

Apologies....... As far as Harley and the chopper culture goes, they wanted nothing to do with choppers, or bikers.

Apologies yet again...... 🙄 The oval air cleaner housing was all about extra airflow, it had nothing to do with intake air noise. And, in the US we never called it a "ham can," that name was reserved for the larger unit that replaced it later. I know these things having been an active Harley rider during the time period. I've had a 45 WL, which started out as a basket of parts, a 1978 FX, and a 1983 XLX, one of the worst Ironhead Sportsters ever created. (ask me how I know)

Apologies, but you did miss one key change to the Sportster, the use of the cassette style transmission. I'm not quite sure if it came along in 1958, or 59, but the change was made around then. The funny part is, if you compare an exploded view of the transmission of a Vincent Rapide to the Sportster, the similarities are striking. Except for the shape of the transmission trapdoor, it's pretty much the same. It would not be the first time Harley has pinched a design.

XR 750 was twice the price of a Sportster. $7,000 was a fortune back then. Evolution Sportster was much better than a iron head Sportster. Mine is still on the original engine.