HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200 (1995 - 2007) Review

Version: custom xlc

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £120

Best bike I have ever owned (but I live in the South of France where weather is fabulous) These bikes suit good weather as UK rain, road grime, salt & dirt kills these bikes. Of all the bikes I have owned since 1973 this is the most fun & my wife loves to get on the back of it too. Its not a UK or City daily commuter, but I really cant fault this bike, I love everything about it.

Buying experience: Bought second hand (previous owners had spent most of the money on expensive extras) but visits to Harley Davidson dealers have been pleasurable, great on parts & extras, merchandise is incredible & its become a modern lifestyle to be enjoyed.

Version: XL 1200C

Year: 1995

I would recommend this to a friend if he was looking for an easy to handle cruiser. Has more than adequate acceleration as long as you are not looking for 11 sec 1/4 miles. Looks good, gets attention. I have to laugh when ladies in convertibles hit on me until I take my helmet off (I'm 70) sometimes even that doesn't put them off. If you are a lady on one, better brush up on your standards because you'll get the same thing.

Buying experience: Bought used from a dealer. good experience and the enjoyment is worth the price. (it's a '95 by the way)

Version: XL1200S, SPORTSTER SPORT

Year: 2002

It's not in the same bracket as a Fireblade ,but if you can keep that in mind, then the xl1200s DOES handle ! !... I've had mine 12 long very happy years, ,spent quite a bit on upgrades etc but the smile on my face when i ride it is worth every penny , , , had it 12 years and the drivebelt snapping when i engaged 1st (in my garden) is as close to a breakdown as I've ever had, it's NEVER broken down or left me stranded...Upgrades I've put on, screaming eagles ,stainless braided brake pipes, forcewinder air intake kit, bellypan, and, and, and, and. But the exhaust, air intake and brakes are very good upgrades, it's done 38,000 miles and it will eat a standard Dyna all day ! much to their annoyance, it's got twin plug heads and take off is nothing short of awesome.

Buying experience: DEALER

Version: Custom

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £130

Best thing about my bike is the smile and the feeling I get when I'm out on it. No frills just fun and I wouldn't swap it for anything. Worst and only fault is that I really should swap the suspension for something that would make the two up experience better

Buying experience: Bought from West Coast Harleys in Glasgow and even though I'm over 100 miles away i will use them again. 1st class

Version: Custom

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £130

Best thing about my bike is the smile and the feeling I get when I'm out on it. No frills just fun and I would'nt swap it for anything. Worst and only fault is that I really should swap the suspension for something that would make the two up experience better

Buying experience: Bought from West Coast Harleys in Glasgow and even though I'm over 100 miles away i will use them again. 1st class

Version: XLH

Year: 1995

It tickles me when i hear folks say, "yeah i have a Softail, my wife has the Sportster". Or whatever people say. The sportsters are a bit smaller than their more expensive siblings, and very fast. The 1200. (i've paid my tax and you can google it if you don't know what i mean) really can be faster than most traffic. A sport bike lover once told me, "mines faster but yours is a work of art". The true bikers are brand centric or brand offensive right? Thats my view anyway. The 1200 represents the 1950s and even thru the 1970s, classic motorcycle lines. I've put 15000 miles on mine, and would sell all possessions prior to selling my 95. The rear ride (im about 140lbs) can be a bit stiff, and honestly with a 2nd rider it smooths out. Probably some softer shocks would help me i just haven't gotten around to it. I've kept mine clean, it presents very strongly, especially amongst todays baggage laden, computer driven ignition etc etc. What kind of fuel pump does this motorcycle have? I tell people "im standing on it"..its called gravity....As some have said, the bike isn't modern, but it sure is lively, fun, with Pirelli Route 66 tires, really handles nimbly in my opinion. I have ZERO desire to "trade up". This bike IS up. It requires no justification, it fits well, I've taken it on multi hour cross country rides, and around town. In some senses, for this reviewer, it is a perfect machine. Not THE perfect machine, but as Robert Pirsig aptly wrote "..the real test, is the satisfaction the machine gives, there really is no other test". In this case, the Harley Davidson 1200, jetted, exhaust opened up, and air cleaner intake mod (i substituted my 'ham can' for a good old fashioned ROUND air cleaner), is an immensely gratifying ride. I respect all the rest i really do, from street dirt to bullet, rocket cruiser etc. This is the motorcycle i was made to ride, and cannot but recommend it.

When I bought the XL1200C I found it comfortable and the handling good for a custom but the performance was rubbish for a 1200cc. I added Screamin Eagle pipes and a Stage 1 Thunder Slide kit to the carb, set the mixture a little rich via the adjustable needle (Trial and Error)and what a difference, goes more like a Buell than a Harley and calmed the vibration down a bit too. Well worth some time in the garage.

Covered about 2,500 miles on mine so far. Stage 1 exhausts, etc. Engine vibration took some getting used to, esp. at low revs, but secret sees to be in rider attitude - don't rush it, just cruise at around 55/60mph and you'll love it, and have lots in hand if needed. Surprisingly comfortable and easy in traffic. Dual discs mean brakes are fine. You WILL spend lots of money on customisation! 52mpg.

Had one for five years, foolishly sold it to get a Fatboy. Stage one with open pipes, solo seat, 16" apes, forkbrace ( it did make a wee bit of difference ), etc. Rode it all year round. Front brake is pants, but if you keep on top off it, it can do the job ( add braided hoses and don't skimp on the quality pads ). Rear brake fine. Riding position was good, longest covered in one day was about 340 miles. Good gas milage on the motorway, but I had a small tank ( 2 gallons ) on mine so frequent top-ups needed. Oil consumption wasn't a problem. Parts can be expensive but the second-hand market is very good and if you punt around you can get some real cheap parts to keep you going ( buy you service items from the states with a mate or two, get 'em for half the UK, including the postage. Change your oil frequently, it does make a difference. Cover the external parts that can corrode quite quickly with Corrosion X ( used in the aircraft industry ). If you don't want to buy chrome parts you can once again get the standard parts very cheaply, as most people buy shiney bits and biff the standard finish. Loved it, would have one again any time. Don't let Harley snobbery put you off. Some think that Sportsters are not "big" or "real" Harleys. This is B.S. Think of it more as an evolution from the big old British bikes in their day. Best off all, get an older one ( post '91, with the five speed box. Trust me, it makes a difference on motorways! ) for £2500, ride it for a while, if you don't like it you will get your money back on it. Cheers!

Get the stage one modification carried out. This takes off the draconian engine restrictions that Harley Davidson put in place (amusingly called "Harley Tax"). It rides fine before. It rides even better after the stage one modification has been carried out! Strengths: Tremendous torque of the engine. Awesome Harley Davidson V-Twin rumble. Lack of need to be travelling at 90+ mph all the time, like when you are on a sports bike. Weaknesses: Engine vibration at "real" motorway cruising speeds (you know, like 90+ mph). Lovely at 70 -80 mph. Perfectly capable of overtaking at up to 100+mph, you just wouldn't want to keep it there for any length of time!

Traded in a Kawasaki W650 for this. Had the Stage One done from scratch which does improve performance but makes a hell of a noise. It even began to annoy me, let alone the neigbours. Changed back to standard pipes after a 1000 miles. "Rolling thunder" has now been replaced by "Passing Flatulence". How hard can it be to achieve a happy medium (obviously too hard for HD). Now I have the quiet pipes on I'm amazed how clattery the engine is. The bike is penty fast enough (about 100mph) but is hard work on the motorway. The twin front disks are perfectly good (unlike the single disk on the custom and 883, which barely works at all). The Sportster is a bit like a 60s muscle car. Great to look at, good for a laugh, but not really that practical. Strengths: Looks great, good fun for short blasts. Weaknesses: A bit crude, hard work above 70MPH.

I have recently taken my first step into the cruiser market and bought a Harley 1200 Sportster Custom. I have always had Japanese sports bikes in the past and increasingly moved up the speed scale...Gsxr6, Fireblade, Blackbird, R1. In the end I got so fed-up with the frustration of riding a sports bike on the road I decided to take up racing instead, and vowed never to have a sports bike on the road again. Cutting a long story short - Totally forget about the speed thing before you even buy this bike.... vibes,easy torquey cruising and shop window posing is what this bike is all about. Lots of people asking you about the bike wherever you stop, and no worries/pressures about speed camera's, knee down's and wheelies. Whilst still getting my speed fix on the track, this has been a breath of fresh air on the road. Try to go for a bike with as many extras fitted as poss, as harley bits are pricey. RECOMMENDED :o) Strengths: Sound "with decent pipes and filter". Torque, Chrome, Harley street cred. Weaknesses: Suspension on Custom models a bit crude/harsh. Better on Sport models aparently. Some models lose a tiny bit of oil through the air-filter...sorted with a £25 kit. Cleaning it is a bit of a bugger!

Never thought I'd ever own a Harley but you know what? It's just great fun - I've escaped the sportsbike rat-race and am really enjoying biking once again. You can have a lot of fun below 80mph and this bike is proof - and when it looks and sounds this good, who cares if it doesn't have 140bhp? 1200 conversion well worth having - makes a huge difference and doesn't cost a fortune. Sportsters are all about biking in its crudest, most basic form - long may it continue!! I'm a convert.

Bloody marvelous! Sounds fantastic, very economical, never ridden a bike thats generated so much comment and intertest, just love ridding it. Buy an 883 and convert it to a 1200 - have ridden conversion and not only v.quick (for a Harley) but you build a great 1200 for less than it costs to buy standard. If you don't believe me then check out www.sportster.org. My only piece of advice - if your a sports bike rider/fan DON'T BY A SPORTSTER or any H-D for that matter, I guarantee you won't like it.

Before I owned this bike ( h-d xl833r)and as a born again biker who had never ridden a bike biggger than a 250 in the last 33 years, I had in 4 years bought new a cbr250rr, vt250, hornet 600, ducati 750 monster, and a 20001 cbr600 f4i. Since I think knees down, stoppies and wheelies are total crap I bought a harley- davidson xl883r sportster where my feet sit directly below my knees, the handle bars allow the mirrors to see pass my shoulders , I have a belt drive, hydraulic tappets, twin disc front end, a front end that is rock solid, a great colour scheme and design and "the" badge. If this bike doesn't give you the urge check your pulse... I also still have the monster.

The coolest bike on the road

This shite is noisy, unreliable and uncomfortable., I chopped in a perfectly good thundercat for this lump of crap, what a mistake that was.It nearly vibrates itself to pieces, it overheats and handles like a pig.Oh, and it breaks down and cant get fuel into the engine. I'd not even give one of these to someone I strongly disliked. Its for sale now-someone please buy this and end my nightmare.Grin Factor? Only when people come up to me and say how wonderful it must be to own a Hog!!

It's a basic Harley, so all the usual stuff applies: It looks great (if you like Harleys) You get laughed at (by people who don't like Harleys) It sounds great (at least it does now, after the Stage 1) It accelerates well enough around town. It is slow everywhere else. Stock brakes were crap - but the 4-pot PM brakes are more than enough. It vibrates. After an hour you lose all feeling in your hands. You don't want to go above 70 with the screen fitted. I always wanted a Harley, and was not dissapointed with this one. I have just traded it in for a Heritage Classic, but I miss my old Sportster!