Cruising in comfort: Harley-Davidson update Sportster S for 2025 with longer travel rear suspension

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Harley-Davidson have improved their Sportster S sports cruiser for 2025 with longer travel rear suspension.

The first real update to the model since its launch in 2021, the rear linkage-mounted piggyback monoshock now offers a 60% increase in rear wheel travel to help smooth out the bumps.

2025 Harley-Davidson Sportster S double exit exhaust

Although sounding like a mammoth leap, there’s still only 82mm of movement – meaning it’s still likely to be jarring over bigger ruts in the road.

Both the front and rear springs are fully adjustable, with the 43mm upside down forks offering an equally modest 92mm of bounce as before.

2025 Harley-Davidson Sportster S 1250 V-twin engine

As before, there’s a 17in front and 16in rear wheel, fitted with chunky Harley-Davidson branded Dunlop tyres. To accommodate riders of all sizes there’s a low seat height of 765mm too.

Now starting at £15,145, the Sportster S sits just above the £14,495 Nightster Special in the Milwaukee firm’s line-up. It sits as a natural rival to the £16,095 Indian 101 Scout, which arrived for 2024 and features a similarly low seat height of 680mm. It won MCN’s Best Cruiser Award in 2024.

Rider getting on a 2025 Harley-Davidson Sportster S

Performance still comes courtesy of H-D’s Revolution Max 1250 V-twin engine, producing a claimed 120.7bhp at 7500rpm and 93lb.ft at 6000rpm, with the motor held in place as a stressed member within a steel trellis chassis.

Trim is available in black only, with a choice of red, black, grey, or blue bodywork. It joins a number of other updated Harley models for 2025, as well a new Pan America ST adventure bike featuring road-focussed 17in wheels.

Video: 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S review video