Harley-Davidson Sportster 1250 S 2025 — Specifications

Is this still a Sportster? When you lay your hand on this new 1250 S, the question immediately springs to mind. The era of the small air-cooled twin, the retro lines, and the entry-level price is over. Here, we have a machine boasting 121 horsepower from an ultra-modern Revolution Max engine, a frame using the engine as a stressed member, and a technical specification that would make a sportbike from ten years ago pale in comparison. With 228 kilograms fully fueled, it cheerfully sheds the traditional weight of a Harley.

The heart of the beast is this 60° V-twin liquid-cooled engine. We know it from the Pan America, but here it is reworked for torque. It delivers 124.5 Nm at 6000 rpm, a rev range that is surprising for Milwaukee, but consistent with the spirit of a modern engine. The sensation is radically different: the power arrives high in the rev range, the sound is subdued, and the thrust is linear. It’s effective, very effective even, but it lacks the punch in the low-mid range that characterizes the big M8 engines. For the touring rider seeking raw sensations, the change is total.

The chassis follows this logic of a break from tradition. The 43 mm Showa inverted fork and the single rear shock are the antithesis of tradition. The riding position, however, remains resolutely custom: feet forward, a low seat at 765 mm, a handlebar brought closer. It’s comfortable in the city, intimidating in style, but on a winding road, you quickly feel the limits of the geometry and rear wheel travel. It’s a motorcycle for posing and powerful rides, not a machine for tight turns. The braking, with its single Brembo radial disc of 320 mm at the front, is powerful but may seem just adequate for a machine of this caliber, especially when exploring its capabilities.

Where Harley hits hard is with the electronics. Cornering ABS, traction control sensitive to lean angle, wheelie control, five riding modes, a connected TFT screen… the list is long. This is where the manufacturer justifies its price of €17,545 and targets a new audience: those who want the Harley attitude but refuse to compromise on 21st-century technology. To personalize the machine, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1250 S accessory catalog is already well-stocked, allowing you to adjust the ergonomics or style.

So, who is it for? Certainly not for the beginner or the devotee of the old Sportster 883. This 1250 S targets the experienced rider who desires a muscular, technological, and unique custom. It’s a motorcycle with character, which embraces its break from tradition. It is sportier than any Harley custom, but less agile than a European roadster. Its 11.7-liter tank reminds you that it is made for short, intense exploits. When searching for a Harley-Davidson Sportster 1250 S technical specification, you quickly realize that you have left the entry-level domain. Whether you are looking at a new Harley-Davidson Sportster 1250 S 2024 or a used Harley-Davidson Sportster 1250 S, the conclusion is the same: it is a machine apart, marking a bold turning point, for better and sometimes for worse.