Harley-Davidson XL 1200 T Superlow 2018 — Specifications

Can a Sportster really do touring? The question may seem sacrilegious to Milwaukee purists, for whom the great journey necessarily begins with a large V-twin engine and luggage the size of a Norman cupboard. Yet, with this 2015 XL 1200 T Superlow, Harley-Davidson attempted the gamble: to graft the “touring” spirit onto the accessible and lively base of its Sportster. The result is a hybrid motorcycle, both familiar and surprising, which appeals to the globetrotter wanting to enter the legend without breaking the bank or riding a draft horse.

From the outset, the philosophy is clear. You take a Superlow Sportster, with its low frame and a seat only 70.5 cm from the ground, and add touring equipment: a fixed windscreen, rigid saddlebags, and an integrated luggage rack. The idea is appealing, especially when you know that the whole thing weighs 274 kg fully fueled, which is more than 50 kg less than a Road King. The engine, for its part, is the famous Evolution 1202 cm3, which delivers 68 horsepower and a torque of 96 Nm available from 3500 rpm. It's not the onslaught of a big twin, but it's a lively, sonorous engine perfectly suited to winding roads. It pulls without fail from 2000 to 5000 rpm, and the five-speed gearbox, although a little archaic, does the job. Belt drive ensures silence and simplified maintenance.

But can we really talk about a grand touring machine? The equipment is there, but the comfort remains that of a Sportster. The 39 mm telescopic fork and the two lateral shock absorbers, although revised in 2016 to offer a little more adjustment, lack travel and finesse on pronounced road imperfections. The saddlebags are practical, but their volume is limited. Braking, with a single disc at the front and rear, is correct without being sporty, but the standard ABS is a real plus for safety. Ultimately, this Harley-Davidson XL 1200 T Superlow 2015 is a motorcycle for a long weekend rather than a vehicle for crossing a continent. It excels on secondary roads, where its agility and torque make riding fun.

Who is it for? Clearly for the motorcyclist already seduced by the Harley style, but who doesn't want either a 300 kg brick or an investment of more than 20,000 euros. At 12,790 euros at the time, it positioned itself as a gateway to the Touring universe. It is perfectly suited to the lightweight globetrotter, to the one who prioritizes feel and character over absolute practicality. In comparison, a Honda Shadow 750 or a Yamaha XV950 would be smoother and less expensive, but they don't have that aura, that typical "clack" of the 45° V-twin. The Harley-Davidson XL 1200 T Superlow 2015 is not the most accomplished or comfortable motorcycle in its category, but it has a soul and a unique proposition: that of traveling with the carefree attitude of a custom, while keeping one foot in the world of Sportsters. It is its main flaw, and its greatest quality.