Harley-Davidson XL 1200 V SPORTSTER Seventy-Two 2015 — Specifications

Is Harley-Davidson selling us motorcycles, or fragments of American history to slip on? The 2015 Sportster Seventy-Two is a pure exercise in style, a machine that speaks more to the imagination than to reason. With its ridiculously small peanut tank, barely 7.9 liters, and its mini ape-hanger handlebars that seem to want to touch the sky, it doesn’t do things by halves. It’s an urban chopper, an aesthetic statement that sacrifices almost everything to appearance. We are far from the practical motorcycle, but deeply within the territory of the showroom custom.

Technically, it is based on known foundations. The 1202 cm3 Evolution V-Twin is an old soldier, a block that breathes naturally and produces 96 Nm of torque at 3500 rpm. This is enough to move its 255 kg with a certain authority, but the power remains modest, at 65 horsepower. The five-speed gearbox and belt drive do their job without surprise. What has changed for this generation is more subtle: a revised electrical system, a more convincing front brake with its 300 mm disc, and ABS now standard. Welcome safety improvements, even if the machine's spirit remains rooted in a past where style trumped everything.

Compared to a Sportster 48, its cousin with the more robust tank, the Seventy-Two positions itself as the extreme option. The solo seat, the forward controls, the chopped fenders, and the whitewall tires on spoked rims are radical choices. It targets a very specific audience: the rider who wants a strong visual presence, an object of pride more than a daily commuting tool. For the city or short trips, it can charm. For long journeys, with its tiny tank and aggressive posture, it quickly becomes a punishment.

Its price, nearly 12,000 euros at the time, was a serious argument. You were paying for a very elaborate look, for that Californian spirit of the early choppers, embodied by the "72" name which refers to a road in Los Angeles. But in return, you accepted obvious limitations: range is a constant concern, the posture is not for everyone, and pure performance is modest. It is a motorcycle that demands a certain commitment from its owner, a total adherence to its concept. If you are looking for a versatile Sportster, look elsewhere. If you want a chrome jewel that tells a story at every corner, the Seventy-Two, with its dazzling chrome and nonchalant attitude, could be your mechanical madeleine.