Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 1200 Custom 2019 — Specifications

Is it still a true Harley when it sports a sixteen-inch front wheel and a handlebar that brings the wrists almost to shoulder level? The question arises legitimately with this XL Sportster 1200 Custom, a machine that has always cultivated its own style within the Sportster family. Launched in 2011 to succeed the 1200 C, it embraces a radical aesthetic: the shortened front end, with a fork inclined at 30 degrees and a 130-section front tire, gives it an aggressive, compact, almost customized stance. It’s a style statement, a nod to American customs, far from the neutrality of a Roadster.

Under the 17-liter tank, the good old Evolution V-Twin of 1202 cc, air-cooled, continues to beat strongly. With 68 horsepower and 96 Nm of torque available from 3500 rpm, it doesn’t hold back. The power is modest compared to a modern Japanese twin cylinder, but that’s precisely where its charm lies. The sensation is raw, mechanical, with those characteristic vibrations that are part of the deal. The belt transmission is supple and silent, perfect for cruising. In the city or on a winding road, its low center of gravity and a seat height of 72.5 cm make it an accessible mount, even if its weight of 268 kg fully fueled is felt at low speed.

The major evolution for this generation, particularly on models from 2014 onwards like the Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 1200 Custom circa 2013, was the standard arrival of ABS and a much more convincing braking system, with a 300 mm front disc. The suspensions, revised in 2016, gain in settings and road holding, without transforming the beast into a cornering machine. It remains a Harley, made to ride straight and savor the atmosphere. The price of a new Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 1200 Custom was around 12650 euros, a price that positioned the machine as a stylish entry point into the world of Milwaukee big cylinders. Today, on the used market, versions like the Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 1200 Custom 2006 or the Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 1200 Custom circa 2015 represent an opportunity to access this iconic style for a more contained budget.

So, who is it for? Clearly for the rider who places attitude and sound above pure performance. It’s the urban explorer’s motorcycle who likes to be noticed, the novice attracted by the Harley myth without wanting to ride a mammoth. It forgives a lot, offers an authentic character, but it asks in return to accept its technical limitations and compromises. Faced with a Triumph Bonneville or a Yamaha Bolt, it doesn’t play in the same category of versatility or agility. It sells a dream, a posture, a fat rumble. And for many, that’s worth all the horsepower in the world.