Harley-Davidson Sportster S specifications, dimensions and price
Harley-Davidson · Cruiser
The Harley-Davidson Sportster S is Harley's performance-cruiser built around the liquid-cooled Revolution Max 1250T V-twin, a departure from the air-cooled Evolution engines that powered the Sportster line for decades. It has a six-speed gearbox with belt final drive, a 1,252cc engine and a 3.1 gal tank, and Harley prices it at $15,999.
Harley-Davidson motorcycle directory
Harley-Davidson Sportster S
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Cruiser |
| Engine | Revolution Max 1250T |
| Displacement | 76.4 cu in (1,252cc) |
| Bore x stroke | 4.13 in x 2.85 in (105 mm x 72.3 mm) |
| Compression ratio | 12:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed, belt final drive |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front brake | 320mm (12.6 in) disc, single radial-mount Brembo caliper |
| Seat height | 28.9 in (laden) |
| Wet weight (in running order) | 502 lb |
| Wheelbase | 59.8 in |
| Fuel capacity | 3.1 gal |
| Starting MSRP | $15,999 |
What a UK road test says
MSL Magazine says it would leave the electronic gadgets and enjoy the blend of attitude, handling that has no right to be as good as it is, comfort of the same order, and a powerful, well-sorted engine, and it treats the £14,000 price as good value.
It says your back is forward enough to minimize hefty suspension jolts from the rear, the bars keep your arms wide yet comfortable and the seat is quite sumptuous, and that although twisting the throttle gives speed, the crack of power is replaced by a more sensible, perfect delivery.
It adds a historical note about Harleys being modified by owners for the 1930s 45 look.
Numbers for the Sportster S
Its price is unchanged from 2025.
Sportster S against the Indian Scouts
At $15,999 it is $700 below Indian's Scout Classic at $16,699 and $1,000 below the 101 Scout and Super Scout at $16,999, and $2,500 above the Sport Scout at $13,499. It weighs 502 lb against 555, 549, 589 and 547 lb. So it is about 45 lb lighter than the lightest Scout on the list.
It has the same 1,250cc displacement as the Scouts, which makes them the direct rivals.
Sportster S against the Scout Classic and Sport Scout
Indian's Scout Classic and Sport Scout use engines of the same 1,250cc size.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S — specification reference2026 Harley-Davidson Sportster S compared to the Nightster
Both the Sportster S and Nightster sit on the same Revolution Max liquid-cooled platform, but Harley-Davidson tunes them for different buyers within it. The Sportster S's 1250T displaces 76.4 cu in against the Nightster's 59.5 cu in, and Harley-Davidson's own pages put the gap in output at 121 hp/93 lb-ft versus 91 hp/72 lb-ft: a real performance step, not a badge difference.
That step costs $6,000 more as published and 21 lb of extra curb weight, and it raises the seat 1.8 in higher off the ground (28.9 in laden versus 27.1 in): the Nightster's lower seat and lighter claimed weight are what Harley-Davidson positions as the easier bike for a newer or shorter rider to manage at a stop, while the Sportster S is aimed at a rider who wants the platform's full output and is willing to pay and carry more weight for it.
Harley lists a 59.8 in wheelbase, a 28.9 in laden seat and a 502 lb weight in running order, with a single radial-mount Brembo caliper on a 320 mm front disc. That weight is 144 lb less than the Street Bob. So the Sportster S is the lightest Harley cruiser in this set, and its tank of 3.1 gal is the smallest. Its price is unchanged from 2025.
A liquid-cooled Revolution Max 1250T V-twin of 1,252cc, replacing the air-cooled Evolution engines that powered the Sportster line for decades, with belt final drive.
MSL Magazine says the seat is quite sumptuous, the bars keep your arms wide yet comfy and the forward position minimizes rear suspension jolts.