why do harley big twin riders think the sportster 1200 is a small bike ?

Question

In any other bike 1200CC is considered pretty big so I don't get it.

Answer 1

Back in the 40's, 50's and 60's, Harley-Davidson was making the "Big Twins" and that's what most bikers were accustomed to. When H-D first came out with the Sportster, it was an 883cc, and much smaller in displacement than the bigger Harleys. Also the frame was much smaller.

As Harley-Davidson's developed over the years, the Sportster has gained more respect, on the track, and on the street. But it is still Harley's smallest bike, even the 1200.

Traditional bikers tend to mock Sportster riders. That's just how it is. They think the Big Twins are the "real" Harleys.

I remember when Harley-Davidson came out with the Evolution motor. I bought a 1999 Softail Custom. A "bro" of mine was riding an "ironhead" Sportster. He joked with me saying, "Don't go parking that Evo next to my iron block, being parked next to that thing might make my bike not want to start! " It was all in fun.

I think the media has also stereotyped the Sportster as a womans bike, or small framed man's bike. And that hasn't helped your cause any. Also, I've heard that the Sportster is an "entry level" bike into the world of Harley-Davidson's, and that's kind of a bad rap also.

But if you want some bragging rights.... challenge any Big Twin rider to a race, and watch him back off. Trust me, unless they've done some mods on their bike, they will never race you stock!

Keep it in the wind!

Answer 2

maybe its that they dont have any hair on the balls to really push that big twin in the twisties to the point that the floorboards scrape. if he's 1 of those riders, a sporty will leave him 2 miles behind on road filled with hard corners. i really think the big twins have forgotten what it's like to be slingshotted out of a corner when u crack on the gas hard. unless its a goldwing, a bike with floorboards just wouldnt be able to keep up with a sportster....a goldwing on the other hand is dam near a crotch rocket's big brother.
i ride this bike myself, and i love it. true there are times where it is a tad too small for 2-up riding with the wife, but on my own, this 'little' bike can chit n git, and scrape pegs in a hard corner if i so desire. i have racked up 400 mile rides with ease. it's all in the seat man. get the right seat, and it will hang with the big twins till it's time to hit the gas station. and btw, if u look at the numbers, out of all the bikes harley makes, the sportsters are the one's with the highest gas mileage ratings. that heavy big twin is gonna need a drink a bit sooner than u will, and they even have a bigger tank....go figure. sportster's are fun bikes. take it for a run on some hard twisty roads and u'll soon fall in love with it like i have.

Answer 3

Mostly, it has to do with the new engine displacement numbers Harley and all Japanese makes have been hurling upwards in the past few years.

But the "little" twins (ie 1200s), are hardly a small engine, and as noted, are not really designed for beginner riders, but they weigh hundreds of pounds less than their "big twin" bretheren.

Each is built for a different purpose. The big twins are awesome on the open road. The Sporties are excellent city runabouts. Not to say you can't do one with the other, it's just a bit about which one is best suited to the task.

If you are used to handling 800 pounds plus of motorcycle, a measly 500 pound machine feels like a "little" bike.

Answer 4

Like CJ says, it's kinda stereotypical. Some do, some don't.
It may be slightly smaller, but it was built for a different purpose.
If I understand correctly, Willie G's original idea for the Superglide in '71 was a Sportster style bike with a big twin engine. A Sportster with a decent rider will leave me behind.

I ride an FXD35 Superglide.

Answer 5

Some old school Harley types still think the Sportster is a small bike.
Technically it is a smaller bike but it's not inferior. A well tuned sporty can out run and out handle a stock big twin 9 out of 10 times.

Don't let anybody downplay the sporty. It is a very capable machine.

Answer 6

Bart, I have to say this question is just another way to continue stirring up the Harley verses everyone else. Several co-workers could own several motorcycles. For them, owning one Harley-Davidson is enough. When we talk about motorcycling, we talk about riding our motorcycles, not which motorcycle is better. We riders need to stop all this "my motorcycle can beat up your motorcycle" comments. Here is a question back to you. Would owning 2 German bikes be better than owning one Harley-Davidson? Suppose a rider has one street bike and one dual sport? As we all know, Harley does not offer a dual sport. Does that make it bad? I don't think so. So, again, what is the point of your question?? Bart, again I will repeat: It's not what you ride, it's that your ride. Enough said, just waiting for the snow to melt in the Chicago land area. Max

Answer 7

To add to Firecracker's comments.....Willie and the Harley developers felt the pinch by the Jap bike contingency . They wanted to develop a "trimmer" looking bike to compete. The Sporster has been around for a very long time and will probably stay that way. Don't worry about what the big twin guys say to you. As a matter of fact they shouldn't be giving anybody any crap about their bikes at all.....that's just not cool.

Answer 8

Well. compared to the engine size of non-sportster Harleys, they ARE small bikes.

Answer 9

they put a big engine in a small bike

Answer 10

Maybe because the Harley 1200 makes less horsepower than most 600cc Japanese bikes?