Luca Bar sent me a note about his new design that fits right in with what we’ve been discussing here, it’s a Sportster 883 Scrambler. Wheels are 18 inch front and 17 out back with Pirelli Scorpion Sync rubber, not a real off road tire but suitable for mixed duty, and a chain in place of the belt. High pipes, kneepads on the tank and a slightly bobbed rear fender change the looks, a nice flat seat, too. The design is aimed at those who use their one bike for all purposes, sort of like a universal adventure bike.
With all of this attention on these off road/scrambler Sportsters, the folks over at the Motor Company are probably still insisting “our customers would never buy that.” Well, maybe their current customers wouldn’t, but there’s always the possibility of a NEW customer buying one, remember those?
Link: Luca Bar and translated
Will13 says
Great looking bike! Though if H-D would build it, they would put their belt drive system in place for sure.
None the less, this is very refreshing and good to see.
Susokary says
JF Vicente from VD-Classic (FR) already produced a limited series of a scrambler based on the Nightster some years ago !
See : http://moto.caradisiac.com/Harley-VD-Classic-Quand-le-Nightster-se-fait-Scrambler-113
;]
Simon says
I am a Harley customer and I would buy one of these. I’ve owned several Sportsters and I’ve always liked them, but I’ve always wanted a “street tracker” version of the XR750. This is a similar design. Chain, belt, I don’t really care, though belt has the virtue of being more maintenance-free. Most people probably wouldn’t take these off-road, just as most “adventure” bikes spend most of their time on the street, except for maybe the occasional dirt road or trail. What this would do would be to improve a Sportster’s ground clearance and handling, which would be nice. HD tried this sort of thing once before, with the XR1000, but they didn’t really do it right, I think. I do believe this would attract some new riders who might not ordinarily consider HD. I’d like to see it done.
taxman says
that, actually looks pretty nice. i think if that were sitting on the showroom floor it would sell. probably not like hotcakes but it would do ok. i’m not sure i would by one myself, my experience with the sportster is that it’s just too darn heavy.
it does look good though.
P.S. i may be beating a dead horse here, but i think that if the buell blast had looked like this and been a 600cc instead of 500cc it wouldn’t be looked down on as much. (i know some people like the blast, but a lot of people don’t have much good to say).
Phoebe says
Yes! There is absolutely no reason why HD couldn’t make a standard version of the Sportster like this. I like it a lot!
Jim says
Would love to have those pipes for my 2007 hd roadster
James says
Anything to get away from the damn low seats! And it really looks cool.
NordSud says
Those are very interesting people, who insist they already know who their customers are…
SteveD says
Taxman: You are both right and beating a dead horse. A Blast sized and engined scramble style bike would seem to be a good idea in this economy and well within their ability to build. Maybe they just don’t want to spend the money on retooling during lean times and don’t want to sell a low end bike during rich times.
Skizick says
I had a blast on my Blast but always wished Eric would have built a HD650GS. Now I ride an F650GS.
HoughMade says
How about a kit to convert the Sporty of your choice? That bike is great. I love the “standard” style flat seat. Why we’re all supposed to sit on a tiny, scooped out seat way down deep in the frame, I could never figure out.
kay west says
nice bike.I think a addon kit would be better than factory built.
that said,what harley NEEDS TO DO is allow you to order your bike.
just like a car.pick your frame/color eng 96″103″110″in satan/ blk
or chrome.ect.they would have a line out the door for ORDERS!!!!!
todd says
Where would the catalytic converter go? I think high pipes will be difficult in the future.
It’s nice to imagine a Harley with suspension travel though.
-todd
BuellDoc says
I beleive the new plant in India could make and sell this style bike for India consumers.
And what an area to test. As for Belt drive…They still own Buell patends so the Uly set up would work. And as for Kay west suggestion…come Jan 2011 a reality!
Alister says
dead horse, meet whip.
no ok its actually quite nice. would hate to drop that though, or take it through mud in case the chrome got dirty..
Tinman says
This is what the Sportster was meant to be, not a Big Twin wannabe, but a mid sized sporty standard. Alas, HD does not even sell the Sportster Roadster model in the U.S. anymore, as the sales of the Sportster Custom model were 7 times the Roadster sales. A very sad commentary on the taste of American buyers.
Byrd says
I don’t like it at all. The Sportster was the first American super bike explicitly designed to destroy the Brits on the dirt track, and now someone wants to re-marque it’s image and claim they’ve made a “scrambler” out of it? Sorry, but this is as misguided as re-styling a Ferrari to resemble a Fiat and saying “now it’s a sports car”.
Sportster Mike says
@ Byrd
There are plenty of old bw pics in the Harley books of Sportsters being used off road, including one variant with a 2 into 1 high level pipe, remember it was XL Competition Hot at one time.
Love the pipes and the high seat, I do sometimes wonder why I’m sat so low in my 883R, so the looks of this will do for me. A conversion kit is the way to go. As for the catalytics in the pipes, mine went ages ago! replaced by Remus pipes with baffles in (although they do keep falling out)
Sportster Mike says
Further to my last post
It looks like the mufflers are standard so I can use my Remus pipes
Yes, it will be way too heavy in the dirt and I didn’t like dropping or picking up my little Honda Baja 250R, that got too heavy after a few drops..
Image and the perception of going off road is all – after all how many people go round the world on their BMWs or even off road? (apart from Charlie Boorman)
Latest gizmo I’ve just seen on one of the BMWs is LED lighting on the hand guards!!.. (they are still plastic though – so just look nice?? but won’t work nice and protect your hands)
Eaton says
kay west 11.08.10 at 3:26 pm “what harley NEEDS TO DO is allow you to order your bike.just like a car.pick your frame/color eng 96″103″110″in satan/ blk or chrome.ect.they would have a line out the door for ORDERS!!!!!”
They MAY be doing just that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0QGJdwGO24
Eaton says
The Goodyear belt from the Ulysses would be more than sufficient for the type of off-roading this bike would do. The chain would be a drawback for many people. Belts are low maintenance, cleaner, and often quieter.
craigj says
While it’s not going to replace my dear departed Ulysses, this comes close. I’ve always liked the idea of a Sportster, but am very much put off by their small size (I’m 6-4). I may not fit on something like this, but at least I’d have a chance. As for styling, I’m a sucker for a 60’s scrambler … and the original Sportster from the 50’s. I don’t get why all Sporty’s have to be all droopy in the back and slammed as much as possible. The original had much nicer lines and flow, and didn’t droop at the back. I couldn’t imagine riding a Sportster with 2″ of suspension travel on my local roads. If HD did put this out (hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha….) please also give us the choice of a larger gas tank.
steve w says
If you’ve ever taken even a standard Sportster out on hard packed dirt roads and off roaded one just a bit it is amazing how good they are. Move some thing around and drop some weight and you could cleary see some mixed duty. I don’t think anyone would expect it to be a great dirt bike but then few great dirt bikes let you also ride the next 100 miles on paved roads to get back home. The real problem is when the factory is involved everything gets heavy because of the DOT.
HootieWho says
Steve, that is only true of cars. The DOT does not make motorcycles heavy, that does not even make sense. The Ulysses weighed almost 100lbs less than an XR1200 – they both shared a common power plant (essentially) and a roughly the same size (ULY may actually be longer) and the Uly even carried more fuel. Point being, weight does not have to be a given.
Mule says
Image obviously is a critical element. Now that the 600 lb Sportster has been been reconfigured into a 600 lb “Scrambler”, my question is, what would be be the proper wardrobe to compliment this super tanker?
If only Steve McQueen were here to tell us. Although, chances are, he’d be 4 miles up the trail actually riding “offroad” on his Triumph Metisse or 400 Husky, not dreaming about the offroad-ability of his 600 lb, chopper tanked road cruiser.
kneeslider says
Mule, Steve McQueen was fueled by pure cool, he would be ahead of most everyone before the race even started.
Simon says
McQueen actually owned an Indian rat bike chopper, which he used to ride around when he didn’t want to be recognized. And he probably took it on dirt roads occasionally. Set up right, Sportster’s will do better in the dirt than most of you may think. Of course, it’s not a motocross bike, but then neither is the KLR650 or the big Beemer adventure bike. If you want a dirt bike, get a dirt bike. The whole Street Scrambler concept was oriented towards the \street\ end of the concept, as in the old Yamaha Big Bear model and the high pipe Honda 350s and 450s of the 60s. Whether or not HD tries this, it would still be a cool kit for the aftermarket to offer. Once I get my Sporty paid off, I may be in the market for an older one, just for a project like this.
Mule says
@Simon, he may have, but I bet he didn’t buy a nice one and pay someone a ton of money to make it look beat up. Or go hang out at the coffee shop with 6 other guys on Psuedo-Rat bikes. Like you suggest, he would just buy a beater so he wasn’t recognized. To him bikes were an escape, hobby, lifestyle, thrill requiring great skill, etc. Not a fashion accessory so he’d fit in. He was cool becuase he was cool. Not because he tried to be cool. He was the man for sure!
Tinman says
A Sportster does not weigh 600 Lbs,and a Harley does not have to cost 20 Grand either. Plastic bodywork and Alloy rims could bring a Sporty in at about 500 Lbs, Sportsters are known as a great value on the used market, so a Scrambler kit would be ideal. Why does every story on a Harley bring the missinformed haters out of the wood work?
Pritonn says
The closest a Sportster ever came this was the Buell XB Ulysses. (Calling a Uly a Sportster is a stretch for sure, but the engines are similar so I think they are similar enough to compare – the XBs). Anyway, if HD had any interest in building a ‘function first’ bike they would have just badge engineered the Uly into a HD model and continued to sell it. However, they decided to moth ball the brand and retreat rather than try something new. Very short sighted as ‘Adventure bikes’ are HUGE right now with new models coming from almost every major brand (Ducati, Triumph, Honda, etc). HD is not even sniffing at the market. A market that buys a crap load of farkles – almost as many as cruiser owners. Not to mention HD could market the hell out ‘adventure.’ I will never understand why they passed on this market – one they already had a good product to compete with.
I am not a HD hater by any stretch. I have owned 3 XLs in the past 10 years and currently have a Nightster. I agree the above is a cool looking bike, but that it all it is – cool looking – just like my Nightster.
This model would not bring any new buyers to HD. It would just be another model to sell to the tried and true once the bobber/dark fashion statement ends. Dont get me wrong, I like the Iron/Nightster/48 but they are just design exercises that will eventually run their course just as chrome did a few years ago (I had a XLC as well). Maybe the next fashion trend will be scramblers? Who knows? The point is HD needs to do more than just stay current with motorcycle fashion. They need to be involved with the industry and the industry involves function as well. Not everyone has more than 1 bike so the fashion bikes dont appeal to everyone (I also have a Buell XB12x). If I had to chose just one I would keep the Buell – it is way more comfortable and practice.
I think Steve McQueen would agree and if he had the choice, I am sure he would take a Uly over a Sporty made to look like a scrambler. I do agree the above would make the rider look more like a romanticized version of Steve but a modern Steve would pick something else (probably a GS).
Will says
I need a bike that can go anywhere and do anything. From commuting on the interstate at 70 mph or crossing a creek to check my trail cameras. Any other kind of bike is a pussy. I wish an American company would make a badass bike like that. Until then I’ll rock the BMW GS. Step up your game Harley.