Harley-Davidson has always built some of the finest looking motorcycles in the world. That loud exhaust note gives one the visual of cruising on a highway with a gang full of bikers. In 2017, Harley-Davdson introduced the 1200 Roadster. The engine and the frame remain the same as seen on other Harley Sportster bikes. However, the design and overall build give enthusiasts the impression of performance bikes from an era gone by. It also gets some extra components that make it a better product for our market.
Engine
Packed neatly within the frame is a 1202cc, twin-cylinder engine that produces 66bhp and 96Nm of torque. The motor is air-cooled and comes paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The Harley-Davidson Roadster is BSIV-compliant.
Specifications
The Roadster happens to be the sportiest-looking motorcycle in the Sportster series line-up. There are hints of the Iron 883 in its design language, and is the sportier alternative to the 1200 Custom and Forty-Eight. The front and rear fenders are stubby, and the peanut tank looks cool and is mounted on a blacked-out engine. It sports a circular headlight, like the one seen on the Forty-Eight. The split five-spoke cast wheels look beautiful. The dual exhausts in chrome look gorgeous, and the stepped single seat adds to the classic appeal of the Roadster. The tachometer is an analogue unit, while the rest is digital, including the clock, readings for speed, trip meters, odometer and speedometer. In terms of dimensions, the Roadster is 2185mm in length, 841mm in width and 1082mm in height. The motor is nice and torquey. The engine is quite relaxed in nature, and for as long as you keep shifting, the engine is responsive. Even for good throttle response, you’ll really have to work through the transmission. The clutch is heavy though, making it tough to ride in the city. As the revs rise, the vibrations tend to disappear. At 259kgs, the bike’s weight is quite manageable. The ground clearance, on the other hand, is 150mm, while the bike has a wheelbase of 1505mm and a seat height of 785mm.
Mileage
The Harley-Davidson Roadster has a fuel tank capacity of 12.5 litres. In terms of mileage, the bike is capable of returning 20kmpl by ARAI, in BSIV guise.
Mechanical Parts
Sitting on the Roadster, you tend to lean forward a bit, reaching out for the low-set handlebars that remind one of the Clubman handlebar. So you’re seated quite low, making direction changes a cinch. Although the foot pegs have been positioned in the front, making it a bit uncomfortable when you have to put your feet down. The shape of the saddle is such that holds the rider firmly in place. The seat provides good comfort, but the pillion’s seat is quite the opposite unfortunately, because it slopes backwards. The suspension absorb the bumps very well, and the bike feels planted when cornering and gives the rider loads of confidence. The Dunlop tyres provide good grip too. The bike is also very nimble. At the front, the bike rides on cartridge forks, while the rear gets an adjustable monoshock-absorber. As far as the chassis is concerned, it is built around a tubular frame. The Roadster runs on 120/70 R-19 tyres at the front and 150/70 R-18 tyres at the rear. Retardation duties are taken care of by disc brakes at the front and at the rear.
Features
The bike comes loaded with a slew of features like a part-digital instrument cluster, stepped seat, black alloy wheels, ABS, pass light switch, engine kill switch and an LED tail light.
Colours
The Harley-Davidson Roadster is available in a variety of shades like Vivid Black, Sumatra Brown, Industrial Gray Denim / Black Denim, Corona Yellow Pearl and Electric Blue / Silver Fortune. Vivid Black is certainly a colour that is bound to be a favourite among young riders.
Brochure
Feel free to step into a showroom or browse through the company’s website to know all the necessary details on the bike. It will help you with details that cover specifications, colours and accessory options.
Prices and Variants
The Harley-Davidson Roadster is available in one variant: Roadster Standard for ₹ 11.09 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). For further details and the on-road price of the bike, you can head to autoX.
There is a lot more information available on the Harley-Davidson Roadster, along with detailed reviews of the same. You can tune into autoX to know more about the brand, its models and news related to the product. Also, grab the latest info on the upcoming bikes, only at autoX.
