Sportster celebrates 50 years of street inspired style in 2007

Fads like hula hoops, Frisbees and 3-D movies were big in America when the Harley-Davidson Sportster was introduced in 1957. While fads come and go, the Sportster motorcycle is still going strong in 2007.Born in the heyday of rock n' roll and the hot rod, the Harley-Davidson Sportster became one of the most recognised and aptly named motorcycles in history. As a successor to Harley-Davidson's K-series sportbikes, the Sportster XL-series was the first American muscle bike of the rock n' roll era and a standard for future generations.

"Since its inception in 1957, the Sportster has been a significant motorcycle for Harley-Davidson and its customers," said Willie G. Davidson, Harley-Davidson Senior Vice President and Chief Styling Officer. "The Sportster hot rod heritage served as the basis for our XR-750 racer. Sportsters also have unlimited possibilities for customisation and continue to serve so many of our riders well in performance, function and style."

The timing was right when the first XL-series Sportsters hit Harley-Davidson dealers in 1957. Powered by a new 55 cubic inch, 883cc overhead valve engine with a larger bore and bigger valves, the XL Sportster offered more power than the K-series and better handling due to a variety of innovations. The Sportster was equipped with a new transmission, cast iron barrels and heads, cams and flywheels. With two-tone paint options, it was also ready for accessories like a two-up seat, luggage rack, windshield, saddlebags and an assortment of chrome.

The Sportster continued to evolve quickly over the next several years, with innovations like the signature "peanut" fuel tank, staggered dual exhaust, high lift front intake cams, new shock absorbers, reduced weight and improved compression ratios.Sportster technology advances in 2007 with the addition of Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), new gauges, reduced clutch lever and front brake lever effort on all models, and increased performance and torque on the XL 883 models. Finally, a truly special 50th Anniversary Sportster model celebrates the Sportster heritage of raw-boned styling with narrow and agile street performance.

Key Sportster model innovations during the last 50 years include the following:
A battery upgrade to 12 volts in 1965 and a new carburetor and cams increasing horsepower in 1966 preceded a major development for the Sportster. In 1967, the XLH Sportster received an electric starter, which completely replaced the kick start by 1968. Responding to new AMA (American Motorcycle Association) racing rules, a new Sportster-based motorcycle, the XR-750 racer was introduced in 1970. A more powerful, aluminium alloy XR-750 racer debuted in 1972 and it remains the dominant dirt track racer today. A 1000cc engine was also introduced on Sportster models that year.

The Sportster line experimented with the XLCR Café Racer in 1977, introduced the customised XLS Roadster in 1979, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1982 and launched a stripped-down, customised XLX-61 model in 1983. The introduction of the Evolution engine to the Sportster family in 1986 was a major development for Harley-Davidson. The Sportster Evolution Powertrain included new cases, engine mount, aluminium barrels and heads, and a larger bore and stroke. The new engine retained the look of previous Sportster engines, while adding performance and even more durability. The Hugger model with a lower seat height and upgraded 1200cc Sportster Evolution engine was released in 1988, five-speed transmission and belt drive were added in 1991, and 1200cc Evolution XL Custom and Sport models were introduced in 1996.

2004 was a major milestone year for the Sportster family with the introduction of a rubber-mounted engine to reduce vibration. In addition, a new frame and swingarm provided improved agility, while new cylinders, heads and pistons, wider tyres, reduced clutch lever effort and larger fuel tanks on some models improved the Sportster ride.

2007 model Sportster
The 2007 model year is another major milestone that celebrates Sportster heritage with a look to the future. Sportster riders are part of the evolution of a true hot rod motorcycle, from the first 1957 Sportster to the XR-750 racers of the 1970s to the new 2007 models.

To incorporate ESPFI as standard for all 2007 Sportster models, Harley-Davidson redesigned the Sportster rear fender, seat, fuel tank, coil, exhaust pipes, wiring and induction system, while also revising the frame. With oxygen feedback acting independently on each cylinder, the system learns and adjusts to changing conditions to deliver optimal performance.The Sportster XL 883 models have been re-tuned for increased performance, providing about 15 percent more torque at 2500 rpm. The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, featuring new hands free fob and auto arming/disarming, is fitted as standard on all Sportster models.

50th Anniversary Sportster
Marking this special milestone, the 50th Anniversary model has a special 1200cc XL Evolution engine, new gauges and handlebar wiring, along with a number of "50th" logos. Special features include gold "50th" tank emblem, serialised bar clamp nameplate with "50th" logo, "H" logo silk screening on side cover and embroidered seat.
The special edition is offered in two colours - Mirage Orange and Vivid Black.
RRP is $17,495 for the 50th anniversary edition.

SPORTSTER TIMELINE
1947 Board of Directors' records mention discussion of a bike in the design stage called the "Deluxe Sport Model," which was to have an "entirely new 61 cubic inch overhead valve V-Twin engine," and was to be 150 to 200 lb less than the Big Twins of the time.
1952 The K model is introduced, a 750cc side-valve, V-Twin driven model. The K model is the direct ancestor of the XL Sportster.
1957 The XL Sportster replaces the K model. This 55 cubic inch, overhead valve bike improves upon the power and handling of the K model. The engine and transmission were all new.
1958 The Sportster CH (XLCH) is introduced. The CH stands for "Competition Hot," and is a more stripped-down version of the original XL. The new motorcycle also introduces the trademark "Peanut" gas tank and staggered dual exhaust.
1959 Introduction of the Sportster H model (XLH).
1967 The XLH Sportster receives electric start.
1970 The XR-750 racing motorcycle is introduced. The XR-750 is driven by what is essentially a de-stroked Sportster engine.
1976 The XLCR or Cafe Racer is introduced and is one of the most unique of all Sportster platform bikes. The black sport motorcycle combines the classic European cafe racer with American styling and power.
1979 The XLS Roadster is introduced, a more customised version of the traditional Sportster platform.
1982 The 25th Anniversary Sportster, complete with the more classic "Sportster" gas tank logo, is introduced.
1983 The XLX-61 is introduced, a stripped down, customised Sportster.
1986 The Sportster family receives the Sportster Evolution engine in 883 and 1100cc displacements.
1987 The 30th Anniversary Sportster is introduced.
1988 Introduction of the first of the Sportster Hugger Motorcycles, which offered a lower seat height.
1996 The first 1200S "Sport" and 1200C "Custom" bikes are introduced. The Sport offers race styling and power, and the Custom offers unique chrome appointments and other custom features unique to the bike.
1998 Sportster production moves to Harley-Davidson's factory in Kansas City, MO.
2002 Patterned after the race model of the same name, the new Sportster 883R street motorcycle incorporates racing styling going back to 1970.
2003 Harley-Davidson's 2003 model year line-up included Sportsters with 100th Anniversary accoutrements.
2004 Completely redesigned XL Sportster family is introduced with a redesigned rubber-mounted Sportster XL Evolution powertrain, a stiffer frame, and a lower seat height.
2005 XL Sportster 883 Low introduced with ergonomics designed specifically to fit smaller riders. A seat height of just 26 inches makes the 883 Low the lowest Sportster ever.
2007 50th Anniversary Sportster released.

The Sportster: An H-D institution
by Bill Jackson, Senior Archivist Harley-Davidson
When we traced the origins of the Sportster motorcycle, we went back as far as the 1929 model WL, a 45 cubic inch middleweight. In 1952, the W models were replaced with the venerable K series, replete with new swing arm rear suspension, foot shift and telescopic forks. The K model engine was a single unit, with just one set of cases that housed the fly wheels, crankpin, ears and cams, chain primary drive and the four-speed transmission.

For the next few years, H-D improved upon the K, but ultimately, a new bike was needed to make Harley-Davidson middleweights more competitive. In 1957, the Sportster XL model was introduced. Incorporating some of the engineering of the W and K models, the XL model finally brought overhead valves into the mix. The design sported cast iron cylinder heads and rocker boxes that eventually gave rise to the Shovelhead engine design in 1966.

Soon after came the XLCH, a designation for an off-road, tuned Sportster motorcycle. That bike was marketed nationwide by 1959 and introduced Sportster motorcycle riders to the "peanut" fuel tank. Other incarnations showed the versatility of the Sportster platform, such as the dirt track-ready XLR (later replaced by the XR-750 in 1970), the XLCR Cafe Racer in 1977, the XLS Roadster in 1980, the bare-bones XLX-61 in 1983, and the XLH 883, 1100 and 1200 bikes in the 1980s. The 1984 XR-1000 was one of the most unusual members of the family; it was a street-legal bike, but hardly looked the part. The Sportster motorcycle’s diverse genealogy, reliability, and performance led to its current place in motorcycle history. A formidable contender, the Sportster motorcycle will thrill riders for years to come.