There’s a promising shakeup arriving for one of Harley-Davidson’s most popular offerings.
The rumors had been swirling on the internet for the past several weeks, and Harley-Davidson themselves previously leaked some promotional images hinting at a new Sportster on the horizon, but now it’s finally been confirmed. Using a clever play on words, Harley-Davidson has solidified the rumors of a big change to the Sportster lineup, and it definitely looks intriguing: they have announced they are releasing a next-generation Revolution 975 motor in a newer-styling Sportster package.
The Revolution 975 engine is the descendant of the Revolution Max 1250T power plant, which is currently found in both the Sportster S and Pan America series of motorcycles, and the new version has taken the 1250 power plant and condensed it down to a tidy and water-cooled 975cc DOHC variation. The release of the Revolution Max 975 motor breathes new life into the Sportster lineup, which previously only featured the comparable air-cooled Iron 883 and Iron 1200 motorcycles, alongside the recently released Sportster S which packs the Revolution 1250T motor.
The Sportster S never really seemed to fit into the Harley-Davidson roster until now, though. When it was released, the Sportster S offered a newer and different, almost distractingly different, overall visual styling. In fact, the difference in the styling of the Sportster S is so stark when compared to its cousins – the Iron 883 and Iron 1200 – that it has made it a bit of a visual anomaly in the Harley-Davidson lineup, relatively alone in some of its styling cues, until now.
What’s The Difference?
The new motorcycle on Harley’s lineup isn’t just another Sportster, though. It features the trademark appearance that Harley-Davidson fans know and love with the Sportster lineup, including a single front headlight, single front rotor, and dual rear shock; it also sports a bobber-style fender and traditional forks in lieu of the tire-hugger license plate holder and upside-down forks found on the current Sportster S line. Stripping the bike down to something more practical means this will be a motorcycle for those that enjoy modifying and customizing their rides; adding to this is the difference in exhaust systems between the Sportster 975 and Sportster S, where riders will perhaps find more options for aftermarket exhaust systems that are compatible with the Sportster 975 versus the high pipes found on the Sportster S.
These new changes are a departure from the previous generations of Sportster lineups; as mentioned earlier, the Iron 883 and Iron 1200 were the previous headliners for the Sportster lineup, and both bikes feature air-cooled power plants. (The Iron 883 and Iron 1200 are also now relegated to a “Cruiser” section on the Harley-Davidson website, which coincidentally allows them to expand the Sport lineup of the website where the Sportster S is currently found.) The introduction of a water-cooled 975cc motor means potentially easier maintenance for newer or inexperienced motorcycle owners, and a less-dressed Sportster design will encourage new owners to customize their motorcycles to fit their personal style and tastes, while still allowing them the peace of mind to keep it bone-stock and not worry about extra technology or unusual aftermarket parts if they choose.
Having a smaller-displacement Harley-Davidson motorcycle available to buyers means this could also be a more affordable option for any new riders that are in the market for their first motorcycle; a brand-new Iron 883 will set buyers back about $11,249 USD before taxes and fees, and the Sportster S comes in at just over $15,000 USD. For many new riders, this may be a steep price tag that they may not be completely comfortable with paying. Having a smaller and less expensive offering in the Harley-Davidson lineup will directly target the market of new riders and buyers, and also those riders who are looking to add to their garage without breaking the bank.
The Pan America Might Be Next
While the announcement has now been formally made for the Sportster lineup, it seems to indicate that a similar engine release may be imminent for the Pan America line as well. Bear in mind that the Revolution 1250T motor is also found in the Harley-Davidson Pan America line, and if Harley-Davidson were to offer a lower-priced and lower-spec’d Pan America with a smaller 975cc motor, it would put them in direct contention with other middleweight adventure bikes that have adopted smaller displacement engines such as the BMW F850GS and Triumph Tiger 900. Triumph has found modest success with its Tiger 900 lineup, and the BMW F850GS is considered a gold-star standard for adventure bikes across all manufacturers. Adding fuel to the fire of the idea about a Pan America 975 being a reality is the recent discovery of new part numbers on Harley-Davidson’s site that seem to align with the current Pan America part number sequence, which indicates that a Pan America 975 rollout may actually be imminent.
If a Pan America 975 were to occur, this shift would fall in line with other market adjustments towards smaller engines that have occurred in recent years in response to emissions and sales figures. Using a smaller engine makes it easier to comply with smog restrictions in different jurisdictions, but it also makes the motorcycle more approachable and more affordable to new riders. It would also further confirm a strategic shift for Harley-Davidson towards providing more reasonably priced entry-level offerings; just last month, images and video were leaked online revealing a collaboration Harley-Davidson seemed to undertake with Chinese manufacturer Qinajiang Motor, where a possible Street 500 prototype is shown undergoing dyno testing. This is happening with other manufacturers, as well; the less-frantic (but still fun) twin-cylinder Yamaha R7 has replaced the tightly wound 4-cylinder R6, and the Aprilia RS660 has earned its place as a two-cylinder sportbike contender both on roads and at the track. It makes sense to respond to the market shift towards smaller engines, and by announcing the Sportster 975, Harley-Davidson has started this process already.
The announcement for the new Sportster 975 comes on the heels of what’s been a fairly positive past few weeks for Harley-Davidson, which has seen its stock outperforming relative to the market for several days prior to the Sportster 975 announcement. In addition to the company’s stock performance, it was announced last month that the tariffs that had previously been slapped on the import of Harley-Davidson motorcycles to the UK are set to be lifted this coming June. The positive financial outlook, both at home in the United States and globally, helps Harley-Davidson out in the days following a recent announcement of a minor safety recall affecting roughly 4100 motorcycles, mainly 2021-2022 model year Iron 883 and Iron 1200 motorcycles.
What’s Next?
With this announcement, what could be happening in the future for Harley-Davidson? Prior to the announcement of the Sportster 975, rumors had swirled around the fate of the Bronx streetfighter, which had been previously delayed until at least 2022 so the manufacturer could focus on the rollout and sales of the Pan America line. For those that might not remember, let’s flashback in time a few years: the Bronx Streetfighter prototype was first revealed in late 2019 alongside the Pan America and LiveWire. Pan America moved forward and experienced strong sales and an active community of owners and enthusiasts since its formal launch in 2021, and LiveWire has also moved on and branched out to become its own electric motorcycle brand. The Bronx didn’t get as good of a start as its cohort, with its release delayed and the company experiencing a change in CEO since then.
Now, with the release of the Revolution 975 motor, it has now given brand new life to the discussion of a Bronx streetfighter offering from Harley-Davidson, which was previously advertised as potentially offering a 975cc engine in the prototype and also once it was formally launched to the public. With the Revolution 975 engine now a reality, and with new CEO Jochen Zeitz in place and implementing strategic operations to pull the company back from the catastrophic financial results seen in early 2020, the possibility of a Bronx streetfighter may be back on the table sooner than we think.
Any new release by Harley-Davidson is going to be met with equal parts skepticism, cynicism, and enthusiasm by its most vehement and engaging followers. No doubt that the announcement of the new Sportster 975 will be no different, and both new and experienced riders will have an opinion on the release; however, for the purpose of expanding Harley-Davidson’s sports lineup and creating an engine that could serve as the basis for both new and different product offerings in the future, it’s a slam dunk. What the Sportster 975 will offer to both the riding community and Harley-Davidson as a company will go beyond just the motor, and will have a lasting impact on the company and brand for many years to come.