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Mrs. Gone and I just returned from a driving vacation to visit the family in New Mexico. We love the little town of Madrid just outside of Santa Fe, and stopped for lunch. It's an artist community, and a bit of a tourist trap, and a big motorcycle destination on the weekends - filming a scene from the movie Wild Hogs probably helped that, and it was like the Rock Store in Malibu when we were enjoying the local cuisine last Sunday.
Watching the bikes rumble by, I spotted a few new Sportster S bikes pull up and park nearby. I hadn't seen one yet, so I took a look. They're definitely going after the Indian FTR, of which there were a few as well in the herds that were parked in front of the local bar. Overall, I think I like the Sportster a bit more on looks, though the ergos look like they'd be a bit more comfortable on the FTR.
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That exhaust looks totally stupid to me.
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As the previous owner of 2 Sportsters, there is nothing about that bike iteration that strikes my fancy. Nothing
Harley is supposed to announce a NEW Sportster on April 12
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If the Sportster S attracts the next generation of riders, (and I know bringing new riders and younger folks into the motorcycle world is a priority for HD), then more power to them. Not my taste in bikes either, but I sure hope it is other's taste and we continue seeing motorcycle sales continue in the future.
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Well, it's starting price is $15 large so I doubt if many new comers are going to chose that model unless they just have to have a Harley.
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The guys that pulled up on two Sportster S' and an FTR all parked together, and looked middle-agish. Less "grizzled old biker" than the guys on traditional Harleys. While we were eating, I watched guys walk up to the newer bikes. They were attracting attention, probably for being something that looked decidedly different. I wouldn't shell out the money for one, but having seen the hype online, it was neat to see one in person.
As for the exhaust, like the FTR, I imagine they were going for a "double-barrel shotgun" look.
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I can imagine guys 35-50 buying them.
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I’m not bada$$ enough to ride a bike like that.
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Even if I were bada$$ enough to ride one, i wouldn’t. I’m sure it’s just dandy, but to quote another member, “… there’s nothing about that bike … that strikes my fancy.”
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This motorcycle looks as if it was made of the remains of a destroyed Russian tank hit by a Ukrainian rocket, ugly, very ugly!
(04-04-2022, 05:08 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: As the previous owner of 2 Sportsters, there is nothing about that bike iteration that strikes my fancy. Nothing
Harley is supposed to announce a NEW Sportster on April 12
On April 12??... cos April 1st = April fool would be a better day for HD
