![]() ![]() Recently with big changes to bring comfort, smoothness and overall sophistication, the new liquid-cooled Sportster is as cool as ever. ![]() With the high performance Buell no longer in Harley’s product mix, after over 60 years in the model line-up the Sportster lives on now as DOHC technological wonder. Some riders have enjoyed chopping and bobbing Sportsters as well. And men like Leo Payne were able to tune it for assaults on the Land Speed Record at Bonneville. Stripped, it served well at the drag strip. Properly equipped it was a light weight “sport touring” machine. While it has played an extremely limited role in the military, or as a police mount, like its predecessors the K Model and the WL model, the Sportster has been a very flexible machine. The magneto ignition XLCH was a no holds barred beast, strong competition for the Triumph Bonneville. Seat options varied from traditional sprung post to rigid mount in later years, and there was even the “boat tail” seat/fender unit for awhile. But the XLH options list included saddlebags, a windshield, buddy seat and riders could even opt for two ride heights by specifying 18 inch or 19 inch wheels. The biggest advancement was overhead valves plus eventually electric starting on the basic H model. And for 1958, the hotter XLH and XLCH Sportster satisfied the needs of riders looking for lighter, nimbler high performance motorcycles.įollowing in the tracks of the flathead K model, which remained only in racing form as the KR750, the overhead valve XL Sportster was built on the K model. Harley-Davidson surprised riders with the new XL model line for 1957. ![]()
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