RE: Harley-Davidson Roadster: PH2 Review
Tuesday 14th June 2016
A few weeks ago I received a random email from a friend. Attached was a picture of the new Harley-Davidson Roadster and a simple message that read 'this Harley looks amazing, is it wrong that I think this?' To put this into context, he has always been a sports bike man and, up until now, Harleys have been the butt of jokes about ditch pumps and poor handling. But here was one he was genuinely interested in owning. And that's kind of the point of the new Roadster: it's a Harley aimed at attracting the cafe racer crowd. But to appeal to this audience, the Roadster needs to handle a damn sight better than most Harleys, which is a tough ask for what is basically a tweaked Sportster.
Riding position more comfy than it looksA sporty outlook
Strip away the marketing hype and the Roadster is essentially a restyled Forty-Eight. It has the same chassis and 1,202cc air-cooled engine as the classically styled model, but it is the wheels and suspension that separate the two bikes. Where the Forty-Eight has big old balloon tyres on 16-inch rims, the Roadster gains a 19-inch front and an 18-inch rear. Not normal sizes for cafe racers, but far more conventional for Harleys. Add to this a pair of 43mm inverted forks (not the first time on a Harley, they appeared on the XR1200) and some taller dampers that tip the bike more on its nose, plus twin front discs, and you have the potential for vastly improved handling and stopping. Naturally there are styling alterations, and the Roadster gets more centrally mounted pegs, wide and slightly dipped bars, a cafe racer style seat and new dash with an analogue rev counter and LCD speedo. The Roadster also has a more sensible 12.5-litre fuel tank, unlike the pathetic and deeply irritating 7.9-litre tank on the Forty-Eight. Thank goodness for small mercies...
It even handles quite nicely tooA surprising ride
I've been on quite a few Harley launches when I've been told the handling is better and been left disappointed, but the Roadster was a real surprise. Annoyingly it was a bit damp on my ride, but despite this you could tell that it was a genuine step forward from other models. It's not going to cause a sports bike any worries, but the Roadster is now a Harley that can be ridden with enthusiasm through bends rather than nursed around them. The centrally mounted pegs offer more ground clearance than usual, which is nice, but it's the change in geometry and new wheels that are the real stars, transforming the ride and making the Roadster almost justify the 'sport' part of its Sportster name. Add to this an ABS braking set-up that, while still pretty devoid of feel and with the traditional horrible chunky brake lever, now has enough power to bring it on a par with a basic modern system. They aren't amazing, but they are certainly up to the job and that's another major step forward for a Harley. Weirdly for a cafe racer, I actually found the Roadster's wide and low-ish bars very comfortable and, even more strangely, they seemed to be set at the ideal height and spacing to make the mirrors work perfectly. The seat is also pretty comfortable. But the Roadster isn't without its irritations...
LCD screen can be tricky to readIs this really a cafe racer?
After riding the Roadster I was left thinking if my mate would actually enjoy owning one. To be honest, he is still a sports bike man at heart and the performance of the 1,202cc Harley V-twin would leave him a bit disappointed where something like the Triumph Thruxton or Yamaha XSR range wouldn't, so I don't think it would be for him. That said, the Roadster is certainly a credible cafe racer for those who like the styling but aren't that fussed about ultimate performance. This is a Harley that looks cool, handles reasonably well, stops properly and can pass a petrol station without making the rider start to sweat, unlike the Forty-Eight. It is the only model in the Sportster range that actually justifies the Sport part of the name; and, at less than £10,000, it isn't bad value either.
Harley-Davidson Roadster: PH2 Review
The new Harley Sportster that actually lives up to its name
Riding position more comfy than it looks
Strip away the marketing hype and the Roadster is essentially a restyled Forty-Eight. It has the same chassis and 1,202cc air-cooled engine as the classically styled model, but it is the wheels and suspension that separate the two bikes. Where the Forty-Eight has big old balloon tyres on 16-inch rims, the Roadster gains a 19-inch front and an 18-inch rear. Not normal sizes for cafe racers, but far more conventional for Harleys. Add to this a pair of 43mm inverted forks (not the first time on a Harley, they appeared on the XR1200) and some taller dampers that tip the bike more on its nose, plus twin front discs, and you have the potential for vastly improved handling and stopping. Naturally there are styling alterations, and the Roadster gets more centrally mounted pegs, wide and slightly dipped bars, a cafe racer style seat and new dash with an analogue rev counter and LCD speedo. The Roadster also has a more sensible 12.5-litre fuel tank, unlike the pathetic and deeply irritating 7.9-litre tank on the Forty-Eight. Thank goodness for small mercies...
It even handles quite nicely too
I've been on quite a few Harley launches when I've been told the handling is better and been left disappointed, but the Roadster was a real surprise. Annoyingly it was a bit damp on my ride, but despite this you could tell that it was a genuine step forward from other models. It's not going to cause a sports bike any worries, but the Roadster is now a Harley that can be ridden with enthusiasm through bends rather than nursed around them. The centrally mounted pegs offer more ground clearance than usual, which is nice, but it's the change in geometry and new wheels that are the real stars, transforming the ride and making the Roadster almost justify the 'sport' part of its Sportster name. Add to this an ABS braking set-up that, while still pretty devoid of feel and with the traditional horrible chunky brake lever, now has enough power to bring it on a par with a basic modern system. They aren't amazing, but they are certainly up to the job and that's another major step forward for a Harley. Weirdly for a cafe racer, I actually found the Roadster's wide and low-ish bars very comfortable and, even more strangely, they seemed to be set at the ideal height and spacing to make the mirrors work perfectly. The seat is also pretty comfortable. But the Roadster isn't without its irritations...
After a few minutes of riding, the positioning of the pegs left me seething with annoyance. The problem is that every time you stop and put a foot down, when you go to put it back on the peg you catch your shin on the peg. Quite honestly, they are the worst positioned pegs on any bike I have ever ridden. The Harley guys told me that you get used to it, but a short ride through town left me nursing bruised shins and a rapidly increasing temper. Truly horrible. Also, the rev counter dominates the dash and the small LCD speedo seems an afterthought which, while looking cool, does make reading your speed quite tricky.
LCD screen can be tricky to read
After riding the Roadster I was left thinking if my mate would actually enjoy owning one. To be honest, he is still a sports bike man at heart and the performance of the 1,202cc Harley V-twin would leave him a bit disappointed where something like the Triumph Thruxton or Yamaha XSR range wouldn't, so I don't think it would be for him. That said, the Roadster is certainly a credible cafe racer for those who like the styling but aren't that fussed about ultimate performance. This is a Harley that looks cool, handles reasonably well, stops properly and can pass a petrol station without making the rider start to sweat, unlike the Forty-Eight. It is the only model in the Sportster range that actually justifies the Sport part of the name; and, at less than £10,000, it isn't bad value either.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROADSTER
Engine: 1,202cc air-cooled V-twin
Torque (lb ft): 71
Top speed: 120mph (est)
Weight: 259kg (wet)
MPG: 48 (est.)
Price: £9,695
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Discussion
Really? Ghastly old lump that is not actually designed to "fit" anyone. This is another take on the old Harley Cafe Racer of years ago. That was horrible and not at all a cafe racer either. Pass (on anything grossly over weight and "designed" Harley) Almost every contact point is at the wrong angle or to high/low, far/near, none of which seems to bother Harley. Their road tester must be a really strange shape! Here is the last hash: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=harley+davidson+...
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