Rishikesh isn’t the kind of place you associate with V-twins and heavy exhaust notes. It’s a place of calm, sacred rivers, sunrise yoga, and incense wafting through ancient ghats. But on the edge of that serenity, where the road starts twisting towards the hills and the Ganges disappears behind rock faces, I let loose a beast: the Harley-Davidson Sportster S. I didn’t come to Rishikesh for meditation. I came to test a bike that looks like rebellion in steel. A bike that’s turning Harley’s traditional formula on its head. The Sportster S is not subtle. It doesn’t whisper om. It growls. Let’s talk about that ride, what it feels like to actually live with this motorcycle, and how it performs when thrown against the earthy corners, patchy asphalt, and hidden mountain heat of Rishikesh.
Strong Appearance: The Sportster S Stands Out
You don’t walk up to this bike, you double-take. It’s muscular like a prizefighter, compact like a pit bull, and styled like someone mixed a cruiser with a scrambler and a drag racer. The first thing I noticed rolling into Rishikesh’s narrow lanes was the heat shimmering off those mid-mounted exhaust pipes, stacked high on the right like some mechanical weapon. The short rear subframe gives it a stubby, aggressive stance. The LED headlamp, housed in a modern rectangular shell, punches a hole through the night like a tactical spotlight. But the real jaw-dropper is that 160 mm wide front tire, it looks like it belongs on a car, not a motorcycle. Parked near Lakshman Jhula, the Sportster S pulled more stares than a group of sadhus doing headstands. It’s not a motorcycle you ride to blend in. It’s a statement. Even the magnesium covers on the V-twin shimmer like armor. From every angle, this Harley screams one thing: I am not your dad’s cruiser.
In the Test: Refined 122 HP Engine
Let’s get into the core of this machine, because looks mean nothing if the soul doesn’t deliver. The Revolution Max 1250T engine is where Harley has truly evolved. Unlike the older rumbling dinosaurs of the past, this one revs clean, sharp, and hard. With 122 horsepower and 125 Nm of torque, it launches like it’s being chased. The power delivery is immediate, especially in Sport mode, where it feels like you’ve unleashed a storm under the tank. Leaving town, I twisted the throttle and felt the front end go a little light, not from wheelie power, but from sheer force pulling the bike forward. The sound deepens as you hit 6,000 rpm, and by the time you hit 9,000, you’re grinning like an idiot. The riding modes (Sport, Road, Rain) change the character noticeably. In Sport, the throttle’s sharp, bordering on twitchy in tight traffic. Road mode calms things down, ideal for the busy roads near Tapovan. Rain mode? Didn’t need it, but good to have. Then there are two custom modes for riders who want full control. It’s more tech than I expected from a Harley. Cornering ABS, traction control, cruise control, even keyless ignition, this bike is loaded, and none of it feels tacked on. It feels modern. It feels refined, but with the right kind of menace.
Good Braking Effect
Here’s something I was skeptical about, the single front disc brake. One 320 mm rotor up front for a 228 kg bike with 122 hp? It didn’t sound promising. But Harley pulled it off. With a radially-mounted four-piston caliper, braking performance is solid. No nose dives, no fade even after fast descents near Neelkanth Mahadev Road. Even under panic braking from a dog running out of the bushes, the Sportster S stayed composed. The cornering ABS kept me upright, and the wide front tire gave me more grip than expected. Would dual discs be better? Maybe. But I never felt under-braked. Not even once.
Alternative Footrests for Smaller Riders
Now let’s talk about the riding position. I’m a taller rider (just over 6 feet), and the forward-mounted foot pegs worked fine for me. Leaned back, arms slightly spread, spine straight, it’s a confident, cruiser-style stance. But I met a fellow rider in Rishikesh, shorter by a good few inches, who sat on the bike and immediately frowned. The gear shifter and rear brake lever were hard to reach. That’s where Harley’s optional mid-mounted foot controls come in. A smart move, makes the bike more accessible and gives a more “standard” upright riding feel. For tighter roads in the hills, it would even improve control. So if you’re under, say, 5’8”, the mid-set footrests aren’t just a good idea, they’re a must.
Suboptimal Suspension, Small Tank
This is where the cracks start to show. The suspension, especially in the rear, is firm, too firm. With only 50 mm of travel, every pothole or sharp bump goes directly to your spine. On the smooth sections of the highway, it’s composed and planted. But the minute you hit broken patches near Shivpuri, your kidneys start negotiating for a new job. There’s no magic here, just a stiff setup that favors looks over comfort. For short rides or smooth roads, fine. But for long tours or bumpy hills? You’re going to feel it. Trust me, I did. Then there’s the tank. It looks great, sculpted, sleek, aggressive. But it only holds just under 12 liters of fuel. Even with a decent mileage of around 5.1L/100km, that means you’re looking at a range of 200 kilometers tops. I had to refuel twice in one day of moderate riding through the hills and back. This is not a touring bike. It’s a blaster. A bike for rides you plan around gas stations.
Sportster S: Technical data, price
| Manufacturer information | Specifications |
| Engine/Transmission | Liquid-cooled 60° V2 engine, transversely mounted, 1252 cc displacement, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, DOHC 90 kW/122 HP at 7500 rpm, 125 Nm at 6000 rpm Injection, 6 gears, chain |
| chassis | Three-piece light alloy frame with tubular, cast, and molded parts, load-bearing engine; 43 mm USD telescopic fork at the front, rebound damping and preload adjustable, 92 mm travel Steel tubular double-sided swing arm at the rear, central spring strut, fully adjustable, 51 mm travel Cast light alloy wheels, tires front 160/70 R 17, rear 180/60 R 16; 320 mm Single disc brake front, 260 mm single disc brake rear |
| Dimensions and weights | Wheelbase 1518 mm, seat height 755 mm Ready-to-drive weight 228 kg, payload 190 kg Tank capacity 11.8 l |
| Assistance systems | Cornering ABS, cornering traction control, tire pressure monitoring system, five driving modes (two of which are freely definable), immobilizer, keyless start system, cruise control, automatic turn signal reset, smartphone integration |
| Driving performance, consumption | Top speed 220 km/h Standard consumption 5.1 l/100 km |
| Price | 18,495 euros |
Conclusion
The Harley-Davidson Sportster S is unlike any Harley I’ve ridden before. It’s fast. It’s loaded with tech. It’s precise, powerful, and honestly, beautiful in a brutal way. But it’s also a bike with strong preferences. It doesn’t want to carry luggage. It doesn’t want a pillion. It doesn’t want to cruise for hours on broken roads. It wants open stretches, twisty tarmac, and a rider who enjoys the feel of raw torque beneath a sophisticated frame. Up in the hills above Rishikesh, with the Ganges far below and the sun dipping behind forested ridges, I opened the throttle one last time before heading back. The roar echoed between the trees, and I knew: this bike is not spiritual, but it is soul-stirring. It’s a Harley,but not the kind your uncle rides. It’s a new breed. And once you ride it, you’ll never look at the Bar and Shield logo the same way again.
