The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Harley’s Best Seller: the 2010 Sportster
November 23, 2009

The Harley Davidson Sportster is hardly a new motorcycle. With its history dating back to the late 1950s, the Sportster is both a grandfather and contemporary among motorcycles. Looking at the full line of Sportsters from the 1950s through today, you can see Harley Davidson stuck close to the original design.

In a recent survey of Harley Davidson dealers, the low priced 2010 Sportster Line has been a best seller. In these challenging economic times, the Sportster offers a great option to capture the Harley spirit without spending over $20,000.

Here’s why the Sportster has been Harley’s best seller:

• New Style: The Sportster has three new appealing styles and a variety of color options. Vivid black is always a great color for Harley but for buyers looking for more flair, these new styles have it in abundance.

• Low Weight: All of the Sportster models weight under 600lbs making them great commuter bikes and easy to maneuver in traffic and in parking lots. The low weight also adds to the fuel economy of the Sportster line, which gets between 40-45mph.

• Engine Options: The Sportster has two engine option; 883cc and 1200cc. Their air-cooled Evolution engines kick out some serious torque so riders will have no problem keeping up with larger bikes.

• New Rider Appeal: With its low seat height, low weight, and curb appeal, the Sportster makes an immediate impact on new riders wanting a piece of the Harley spirit. Also, with 2010 883cc models starting at $7000 and 1200cc models starting at $10,000, the price is great for the cost conscious.

In recent reviews by motorcycle.com for 2010 standard motorcycles, the entire Sportster line ranked in the Top 10 with the Iron 883 and the 1200 Nightster ranking #1 and #2.

Harley Davidson is the undisputed king of the heavy cruiser but in light of their success with their Sportster line, perhaps we will see a wider variety of smaller bikes in the future. With the unfortunate discontinuation of Harley’s Buell Motorcycles, the company will need to find a way to recapture that market segment.