Harley-Davidson has added a 29th model to its range in Australia with the new race-inspired dark custom Roadster XL1200CX Sportster.
Even though it is a minimalist design, it’s priced at $19,495 ride away ($20,250 in New Zealand) which is the same price as the top-of-the-line Super Low touring Sportster. It is expected to arrive in mid-June.
Features are mid-mount pegs, 43mm upside-down forks, cafe racer bars, dual front disc brakes with ABS and, at 785mm, the highest seat in their range.
These factors should combine for a racier and more commanding riding position.
Harley-Davidson Director of Styling Brad Richards says the Roadster is a “mash-up” of styles with a profile similar to the racing Sportster motorcycles from the 1950s and 1960s.
“We wanted to give the Roadster some DNA from the high-performance KHR models of the mid-50s, and later Sportsters tuned for the drag strip,” said Richards. “Those bikes had fenders cut to the struts, the small fuel tank, and were stripped to their bare essentials to achieve a singular performance purpose.”
Although detailed specifications are not yet available, the Roadster may have one of the best lean angles in the fleet, despite the mid-mount pegs, because it has the longest suspension travel of any Sportster model at 114mm (4.5”) in front and 81mm (3.2”) in the rear premium emulsion-type twin shocks.
Other highlights are a 12.5-litre tank, unique 19”/18” five-spoke cast aluminium wheels, slotted belt guard and muffler shields, and the shortest bobbed rear fender of any Sportster with the rear indicators mounted directly to the fender struts for a clean tail design.
Up front, there is a single 10cm (4”) diameter instrument tucked low in front of the triple clamp with an analogue tachometer and digital speedometer and other information.
It is still powered by the air-cooled 1200cc V-Twin Sportster engine with a five-speed transmission.
The Harley-Davidson Roadster comes in Vivid Black with a charcoal denim pinstripe; Black Denim with a red pinstripe; Velocity Red Sunglo with a red pinstripe; and two-tone Billet Silver/Vivid Black with a burgundy pinstripe.
Harley-Davidson Roadster XL1200CX Sportster
Dimensions
| Length (mm) | 2185 |
| Seat Height (mm) | 785 |
| Fuel Capacity (litres) | 12.5 |
| Dry Weight (kg) | 250 |
Powertrain
| Engine | Air-cooled, Evolution™ |
| Displacement (cu.cm) | 1202 |
| Engine Torque | 98 Nm (72.3 ft-lb) @ 3750 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-speed |
Wheels/Tyres
| Front | Offset-Split 5-Spoke 19 in. x 3 in. (482.6 mm x 76 mm) Tyre: 120/70R19 M/C |
| Rear | Offset-Split 5-Spoke 18 in. x 4.25 in. (457.2 mm x 108 mm) Tyre: 150/70R18 M/C |
Colour Options
| Colour Options | Solids: Vivid Black; Black Denim; Velocity Red Sunglo Two-tones: Billet Silver/Vivid Black |