Uh . . . no. Here's my (now traded) Sporty next to my friend's FB. Added a bunch of stuff to make it a mini bagger, but honestly, it buzzed at highway speeds, rode rough and was too light/small for the task. Don't get me wrong -- I really enjoyed owning it, and it is a well-made, great handling and fun bike to ride. But it is what it is -- a SPORTster. Save your money on these types of mods, and keep it pure. Buy another bike for touring if you can afford it.

 

I have a 2009 sporty 1200 and I love it. I don't know if I would want to do a serious long range ride on it (have a RKC for that) but around town and 1 to 2 our rides are great! I think there would be a market for a touring sporty with some fairing and better suspension and definitely needs a better than stock seat.

 

I am a 69 yr old GoldWing rider who has owned 3 Sportsters. I have been riding since 1956. I currently have a 2004 XL883 with Windsheld, lowers, chaps for the crash bar. Oil cooler, Sportster saddle bags, back rest, 4.5 gal tank, Dunlop Elite 3 tires front and rear. I love my HD. I have ridden GoldWings for the past 36 yrs. My current GoldWing is a 1977 and the bike I travel all over Mexico on 2 or 3 times a year. I use my HD every day as an around town bike and for short trips. It cut my gas bill from $120.00 /Month down to $60.00. I have only had this bike for 6 mos. now, so I have not had a chance for a long trip on it yet, but looking forward to do one.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=b635fb21bb

 

Here we are in Nebraska on the way to Sturgis a 3900 mile round trip.

 

I own a 2003 XL1200S that has done touring duty from Colorado Springs to Milwaukee, WI for the Motor Company's 100th anniversary, as well as tours to Daytona and other parts of the U.S.

Being brought up around vintage British iron has made me appreciate the lighter, simpler machines. While I also own and ride my '93 FLHS, the Sportster is my favorite.

Set up properly, the Sporty can handle touring; that's the beauty! Its design makes it versatile in accordance with the owner's tastes.

I will be doing a west coast tour from WA down to San Diego in the summer of 2012 and will be doing it on my 1200S.

Those who sneer at the Sportster are completely ignorant of a machine that competed against Triumph and helped to save the Motor Company from bankruptcy, not to mention garnering numerous racing victories via the XR 750, a design based on the Sportster platform.

 

I must be the Gayest, I have a 1200 and am also trying to buy my buddy's 883, so me an my dad can go riding together. My 1200 sets off car alarms and is fast as hell. I don't think I am man enough to handle one of those slow baggers with a a windsheild and radio. My dirtbike is only a 250cc. I probably look like a total wuss riding wheelies at 40mph on that thing. I think its just the American attitude. I am guilty, I have a .45 when a 9mm is just as good. To each his won but i love my Sporty.

 

I have to admit, even though it's hard for me to long haul on my 883 now, compared to the mostly metrics I took days long trips with in the 60's and 70's, it's a limousine. I would have loved 883 torque back then, not having to lay on the tank to hold 60 on a stiff headwind, a few times for most of the day. Even with higher top ends than a 883 (even 1200's), they couldn't handle headwinds and hills like the little Sporty. Riders today are spoiled by two wheeled Town Cars. I'll be 65 before I get to ride again up here in the icebox, and am thinking it may be time for me to get spoiled, too.

 

so many confused people in this thread

 

Here's my '93 Sportster/WideGlide/Heritage/Tourer.





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Might be my imagination, but I think my 883 looks vaguely similar to yours. Just curioius, since I see one above the forks, too, which instrument is on your tank? I have the tach on the tank.