About as long as the blacked out fad. Sons of Anarchy still has 2 seasons at least...so probably a couple years. lol

 

How short are you man? I'm 5'6" and have no problem on a dirt bike, much less a standard Sportster.

 

I wonder myself. Seems to me that if the OP is so concerned with cornering, he should be piloting a Buell XB12S instead of a Sporty?

Most everything has a design purpose and the Sportster is a cruiser. Sure, anything can be made into something else, but that's what it ends up becoming..."something else." And I don't think the MoCo is offering these low bikes as a fashion statement but rather just another turn in the neverending rotation of styles, in an effort to keep from becoming stagnant. I mean after all, how much can things change but remain dedicated to the purpose and reason the Sportster exists? Do VW Beetles become 1/4 mile champions? Any 1985 Yugo's in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? See any M1 Abrams tanks on the F1 circuit?

I'm plenty happy with my Iron as it sits, and although I do engage in some "spirited" runs through the twisties from time to time scraping the factory pegs I know the bikes and my own limitations and would never for one moment think my bike's anything other than what it was designed to be...a cruiser. And if I did want to expand the envelope, well, then it's time for a sportbike.

Eh, just my opinion, worth whatcha' paid for it...

=8^)

 

I think the point is that the Sportster has traditionally been an outlier in the Harley community because of being much taller and designed (as the name implies) to be Sporty. It's only in the past few years that factory lowered bikes have become the norm.

Here is some data from another forum:

2012 Harley Model Lean angle Specs:

Right/Left

883 Superlow - 24.7 / 24.4
Softail Slim - 24 / 24.9
Heritage Softail Classic - 24.4 / 25.9
Softail Blackline - 24.4 / 25.9
Fatboy Low - 25.6 / 25.2
Softail Deluxe - 25.8 / 26.7
Fatboy - 26.2 / 27

48 XLX 1200 - 27.8 / 26.1
XLC 1200 - 26.2 / 28.3
72 XLV 1200 - 28.6 / 29.8

Dyna Switchback - 29 / 29

883 Iron - 29 / 30
1200N - 29 / 30

Wide Glide - 28.4 / 31.9
Dyna Custom - 29.5 / 30.9

Street Bob - 30 / 31
Dyna Fat Bob - 30 / 31

Street Glide - 32 / 29
Road Glide Custom - 32 / 29

Various Vrods - 32 / 32

Road Glide Ultra - 33 / 31
Road King - 33 / 31
RK Classic - 33 / 31
Various Utrla's - 33 / 31

XR1200X - 39 / 40


1996 Harley Lean Angle Specs

FXST, FXSTS, FXSTB, FLSTF, FLSTC, FLSTN - 28 / 29

FLHT, FLHR, FLHTC, FLHTCU etc - 31 / 30

FXD, FXDL, FXDWG - 31 / 32

XLH 883 Hugger - 30.5 / 34

XL1200C - 30.5 / 34.0

FXDC - 33.5 / 34.5

XLH 883 / XLH 1200 / XL1200S - 40 / 36

 

I ride a Superlow, ride quite aggressively and after I took those extended bits off the pegs I just occasionally scrape the side stand. Leans well enough for me! If I wanted to get my knee down I'd buy a sports bike.

 

Meh, mine rides just fine for me.

 

Still new but a love the sporties the way they are.....sweet *** bike. Cruiser and some decent speed riding. Don't want a croch rocket.

 

I've had 3 Buells; fantastic bikes and I wish I hadn't gotten rid of my XB12R. It's a cryin' shame you can't get a new one.

Also, the original "design purpose" of the Sportster was not a boulevard cruiser. it was as a sporty standard; exactly what I'm pining for.

I've had a few sportbikes, btw, and they were TOO capable. I found myself going WAY faster than was prudent on public roads (as in, I've touched down footpeg feelers on the Hayabusa I owned) and the bikes kept begging for more. It's time to slow down a little.

 

+1 - Without giving up the thrill.

 

If ya wanna take the corners a bit faster than the norm ya just gotta get a cheek off the seat.

Example: