Sharpened Sportster S Gets Muscle Bike Workout

Accepted Parts

The Sportster S is a different kind of Harley-Davidson. With very little in common with its XL predecessor, reception among enthusiasts has been mixed. Perhaps by design, it is more accepted by those outside the 'family.' Thunderbike, Germany's renowned custom shop, is helping that adoption with its own aftermarket parts, sharpening the Sportster S with a muscle bike workout.

Photos courtesy of Thunderbike.

Category Comparison

Not 'fitting in' is a sticking point for the Sportster S. It slots into the ambiguous category of muscle bike. Its namesake, the Evolution-powered XL, has been everything from race bike to highway hauler—a veritable jack-of-all-trades. By comparison, the S is not quite a sports bike, not really suited for touring, and lacks any viable two-up capability or real luggage capacity.

Size Potential

Despite its compact appearance, the Sportster S is not a diminutive machine. It actually has the tallest seat height, at 28.9 inches, out of the remaining XL lineup and even the new Nightster. Its other dimensions are on par as well. The size comparison is also valid for its potential competitors—the more traditionally-styled Indian Scout and Triumph Bonneville Bobber.

Max Mode

Yet, the Sportster S does satisfy the 'up-for-interpretation,' muscle bike category without issue. Harley-Davidson lists the S at 121 horsepower and 94 foot-pounds of torque, all thanks to its Revolution Max 1250T engine. Real-world riders confirm that it satisfyingly lives up to those figures. With the 'Sport' mode engaged, reviewers remarked that the S becomes a potent 'hooligan' machine.

Compact Spin

Located in the small town of Hamminkeln in western Germany, Thunderbike Harley-Davidson is among the top European dealerships and is well-known for its impressive custom work. Their top-down approach with the Sportster S was to “give the production model a decisive spin.” The process began by making it even more compact. Shop owner Andreas Bergerforth confirmed, “We brought everything closer together.”

Beefy Character

Thunderbike first addressed the limited handlebar choices for the Sportster S. A custom-designed triple clamp now accommodates a lower, but the wider bar, with thinner ends. Redesigned grips match the newly fabricated setup. A funky flyscreen adds a bit of character to the beefy frontend. The mirrors were flipped down and stealthy turn signals mounted to the forks.

Common Configuration

New footpegs were machined to gain a bit more lean angle and to match the grips. Thunderbike also enhanced the look of the otherwise bland and bulky radiator with aluminum side plates. Riding ergonomics is a common complaint for new Sportster S owners. The revised handlebar and footpeg setup helps in this matter, while an add-on, mid-mount peg configuration is available from Harley-Davidson.

Flex Definition

Thunderbike also ditched the stock, but awkward, center-mounted taillight and license plate assembly. The bike's spectacular finish was applied by Ingo Kruse, Thunderbike's longtime go-to for custom paint work. It might not be the most aggressive workout, but this custom Sportster S has just enough going on to look sharp while adding a bit more flex to the muscle bike definition.

>>Join in the conversation about this Sportster S right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

For help with your do-it-yourself maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.