The shrinkage doth continue. We’ve seen Harley’s Sportster lineup has
shrunk from eight models in 2018 (though to be fair, one was a special
Anniversary edition), to seven models in 2019, to just four for the 2020
model year.
In a nutshell, that means we’ll see the Iron 883, Iron 1200 (which
are essentially the same bike/chassis), the Forty-Eight and the
Roadster, but you can cross off the Forty Eight Special (hmm), the
SuperLow, and the perennial favorite 1200 Custom from the list of
carryover 2019 bikes. Let’s break down the models and then muse about
the future, shall we?
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| © Harley-Davidson It’s low, it’s spartan, it’s affordable. The Iron 883 brings you back to the basics for 2020. |
The Iron 883 stands as the sole 883cc model in the line and it’s nothing
but raw, stripped down and blacked out metal. With low bars, a low seat
height, and slammed suspension, this model is easily one of Harley’s
most accessible rides. Plus it just looks tough. Price starts at $8,999.
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| © Harley-Davidson High bars, a paint party on the tank, and lots of room to spare on the 2020 Harley Iron 1200. |
The Iron 1200 brings a bigger engine, mini-ape handlebars, roomier
ergos, and way more style to the equation. You get things like throwback
tank graphics, a café-like solo saddle, and a bikini fairing, but the
chassis is nearly identical to the Iron 883’s. Pricing starts at $9,999.
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| © Harley-Davidson You can’t miss the Forty-Eight with its fat tires, low bars, solo seat, and—the dead giveaway—a peanut tank. |
One of our favorite-looking bikes is back for 2020 with the
same 1,200cc air-cooled Evolution engine as its other two stablemates, a
chunky 48mm fork, brawny tires, and that signature (read: small) peanut
tank—the Forty-Eight definitely sells the sex appeal in its own
distinctive way. Forward controls, solo seat, and low bars further add
to the aggressive vibe. The price tag starts at $11,299.
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| © Harley-Davidson Upside-down fork, dual discs, and mid-mount controls mean you’ll be spending more time in the twisties on the H-D Roadster. |
The most aggressive of the Sportys is the Roadster, again packing the
1,200cc V-twin torque monster but outfitted with lower bars, mid-mount
controls, and more serious components (like an upside-down fork and dual
disc brakes). Your canyon-carving sessions just got a whole lot more
fun. Pick one up for $11,499.
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| © Harley-Davidson Although the air-cooled Evolution V-twin’s done solid duty in the Sportster lineup since forever, we suspect some changes may be afoot in the next year or so. |
So, yeah, four Sportys this year. We’re not saying that’s a trend or
anything—nameplates shuffle in and out of Harley’s lineups
constantly—but the elephant(s) in the room this time are the looming
emissions restrictions the Sportster’s up against, mainly in Europe. As
of 2020, all new motorcycles sold in Europe have to meet the Euro 5
emissions standard, which could be a challenge for the air-cooled
Evolution engines used in Sportsters. Air-cooled designs with little
extra real estate to hide chunky emissions plumbing—are particularly
vulnerable whenever new pollution rules come down the pike. But it’s
Europe, you might say. Who cares? Well, plenty of manufacturers do, and
that includes Harley; Europe (Europe, Middle East, and Asia) is H-D’s
second biggest market worldwide and even huge international markets like
India and China mold their legislation on Europe’s emissions limits.
It
makes sense to expect to see some decisive moves around the hugely
popular Sportster, and soon. But will we see subtle work-arounds, a
complete revamp, or a whole new mill? There’s plenty of speculation out
there, and we know Harley has filed design paperwork for a new
liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin (ranging in size from 500cc to 1,250cc)
with the European Union, so time will tell if the new application will
carry a Sportster badge. H-D’s fond of releasing new bikes at odd times
throughout the year, but there’s always a chance nothing happens until
much later: existing models aren’t required to comply until January
2021. Which may be why Harley has eight models in the 2020 lineup for
Europe, Middle East, and Asia—including a couple of models that didn’t
make the US cut.
