Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonSportster 1250 S 2025 Harley measures the future

Harley is undertaking to improve the performance of its Sportster in 2025. Not in mechanics but in dynamics. The suspensions are revised, including a 60% increase in the travel of the rear shock absorber. Comfort should also benefit. The seat height is not impacted by this change and remains very accessible at 765 mm.

There have been many chapters on the Sportster. 883 or 1200, Iron, Nightster, R, Custom, 72, the beginnings of the K series, then the real birth of the XL... A saga spanning the decades since 1957.
With the 1250 S, Harley-Davidson has launched a new spin-off. New engine, new (high) power, new chassis, new identity - the Sportster of the future is here.

Whatever the version, a Sportster was recognizable from afar. But no longer. While it takes its name, this model seems to belong to a different family. One was compact, the 1250 seems sleek, muscular, almost on steroids. Both exude personality, each in their own way.
The latest model is bitterly resentful in its own way, with a look akin to that of a Fat Bob, a folding seat reduced to a viable limit, almost non-existent mudguards, an inadequate fuel tank with only 11.8 liters of fuel and a rebellious riding position. Feet forward, handlebars low, posterior only 755 mm from the ground: the stance is menacing, and the heels guaranteed to touch the ground.

As if the bike had a revenge to take. Revenge on whom? Against what? On the past? She can forget that, and so can her predecessors. One major difference is their positioning. The Sportster, especially the 883, was the ticket to the Harley world. With the 1250, we're already in the big league.
And the engine shows no mercy. Its level of power is unlike anything the Sportster has ever known. The most powerful of the dynasty, the XR 1200 X achieved 91 hp - and that was already a lot stronger than the other 1200s. Here, the Revolution Max T block kicks ass with 121 hp at 8,250 rpm. It's even more powerful than the big 1800 cm3 M8 twin. These still have the advantage of high torque distributed very low down the rev range.

Still, the 1250 is not to be pitied. It delivers 12.7 mkg at 6,000 rpm. High revs for a Harley, but well within the standards of a modern twin of this cubage.
Some people already know this engine. In fact, it's the same engine, downsized in power and technically reworked to boost torque and availability at low and mid-range speeds. Up to 10% more torque is available between 3,000 and 6,000 rpm.

internal dimensions are identical, with 105 mm bore and 72.3 mm stroke. Yes, I know, a super-square MoCo engine sounds weird. Liquid cooling, fuel injection, 4 valves per cylinder, high compression ratio of 12:1, double ACT, variable valve timing (VVT) and anti-dribble clutch make this an engine worthy of the latest productions. When it was installed in the Sportster, it changed the shape of the combustion chambers, narrowed its valve diameter, replaced its pistons, redesigned its intake and airbox, modified the camshaft profile and re-tuned the VVT system.

The block also serves as a supporting structure. As a result, the bike is easily satisfied with a minimalist frame and weighs less. 228 kilos on the scales is a light weight for an American machine. The damping elements are also highly indicative of the Sportster's new dimension, with a fully adjustable Showa inverted fork and a rear monoshock - tradition has so accustomed us to two elements combined. Also Showa, the shock absorber offers only preload adjustment and suffers from short travel. He works on an all-new swingarm, made of tubular steel trellis.
We've never seen such lightness on the chassis side, in the good sense of the word.

There's still plenty of Bad Boy in this machine, with tires as big as hams, an overflowing belly, and braking that's... surprising. The front brake disc is large (320 mm), the caliper engaging with the Brembo claw, radial mounting, 4 pistons and monobloc construction - but there's only one play for the front wheel. An astonishing choice, given that there are more than 120 men pushing 228 kilos + the rider.

gone are the days (long gone) when a Harley was content with its legendary melody, its big mill, its simplistic speedometer and its Woodstock-era level of technology. Only the Sportster still clung to it. The 1250 S sweeps all that aside with a sweep of its handlebars. In terms of riding aids alone, the bike is equipped with an inertial unit, cornering-active ABS (C-ABS), angle-sensitive traction control (C-TCS), anti-wheeling, torque slip control (C-DSCS), tire pressure monitoring, cruise control and five riding modes.
- Sport, with direct throttle response, C-TCS set to minimum and increased engine braking;
- Road, with less aggressive throttle response, lower engine power at mid-range, and more active assistants;
- Rain, with power and throttle strongly calmed, engine braking limited and C-ABS and C-TCS assistance set to maximum.
- Custom 1 and 2 - The rider can program two Custom Modes, adjusting throttle response, power level, engine braking, ABS and traction control to his or her preference.

In front of the eye, a round block, with no needles, no chrome, no chimerical appearance. While its 4-inch color TFT screen is packed with infotainment features. With the Harley app, you can pair your smartphone, control music and phone calls, enjoy GPS navigation, and a whole range of functions for trips and stays.
The 1250 Sportster is also nice on the connectivity front, with a USB charger, two power outlets for plugging in heated equipment (clothes) and pre-wiring for installing heated grips (optional).

In Europe, the Sportster no longer begins with the 883, its affordable price and its devastating little face - in the States, its career continues, with the Iron 883 & 1200, as well as the Forty-Eight.
A new identity, strength from another universe, and equipment that propels it into the 21st century. The 1250 Sportster S is already a powerful, technological and almost sporty model. It's enough to change a lot of opinions and preconceptions about this family of motorcycles.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos