How Fast Is the 1200 Sportster?
by Jillian O'Keeffe
The Sportster is a well-known cruiser made by the Harley-Davidson company. The bike, with a 1200 cc engine, is still being produced for the 2011 market. It is available in several different versions, including the Sportster Low, SuperLow, Nightster, XR1200X and FortyEight.
Engine Performance
The Sportsters have either a 883 cc or 1201 cc engine. The latest 1200 engine produces a torque of 79 foot-pounds at 4,000 revolutions per minute.
Bike Weight
Harley-Davidson's motorcycles are not known for their top speed, but rather for their cruising ability and distinctive style. The bikes are heavy compared to sports-bikes, and this brings the speed down. For example, the 2011 version of the 1200 Nightster Sportster weighs a massive 562 pounds.
Top Speed
Motorcycle.com tested the 2011 model XR1200R Sportster, and the top speed attained by the bike was 122 mph.
Older versions of the Sportster don't attain this speed. The 2001 Sportster 1200 Customs have a top speed of 106.9 mph.
References
Writer Bio
Jillian O'Keeffe has been a freelance writer since 2009. Her work appears in regional Irish newspapers including "The Connacht Tribune" and the "Sentinel." O'Keeffe has a Master of Arts in journalism from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from University College Cork.
