Harley-Davidson Is Bringing Back the Air-Cooled Sportster For 2027
New 883cc model to be priced around $10k
Harley-Davidson announced it is bringing back its traditional Sportster, returning the air-cooled middleweight cruiser to its lineup for the first time since the platform was discontinued after the 2022 model year.
The return of the Sportster is one of many aspects of Harley-Davidson’s new “Back to the Bricks” business plan outlined today by Chief Executive Officer Artie Starrs, alongside the details of the new Sprint.
“We are really excited to announce that our iconic Harley-Davidson, Inc. Sportster will be returning in 2027,” says Starrs. “This has been the most requested motorcycle from both our riders and our dealers, and we are bringing it back better than ever. Sportster is a perfect embodiment of Back to the Bricks, and it fits naturally within our enterprise economic model.”
Starrs further expands on the demand, saying the Sportster was the number one demand from dealers across all markets, from Louisville, Kentucky, to Frankfurt, Germany, to Shanghai, China. Apart from a strong demand from riders and dealers, Starrs outlined several ways the Sportster will support the new business plan, including its attainable price point, strong residual value on the used market, and its customizable nature can help drive parts and accessory sales.
Full details will be announced later this year, but Harley-Davidson did confirm some vital details, including the silhouette image on the slide above. First off, Starrs confirmed that the returning Sportster will use the 883 engine, like on the Iron 883 and Superlow, and not the 1,200cc engine last employed by the Forty-Eight.
Harley-Davidson is targeting a price point of around $10,000 for the new Sportster, which is in the ballpark of the 2022 Iron 883’s $10,749 MSRP. Keeping the price close to the previous model, without the impact of five years of inflation is key, as the new Sportster is supposed to remain attainable, while still keeping in mind prices on the used market.
“Our team has done an extraordinary job over the last couple of years working on this project, and we have the cost at a place where we are comfortable against the expected MSRP that we referenced,” says Starrs.
One area that Harley-Davidson isn’t looking to cut cost is in the production location, as Starrs confirmed new U.S-bound Sportsters will be produced at the company’s factory in York, Pa., though that suggests that models heading to other markets will likely be built in Thailand.
Harley-Davidson has produced several Sportsters over the years, and the teaser image of the new Sportster draws familiar details from several variants. The 45° V-Twin and the visible pushrods look quite similar to the previous Evolution engine, and the circular airbox which looks identical to the one used on the Iron 883. The handlebar placement and foot controls are close to where they were on the Iron 883, but the new model has a two-up seat with, from what we can tell, what looks like a lower seat height. We also notice the instrument module is considerably thicker than the previous design, hinting at modern updates such as a digital display or USB charging.
What will be interesting to see is if the new Sportsters will be mechanically similar to previous models, or if there will be any update to entice customers away from the used market. Emission control updates to comply with modern regulations are guaranteed, but a switch to an electronic ride-by-wire throttle seems unlikely, if Harley-Davidson wants to reach its target price point. We wouldn't say no to a sixth gear, however.
Left unsaid is the fate of the current Revolution Max Sportster S, which has carried the legacy name since the Evolution model was shelved. The Back to the Bricks plan outlines five Revolution Max models returning for 2027 and 2028, and the lineup currently has six models, with at least two new models to come. We'll see if the Sportster S will make the cut, or if it will be replaced by a model that better fits the product portfolio.
We'll find out more later in the year, when Harley-Davidson reveals more details about the new Sportster and the 2027 lineup.
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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I demo'd a 1200 sportster "Custom" at Daytona back in 2019 and loved it, but they discontinued it before I could buy one.😄I would consider the new air cooled 883 as a neat runabout, but I'm not exactly the demographic HD needs for the future. With the Honda CB1000 F at $10,600, I suspect many young riders will give the 883 a lukewarm reception at $10k.
They are already making a mistake by not offering the 1200cc engine. A 1200 is just a bored out 883 so no extra cost there. Also, that short shock will jam your back over any road irregularities.