2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster First Ride Review

Harley-Davidson has been making the Sportster for 59 years, and there was a time when the name really did reflect a sporty character. Maybe today, too, with the Roadster putting a bit more “sport” into Sportster by adding improved suspension, dual-disc front brakes, and more aggressive styling.

Since the Roadster shares engine and chassis with its fellow Harley-Davidson Sportsters, you get the familiar 1,202cc air-cooled V-twin that pumps out a decent amount of power at the bottom end. Churning out 76 pound-feet of torque (per H-D’s claims), the American mill pulls strongly enough, even though throttle response is not immediate and nothing much happens quickly. While the Roadster is likely the sportiest Sportster available today, it’s still a tame bike.

New front brakes are unique to the Roadster, featuring two-piston calipers squeezing 300mm floating discs. Initial bite is progressive and there’s enough power to do the job, but they have very little feedback at the lever. The rear brake feels soft, also without a lot of feel, but with the help of optional ABS there was never any concern about braking ability.

Suspension is a huge upgrade on the Roadster. It’s not earth shattering, but it’s also no longer tailbone shattering, like the Forty-Eight’s. The 43mm inverted fork has enough compliance to tame speed bumps and cobblestone streets, but the settings are firm enough to maintain composure through sweeping turns. Compared to the Forty-Eight’s fork, the Roadster’s has almost an inch more travel. The rear suspension actually is, thanks to twice the travel (3.2 inches versus 1.6 on the Forty-Eight and other “low” Sportsters). Harley upgraded across the board to emulsion shocks this year, and the Roadster's do a good job with the increased travel. Forever, Harley’s said its customers’ desire for the “long and low look” justifies impossibly short-travel suspension. The Roadster is a step in the right direction—good looking but functional.

A new black, perforated-leather saddle, in concert with mid-mounted footpegs, offers a more compact seating arrangement. The level seat, along with the lowered handlebar, brings the rider’s torso into a sporty position. The leather seat proved slick and easy to slide sideways on, necessary to keep the Roadster’s pegs off the ground at entertaining speeds despite the Roadster having the greatest lean angle of the Sportster lineup.

Harley offers the Roadster at the same $11,199 base price as the Forty-Eight, with the same $795 upcharge for ABS. That puts it in competition with the cheaper Triumph Street Twin and the equivalently stickered Indian Scout and Victory Octane. All are functionally superior to the Harley, but, well, they aren’t Harleys. The market says there’s something to that. Even so, the Roadster is a stronger competitor in this class for the simple fact that it works better but still looks “like it should.” We’ll call that out as meaningful progress.