2025 Harley-Davidson Sportster S Preview

The people spoke, and Harley listened: The Bar & Shield brand has confirmed its rev-happy Sportster S is returning for 2025, and it’s finally getting the suspension overhaul it’s always deserved.

Related: 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S Preview

According to Harley, the 2025 Sportster S is getting a 60% increase in rear suspension travel, bringing the three-way-adjustable Showa shock up from just 2 inches to a much more promising 3.2 inches of squish. In true H-D fashion, this improvement was made without impacting the seat height or stance of the Sportster S, so the new machine maintains the same low and mean silhouette despite the new suspenders.

Upfront, Harley says the 43mm inverted Showa fork retains its previous 3.6 inches of travel, but has been retuned to work in tandem with the new shock. Adjustability for preload, compression, and rebound are still included front and rear.

Related: 2025 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Preview

Aside from that, the only other notable updates for the 2025 Sportster S are all in the style department. Harley is pivoting to an all-black approach for the updated Sportster, swapping out the bronze-colored engine cases and cylinder heads of yesteryear for gloss black accents from top to bottom.

The paint-matched branding on the fuel tank is gone as well, replaced by new “Checkered V” badges that take their inspiration from Harley’s 1950s models like the XLCH Sportster. Red spark plug wires are a new addition, bringing a touch of color to the otherwise monochrome powerplant and chassis.

Related: 2025 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Preview

The final notable change for the 2025 Sportster lineup is the addition of a new factory custom trim, which adds premium paint and its own unique badging for a few dollars more. This new Mystic Shift paint is certainly an eye-catcher, and Harley says it changes dramatically depending on the light, ranging from a pitch-black shade of blue at night to an almost orange hue in full sunlight.

As far as performance goes, everything else remains unchanged. The Rev Max 1250 engine puts down a claimed 121 hp at 7,500 rpm, with the lion’s share of its peak 93 lb.-ft. of torque available from as low as 2,000 revs.

The same goes for the tech package on the Sportster S, which retains all of the most advanced electronic aids in Harley’s lineup. That includes lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS, multiple power modes, and customizable settings for power delivery, throttle response, and engine-braking.

Pricing for the 2025 Harley-Davidson Sportster S starts at $15,999 for the base Billiard Gray color, and tops out at $16,899 if you want the Mystic Shift paint. The new Sporty is available now in dealerships everywhere.