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| Top 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review |
surfaced in 2011 and is the latest, freshest version of the 883L. The newly updated model name hints at the friendly seat height and price – key attributes that riders looking at the SuperLow might find appealing.
The 2012 Sportster SuperLow continues a Harley tradition of building a motorcycle that provides a welcoming rider environment with a friendly price tag yet doesn’t sacrifice qualities that are distinctly Harley-Davidson. |
With the new name came a number of changes that Harley says were at the behest of dealers and consumers alike. The 883L’s, or rather the SuperLow’s, fuel tank capacity was increased, and rider ergo improvements included thicker seat foam. New wheel and tire sizes altered the bike’s stance, appearance and, according to Harley, improved handling.
The SuperLow, powered by the venerable 883cc air-cooled Harley V-Twin, holds the honor of possessing the lightest claimed dry weight in Harley’s stable in 2012. At 536 pounds dry, the SL is nine pounds lighter than the next two lightest bikes, the Nightster and Forty-Eight, and 12 pounds lighter than the Iron 883.
With all fluids and a full tank, the SuperLow scales in with 563 pounds, one pound more than the Nightster, and two pounds less than the Iron 883. This bodes well for the Nightster when we consider it’s powered by a larger, 1200cc Twin. Nevertheless, the SuperLow has a good excuse for the extra pounds it piles on.
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| Top 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review |
That nicely polished engine cover hides the SuperLow’s 5-speed transmission. The gearbox’s ratios are livable, but we think the 883cc engine has the stones to pull a taller top gear. A longer shift lever peg might mean riders wouldn’t have to consciously reposition their foot from the footpeg in order to upshift.
With 4.5 gallons of fuel capacity the SL carries 1.2 gallons more petrol than the Iron 883 and Nightster; and the peanut-tanked Forty-Eight has less than half the fuel capacity of the SuperLow. Suddenly the SuperLow’s near parity in wet weight with its larger-engined brothers isn’t such a big deal, especially if the SuperLow can keep cruising while the others need to pit in for fuel.
What is for sure low about this Sporty is its MSRP.
In the standard black paint scheme (Vivid Black) the SuperLow offers entry to the world of Harley-Davidson in 2011 – ‘12 for $7999, as does the identically priced Iron 883. While the SuperLow’s price shouts, “Bargain basement Harley,” its styling and overall performance say, “Heritage of a big Harley without the big price tag.”
Plopping my 5 foot 8 inch frame in the Super’s sculpted saddle revealed the bike’s rider triangle is, as expected, a snug fit. But the pullback handlebar didn’t require that I reach very far to comfortably clasp onto the grips. A handlebar with less pullback would’ve demanded more reach, subsequently creating the sensation of a too-cramped ride, as I would’ve been closer to the tank.
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| Top 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review |
Instrumentation is basic, but the simple speedo with inlaid LCD fits perfectly to the SuperLow’s no-nonsense styling ethos.
My torso was mostly centered over the seat, which meant I was upright without feeling awkwardly positioned despite the bike’s diminutive dimensions.Footpeg placement is mid-mount style, and while my knees were in a comfortable 90-degree bend, even my short-ish 30-inch inseam wished for pegs a little further forward. Additionally, the pegs are set rather far from the center of the bike – not a big deal, but their orientation created a minor inconvenience for shifting, as I had to deliberately toe-in to upshift. When I became conscious of this necessary motion it made me think that if I owned a SuperLow one of the first things I’d do is scout the aftermarket for a shift lever with a longer peg.
The SuperLow’s layout never struck me as uncomfortable, but my guess is that riders hovering around 6-feet-plus who also desire a low seat will want to look elsewhere in Harley’s line for a low-saddle model that provides roomier ergos.
The smallest displaced air-cooled 45-degree Vee from Harley pops to life quickly. The EFI instantly and reliably regulates idle speeds. The dual staggered shotgun exhaust emits the familiar Harley rumble, which, for whatever reason this time, struck me as burly sounding as the 96 and 103-inch engine Harleys.
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| Top 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review |
The heart of the SuperLow is Harley’s long-running 883 Sportster engine. The air-cooled, pushrod V-Twin provides ample get up ‘n’ go and is a signatory component on this bike.
Clutch pull effort is easy enough, but newer riders may need additional time to acclimate to the burst of torque right off idle. This quick jolt of torque from a dead stop results largely from the clutch engaging near the end of the clutch lever’s release point. But as noted, given some time in the saddle, this peccadillo will fade from the rider’s consciousness. The 883 makes most of its peak torque in the 2000 rpm range, which is another reason this little Harley feels so strong right out of the gate.
As the SuperLow purposefully glides forward you won’t notice fueling and throttle response, because each of these functions is wonderfully smooth and transparent. Power delivery from the classic Milwaukee mill is linear, and more importantly for riders interested in this model, power delivery is predictable.
While you needn’t concern yourself with break-neck speeds, the 883cc Twin is nevertheless peppy. The SL achieves freeway cruising pace in short order and without much effort, with room to spare for overtaking slower vehicles.
But observant riders will note the engine starts feeling busy as early as 60 mph, even while in top gear. The engine feels like it has ample power in reserve to pull a larger (i.e. taller) top gear in its five-speed transmission; a taller top gear might make the engine feel a little less active. I made a similar comment on the gearing in our single-bike review of the 2010 883 Low.
The SL’s ergo layout is a little snug for most riders of average height, yet it’s comfortable enough for daily use. If you stand taller than 6-feet the rider triangle might seem too cramped. |
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| Top 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review |
The single, dual-piston caliper is more than up to task of slowing the SuperLow. New 5-spoke Split wheels, 18-inch front, 17-inch rear, with machined edges add distinct style and a degree of butch-ness.
However, like most things that demand near-constant attention early on, the scraping and grinding of the pegs will happen less often as you become more comfortable with the sensation and learn the bike’s lean-angle limits.From prior experience with the dual-piston single front caliper found on many Harley cruisers I didn’t anticipate anything beyond adequate stopping power from the SuperLow’s front brake. This particular brake, however, supplied better than average feel and plenty of stopping force. A solid two-finger squeeze on the brake lever was all I ever really needed to reel in the SL.
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The SuperLow embodies the core of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and at the same time grants easy access to the Harley mystique.
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