First Look At The 2020 Harley-Davidson Sportster Lineup

The shrinkage doth continue. We’ve seen Harley’s Sportster lineup has shrunk from eight models in 2018 (though to be fair, one was a special Anniversary edition), to seven models in 2019, to just four for the 2020 model year. In a nutshell, that means we’ll see the Iron 883, Iron 1200 (which are essentially the same bike/chassis), the Forty-Eight and the Roadster, but you can cross off the Forty Eight Special (hmm), the SuperLow, and the perennial favorite 1200 Custom from the list of carryover 2019 bikes. Let’s break down the models and then muse about the future, shall we?

Related: 5 Things We'd Change On The Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom

The Iron 883 stands as the sole 883cc model in the line and it’s nothing but raw, stripped down and blacked out metal. With low bars, a low seat height, and slammed suspension, this model is easily one of Harley’s most accessible rides. Plus it just looks tough. Price starts at $8,999.

Related: Will Exhaust Emissions Limits Kill Motorcycling?

The Iron 1200 brings a bigger engine, mini-ape handlebars, roomier ergos, and way more style to the equation. You get things like throwback tank graphics, a café-like solo saddle, and a bikini fairing, but the chassis is nearly identical to the Iron 883’s. Pricing starts at $9,999.

One of our favorite-looking bikes is back for 2020 with the same 1,200cc air-cooled Evolution engine as its other two stablemates, a chunky 48mm fork, brawny tires, and that signature (read: small) peanut tank—the Forty-Eight definitely sells the sex appeal in its own distinctive way. Forward controls, solo seat, and low bars further add to the aggressive vibe. The price tag starts at $11,299.

Related: 5 Things I Love and Hate About the Sportster Forty-Eight

The most aggressive of the Sportys is the Roadster, again packing the 1,200cc V-twin torque monster but outfitted with lower bars, mid-mount controls, and more serious components (like an upside-down fork and dual disc brakes). Your canyon-carving sessions just got a whole lot more fun. Pick one up for $11,499.

So, yeah, four Sportys this year. We’re not saying that’s a trend or anything—nameplates shuffle in and out of Harley’s lineups constantly—but the elephant(s) in the room this time are the looming emissions restrictions the Sportster’s up against, mainly in Europe. As of 2020, all new motorcycles sold in Europe have to meet the Euro 5 emissions standard, which could be a challenge for the air-cooled Evolution engines used in Sportsters. Air-cooled designs with little extra real estate to hide chunky emissions plumbing—are particularly vulnerable whenever new pollution rules come down the pike. But it’s Europe, you might say. Who cares? Well, plenty of manufacturers do, and that includes Harley; Europe (Europe, Middle East, and Asia) is H-D’s second biggest market worldwide and even huge international markets like India and China mold their legislation on Europe’s emissions limits.

It makes sense to expect to see some decisive moves around the hugely popular Sportster, and soon. But will we see subtle work-arounds, a complete revamp, or a whole new mill? There’s plenty of speculation out there, and we know Harley has filed design paperwork for a new liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin (ranging in size from 500cc to 1,250cc) with the European Union, so time will tell if the new application will carry a Sportster badge. H-D’s fond of releasing new bikes at odd times throughout the year, but there’s always a chance nothing happens until much later: existing models aren’t required to comply until January 2021. Which may be why Harley has eight models in the 2020 lineup for Europe, Middle East, and Asia—including a couple of models that didn’t make the US cut.