When Harley-Davidson named their bike SuperLow, they really meant super low. This bike can go really low with just 26.8 inches in between saddle and tarmac of SuperLow. This manufacturer more than thirty bikes in their repertoire. When I first saw this bike, I thought that this seat height is their lowest ever.
The span from the seat to the ground 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow is very low but this isn’t their lowest achievement. That honor is reserved for Softtail Delux having 25.9 inches of seat height. In fact, there are plenty of other bikes which have lower seat heights than this but the difference between them isn’t drastic.
Other than the height, the 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow is an entry level bile having an MSRP that is equally low. This is the freshest and latest model of 883L. This latest updated name points at price and seat height that is friendly. These are the key attributes here which riders may find luring.
With a new name, there are some new changes which the manufacturer says were made to satisfy both consumers and dealers. The capacity of fuel tank is increased and there are some ergonomic improvements too in the form of thicker seat. New tire and wheel size alter the appearance and stance and Harley says that the handling too is improved.
2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow is powered by 883cc venerable Harley air-cooled V-Twin and it is lightest claimed dry weight in the stable of Harley for the year 2012. At just 536 pounds; this bike is 9 pounds lighter as compared to the next 2 lighter bikes – 48 and Nightster. It is also twelve pounds lighter as compared to Iron 883.
Along with full tank and all the fluids, the SuperLow weighs at 563 pounds and that is one pound lighter as compared to Nighter. Iron 883 is heavier by two pounds. This is quite good for Nightster which has a bigger 1200cc Twin. SuperLow still gives a good excusing for including extra pounds inside.
Having four and half gallons of capacity of fuel this SL has capacity of 1.2 gallons of more of petrol than Iron 883 and Nightster and peanut tanked 48 has less than half capacity of fuel of SuperLow. Now the near parity of SuperLow in terms of net weight with their bigger sibling brothers isn’t a big deal particularly considering that SuperLow can cruise while others hav to put in for some fuel.
Low MSRP
In standard paint scheme of Vivid Black, this SuperLow is an entry level model for this company. At a price tag of $7,999, the cost here is identical to Iron 883 which is priced similarly. The overall performance and styling here say that you get a good quality Harley sans the high end price.
Plopping my five foot eight inches frame on the sculpted saddle of the 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow revealed the rider triangle of the bike with snug fit. Pull back handle bar did not require me to reach far for clasping on to the grips comfortably. Handle bar having less pull back would have asked for more reach for creating a sensation of ride that is too cramped as I would have been pretty closer to tank. During testing, my body was centered over seat for most of the time and I was up right without getting in to an awkward position in spite of the diminutive dimensions of the bike.
The placement of foot peg is in mid mounted style and my knees stayed pretty comfortable in a ninety degree bend. Even my 20 inches short-ish in seam wished for the pegs to be a bit further forward. Apart from that, pegs are located far from bikes center and this isn’t any big deal. However, its orientation created minor inconveniences for shifting and hence I needed to toe-in deliberately for up-shifting. Once I got aware of the necessary motion, I started thinking that if I ever bought this bike, then the first thing that I’d do would be to scout aftermarket for shift lever having longer peg.
Layout of the SuperLow wasn’t really uncomfortable for you but I guess that the riders who are hovering around six feet plus who need low seat will be looking somewhere else in line up of Harley for model of low saddle which gives roomier ergos.
Smallest displaced 45 degree air cooled Vee from Harley springs up to life very quickly. The idle speeds are regulated reliably and instantly by EFI. Dual staggered shot gun exhaust emits familiar rumble of Harley and it reminded me of the 103 and 96 inches engines of Harley.
Pull effort of clutch is quite easy. However, the newer riders might need some additional time for getting used to the torque bust right off the idle. The torque’s quick jolt from dead stop results mostly from clutch and engaging close to end of release point of the truck. However, as noted, after some time in saddle, the peccadillo will certainly fade from consciousness of the rider. 883 will be making most of the peak torque in range of 2000 rpm and this is one more reason reason why the Harley feels very strong.
Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow glides forward purposefully and you will not notice any throttle response or fueling as each of the functions is transparent and smooth. Power delivery through classic Milwaukee mill is quite linear and the power delivery too is predictable for riders who are attracted towards this bike.
You don’t have to worry about the break neck speeds but still the 883c Twin is quite peppy. SL can achieve the free way cruising pace in the short order without a lot of effort with some room for over taking the slower automobiles.
Riders have good observation skills will notice that the engine starts to feel pretty busy at just 60 miles per hour even when it is in the top gear. Engine feels like there is a lot of power in reserve for pulling a bigger gear in the 5 speed transmission; taller top gear may make this engine look a bit less active. Same comment was made by me in my bike review of 2010 883 Low.
Another shortcoming which was minor but still noteworthy was bombing down interstate. It is an environment which gives the rider some time to notice the small and great things. My elboys obscured rear ward mirror view. This problem is often seen where the mirrors are put just to appease the regulation of DOT. Stalks of bigger mirror for SuperLow is a good solution here. A bit more than 2 inches of the rear suspension travel does not leave for a lot of room for dual shocks of coil over for soaking up jarring big free way joints of expansion. 39m Showa fork’s four plus inches suspension travel is quite standard for any cruiser and hence it does better job at eating the crummy pavement. The credit to help the smoothening out ride should go to tires of Michelin Scorcher II. Front bun is 120/70 x 18 which is quite plum and hence does good job at mitigating the imperfections of road before they reach rider more than narrower front tires of 100/19×19 that are found on Iron 8830 and the Nightster and also formerly 883L.
In spite of the fact that fatter front tire and the steering geometry is more relaxed as compared to Nightster or Iron, SuperLow is pretty easy to maneuver. No matter where you are – parking lot space or winding roads – you will find there isn’t a lot of effort involved in initiating turns or transitioning side to side, right to left. But you will need little mental energy for reminding yourself of the footpegs that will augur in to pavement in short time while you complete most mundane action of cornering – low heights for seats thanks to the limited suspension of travel have some cost.
The things which demand attention all the time will be grinding and scrapping of pegs and its frequency will lessen once you get comfortable with sensation and learn lean angle limits of this bike.
From my earlier experience with single front dual piston caliper that is found on a lot of Harley cruisers, I did not anticipate anything more than the adequate power of stopping from front brake of the SuperLow. In my tests, this brake gave me better than an average feel and the stopping force was in plenty. A two finger solid squeeze on brake lever was everything that I wanted for reeling in SL.
SuperLow: Gateway to Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow doesn’t have to big torque numbers that are produced by bigger 103 and 96 inches Harley engines and it does not give storage like the Harley’s renowned bagger and tourer models. Also, you find any flash here like the one you get on the higher end CVO line.
In spite of the humble station of SuperLow in Harley’s land, this bike does have all the Harley themes – relaxed position of riding, iconic styling, soft rolling thunder sound, unintimidating but use ful power and the engine inside is recognized all the over the world. The engine is placed like a jewel in the middle of the entire thing. If you have any customization desires, then there is the aftermarket to meet all your needs.
SuperLow is core of Harley Davidson bike and also gives you easy access to mystique of Harley.