FROM THE DAY IT WAS BORN, THE SPORTSTER HAS PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF THE AMERICAN STREET MACHINE.

Every sport has its living legends. Those times when a new, pure, physical force explodes onto the scene. Then never slows down, looks back or apologises for anything. In motorcycling, that would be the Sportster.

The Sportster got its start in the only place it could possibly have been conceived. The company' s race programme. A few adventurous souls from engineering began experimenting with an overhead-valve version of our famous K racer. Then in 1957, it all came together in a new motorcycle the likes of which the world had never seen. The Sportster was born.

All these years later, the Sportster still defies every attempt to categorise, classify or otherwise put a boundary around it. It is first and foremost a street machine. Built to maximise traffic-light takeoffs and between-stop thrills. Yet we've read accounts of a man riding his 883 Sportster all the way around the world.

For first-time big bike riders, the basic Sportster is the perfect way to go. An elemental dose of Harley-Davidson, at a much lower price than you might expect. Along with a knack for hanging onto its value as the miles clock up. Then there are those at the other end of the spectrum, born with the need for the perfect combination of original style and performance. Again, they find what they seek in the Sportster.

While refined and evolved, the basic combination that makes up a Sportster is what it's always been. Two wheels, a strong narrow frame and an engine famous for generating brute torque. In today' s Sportster, the seat of power is occupied by the time-proven evolution engine. In addition to its torque, the Sportster powerplant is distinguished by a four-cam gear train and compact, one-piece crankcase/transmission design.

True to its racing heritage, this proves to be an ideal layout for those with a taste for performance tuning. We've done some engine work of our own this year. All four cam gears are a new high contact ratio design that reduces mechanical noise in the engine. A new oil pump provides more efficient oil management, especially on sustained high-speed runs. We've also incorporated a new high-tech cylinder liner borrowed from the twin cam 88 programme.

There isn't a lot else a Sportster rider would ask for. We incorporate our unique four-piston caliper brakes, perfect for those who live to brake late and hard before throwing the bike into a curve. We top it off with just enough styling to make your ride different from everything else. Just as the Sportster has been all along.