Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two Detailed Specs, Background, Performance, and More

• Table of Contents
• 1. A Brief History of Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two
• 2. Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two at First Glance
• 3. Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two; A Buyers’ Guide
• 3.1 What is Sporster Seventy-Two exactly?
• 3.2 What is the weight of Sportster 72?
• 3.3 What is the cost of a Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy-Two?
• 4. Specifications:
• 4.1 Engine & Transmission:
• 4.2 Wheels, brakes, chassis, and suspension
• 4.3 Dimensions and capacities
• 4.4 Other specifications:
• 5. Aftermarket Luggage and Modification for Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two

People love Harley-Davidson and don’t want to ride anything else. This is only because of the very traditional nature and long production models of the company. This company always keeps itself up with the latest and greatest things. It is famous among its fans that the company doesn't change anything in their bikes unless they have a very good reason for it.

Among many lineups of motorcycles, the Sportster series is the most successful and traditional that Harley offers. The Harley-Davidson Sportster is a series of motorcycles produced constantly since 1957 by H-D. The long-serving Sportster first appeared with overhead valves, this bike was the evolution of K models with flatheads from 1952.

The Sportster Seventy-Two came in those days when the custom craze was almost over. When it was introduced in the market, there were a number of existing challenges with the ruling attitude with respect to the art of motorcycling in general. The market was in the favor of the ‘Rich Urban Biker’ crowd of that time. The introduction of Harley Seventy-Two was mainly to target the rich crowd. This was the simple formula “in order to make money, people who have money should be targeted”.

Also Read: Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow: Detailed Specs, Background, Performance, and More.

1. A Brief History of Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two

Sportster is the only motorcycle series that Harley-Davidson has consistently manufactured since 1957. In fact, Sportster has become the longest-running model in history, when it was released for civilian use, it was the first bike that H-D manufactured with rear shocks and hydraulic shocks. The engine was a takeoff of the 45 cubic inches displacement K model, using an overhead-valve design. The transmission and engine are integrated in the same way. The engine was dubbed the Ironhead and it spent the following 30 years with the Sportster family.

Also Read: Should You Buy The Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Low? Find Out Here

Also, it was a big deal for the company to provide comfort and performance together for the first time. This motorcycle was lightweight and fast and was Harley-Davidson's response to British companies and their sportbikes that were gaining fame at that time. With the passage of time, the Sportster never lost its popularity and continued to be available as an American-made version of a sportbike.

The Ironhead engine got a little update in 1972 when it got bigger from a 900 cc motor to 1000 cc. This classic engine is one of those engines which are most popular still today. Also, there were some 750 cc racing variants of the engine that came with alloy heads but the basic frame design from 1957 remained the backbone of the bike and there were a variety of models to pick from now.

1986 was the first year in which the Evolution engine was used in the Sportster cradle, and offered as an 883 or 1100. After two years 1100 was replaced with 1200. Afterward, the 2004 model year gave the rider an addition of a rubber-mounted engine which added some comfort to riding. In 2007 fuel injection replaced the carburetor, this is the version of the engine that came with every Sportster bike today.

Moving forward, there are many different models available for the 2012 production year, everyone has their own personality and uniqueness which attracts the attention of Harley-Davidson lovers. The latest model was released just before the Daytona Bike Week in the 2012 model year was Harley Sportster Seventy-Two.

Also Read: Is Sportster 883 Custom a Good Choice For Harley-Davidson Lovers? Find Out Here

So 2012 was the model year when Harley-Davidson launched this bike and it has the classic styling of 70s choppers that were popular during this time. And this bike continued in production until 2016.

2. Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two at First Glance

The Harley 72 is powered by a fuel-injected 1200cc Evolution engine with lighter aluminum heads and cylinders built for better air-cooling. This lean bike is highlighted by a large 21-Inch spoked front wheel and a little 7.9-liter peanut gas tank, so it is clear that it is not a touring bike or a high-speed sportbike. This is a bike for urban riding or cruising the boulevard to your favorite food spot where your friends can drool over your machine.

Despite having a light frame as a Harley bike it is not a fuel miser. At 5.7 liters/100 km on the test, it turns on the warning light around 100 km. The ape-hanger will probably tire your arms before the fuel runs out, but they don't make handling difficult. Actually, it feels much more stable on the road while maneuverable at lower speeds, all the credit goes to the extra leverage.

Another good thing about those ape-hangers is that the mirrors are ideally installed just out of your line of view so you don't have to take your eyes off the road to see what's following you. Although the riding position is not suitable for long trips or faster speeds, it is comfortable around the town, but over 80km/h it becomes a bit uncomfortable and tiring.

Most cruisers have an effective rear brake or are even stronger than the front ones because the weight is over the back wheel. However, the front brake on this bike is powerful, despite the single disc. Under strong braking, there is some fork dive, but it doesn't have stability.

The bumpy surface of this bike gives it a head shake, its long front forks, and high bars turn to flex and kick a little over the bumps. Cornering is finite by the lean angle (28.6° right and 29.8° left). On the pegs, there are very lengthy ‘hero’ blobs that can be used to indicate how far you can lean the bike. However, this bike will go quick around the corners if you lean out your body a little, so you don't need to tilt the bike as far.

3. Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two; A Buyers’ Guide

3.1 What is Sporster Seventy-Two exactly?

The Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two is a classic-styled chopper from the 1970s. It is a bike that combines retro chopper styling with Harley-Davidson performance.

3.2 What is the weight of Sportster 72?

Estimated that this bike weighs around 251.0 kg (553.4 pounds) and it is equipped with a V2, four-stroke motor.

3.3 What is the cost of a Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy-Two?

Since Harley-Davidson discontinued the production of Sportster Seventy-two, it is not easy to list the exact price for this bike. You can search for this bike on any online motorcycle selling website or this bike might be found at any motorcycle auction.

Also Read: Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 SuperLow: Buyer’s Guide and All You Need To Know About This Motorcycle

4. Specifications

4.1 Engine & Transmission:

Engine type	V2, four-stroke
Engine details	Evolution® engine, rubber mounted. Aluminum heads and cylinders.
Displacement	1201.3 ccm (73.3. Cubic inches)
Power	65.7 HP (48.0 kW) @ 6000 rpm
Torque	96.0 Nm (9.8 kgf-m or 70.8 ft. lbs) @ 3500 rpm
Compression	10.0:1
Bore x Stroke	88.9 x 96.8 mm (3.5 x 3.8 inches)
Lubrication system	Dry sump
Fuel system	Injection
Cooling system	Air
Gearbox	Six-Speed
Transmission Type	Belt (final drive)
Clutch	Multi-plate with diaphragm spring in oil bath
Driveline	Primary chain, 57/38 ratio
Greenhouse gases	113.7 CO  g/km (Carbon dioxide emission)
Fuel consumption	4.90 liters/100 km (20.4 km/l or 48.00 mpg)
Exhaust system	Chrome dual shorty exhaust. Closed-loop

4.2 Wheels, brakes, chassis, and suspension:

Wheels	Custom Whitewall Tires
Front brakes	Single disc. Dual-piston. Optional ABS
Rear brakes	Single disc. Single-piston. Optional ABS
Front tire	MG90-21
Rear tire	150/80-B16
Rake (fork angle)	32.0°
Trial	135 mm (5.3 inches)
Front suspension	Telescopic fork
Rear suspension	Twin shocks

4.3 Dimensions and capacities:

Weight (Dry)	251.0 kg (553.4 pounds)
Weight include oil, gas, etc	257.0 kg (566.6 pounds)
Power/weight ratio	0.2618 HP/kg
Seat height	730 mm (28.7 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall length	2275 mm (89.6 inches)
Ground clearance	130 mm (5.1 inches)
Wheelbase	1540 mm (60.6 inches)
Fuel capacity	7.90 liters (2.09 US gallons)
Oil capacity	2.60 liters (2.75 US quarts)

4.4 Other specifications:

Starter	Electric
Light	High beam, neutral, turn signals, low oil pressure, engine diagnostics, low battery, low fuel warning, security system (optional)
Instruments	Handle-bar mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, time-of-day, dual trip meter, LED indicator lights

5. Aftermarket Luggage and Modification for Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy Two

A Sportster can be a perfect fit for you after making some changes or adding customized parts according to your requirement. A bike suits you perfectly when you modify it according to your comfort and taste. And it is important to get the desired and perfect looks of your bike to increase your confidence.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy-Two model is a custom cruiser bike that offers you a sleek look and a number of customizing options. It is a great bike for riders who look for bikes that help them stay closer to the ground.

Therefore, to make your daily maneuvering convenient you can get a pair of high-quality motorcycle saddlebags to carry all your essentials while riding around the blocks. Moreover, like most riders, if you wish to give your bike a custom look, you can always modify your motorcycle by adding some aftermarket parts like sissy bars and customized handlebars.