Riding Position
Hard to believe this class has shrunk to just two bikes-and this fast. Even just a couple of years ago I remember being able to choose from as many as a dozen 1100-1200cc models. Not to get all psychological on you, but deciding between the Sportster and V Star pretty much comes down to the type of rider you are. Straight-up cruising? You can do no wrong with the V Star. This is as plug-and-play as it gets-you can pretty much turn the key and forget it; that's how relaxed and balanced things are on the Classic. Then again if you're craving a bit more performance and handling-relatively speaking, of course-the Sportster's got it in spades. And it seems to improve every year. This time around it's got fuel injection along with a bigger fuel tank. Best part is, you don't have to pay a penalty for whichever bike you do eventually choose-they're the same price, and both marques offer phenomenally deep aftermarket support for these models. 'Course, the same bike won't appeal to the same type of rider, and for me the visceral punch of the Sportster wins the day.
Andrew Cherney, 5'7"; 155 lb, 30.5-in. inseam
It's like apples versus oranges with the Sportster and the V-Star: One is classic and comfortable, the other lithe and taut. With a handful of throttle the Sportster pulls away from the V Star with satisfying oomph, especially at lower rpm. Grab a handful of brakes and V Star wins the braking duel with only two fingers; the Harley's feel like wood blocks. Bumpy roads? The V Star soaks it all up, offering a plush but bouncy ride, while the Sportster bounces out my fillings. Put them on a twisty road and the Sportster is truly sporty, sharp-handling with lean angles the V Star can only dream about. Both seats annoyed me, with no room to move forward or back and the front of the seats rising too sharply for the male anatomy.
But the deal-breaker is gearing and vibration. The V Star has very short gearing and buzzes the floorboards and handlebar at speeds over 60 mph. The Sportster has much wider-spaced cogs, doesn't vibrate until you hit 4000 rpm and comfortably cruises at even supra-legal speeds-not that I'd ever do that. Lithe and taut (something never before said about a Harley), the Sportster's my pick.
Evan Kay, 5'4", 159 lb, 29-in. inseam