Cycle News Online: Harley-Davidson has released information on its 2004 models, and an all-new Sportster family is the big news as the Milwaukee-based Motor Company rides into its second century.



Dropped from seven models to four, the new Sportster family boasts an all-new engine and a new rubber-mounted chassis. While still retaining the XL moniker, the Sportster engine shares many technological improvements that first appeared on the Buell XB9 engine in 2003. These include better cooling thanks to larger cooling fins on the cylinders and an oil jet system that shoots oil at the bottom of the pistons to further reduce the temperatures. Other internal changes include new flywheels, and lightweight pistons and connecting rods. As their name implies, the base XL883 Sportster 883 and the XL883C Sportster 883 Custom retain their 883cc displacement, but both make more power, with Harley-Davidson claiming a crankshaft rating of 53 horsepower at 6000 rpm and a peak torque figure of 51 foot-pounds of torque at 4300 rpm. The 1200cc engine is claimed to produce 70 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 79 foot-pounds of torque at 3500 rpm. All 2004 Sportsters utilize a new exhaust system that hides the crossover pipe.