Of course , once I got my head round the Harley version of sports , I had to agree they had a point . The Sportster is low , compact , stylish as hell , incredibly well built and finished , feels pretty comfortable in the showroom , has a low centre of gravity , and is built so the designer would still recognise his drawings after delivery . And it goes like the Devil is after you . So rapid and prolonged was the acceleration that I slid back in the seat , although admittedly there ’ s nothing to stop you . On a traditional sportsbike the pegs are back behind the riders bum and raised a little , bending the knees and pitching you into the bike , giving control , grip and weighting options . Not here . The pegs are way forward , like a cruiser , meaning all grip and control is in the shoulders , back and arms . I perched on the seat , and after a few hours riding was rewarded with back pain that I thought I ’ d spent thousands to fix . While many Harley riders will feel right at home with this set up , I found it difficult , and further , would add that it would be hard for novice riders in the Sportster field . However , Harley has a fix for this issue with what they call a mid-line kit , which brings the pegs directly under the rider , and would make the gear change issue much easier as well . This option is around $ 600 fitted , and I ’ d insist on it as a starter . It would revolutionise the handling and feel . Also , after some hours in this saddle , I discovered that the seat supplied is a great look , but is harder than a mortgagee sale . A comfort seat , at least for my broken arse , would be another must-have . The Sportster then , is actually out of the Cruiser / Bobber fold , ( until mods are made ) but it is the lighter than any other Harley , at 238kg wet , and it feels lighter than that due to its low mass and inviting seat height . The comparable Ducati Diavel is nearly 20kg heavier .
THE FULL GORILLA And now we come to a contentious point , that
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