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2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow vs. Triumph America [Video]
 

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2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow vs. Triumph America [Video]

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Where's the tach?
 

How come these cheap cruisers don't have a tach? What could it possibly cost to add, $20/bike? I hate warming up a bike with no tach.

What the heck are you talking about?

You do know this is 2012, right?

Yeah, about time someone invented an instrument that displays how fast an engine is revving! ;)

I'm really surprised the Triumph didn't get a clear "Win" out of this comparo. The suspension travel alone might be enough, add in a smoother and more powerful engine; seems to me you've got a winner.

"The Triumph America is in some ways a typical Harley-clone."

No, it's not. The Triumph's DNA stands alone; unlike the typical Japanese cruiser knock-offs. The Brits were already building virtually this same bike back in the 50's when HD started designing the Sportster. I think Triumph deserves credit for being true to their own heritage, versus glomming on to HD's.

One last thing: Triumph did a beautiful job on the engine. Between the hidden EFI "carbs" and making it look like a non-unit construction, it's very cool. It might be hard to pick out the vintage bike if you parked the America next to a well-restored 1960's Bonneville.

I never knew I needed a tach to warm up a bike.

And with EFI, I didn't know I still needed to warm up a bike.

As long as I've been into motorcycles I have never gotten the Sportster.

I've been to Hawaii a million times and don't get poi.

I guess they are both an acquired taste.

When the Sportster was developed, it was a breakthough, high-performance bike that was completely different from anything HD was building at the time. Their first "unit" consturction engine, the first with gear-driven cams, compared to the Big Twins, it was extremely compact and powerful. The Sportster chassis was also new, with a much smaller frame, narrower forks, and a performance oriented suspension. In the 70's when I first started riding, only old farts bought big twins; the cool guys all rode Sportsters. That changed when the SuperGlide came out, but that's another story!

Sportsters are cheap, simple, basic and elemental. If I had to show an alien a motorcycle, I'd show them a Sportster or a Bonneville. Two wheels, an air-cooled engine, boom, there ya go.

My Sporty is the most satisfying bike I've ever owned (not that I've owned much). I've never understood the appeal of hyperbikes on the street. Chacun à son goût.