Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126981
1.988 Har'el-Davidsons Sportster gets 1200cc engine MILWAUKEE, WI, AUG. 19 While there are no all-new models In H arl ey-D a vidson 's '88 lineup, there are several n o teworthy detail improvemen ts to the V-twins, The Sponsler is now available in a 1200cc (74 cubic in ch ) di spl acem ent size. This model replaces the 1987 XLH 1100 The 1988 Tour Glide Classic FLTC . like all 1988 Harleys. has Americanmade Hayes brake ca lipers and master cylinders. a nd . with new camsha fts and a 40mm consta n t-velocity carburetor, it produ ces a claimed 12-plus per cent in crease in brake horsepower and 10 percent more torque for the 49-state version . All Sportster s feature improved suspension with th e addition of a stiffer 39m m fork and revised rear sus pension geo metry. The XL H 883 wi ll continue to carry a suggested retail price of $3995, and a lso features improved power d ue to new ca rns and carbo . The FX RS Low Rid er has a new fuel tank th at features " Fat Bob " styling . It ha s the speedome ter and tach om eter mounted in tandem in a tank -top conso le and twin " filler (~I P S; " the right side serves as th e tank fill er while th e left side "Cd I' '' houses a n ill u mina ted fuel ga ugc. All FXR model s now feature the new 39m m fork a nd th e '88 Sport Ed itio n now ha s adju stabl e a irassisted front su spen sion with antid ive. All FL-mod el tourin g bik es have received refinem ents, in cluding a sadd le foam material that is sligh tly stiffer a nd a seat th at has been modi fied to acce p t a n o p tio na l driver backr est. The T our Pak trunk is adjustable rearward and th e passenger footrests have been raised. The T our Pak 's height has been increased by o ne in ch to allow more space to hold two o f th e tall est helmets. Harl ey's Pr emium Sound System is all-new for '88. It features handlebar-mounted' co nt ro ls, a weather band, DN R Continuous Dynamic Noise Red uctio n , digita l volu me control, a clock , and co m pa tibility with Harley's o p tio nal new intercom system a nd CB radio. . All H a rl ey clutch ca bles now fea ture a new " eyelet" design tha t reduces frictio n a nd, according to Harley, improves d urability. Ma ny mod e ls (t hose wi th b uckh o rn -style hand lebars) sport turn indicators that ar e' mou nted und er th e hand- control lever brackets on the mirror sterns . Th e FLHTC, FLTC , FL HS , FX RT and FXRS-SP feature Harley's a ir sus pens io n with a nti-d ive a nd now use th e handlebar as the' a ir system's reservoir; th e adj us tment valv e is located a t the. left end of the left-hand gri p. All 1988 H ar leys now have American-mad e Hayes brake ca lipe rs a nd master cylinders. The '88 Harley powertrains use new ca msha ft profiles that provide increased durati on and lift. Brake horsepower and torque are improved o n all 49-state Sportsters and 1240 big twins; Ca lifornia models do no t get a n in cr ease du e to CA R B mandates. • The Sportster XLH 1200 replaces the XLH 1100. Power tias been boosted by increased displacement. new camshafts and a 40mm carb o . I The Sportster XLH 883 retains it s $3995 suggested making it the lowest priced Harley-Davidson.