Millions of Harley-Davidson Sportsters?! How Did H-D Sell So Many?

Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get episodes commercial-free:   / topdeadcenter_bottomdeadcenter   From 2004 to 2022, Harley-Davidson sold more than 1 million air-cooled Sportsters. In its biggest single sales year, the sportster sold an unbelievable 72,000 units. All this on essentially no technical merit vs. its competitors. Great bike and fun to ride? YES. Lighter, faster, better handling? Not really, and yet it is one of the great motorcycles of all time. From its introduction in 1957 to the last air-cooled versions sold in 2022, Sportsters were burned into the American motorcycle rider's collective brain. And H-D is bringing it back in 2027! Kevin and Mark talk Sportster origins, history, and cultural impact.