Harley-Davidson Sportster S mileage and running cost

Sportster S's claimed mileage is 20 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 20–28 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 40 cruisers we have reviewed it ranks 29th for mileage, 5 kmpl below the group average of 25 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 24 kmpl, the Sportster S costs about ₹3.95 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹3,081 a month, or ₹36,972 a year, before servicing.

The 11.8-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 283 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 1 week.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Sportster S works out to about ₹50.2 per km all-in, of which 8% is fuel and 86% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; expect roughly 50–60% of ex-showroom after five years for a well-kept example.

The quickest wins for the Sportster S: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early, use Eco mode in traffic and avoid idling at long signals.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.