I have a 1996 1200C and I try to do most maintanence myself. I have a Clymer manual and giving someone 60 bucks an hour for working on my bike seems a waste to me. I changed the rear brake pads yesterday and it only took me about 30 minutes because I had to remove a saddlebag and loosen one of the support brackets. I only had to take the brake caliper off to change pads. I read that from 2000 or 2001 on the rear wheel has to be removed in orde to remove the pads. Does any one know why Harley engineers changed the design?

 

I don't know about the Sporty but I have a 2000 'glide and I have changed them without taking anything else off...including the caliper. Many of the bikes have the same caliper design, so I don't know why the Sportster should be different. Maybe someone can set me straight.