The 5 Coolest Sportster Custom Motorcycles

1. 1962 Ironhead Custom

The Harley-Davidson Sportster is an iconic bike that we can all relate to in some form. While for some, a Sportster may be their starter bike, for others, it may be their only bike. They are versatile, easy to customize and downright fun to ride. This bike, for example, as customized by David "Stick" Seale out in sunny CA, is a 1962 XLCH Ironhead Sportster that he picked up for a mere $600. He brought it home in several boxes and went to work. As any restoration goes, he had his setbacks, but his labors paid off and he now has one sick looking scooter to bomb around on. From the hand-built coffin gas tank and the chrome girder front-end on the custom hardtail frame to the 900cc, kickstart only, Ironhead mill and the upswept fishtail pipes, this bike is reminiscent of something we'd see in an iconic biker movie. The overall design elements of this '62 are true, "ol skool" American chopper culture.

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2. 1983 Sportster XLX

While the 80's was pretty much a time that could be defined by a uniquely upbeat style of music, some pretty loud colors, and some pretty ugly cars, there were a few classics that came from the era. This 1983 XLX was one of them. While this bike may look stock, that's exactly what the builder was going for. Take a closer look and you'll see that he has drilled the front rotor, added some fork gaiters, installed an older, braced front fender, updated the bars, gauges, mirrors, seat, rear shocks, pipes and massaged the rear fender and shaved the rear turn signals to make the rear end just a little cleaner..because everyone appreciates a clean rear end.

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3. 2011 XL1200L

Some people think that Sportsters are simply a beginner's bike, or you may have even heard, "that's a girl's bike!" Well, while both of those statements can be true, there is also no denying that the Sportster can be modified into a ground pounding bagger that is ready to smash the boulevards and avenues of your local hometown. That is definitely the case with this 2011 XL1200L. Originally starting its life as a plain-Jane 1200 Low, the owner of this bike has a list of modifications that would make your head spin. Suffice it to say that every piece of this bike has been touched and the final product is absolutely stunning.

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4. 2012 XR1200X

Sportys aren't confined to being choppers and boulevard busters, either. As you can see with this wicked adventurer, as modified by Ryan S. of Mississippi. Ryan took his, already cool, XR1200X and added a tuner, hi-flow intake and exhaust to maximize his power, a custom seat to keep his backside comfy, a rack to hold his gear secure, a windscreen to thwart the bugs, branches and rain, some off-road footpegs to help keep his feet in place, a skid plate to keep the rocks and stumps in check and a crash bar to help keep her pretty. While ADV riding is generally dominated by the Brits, Ryan's bike proves that the good ole USA can build bikes that can go anywhere, too...and look super cool doing it.

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5. 2006 XL1200R

Motorcycles, like people, are unique and individual. That's why we love them and why we are always modifying them. Some, like the ones you've seen in this article, are pretty, some are universally cool, some are rough and tumble and then there's Chris C. of Pennsylvania's bike. At first glance, one might say it's a little boring and uninspiring and to that person, I would say this- ever heard of the Iron Butt challenge? That's right, Chris's bike has completed, not one, but two Iron Butts and his bike, like him, is pretty hardcore. Take a closer look and you can easily see that this little Sportster is heavily modified. Chris has added saddlebags, a tour pack, an auxiliary 6 gallon gas tank, Progressive springs up front and air shocks from a Road King out back to give him some easy pre-load adjustment, a Mustang seat to ease the pains of hours in the saddle, LED lights, Garmin GPS and a satellite tracker to keep him on his route, a wireless heated gear controller to keep him toasty, a windshield to protect him from the elements, oh and just one more thing...over 227,000 miles on the odometer! That's right, he has racked up over 227,000 miles on his Sportster 1200 and if that doesn't count as cool, then I don't know what does.

When Harley-Davidson designed and built the first Sportster 60 years ago, they probably didn't realize how beloved these little bikes would become or just how much they would be modified and used. One thing is for sure though- the Sportster is one versatile little bike that can be customized to do just about anything and to fit the need, or desire, or just about any rider and that is something that we can all agree is very cool.

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