Okay, so the other day, I got thinking, what actually is the smallest Harley-Davidson you can get these days? It pops into my head now and then because things change, right? Back in the day, you’d pretty much just point at a Sportster, probably the 883, and say “that one”. It was the entry point for a lot of folks.
So, I decided to actually check it out properly, see what the deal is now. Didn’t go down to a dealer or anything, just started poking around online, seeing what they’re listing, what people are talking about. You know how it is, just digging through stuff.
Digging into the Past Models
First thing I remembered were those Street models, the 500 and the 750. They definitely felt smaller, lower seat height, lighter feel. Seemed like Harley was really trying to get new riders with those. I looked them up specifically.
- Street 500: Yep, that had a tiny engine for a Harley, 494cc. Physically smaller too.
- Street 750: Bit bigger engine, 749cc, but still built on that same smaller frame idea.
But here’s the kicker – seems like they stopped making them, at least for a lot of places. You can find ’em used, sure, but not brand new off the floor everywhere anymore. So, are they the smallest? Well, they were strong contenders.
What About the Sportsters?
Then my mind went back to the Sportster. The Iron 883, specifically. For years, that was the go-to answer. It’s got that classic Harley look, but it’s not as massive as the touring bikes or Softails. Seat’s usually pretty low, relatively manageable weight. Lots of people started on an 883. It’s got an 883cc engine, obviously. So, engine-wise, bigger than the Street 500, but maybe smaller overall dimensions than the Street 750 in some ways? Hard to say without ’em side-by-side.
But again, looking at the current lineup… the classic Sportster design with the 883 or 1200 Evolution engine… seems they’ve been replaced by the newer Revolution Max engine bikes.
Checking the Current Lineup
So, what’s small now? I looked at what Harley-Davidson is actively selling brand new.
There’s the Nightster. It uses a 975cc engine. It looks leaner than the old Sportsters in some ways, maybe more modern, but the engine size isn’t exactly “small” compared to the old Street 500. It’s positioned as a sort of new-generation Sportster, maybe the entry point now for the main US/European markets?
But then, I stumbled onto something newer: the X models.
- Harley-Davidson X 350: Whoa, 353cc. That’s really small displacement for a Harley!
- Harley-Davidson X 500: Okay, 500cc, basically stepping into where the Street 500 was.
These seem to be built more for markets outside the US, like Asia. Physically they look pretty compact too, definitely lighter than the traditional stuff. Didn’t even know about these until I started digging.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Alright, after spending some time looking into it, here’s my take:
If you’re talking about Harleys you could buy recently or find used easily, the Street 500 was probably the smallest overall package, especially engine-wise. The Iron 883 was the classic “small” Harley for a long time and might feel smaller or have a lower seat for some riders than the Street 750.
But if you mean what’s the absolute smallest displacement Harley-Davidson making right now, brand new in 2023/2024? It’s gotta be the X 350. No contest there, engine is tiny. The X 500 is right behind it. Whether you can actually walk into your local dealership and buy one depends entirely on where you live. For many folks, the Nightster might be the smallest available new option from the main lineup.
So yeah, “smallest” depends on what you mean and where you are. But technically, based purely on engine size for a currently produced bike? That X 350 takes the prize. Quite a change from just saying “Sportster”. Interesting stuff.