XLH 900 Sportster

1971 Harley-Davidson XLH 900 Sportster Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in Harley-Davidson's classic motorcycle lineup, the 1971 Harley-Davidson XLH 900 Sportster relies on a 882 cc (53.8 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 65 HP (47.4 kW) at 6,300 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 73.7 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the XLH 900 Sportster measures 240 kg (529 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.27 HP/kg (3.69 kg per horsepower). The 15-liter (4 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 180 km/h (112 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Harley-Davidson archive, this model family spans 2 indexed model years from 1970 to 1971, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.