Harley-Davidson Sportster S “Rickster 240”
The “Rickster” has landed!
Revolution Evolution! The next Rick's Motorcycles Sportster S “refinement level” starts here!
The launch of the new Sportster S in July 2021 was not only a bombshell in the Harley scene: the official Harley dealers also saw the powerful new bike as a potential top seller - and a challenging conversion project! As soon as the first example reached the showroom in Baden-Baden, the wrench and caliper were applied.
In a figurative sense, because today Rick's team also uses laser measuring devices to do this work with the highest precision. In a literal “blitz” of everyone involved in the project, the first “visual weaknesses” of the then brand new Sportster S were corrected: the excessive license plate/indicator/taillight bridge, the mere presence of which was a challenge to the eyes. The front standard turn signals were also “shrunk” using Rick's adapters and Kellermann Atto and the plastic chain guard was replaced with a laser-cut metal part - typical of Rick's quality.
To match this - because it's customary in the metal workshop at Rick's - two options for delicate “heavy metal” front fenders were created, while the CNC milling machines in the machine park produced two matching three-part design wheels in the “Apollo 5” design from a full block of aluminum unclamp. The GRP lamp mask came as a bonus - and the aggressively styled AK 4.7 footrests including shift button come from the current Rick's range.
Perhaps it should also be mentioned that the creation, which was appropriately named “XR 240” at the time, was given a much wider tire than the standard one - with slight modifications to the standard swingarm, but that is what the Rick's team is known for and appreciated around the world. The “first stage” of the Rick's Sportster S rocket – placed on the design wheels faster than some people can say “TÜV homologation” – ignited like a moon rocket and was already attracting orders when most of the “Sportster S” were still on the way to the Customers were! “Lift Off” for Rick's, because the basic modifications of the XR-240 were also the inspiration for the “Rickster 240”.
But anyone who knows Rick's team knows that we haven't even reached the end of the launch pad at this point: the first improvements were already incorporated in the prototype phase - and other details also required further refinement upon closer inspection. While a Saturn 5 only ignites the second stage at an altitude of 61 km, the customizing flame was already burning at Rick's immediately after the start of the project: Within a very short time, the team followed up and developed another, super-clean turn signal option based on Kellermann LED and milled several design lines for the wheel and swing arm axle covers, fork vent, radiator cap and shock absorber adjustment knob - and a stylish conical bushing for the front axle.
In fact, Rick's shocked us with both the speed and the quality of the LED rear indicator holder kit in combination with the proven and quickly adapted side license plate holders - within a very short time, these parts have established themselves as the "standard" for "tidy" Sportster S conversions.
For anyone who is still familiar with the dynamics of the lunar missions from 1969 to 1972, the second stage only takes the mission almost into orbit. The boost for the last meter to orbit and the decisive “translunar acceleration maneuver” was carried out by the 3rd stage. This also took the longest development time at Rick's, as a completely new solution had to be found for the Revolution 1250T engine for a long-standing and successful Rick's product: the openly rotating designer pulley wheel at the gearbox output.
The conversion option that is popular with the air-cooled Sportster models - instead of being hidden under the engine cover, the transmission output pulleys rotate clearly visible, but still safely protected, with a decorative cover and makes the belt drive technology visible - was not so easy to adapt to the sophisticated design of the “Revolution Max” motor housing.
Belts and pulleys are on the left side, like on the Big Twins and - let's be honest: the left engine side of the “Revolution” is not exactly rich in visual “highlights”. Perfect landing for Rick's! However, the material thicknesses and tensions in the housing surfaces and anchorings - the engine is a load-bearing part of the chassis - are so precisely measured with variable wall thicknesses that every change or removal of material, even on parts as simple as engine covers, these changes are included in the calculation must leave.
The Rick's Sportster S Pulley cover at the front is as delicate as it is stable: Milled bi-color cover for the pulley, stainless steel cover and all the mounting material are combined in a separate kit. Rick's typical for the simplest possible assembly.
It is unlikely that this “Rickster 240” will be the final stage – the next “Custom Parts Fireworks” are already being planned. The only fitting final word for this project can only be this sentence: “The Rickster has landed!”
Text: HRF, photos M. Ahlsdorf /Rick's Motorcycles
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