Harley Davidson Sportster S 1250 RH1250S 2025 Service Manual

Harley revealed this exact update on January 23, 2025 as part of a broader refresh across its cruiser lineup, and the Sportster S got a genuine, substantial suspension change rather than a cosmetic refresh: newly revised front and rear suspension delivers a 60% increase in rear wheel travel, specifically engineered to improve rider comfort on rough pavement without raising the seat height — which stays at a genuinely accessible 765mm (30.1 inches).

Power comes from the Revolution Max 1250T, a liquid-cooled DOHC V-twin with variable valve timing, delivering a claimed 121 hp and 93 lb-ft of torque, run through a 6-speed transmission with belt final drive. Design updates for this model year include black finishes throughout the engine and exhaust system, more premium paint options, and a new vintage-inspired tank medallion — the blacked-out powertrain mixes gloss and matte black finishes specifically to add visual depth to the engine's shape.

Standard equipment includes a 4-inch color TFT display (102mm) with Bluetooth headset support and USB-C charging, showing tire pressure monitoring, engine temperature, battery voltage, and ambient air temperature alongside the usual speedometer and trip functions. Confirmed drivetrain specs list a 43mm fork, a 28mm/177-tooth drive belt, 34/80-tooth front/rear sprocket ratio, and Fly-By-Wire throttle and idle cables.

A real owner review on Motoplanete captures the genuine, surprising character of this platform even from an experienced rider's perspective: after cycling through roughly fifteen roadsters and hyper-sportbikes, one reviewer found this Sportster combined homogeneity and modernity with a rugged look that made him want to push further — while noting the belt drive and fundamentally different feel from the traditional Sportster lineage this model shares its name with, but arguably belongs to a different family entirely. Confirmed tire sizing stays 160/70-17 front and 180/70-16 rear across this exact model year.

This factory service manual covers the procedures, torque specs, and diagrams needed to keep a 2025 Sportster S RH1250S running the way it was built to.