Common Tread

Highside/Lowside podcast: The Harley-Davidson Sportster, motorcycle icon

Oct 05, 2026

How many motorcycles have been around since 1957? It doesn't take long to count them, or long to remember that the Harley-Davidson Sportster has soldiered on for that long.

That kind of longevity alone would be enough to make the Sportster a worthy topic for one of the icons of motorcycling Highside/Lowside podcast episodes, just as the Honda Gold Wing (with its own 50-year run) and the Suzuki SV650 (with its devoted following and its broad impact on the motorcycling careers of so many riders) did before it. But the Sportster has had an influence far beyond longevity. A first bike for many, a first Harley-Davidson for legions of riders, and in fact it was the first motorcycle owned by this episode's guest, Patrick Garvin of J&P Cycles, who is also a walking encyclopedia of Sportster lore and a huge fan of the versatile and enduring nameplate. Take a listen.

Listen to Highside/Lowside

As always, for those who prefer visuals, we’ve got the YouTube link above. But if you're listening to this inside your helmet on your commute and just want the words, the podcast version is available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and LibSyn to name a few of your favorite podcasting apps.