Buyer Research

2021 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $15,000–$20,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

The performance cruiser in Harley's lineup — the Low Rider S pairs the big 114 (or later 117) Milwaukee-Eight with sportier suspension, a blacked-out aggressive look, and genuinely fun handling for a cruiser. It's a hot rod, so some were ridden hard. Watch for heavy mods and drops. A clean, well-maintained Low Rider S with records is a characterful, quick, and desirable cruiser that holds value strongly.

What we checked

No public record to reconcile against

We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Federal complaint records thin out badly on older vehicles, so there is little to check against. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.

Known Issues for the 2021 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Hard riding / drop damageMedium

A performance cruiser ridden hard; inspect for tip-over/crash damage and abuse.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Heavy aftermarket modificationMedium

Inspect exhaust/tune/suspension mods for quality; a bad tune runs hot/lean.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Drive belt / tire / brake wearMedium

Check the belt, tires, and brakes.

Repair cost (estimate): $300-$1,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Milwaukee-Eight heat / oil serviceLow

The big V-twin runs hot; verify oil service.

Repair cost (estimate): $100-$400

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Crash/drop damage
✗Poor mods or bad tune
✗Worn belt/tires/brakes
✗No service records

Good Signs

✓Stock or quality documented mods
✓Fresh consumables, healthy belt
✓Documented service, honest miles

Found a specific Harley-Davidson Low Rider S?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2021 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.