Harley-Davidson Motor Company is a well known American manufacturer of high-quality motorcycles and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Known for their distinctive exhaust noise, HD specializes in heavy-duty bikes designed for long distance cruising. The Sportster series were first produced in 1957 and has been continued till date.

Sportster motorcycles are packed with 45 degree V-twin engines, in which both cylinders share a common crank pin instead of having separate crank pins for each piston's connecting rod. With a wet multi-plate hydraulic and transmissions joined to the engine with a primary chain drive, Sportsters were earlier 4-speed, and are now 5-speed. The 1976 Sportster was one of the rare models built. The 4-stroke bike featured a V2 engine type and had a 9.0:1 compression ratio. This massive motorcycle weighs 529 pounds and reaches a top-speed of 180 km/h. The 1976 Sportster's front tire dimensions are 3.75 inches wide with a 19 inch diameter, while the rear tire measures 4.25 inches wide and is 18 inches in diameter. The Sportster has single disc front brakes with an expanding rear brake.

The Sportster series of motorcycles has gone through three stages of transformation and re-modeling which can be identified mainly by the engine used to power the motorbike. Harley Davidson has proven to be one of the biggest manufacturers of motorcycles; the 1976 Sportster is a classic example of the kind of commitment that is put into making every one of these machines.