HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883 (1993 - 2015) Review
At a glance
| Owners' reliability rating: | |
|---|---|
| Annual servicing cost: | £250 |
| Power: | 50 bhp |
| Seat height: | Low (29.9 in / 760 mm) |
| Weight: | High (553 lbs / 251 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesThe Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster is a basic, budget way into Harley ownership: that possession prized by anyone whose idea of heaven is a long, straight, American highway and for whom Peter Fonda remains the ultimate role model.
The Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster is not the greatest cruiser in the world: it lacks power and performance in virtually every area, but it is a Harley and it’s affordable to most. Lay back and enjoy the Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster's ride.
Pulling in the heavy clutch and stamping into first gear with a hefty clunk, the bike thrums along pleasantly with a linear and unthreatening power delivery. There is a long throttle action and the whole bike vibrates purposefully beneath you.
This generates a vibe through the foot pegs and handlebars, which becomes seriously noticeable when you start to push on.
It is important to note though that 'pushing on' is not what Harley-Davidsons are about though. They are not sportsbikes and aren’t meant to behave as such. Whack it in top gear and cruise along gently and they will return smiles all day long.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineWeighing 251kg but offering just 50bhp, the Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster is a lot of motorcycle to move. At slow speeds you can really feel its weight, too and handling out on the open road isn’t razor sharp either.
Ground clearance is a problem if you tip it in too far, the brakes are just about ok and the gearbox, whilst predictably clunky, does the job. The Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster's punch is great in town but it’s too low to see over traffic.
A low seat height of 760mm inspires confidence and would be ideal for new or shorter riders, however as the pegs are so far forwards, anyone smaller than around 5ft6in would start to struggle to operate the foot controls.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster's engine is lardy, lumpy and laborious, unfortunately. However, sharp and sleek aren’t what Harleys are about: they’re about burble, gurgle and chilled-out trundle and the Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster can do all three.
The carbed, 883cc Evolution engine has masses of grunt low down but wheezes at it approaches the ton mark. The engine’s now rubber-mounted to reduce vibrations.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueThere’s no question over the build quality: Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportsters are tough. Finish is superb on everything from switchgear to paint jobs. Harley offer a good aftersales service and technical back up, which is reassuring and, whilst Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportsters have a reputation for being agricultural, like tractors, it takes a lot to destroy them.
In truth, they hardly ever go wrong. You do get the odd electrical fault though and the regulator rectifier will let go sometimes, however you will get that with anything. Apart from that, you just have to look out for general wear and tear.
You do get some problems with corrosion on these bikes and they don’t seem to cope quite as well as some of the Japanese alternatives. You just need to keep on top of it because they won’t thank you for neglect.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentHarleys are not cheap and buying the Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster is the way most fans of the marque can get a foot in the door. You can get more bike for the money elsewhere but that’s not the point: these machines are legendary.
Once bought, like all Harleys, Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportsters hold their value very well and, if you buy a used model, chances are it’ll be well cared for and have a plethora of extras already added by an earlier, passionate owner (which may, or may not, be a blessing).
One of this bike's main rivals was the Honda Shadow 750.
Equipment
This is the basic Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster but Harley provide loads of extras, enabling you to customise it to your needs. Standard Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster has a single seat, low bars and a basic dash.
The foot controls are mid-mounted, so not too extreme, and the clutch lever action’s been lightened to save aching wrists. Transmission is belt drive.
Specs |
|
| Engine size | 883cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | 4v V-twin, 5 gears |
| Frame type | Steel cradle |
| Fuel capacity | 12.5 litres |
| Seat height | 760mm |
| Bike weight | 251kg |
| Front suspension | None |
| Rear suspension | Preload |
| Front brake | 292mm disc |
| Rear brake | 292mm disc |
| Front tyre size | 100/90 x 19 |
| Rear tyre size | 150/80 x 16 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
|
| Average fuel consumption | 43 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £117 |
| Annual service cost | £250 |
| New price | - |
| Used price | £4,300 - £17,000 |
| Insurance group |
11 of 17 How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Two year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
|
| Max power | 50 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 51 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 105 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | 15.4 secs |
| Tank range | 115 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
1985: Harley-Davidson XLH883 Sportster introduced. Numerous tweaks during the next few years, including gaining belt drive and five speed transmission (rather than four). Discontinued in 2003.
1987: Harley-Davidson XLH883 Sportster Hugger: higher bars and lower seat height, otherwise like the standard model. Similar updates to basic model. Discontinued in 2003.
1990: Harley-Davidson XLH883 De Luxe model launched: same basic spec but with higher bars and dual seat as standard. Discontinued in 1992.
2001: Harley-Davidson XL883R model introduced with a 2-1 exhaust, black engine and new (dual) seat. Later gains spoked, cast alloy wheels.
2003: Harley-Davidson XL883/L Sportster introduced with rubber-mounted engine, lower seat and a lighter clutch. Also, 883C Custom model launched. All 2003 Harleys have the company’s centenary badge on them.
Other versions
Harley-Davidson XL883C Sportster: Custom model, with 17.5 litre tank, redesigned seating position and wider rear tyre. Less ground clearance than standard model and considerably more expensive.
Harley-Davidson XL883L Sportster: The current, basic model.
Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster: Similar to the basic, L, model but with added graphics, alloy wheels, twin front discs and other tweaks.
Owners' reviews for the HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883 (1993 - 2015)
40 owners have reviewed their HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883 (1993 - 2015) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883 (1993 - 2015)
Summary of owners' reviews |
|
| Overall rating: | |
|---|---|
| Ride quality & brakes: | |
| Engine: | |
| Reliability & build quality: | |
| Value vs rivals: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Annual servicing cost: | £250 |
Version: 1250r xlch
Year: 2006
Best bike
Low
Version: Xl883c
Year: 2005
Short travel rear suspension is a little bit rough as I’m 62 years old. If I was younger I wouldn’t even notice it.
If suspension was a little better I could ride all day. These back roads in Arkansas can be a little bit rough, on any motorcycle!
Pretty torquey for a small Harley. Always dependable.
I bought used with 12 thousand miles on it, 0 problems so far.
The engine, compared to the metric bikes. Just seems more American. Not knocking metric bikes, I spent a large part of my life making a living working on metric bikes, atvs, e.t.c.. I’m at the age where buying American makes sense.
Buying experience: Private. Been sitting for years for $800.
Year: 2005
Annual servicing cost: £500
Bucketlist bike for me,as i wander aimlessly into my 60's having ridden many many strange and wonderful bikes i inevitively bought a baby harley davidson. Just goes to show that the older you get the dumber you become..omg.Hard to know where to start really but the main "feeling" i get riding this thing is an awful never ending sense of cringe and embarrasment. Mostly from my fellow HD owners,who all appear to be extras from the film "wild hogs". Im sorry to all the bubbleminded out there that believe theyre now part of something..youre not,youre simply a facsimile of a trump supporter.
Maybe acceptable in india etc,but in the uk not a chance,brakes are ludicrous,luckily its so slooow you can just put your feet down and the handling?.. ive ridden goldwings,bmw tourers and even indian.350's that would eat this tea trolley, abysmal..this is the 21st century,7million people in the uk,most cant drive,vehicals need to stop just after pulling the lever,not "sometime later. "
883cc struggles to outrun most chinese 125 pizza bikes.. :cry:
Soo many silly,almost childish, design faults ,coupled with a manufacturer who clearly no longer cares. I also have triumphs and even bsa's in tje shed that have covered far more miles,albeit a lot on the back on an rac truck.
Vouldnt really factor in running costs,everything is a surprise now,shiping parts from uda is mostly pr9hibitive due to cost.of shipping,,ive been quoted £400 shipping for $140 speedo cover Its all a joke isnt it?
Vtwin noise is ok,not as good as other older HD's ive heard,and tbh was looking forward to,the 883 is a.bit out of puff,almost jap like,ie not quite right
Buying experience: Private..never again.
Year: 1993
I had the engine bored out to a 1200
You don't want to try to stop on a dime because it can possibly get ugly with it being more top heavy than most
Buying experience: Bought from a friend. Great deal
Version: XL883R
Year: 2002
Annual servicing cost: £150
Just easy and fun to ride. Easy to manage its weight even for a 5'6" lady like me. Sometimes wish for more grunt, but with patience and timing, overtaking can be done quickly and safely.
It's very very comfortable. Only time it's uncomfortable is when riding over sharp bumps or hidden holes. The suspension though easily compressed, still shocks the spine a bit. It can wallow a bit if pushed hard too, but you get a feel for it and can ride around it. Good tyres (Avon Cobra Chromes) improve handling massively. It can be ridden pretty quickly for what it is once you get used to it. The breaks are okay, though not great even for having twin discs up front. That said, I need to put new pads in mine, and I'll be replacing the fluid soon, and probably replacing the brake lines with braided items for better feel. I've read plenty of recommendations for that.
I love the engine. It pulls well from low revs, and makes great progress considering its low output. A stage 1 tune apparently makes the most out of an otherwise standard engine, but I can't comment on that yet. Overtaking is easy enough as long as you're in the right gear and time it right. If you just want to twist the throttle in top and go, then get a 1200 or build an 883 to 1200/1250 conversion (far better than the factory 1200). If you don't mind dropping a cog or two to make quick progress and wringing its neck, then the 883 engine is more than capable.
My bike is 20 years old now, but hasn't done many miles (6000 ish). Everything is still tight, no corrosion, paintwork is till great, and it feels well put together. Had no reliability problems so far, so so far so good.
Only had a year, and yet to do a service, but will be soon. As I'll be doing it myself, I estimate about £150 for parts and maybe the odd tool that i don't current;ly have
It's very sparse equipment wise, but that's what I like with bikes. If you want gadgets and "modes", get a modern bike. If you just want to fire it up, climb aboard and ride, you can do a lot worse than a Sportster 883. Being a Harley, there's equipment galore on the aftermarket. My fave standard part is the factory fit optional Screaming Eagle 2 into 1 Pro Pipe. It makes a lovely sound, far better than twin pipes in my opinion.
Buying experience: Bought from a dealer (Gateshead Harley Davidson). Advertised at £5850, but they sold it to me for £5350. A years warranty and breakdown cover as standard. Great folk to deal with.
Version: XL883R
Year: 2005
Annual servicing cost: £130
A great motorbike to learn about and work on yourself. Get a carburettor model.
The ride quality on my 2005 is great. Very comfortable, good riding position but at 260kg the brakes, whilst they work well, just don't fill me with confidence if I need to stop quickly. It is a cruiser though, and if your taking it easy keeping your observations way down the road this won't be an issue.
It does feel a bit underpowered for an 883cc but I purchased the bike because I didn't want a pocket rocket. I wanted a cruiser and a safe commuter bike. It's loud, and has a very mechanical feel to it all which I like.
These bikes are very simple. Learn about them, run them right and maintain them and you'll have reliable riding. You can perform a major service on the bike yourself with basic tools buying premium materials for about £130 (oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs. )
Can service yourself, takes about an hour tops. Remember to keep invoice of materials, document date and mileage. You can make video logs as evidence of the service history too.
The 2005 model I have is pretty basic. No ABS, no traction control. Ride it like a cruiser and you probably won't need these anyway. I purchaser the bike for the looks, the sound and the simplicity. Most of the general maintenance I can carry out on it myself. It was even easy to remove and respray the tank.
Buying experience: I bought privately. It was initially advertised at £5k. I got it for £4.4k. They tend to hold their value. I wanted one with the blacked out look including engine. If you want thar you'll need to find an XL883R, IRON 883 or a FORTY EIGHT.
Version: XLH
Year: 2003
Annual servicing cost: £120
It's an accessible Harley, a reliable all rounder with a lovely grunty engine. Dynamically, it has its limits. It will put you on your ear if you exceed them. Recommend to a friend? Only if they know what they are doing.
The only thing this bike is bad at is being a sport bike.It can be made to scratch, but it's hard work. You can festoon it with luggage if you wish, but the range is limited by the little tank, so stops for tea, pee, and a bun are fairly frequent.There is no pillion accommodation. I changed the front brake lever to a cheap Chinese offering with a smaller span: instant improvement. EBC HH grade pads are good too.Can't comment on the standard suspension, 'cause mine 'aint. At one time in its life, the bike was used as a sidecar tug. As a consequence it has some very firm Hagons at the stern, and the front end is suspiciously firm too. Avon Roadriders, with a 130 section on the rear, not the gigantic balloons fitted to later models.
Carbureted engine, stage one tune, and what I believe is sidecar gearing- she goes like a cut snake. First gear is high in relation to the rest. (Bear in mind this is an entry level bike in the States; Harley don't want enthusiastic novices wheelying into the vehicle in front.) Attention to setting the idle mixture on a thoroughly warm engine eliminates lurching in traffic. I have never needed to drop below fourth gear for a fast overtake. If you try to clutchless change, neither you or the bike will enjoy it.
After seventeen eventful years, the laquer on the cases is starting to lift in a few nooks and crannies. Starts on the button, hot or cold, no nasty noises.
I do my own servicing. Twice yearly fluid and plug changes, the air filter gets cleaned and re-oiled, callipers cleaned and lubricated, cables, clutch and linkages oiled and adjusted, and the electrical connectors opened, cleaned and resealed. (Silicone grease, the all weather rider's pal.) The chain conversion gets a bit of a bashing, so it gets lots of MX chain lube. It's all in the manual. Some of the delicate souls reviewing this bike need to attend a basic mechanics course.
Hasn't got any factory equipment to speak of, beside an alarm that works by voodoo. This is a good thing: if it isn't there, it can't go wrong. Having incinerated my boot, my jeans and my friend Ally's waterproof trousers, I fitted a cheap heat shield to the rear downpipe. I also have a rather frou-frou wind deflector fitted, and a rack, which exponentially increases the utility of the machine.
Buying experience: Bought from a dealer. Advertised at £4195, offered 3900.
Year: 1993
Annual servicing cost: £300
The prestige of the bike is worth it alone , The sound of the bike is like nothing else, Just a cool ride.
Ride is very comfortable, And I would say it’s a fair all round bike for a fair weather rider. Not really a bike for a pillion, One thing I would say is the brakes are poor but I think that’s a given on these
Built very well, I would say some of the crankcase aluminium & chrome isn’t as you would expect.
Running costs on par with average
Version: XL883R
Year: 2007
Annual servicing cost: £50
2nd hand prices will get you a lot of bike for the £££
if you want fast, buy a sport bike. new shocks make big improvement.
EFI engine is magic.
everything is nice and chunky.
change the oil 1-2 a year, tighten every thing up - good to go !
stock seat is 1st to go. suspension upgrades next.
Buying experience: dealer / £4300 / >10k
Version: XLR
Year: 2004
Annual servicing cost: £300
Overall a great basic bike thats fun to ride, sounds and looks amazing. This was the first of the rubber mounted engine and has twin disc brakes and pillion fittings. I am very happy with it- super reliable and very good build quality. It suits my style of riding- laid back cruising. I used it round town, weekend rides and the occasional long journey. Despite the age of the bike it is in immaculate condition.
Great fun to ride and surprisingly nimble. The twin disc front brakes are good- responsive- I am surprised they went back to single disk. the seat is basic and I bought an upgrade for longer rides but its fine. It corners well into the bends and accelerates well out of the bends.
Engine is good solid harley, sounds great and good initial torque, pulls away great. Its fine up to 80mph no problem, dont really go any faster. Gear Box a bit clunky but that doesnt bother me so much.
No reliability issues, easy to work on and good work quality.
Had no issues, despite the age she just keeps running. It has been cheap to insure, service and run. I keep it in a garage which certainly helps.
the bike is simple robust harley with no gimmicks or features- this suits me.
Buying experience: Privately dvertised at 4500 and paid £4250. Bike was in immicaulate condition and well manintained.
Version: Iron
Year: 2017
Annual servicing cost: £350
The bike has a poor build quality and is fragile with extortionate parts prices. The best feature is that it looks good and sounds good once you've spent £2,000 on the stage 1 upgrade.
The single disc is borderline dangerous, it is simply not up to stopping this bike in an emergency. The handling is agricultural as you would expect.
I've had 250s with more poke. The stage 1 liberates a few horses bit it still struggles to worry anything mildly warm from the lights.
In 18 months and 10,000 miles I endured the following. Rust on footpeg hinge after 1 month Paint flaking off cable router after 3 months Paint flaking off reg/rec after 3 months Paint flaking off yokes after 6 months Paint flaking off belt guard and frame rails after 6 months. All of the above was repainted or replaced under warranty but only after another 6 months of me pestering the dealer, it only got sorted when I contacted HD UK. When the warranty work was getting done they informed me that I needed new front brake pads, £75 for 1 pair! They also informed that the front disc was worn and would need replacing imminently(£250 plus fitting). I held off on this for the 10,000 mile service when I was informed that the Belt and Pulleys were worn out! Seriously, after 10,000 miles? Speaking to other owners these should last anything from 20 to 50,000 miles depending on who you speak to.
The dealer always gave a courtesy bike.
It's 2017! (when I bought it). Seriously H-D, your reputation can only get you so far, wake up and smell the coffee, this bike is light years behind. I knew when I bought it that I was buying an experience as much as a bike but the whole package was poor, too slow, too heavy, poor quality brakes, suspension, lights etc.
Buying experience: Great, until you ride off.
Version: 883r
Year: 2015
Annual servicing cost: £500
Fun, I get a buzz out of just looking at it. Reliable, comfy, looks & sounds great, Good all-round bike. Heavy, but once moving not noticeable.
Upgraded suspension (Progressive), Pirelli Night dragon tyres, Mustang wide vintage seat. Stage 1 tune. Handles, stops & comfy, fast enough for me. My only transport used for shopping, touring or just having fun. 250 mile days no problem did 370 one day.
Trailered when I dropped it & jammed it in gear. Also when wheel bearing broke. On the whole it's pretty good.
26K in 2 years, serviced by inependent HD specialist. Running costs not bad.
Stage 1, a must after sorting tyres & suspension.
Buying experience: Dealer, thought I'd get a red hot deal paying cash & no p/x. No chance.
Version: Roadster
Year: 2016
Annual servicing cost: £270
Best features it's a very good ornament with lots of new parts Worst it's badly made breaks down a lot and I mean alot I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy
It's best it's best when tucked away in my garage not being used and forgotten about. That way I don't have to put up with any hassle with it. Out of sight out of mind. pillion yeah right no one will get on that death trap.
I like the engine it works but has a drink problem And its my wallet that pays for it habbit power varies as it's been tuned so many time I don't know what's normal running for it. So comparing it to a moped it has more power when it works
Let's just say Lego holds together better. 2 respays lots of rust. New ecm New throttle body New front loom New throttle controls 3 new supertuners Brakes rebuild. New belt guard New Speedo housing 5 times 're tune. And still having issues
Only had it's first at 1000 miles not sure if it will last till it's next one at 5000. Running costs very high at present because it's over fueling needs to be tuned again.
Its side stand so when it decides to breakdown it allows me to stand back with my hands free and point and shout at it. Yes a good poncho that covers the whole bike when riding in the wet as mine dosent like rain it cuts out as I have been told it sucks up water into it's crank case. Tyres are good they seem to work getting u back from the dealer ok.
Buying experience: Dealer and I paid cash of £10700 Best money ever spent on an ornament Advise from trading standards buy on finance then u can throw it back and cancel the direct debit.
Year: 2003
The finish is pretty good, but its the low speed handling and uncomfortable seat that disappoints most. Also the clunky gearbox.
Interesting brakes. just about do the job at the front, the back one compensates. Low speed handling is almost dangerous, these are not designed for "our" roads, long runs in a strait line are what they are really for, without speed bumps or really tight bends. Even the 883 is a bit too heavy for city traffic, the heavy clutch doesn't help either. Best on the "open road" (go find one).
Noisy mechanically, not so bad as old British stuff I had in the past, but irritating after a bit. That heavy clutch, and the clunky gearbox take me back to the dark ages... Only 50HP? They could get by with 3 gears really. Not sure if I really like the belt rear drive, it works well, but looks a bit naff.
Nothing actually fell off, but plenty sounded like it might.... The paint is good, as is the chrome.
Not brilliant on fuel, and the tank is a bit undersized, and the "California" style filler is a pain, with that obstruction just inside the top.... (to stop you putting diesel in it?). Spares are seriously overpriced. Service it yourself or mortgage the wife....
Its nice to look at, Harleys always are nice to look at. Buy one to stand and look at.....
Buying experience: I got mine off my cousin, I'm not talking to him right now....
Version: Low
Year: 1994
Annual servicing cost: £150
Riding makes me smile. Sitting and looking at it makes me smile. The exhaust sound makes me smile. The workmanship makes me smile. I like to smile. All good here.
Forward controls are a must.
Buying experience: Bought privately with 4000 miles for $2500. Tons of chrome, custom paint, just serviced, runs great and its a Harley.
Version: Iron 883
Year: 2016
Annual servicing cost: £350
Early clutch failure, not covered under warranty. A wapping additional £650 after a a few hundred miles.
Slightly still back end but I got used to it.
Lots of pulling power, no need for high engine revs to pull away smartly.
The build quality of the bike is very good, hard to mark it down even though the clutch failed after just 330 miles.
A bit steeper than I expected for a first service.
I like the single clock with the ability to thumb through mileage, trip meters time and gear/RPM.
Buying experience: Good, lost of help but could have been better.
Year: 2014
Annual servicing cost: £250
Looks cool, crap brakes no power for overtaking.
You feel the bumps in the road, only single seat.
No power, soon get bored with the bikes performance.
1000 mile service not cheap, but ran a lit better after run in period.
ABS and alarm standard , so was keyless ignition.
Year: 2009
My first and last Harley which I bought earlier this year. Beautiful bike with great image and great sound ruined by poor brakes, lack of grunt, peg scraping in easy turns and painful to ride for more than 20 minutes.
Rock hard painful ride. Poor squishy brakes. Navigating roundabouts without scraping pegs is a challenge.
Lovely noise but little a 833 cc. Too much torque at low end does not make it easy to control in slow traffic. Too little torque higher up the rev counter to overtake.
Solid build.
Expensive for what it is, but values keep well and I sold it at the same price as I paid for it.
No fuel gauge as standard (an expensive optional extra). No ABS - not even sure if it is an option. I hated having one lock for ignition and another for the steering lock.
Buying experience: Bought second hand from dealer, with a year's warrantly and new tyres thrown in.
Version: XL883L Superlow
Year: 2013
Annual servicing cost: £250
I have ridden a number of motorcycles in the past. Yet the ride of my Sportster is superior and exhilarating.
I have ridden my bike from Malta to Naples and back, via Sicily, for a total of 1745km. As a rule, fuel top up on every 100km, yet I rode 500km straight without any particular physical complaint.
I am very satisfied with both performance and power delivery. On Italian autostradas, my average speed was 130km/hr, taking it to 160km/hr when overtaking. However, I did 175km/hr with no problem on the A3 to Naples.
The average servicing cost is about €250 and Harley-Davidson parts are on the higher side of the scale, in terms of cost and quality. Yet consumption is very reasonable and efficient.
The 17lt fuel tank is a blessing. However, the bike should include a tachometer and gear indicator as standard. (Harley-Davidson have included the gear indicator as standard in the 2015 version)
Buying experience: I paid €11,200 for my two-tone bike, brand new. The purchase experience was extraordinary, nothing like I ever experienced before with other brands. You must appreciate that first time registration in Malta is expensive and that is included in my purchase price.
Version: Iron
Year: 2013
I have ridden a multitude of bike types (2007 Bandit 650, 2010 GSX-R 600, 2005 Triumph Speed Triple to name 3) so I am used to different riding styles some serious acceleration and tremendous handling. The Harley however has none of this and when I'm not on it my brain keeps telling me to get a different bike, I even spend half my time looking, but when I'm on it that all goes away and I think "why would I want to get rid of it?" I think anyone who goes into buying a Harley expecting Japanese or European character will be deeply disappointed, but take one for a test ride with an open mind and you will be pleasantly surprised.
The ride quality from the forks is great until you hit a pot hole or need to negotiate a speed hump or take corners with a bit of vigour, clearly none of the designers/engineers from Harley have ever seen a European road or a poorly maintained one. Given that Harleys are heavy bikes, even the sporty, you would have thought that twin discs on the front would have been a given. I also have a quibble with ride height, I have an issue with scraping the foot pegs, but again it was never designed with that as a concern. However I am thinking about jacking up the rear end.
Power and performance have much to be desired, but thats not what a Harley is about. It chugs along beautifully and if you open it up it is surprisingly responsive. I have V&H Short Shots (in chrome) which create a torrent of tonal abuse for you and anybody within a mile, which is just superb.
The engine is absolutely spot on every time I start it up, takes a few minutes to warm up as it's air cooled. The vibration is noticeable which I don't think its a bad thing, but it caused one of battery cables to come loose which caused the bike to misbehave, once it was tightened up the bike went back to normal. I have had a problem with paint flaking off and rust spots appearing but properly cleaned and treated this was quickly halted from spreading. Took it to the dealer and they said would investigate but never heard anything back from them.
Servicing costs are high, even if you maintain the bike and very little work is done, but most dealerships have a flat rate (barring any surprises) so you know how much it will cost (£300 for the 10k). Fuel economy is great if you ride it like a "Harley" but if you decided to go for a high rev bender on country roads it sups fuel like it was 90's prices.
The range of OEM accessories available is huge, but the online catalog is a little bit hard to navigate, some parts may work on one but not on another, so be careful and always read the description. There are loads of third party after-market parts too which are the same or similar to the OEM so shop around and you might find a bargain. Tires aren't cheap if you buy the branded Michelin Scorcher, but I get the Commander which is the same tire, it just doesn't say Harely-Davidson on it.
Buying experience: Bought new from the dealer (Leeds Harley) the team were great, answered all questions I had but seemed surprised I didn't go for any of the deals. The after sales began well, but I have had a few problems since then however this is not a place to review a dealership.
Year: 2001
Annual servicing cost: £150
I bought this bike new and am still riding it, and still minimal issues... 88,000 miles later. I've done an iron-butt ride on this bike, commuted regularly 100+ miles/day, rode 250-300 miles round trip to service calls with tool bag on the back, and have only had to do normal maintenance items. (drive belt, brakes, tires, etc) She has never left me stranded... maybe I'm due?? Well worth the purchase price.
lots of vibration... wear the enamel off your teeth. Brakes are fine. shifts smoothly, runs well, fast acceleration. Tends to be "top heavy" and cornering is reflected in that. Would not consider this a good choice for a novice rider. Maybe after one burns through a Honda Rebel first.
Sometimes wish I had a sixth gear, but I'm a light-weight and this is ample bike for me. This engine has been a champ. No issues and the service tech is always amazed at how clean this engine is inside. I've faithfully changed the oil regularly.
only weird issues were early on... speedometer @ 2,000 miles, rocker top gaskets @ 7K and the other at 10K.
Regular servicing of fluids, inspection, etc. Tires would run more.
I have a detachable windshield and it's still in good shape 15 yrs later. cargo rack, sissy bar, saddlebag stand-offs... all good. the seat has become torn and worn, however. have not found any heated hand grips that last more than two seasons.
Buying experience: Bought new from dealer... they played some cheap games that left the typical bitterness that causes one to never buy from them again. Would never buy from a dealer again... so many good deals on Harley's elsewhere and at much better prices... financing through a credit union is better deal, too.
Version: Iron
Year: 2011
Possibly the worst bike I've owned.
Ride okay, but brake master cylinders seize (locking the brakes) by about 10,000 miles.
Engine management sensors rot by about 12,000 miles.
Rusts within 6 months no undercoat. Hard to find a part that's not rusting.
Expensive, Harley don't repair under warranty.
Basic equipment.
Stepped off a Triumph 1050 ST on to my sporty. Not the fastest or best handling bike in the world. But in real terms it has enough power and handling for A roads B roads even motorways. Will cruise along at eighty no sweat. The seat is quite literally a pain in the a**e, 100 mile fuel range and you will want to get off it. Changed for a sundowner saddle, now you can ride all day no probs. The paintwork is generally top quality,The orange is so deep when I chippeed the mudguard I only had to use laquer to repair it.It's a shame the same can't be said about the paint on the swinging arm and belt guard. Reliability wise can't fault it. Never let me down,easy to home maintain. very few specialist tools required,just bare in mind that it's imperial not metric in the main. Having owned 20+ bikes in 30+ years ridding, I have kept my Sporty the longest. I think that says something about the all round abilities of the bike.This one is a keeper.
I bought mine during the hot summer months of July 2013, a 2008 Fuel Injected 883R. I was riding a Vespa GTS300SS before, which I used to commute to Uni everyday, until I got a car for the colder/rainy days. Having done over 3K miles since I bought her, the Sportster is more than capable of being an everyday ride, providing it is serviced and made sure the simple things are taken care of. It is useless comparing this bike to others for speed, quality, finish etc because it is in its own category! I will say, since buying the bike with 7k Miles, now done over 10K I've spent well over £1K on the 10K service, the usual stuff was done, but the extras were the bearings, front & rear, brakes front and rear, and whatever else I now don't remember. Ownership is not cheap! But I don't care, guess I'm lucky!
OK i can not explain why this is a good bike because it is not. Also ride a hornet which is quicker, faster off the mark, better handling, easier to throw around and still be in control and about as comfortable. However! Everytime i jump off of that and onto this im grinning like an idiot, even at low speeds which you cant realy do on the hornet. Once you get some decent tyres, seat that was't just made for show and a open face helmet you can let the good times roll and while you get harleys two a penny these days there is so much you can do to make this bike "yours". All in all a bike that ticks non of the box's yet still a great little bike. On a side note while bike is great the fan club is't. Had some weekend warriors who refuse to talk to me while we were all waiting untill they saw i also had a harley. It dont matter what you ride JUST RIDE!
Dunno why I bought it. I've been riding all sorts of bikes for over 25 years, and suddenly I buy this piece of c"*p. The most I've ever paid for a bike. The newest bike I ever bought. It's awful. It's slow. It's uncomfortable, even after buying Hagon shocks. The brakes are worrying. This is a new bike! Harley should be ashamed of themselves for ever building it, let alone selling it. Yes I know it's "only" 883 cc, but that size of engine a few years ago was a big powerful bike. Compare it to other bikes out there and you see why it's disappointing. It has looks, certainly. The Iron is the best looking bike I've ever owned, but that is it. Nothing else to commend it. The dealer back up is abysmal. The parts are stupid prices. The servicing costs are ridiculous. The warranty is useless. Did I mention that it is the most uncomfortable bike I have ever ridden? I went touring on a 15 year old Armstrong 500 a few years ago, and it puts this bike to shame. The fuel range is ridiculous, only 75miles to reserve. Still, you're more than ready for a break at that point anyway. It is the most disappointing bike ever. Vote with your wallet and buy something else, anything else, just not HD. You have been warned.
A good choice as a first cruiser, goes well enough well geared, looks and sounds superb, mirrors are useless until flipped and foot pegs need moving forward
The Sportster was my weapon of choice as a 50+ returnee to biking, I have to say I have loved it 9K miles under my belt and no intention of parting company . Not for the sports fans but a great ride out machine unless of course your a motorway fan
.... ner.... ner ner neeeeeeeeeeer! Okay. This bike is rubbish, but that's not the point. When you ride one of these things you are on the lowest rung of a special ladder to a weird club. You are Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper from Born To Be Wild. You are a rebel, one of a kind. All other Hog riders are your brothers-in-arms. Jodie Kidd rides one too, how cools is that?!?! But as for an actually bike. Nah. Nop. Doesn't stack up too well, though not really bad or anything, just doesn't have the trousers to back up the mouth. Ride? Soft, but takes bends. Just about! Comfy, heavy. It goes like it looks. The engine is a bit of a relic. I mean, it's just shy of 900cc and it ain't ballsy. I did check to see if it took petrol or lumps of coal, but it has some charm where it lacks oomph. Tank? Capacity of a gnat's codpiece. But the world is a nice place from the back of an 883. If you ever get the chance to ride one on a sunny day when the sun is high then go for it, you WILL come back with a smile. It won't get me of my Japanese motor tho...
I have just bought an "883 Iron", that has been treated to a stage one and a set of Vance Hines Short Shots and what can I say? ITS FANTASTIC! I am amazed by the sheer number of people who ask me about the bike and seem drawn to it. Having ridden Japanese bikes for many years I can honestly say that I have never had so much fun on a bike. Looks amazing, sounds like the wrath of God and puts a smile on my face every time. I'm converted, Harley's Rule!
In 8 years and 17000 miles (24500 miles on the bike now) ownership of my 883 sportster hugger, I think I am well qualified in giving my opinion. In all this time, she has proved bulletproof, and the paint and general finish still looks like new. She is still on the original battery from 1997, in the winter she starts up every 2 months without complaint, and get this when I originally got her, rode her for 5 months before laying her up for winter, the next spring at service time got a call from the dealer telling me there was no gearbox oil at all period! I probably ran her for 5 months without gearbox oil and guess what, that gearbox is still running sweet to this day! Try that on your Jap bike! In 8 years of ownership, I only had 2 major problems, namely a battery terminal had corroded and perished, and this year the throttle cable snapped. Both wear and tear items and no big deal to sort out. The handling is safe and secure, sure it's no sportsbike but then it's nowhere near as bad as non Harley people like to make out. Brakes take some getting used to, especially 2 up, but you adjust to that fairly quickly. But the best bit is that engine. It may not be that fast, but it wasn't designed to be. To sum up, if you are thinking of buying a Sportster, go for it you will not regret it!
Well i've just got the Harley 883, 1st 100 miles coevered and love it. It's basic, it's not fast, but it looks good. For leisure riding and nipping out and about i cant fault it. As for heavy, not noticed but then again i do also ride a Z900.
After owning an 883r for several months now I have discovered them to be great fun. It vibrates your teeth out at anything above 60mph but that takes a back seat when your flying around on one, grinning from ear to ear. Just needed a new exhaust system to make it an even better bike as the stock ones strangle the sound and performance. An Ideal first time Harley and an ideal first bike too.
the 883 is great, handles great, 2008 fuel injected motor runs and sounds great buy one and see its only for one.
I hired the low version of the 2007 883 for a day over the summer, because that's all the dealer had available. Overall was very impressed, it was much faster than I expected it to be, pulls very hard in the first few gears, and if you keep the throttle open it gets up to 90mph in no time, with still some more to give (105mph sounds about right). Was very surprised with the easy handing considering the weight of the bike, though on the low model the pegs touch down in slow, tight corners.(but im sure the standard version is fine as you can visibly see how much higher it sits) Apart from that I couldnt fault it, the sound from the standard pipes is very impressive, even on tickover. I will definitely be buying the R version soon.
the 883 is a very underated machine, ok it does not have tyre ripping performance or the ride quatiliy of its bigger brothers or of the competition, it is a basic bare bones bike that chugs along with the HD heart beat, coming from a tweaked and tuned xvs1100 you can feel the lack of power but it still has ample to waft you along all day at motorway speeds, and is comfy enough for a full tank in the saddle and there is little worry of losing your license. It has better ground clearance than its bigger brothers but still not massive and the pipes will be the first to touch down if you get spirited, the brakes are best left in the bin and replaced with something that works they just about haul up the bike from motorway speeds with prodgius amounts of rear and is the bikes and any HD's down fall apart from maybe the Vrod, loads of bits out to make it your own and for short riders the low and custom are great bikes this is my 2nd sportster and 3rd HD, would i have other marquees? with out a doubt and they too would be the custom style, often imitated and often bettered by the Japenese but they still a great little bike
Bought second-hand with Stage 1 and not so silent SE exhausts. Just 5,000m and I've racked up another 1,000 this month. A great B' road tool. Not the fastest, not the quickest round a corner, but loadsa fun. A few coughs and backfires, but great noise on the road. And the chances are I might even get my money back when i sell it.
There is a huge problem with rocker cover oil leaks on these black engines. Mine has been back to the dealers 3 times for this problem alone and its still not fixed. The bike is 7 months old and has been back to the dealers 6 times in total with faults. Buyers be very aware. I'm asking for my money back!
Fun to ride, light and agile but long rides become uncomfortable. Strengths: Best v twin engine around. Weaknesses: Be prepared to have oil sprayed (blowby)from breather in air filter all over engine casings, exhaust and your right leg. This is supposed to be normal!!! Backfires often. Cramped when riding with pillion. Vibration exessive.
Being only 5ft tall I seem to find that there are very few bikes that I can ride (I have been riding for 23 years). I have never been a fan of Harleys until I had a seat on one at a bike show and actually liked the uncluttered look of the sportster. I took a test drive and now I have to say that it is the most fun I have had on two wheels for a very long time. I ride mostly on twisty country roads and even commute to work on it. The bike is stable and solid and gives me loads of confidence despite the fact that it is quite a heavy bike. It may not be the fastest bike in the world but it has more "go" than you might imagine. Strengths: Solid and stable and the sportster low is excellent for smaller riders. It looks great and I especially like the solo seat and the minimal look. Weaknesses: It is heavy to push around but luckily is easy to manouver at slow speeds. The side stand and the alarm system are a bit awkward until you get used to them.
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Engine
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Brakes
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Riding
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Riding
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Riding
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster motorcycle review - Side view
