HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883 (1993 - 2015) Review

Version: 1250r xlch

Year: 2006

Best bike

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.

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.

Buying experience: Private..never again.

Year: 1993

I had the engine bored out to a 1200

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.

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.

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.

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.

Version: XL883R

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £50

2nd hand prices will get you a lot of bike for the £££

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.