Harley 883.... opinions?

[Dave T]

Hi All,
I've found that I've got a bit of a soft spot for a Harley at the mo, you know, just for that lazy Sunday ride, and I've seen a couple of 883cc bikes that are in my price range. Not ridden one yet, but thought I'd see if anyone on here had any experience of them. What's the 883 like? Good enough? Should I go for the bigger (1200cc+) Harleys, or give the 883 a go? What should I look out for on them (i.e. what breaks, and what falls off!!!). If I get one, it'll be very much a Sunday afternoon 'bimbling' bike... (GS1200 is my every day bike).
Cheers,
Dave.

 

[Shep]

I've had a couple of old sportsters, and a couple of big twins, one shovel and one evo and for me its got to be a big twin every time to feel that real Harley rumble.

I rode an 883 for a day and it felt like an old triumph twin and to be honest not a particularly good one.

If its just to be a toy then just buy and old shovel or early evo (better engine I think)

Do check all frame and engine numbers and HPI it cos you never know who's owned it.

Shep

 

[sycomoto]

my shine on it

go for a 1200 nightster of a big jobbie, 883's fer girls, bit weak and small. fot the same price you could pick up an fxr with an 88evo engine. loads better

 

[AndyT]

If its a HArley it has to be a big onw 1450cc or upwards... the torque is unbelievable - just don't turn into a typical hog owner I distance myself from them for that reason which is a shame.

AndyT

 

[Northants Rob]

I had an 883 Sportster custom (forward pegs/controls) for a couple of years, my first bike in fact. I took my test on a standard 883 (not custom).

They're OK - they're not a Big Twin (they're a lot more nimble than that and I did own a BT as well), if you treat them for what they are. For a Sunday or summer evening toy you can't go wrong. Cheap as chips once they're 3-4 years old, especially the pre 2004 models. In 2004 the engines became rubber-mounted, which took some of the vibes away. If you like serious vibes, go for an '03 or earlier.

The 'custom' variant, as well as forward controls, also has a bigger tank - not the traditional Sportster 'peanut' tank. It's down to what you prefer aesthetics-wise.

Most 883s (and 1200s for that matter) will have the Stage I (loud pipes, free-flowing air filter etc) - don't get one without 'cos it doesn't sound right and, when you come to sell, everybody wants Stage I anyway.

An 883 can easily undergo conversion to 1200cc - even H-D dealers do it for not huge amounts of cash. That'll give you a bit more torque but not much else (i.e. speed). Many of the supposed 1200s for sale (esp. privately) are converted 883s - just be aware of this as original 1200s are a bit more desirable and hold price better.

I rode my 883 two-up quite often - it was OK, again, not blistering but that's not why you fancy one is it?

In terms of 'what breaks' etc, just be aware that all H-Ds sound a bit agricultural - you will hear lots of 'nuts & bolts' noises! Like the GS, Harleys don't like the British weather too much, so corrosion (especially damage to the many chrome parts) can be a problem.

Why not just blag a test ride on a Sportster at your nearest H-D dealer? They'll have new and used available - always. Go have a play and see what you think.....go on, you know you want to

 

[Blackal]

a typical hog owner I distance myself from them for that reason which is a shame.

AndyT

Err............ did you mean to say that??


Al

 

[AndyT]

Err............ did you mean to say that??


Al

I meant it would be okay to go for a ride out with a group of Harleys but not a group of Harley owners......

Anyway is that Fog I can see drifting offshore

 

[Blackal]

I meant it would be okay to ride a group of Harley owners......

Anyway is that Fog I can see drifting offshore

Nae fog, just delays with every flight

Al

 

[FatAl]

The Sportsters these days are pretty reliable bikes, they are cheap and easy to maintain, nice for plodding about on, a nice relaxing ride, but can put on a decent lick if required. If going for the 883 then as others have mentioned consider the stage 1 tune, also well worth putting on the 1200 as well.

you may need to consider brake and suspension upgrades particularly if buying the older models.

Don't be put off using it for the winter, corrossion isn't any worse/better than most other bikes, just wash it down regularly or dose it in MCF50 gunge. I've had a 1200 sportster, I enjoyed it but not as much as my 1550 Superglide sport. I put a sundowner touring seat on my XL1200R, very comfy and apart from the smallish capacity fuel tank, it returned over 55mpg, it coped well with a very wet touring holiday in Scotland.

 

[cookie]

looks like that bloke's found something fallen off your harley

 

[Kenny]

The Sportsters these days are pretty reliable bikes, they are cheap and easy to maintain, nice for plodding about on, a nice relaxing ride, but can put on a decent lick if required. If going for the 883 then as others have mentioned consider the stage 1 tune, also well worth putting on the 1200 as well.

you may need to consider brake and suspension upgrades particularly if buying the older models.

Don't be put off using it for the winter, corrossion isn't any worse/better than most other bikes, just wash it down regularly or dose it in MCF50 gunge. I've had a 1200 sportster, I enjoyed it but not as much as my 1550 Superglide sport. I put a sundowner touring seat on my XL1200R, very comfy and apart from the smallish capacity fuel tank, it returned over 55mpg, it coped well with a very wet touring holiday in Scotland.

Poof !!

How you keepin' these days

 

[FatAl]

looks like that bloke's found something fallen off your harley

He's adopting the position we Harley riders like....

 

[FatAl]

Poof !!

How you keepin' these days

Yo! Hi Kenny, I'm very well matey thanks for asking. I was hoping to get to one of these GS meets and look you up for a beer or two. Do you go to the evening meets near Knutsford?

I saw Jimmy N recently, he asked after you, he's still as mad as a fish.

TTFN, Algy x

 

[Rob Farmer]

The 883 is desperatly underpowered. The Sportsters a much better bike as 1200.

The very early chain driven Evo sportsers (88/89 ish) had alternator magnets that were glued into the back of the clutch, if you gave them some welly the magnets came unglued chopping up the alternator in the process. There was a problem with some of the teeth breaking off in the gearbox round the same era. Apart from that nothing reall goes wrong with them.

Harley moved the alternator to the 1340 style at the front of the engine and beefed up the gearboxes. If you buy a belt driven bike they are sorted.

I put my 1200 down the dragstrip and got a 13.1 second standing quarter. Apart from the silencers it was a standard engine and the frst time I'd done it.

They have to be the simplist engine to service. Electronic ignition, self adjusting tappets and a single carb.

Good fun bikes to own.

 

[MasterDabber]

I had a 1991 XLH1200 with belt drive, 5 speed gearbox, very free flowing turnout exhaust, teardrop aircleaner with K&N filter. I thought it went pretty well and the handling was reasonable. The real downer were the brakes which I really should have got around to upgrading. I guess they were a bit like the residual braking of a GS.

 

[Navy Boy]

My wife's got a 2007 model 883 Low and she enjoys it a lot.

Apart from the fact that it's the first bike she's been properly comfortable on (She's only 5'00") the dealer has been very good and the bike gets admiring comments whenever she goes anywhere with it.

Performance-wise it's very much a case of going with the flow. They aren't fast but they do have a really nice vibe that seems to encourage you to take it easy and soak up the scenery. I guess it'd be good for 100Mph ish if you wanted to do that but the accelaration up to 60ish is where its really at with these.

I've ridden the bike a few times and apart from being too low for me its an enjoyable machine. As said above if it's something for bimbling around on and not getting anywhere in a hurry then try one. You may just like it.