http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Co ... n-883.html

Honest opinion on it. You reckon it's worth the loot?

No harley is actually worth what they're charging for it, strictly speaking. Not new. Used, the prices go waaaay down - there's a glut of used harleys of all sorts on the market. But this variation, the Iron one, I guess probably would be hard to find used. So if that exact version is what you or someone else wants, you might not have another easy choice. I think it looks pretty good, I like the toned-down / blacked out scheme on that kind of bike. The 883 motor is reliable (for a Harley.) They charge too much for their bikes, but that's just money.

Sportsters are ok bikes, I've ridden the 1200S version for about 3 hours in one shot, once. The 883 is slower than that but should be able to get out of its own way.

This for a first-time rider, potentially?

Yeah, it is a bit pricey.

I want something to ride around time, possibly up to Orlando, not much further. Would this be comfortable enough?

also, any other Sportsters you'd recommend.

You could do it on the 883, but the motor and your lower back might not really be too happy if you did 75 on the freeway for a few hours. The 883 isn't really a touring motor at all, tops out around 95? And that means by 75 it feels strained. It'd be great around town, though, and if you took slower roads to Orlando you'd have a ball.

I think I know what you're after, though - it's got as much to do with a bike that looks right as anything else? Checking craiglist miami, I see two Iron's but they're allllmost as much as new. So much for that theory. There's a Nightster version for sale in miami too, those look ok. Mostly it's stock white or red ones, not sure if that's what you're going for.

You ever look at the newer triumphs? They make a couple of very different versions of the bonneville, like the speedmaster or the bonneville black, which looks like this stock:


and this with some aftermarket bars and such:


The attraction with the triumphs is that they're somewhat unique - people stop you on bonnevilles and want to talk all the time - and the motors (790 and 900 versions, same motor) are in the perfect sweet spot between "fuck it let's drive to Memphis just for shits" highway capable, and "won't get you killed in 2 weeks" friendly for newbs. And they're incredibly reliable, which will matter more than you might realize at first. Fuckers just keep on ticking.

Just some things to think about. Sporty's, even the little ones (883) are great around town, and can do highway stuff, but they're not a lot of fun up at high speeds. And they're less reliable / more $ than other options, though not incredibly bad on either count. It's the $20-$30k harleys that are stupid. Duuuumb dumb dumbie dumb.

man, that Speedmaster looks really nice. beautiful styling, and in the same price range. you would say the overall comfort is better on the Triumph?

how about this one:

http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/triumph ... /base.html

i'm not 100% on the Iron, so this is great advice dude. appreciate it.

If this is your first bike....don't

Get a used whatever, spend about $2000-2500, and ride and learn what you like and don't like. You will then be able to make an informed purchase.

No offense, but friends don't let friends buy Sportsters

I rode a Suzuki from 96-99, but then got out of riding. looking at getting a bike, getting back into it.



wilked, why exactly don't you like Sportsters?

Those triumphs are gorgeous. Makes me want to kill myself trying to ride it.

The reasons are discussed in here

https://www.google.com/search?q=sportst ... ox&ie=&oe=

Yes, it is stereotypical and lacking in solid logic, but at least personally if I were going to get a Harley I would lean more toward a classic, or perhaps a Triumph.

I ride an inherited Katana at the moment, for reference, but that is not my ideal bike by any means. If I was buying today I would probably get this

Ah, the Bandit 1200S, I would ride the hell out of one of those. Sort of the logical extension of my bike, the yamaha FZ6, but with a ton of torque. That's a great mile eater, and the price is incredible. Dale's old GS500E was a great practical bike, and great way to learn.

My whip:



2007 FZ6, bought it new, put bags and seat and bigger windshield on it, now has over 47k on it. These last few years I've put 10-12k on it annually, about 2 hours a day for 5 days a week for 9 months of the year, 100 degrees F down to 22 F. But look at this thing... this is not what Dale wants. This is ugly, pointy, and practical. This is a price point. This is a math equation. This is a bike for people who want to rely on a motorcycle to get a paycheck for years in a row, with no garage to do work in. I don't look at my bike and get all moist, I just see it as a more fun way to get my shit done.

Now the Speed Master is a great bike, you would not be disappointed. They look good stock, and you can do a LOT with just a new handlebar and mirrors. That shit bolts on with allen wrenches in minutes. The motor is enough to happily cruise all day at 75, the bike isn't so big and clunky that it's a pig to muscle around through parking lots. A guy at work has one, so I get to see it up close all the time.

For inspiration, you need to know about a few sites if you don't already. First is Bike Exif (http://www.bikeexif.com) out of Australia. They have something new every day, they cover all major styles, and the guy's got a good eye. Great place to get a sense of what you do and don't like. Shit like this is all over it:



Second, there's a french guy living in Africa who posts a blog called Mot Art, which is an odd blend of equal parts fashion, motorcycles (your kind, I think, the classics), african models, architecture, and boats. Somehow it works. Befriend him on Facebook if you like what you see, he's a nice guy. http://www.themotart-journal.com/ and on FB his name is Frank Charriaut. I strongly, strongly predict that will LOVE this guy's stuff. He's basically you with longer hair and an accent.

And finally my opinion on Sportsters... the 883 makes 45 hp. Your GS500E made 52 at the crank. So the 883 motor is almost exactly as much power as that GS, but with 100 extra pounds, worse brakes, way worse suspension, less ground clearance, much more expensive parts, and it costs 2x as much. But it looks good.The 883 is known as the "chick" harley, which is somewhat unfair, but only somewhat. It's probably 85% mechanically the same as it was when it came out in 1958 - they've rubber-mounted the motor now and it's fuel injected, but the bones are the same - and that carries some pluses and minuses.

On the plus side, it looks classic because it is a classic. It will never be outdated. Evel fucking Knievel rode a sportster (though it wasn't no damned stock 883). It is somewhat affordable for a harley, and if you have been infected with Harleyitis (you may not be) then nothing else will cut it.

On the down side, it handles and performs preeeeetty much like a bike from the late 50's (suspension and brakes are better but nothing in the same universe as modern performance bikes), and it sucks to pay a 30% markup premium and get that in return. It won't do highway miles very happily. It will impress chicks but not bike people -- they will all know it for what it is (the "chick" harley)... that may or may not matter to you.


In conclusion: I think you can do better. That Iron Sportster is manufactured "cool." Take a speedmaster or a bonnie black or a thruxton, do some research, buy a couple of good parts (bars, mirrors, pipes) and make it something gorgeous.

oh, that bonneville will be mine one day soon.

you're helping me more than you know dude. blogs are bookmarked. great stuff from a quick look. will dig in this evening.

yeah, the more i'm reading about the Speed Master, the more i'm digging it. i'm going to try and check out some Triumph bikes at dealers next week. i've got plenty of time to research the hell out of this.

also, yeah, the 883 is beautiful. really love the way it looks, but those will only go so far. i want a classic style, but with a decent amount of power and comfort.

can you post some pics of bonneville's?

I am perpetually 49/51% on selling mine for peanuts and buying one instead. One stiff breeze is about all it would take. But then I remember all the good times, all the aftermarket parts I'd never get money for, how I have all the maintenance shit memorized... sigh.

do bears shit in the woods?

(Posted mostly to show how much difference an aftermarket alloy tank can make. They're about $700.)

Black rims, different rubber, bobbed fenders, exhaust out one side, different seat. Again, just to give ideas of what you can do... The motor here is stock, everything is bolt-on.

I'm know biker guy, but that one is cool

This is a Bonneville America, one of the cruiser versions (like the speedmaster) of the basic Bonnie platform / motor. The seat section is new, the pipes are aftermarket (and likely loud as fuck), and those tall bars are called "ape hangers."

Speaking of sound, here's a comparison of stock pipes and popular aftermarket pipes from British Customs. This is on a Thruxton, which is the cafe racer version of that platform. Skip to 1:25. Nice meaty growl without pissing off the neighbors.

Video

Oh shit, perfect, here's a british bike mag video comparing the speedmaster, the sportster iron, and a 900cc kawi cruiser.

Here.

this just looks ridiculously cool.

will check that youtube tonight dude, thanks.

So that general style is "board tracker." Retro firestone tires, next-to-no fenders, high pipes, long thin flat seat.

PS - if Harley really had designer chops and the balls to do it, this is more or less what the sportster Iron would look like (courtesy of the Wrench Monkees)

This started off as a sportster...