Sportster Iron 883 Review After 1 Year of Ownership
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- Опубліковано 17 чер 2024
- Are you planning to buy a Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883? Well watch this 1 year 5000+ miles Sportster owner review before you pull the trigger because I explain the pros and cons of my 2020 Sportster Iron 883 that you should know! This 2020 Sportster Iron Review is actually a part 2 review of the Harley Iron 883 or the XL883N because I already did an initial review of the motorcycle after owning it for about 3 months. But that motorcycle review included mostly the reasons why I chose and purchased the Iron 883 and few initial ownership reviews of the sportster. This time around, I have ridden all the sportsters including Iron 1200, Sportster 48, and the 1200 Roadster. As well, I have ridden most of the Softails with the Milwaukee 8 engine, the Livewire, Pan America, and even the Ducati Monsters! What are the sporster flaws? how does sportster compare to softail? what are the easy custom mods for sportster? is the sportster fuel tank too small? all will be answered if you watch! Use this as a sportster buying guide!
#sportster #harleydavidson #iron883 #motorcyclereview
Chapters:
00:00 2020 Sportster Iron 883 Review
00:36 Sportster vs Softail
01:33 What I like about my Harley Sportster Iron 883
04:00 Can a tall rider ride Iron 883? Can a short rider ride Iron 883?
05:07 Easy Custom Mods for Sportster Iron 883
06:33 What I dislike about my Harley Sportster Iron 883
10:19 Sportster Fuel Tank Too Small?
11:17 Sportster Iron 883 First Ride
16:38 Rust on my Harley Motorcycle!!
18:20 Recommendation of Sportster Iron 883
Motorcycle: 2020 Harley Sportster Iron 883
Instagram: KS_MOTO_CAFE / ks_moto_cafe
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Thanks for watching my 1 year review of my bike! Be sure to leave your impressions of either the review or your own experience with the Iron 883!
YUP I have heard the Sporty called the gurlz bike, well I think it would have to be in pink?
but even if it was, I'd ride it and say my bike is in for maint. B'sides the breeze onya
kneez doesn't care what color the bike. Also being 31 yrs old maybe a bit old school?
and maybe needs a bit more work at times, I get to really know the bike.
Thanks for the Review on your Iron 883 😎👍
Have had my ‘17 Iron for a year now, bought it 2nd hand.
Finally changed the Seat (big difference)
and I’ll be installing some mini Ape Hangers and forward controls in the near future.
Thanks again for the great Content!
Regards from South Africa 🤘
amazing! thanks for the support!
Just bought my 2022 iron 883 yesterday. I don't have a lick of experience. This video was so informative and helpful to me. I really appreciate it! A bit disappointing to hear about the rust issue. I come from New England and we tend to get a decent amount of rain and humidity in the summertime, so I will definitely be on the lookout for the rust. Cheers man, and happy riding!
Congrats on your new bike!! Yeah it is a great bike to start on and to keep. Rust is inevitable on a Harley (it is either this or more plastic!). With that said enjoy the bike and don't get swindled to upgrade so quickly!
Hope all well
How is using it so far ?
Best review I have seen about this bike!
thanks! two year review is currently in the works :)
Thank you for posting this. Rust is a common issue where I'm at which is about 11 km from the beach here in Karachi, PK. We get little to no rain each year (literally just 1-3 days of intermittent rain, rarely more), but its the unusually high salinity of the sea wind that blows inland which corrodes the exposed iron/metal components or surfaces. I own a Yamaha right now but i aspire to own the 883 or the 1200 one day because HD is extremely expensive here. Watching this video, i felt good - the weather is gorgeous, the roads are nice and slow-riding the little urban area really added depth to the storytelling. I've watched 100s of reviews, this is one of those where the speech pace matched the speed of the bike. Both were cruising, lol
Wow! Thank you for a wonderful feedback!! I hope you end up finding a Sportster at a cheap price!
@2arroW did you end up getting an 883? I’m looking for one too and I’m from Khi too
Fantastic review of a MC, aka 883 HD. Cool castle in the background.
New rider here 🙋🏻♂️ bought a Sportster yesterday and really enjoyed listening to your video here, thanks 👍🏻
Congrats! And thank you - I started this channel only 2 months after learning how to ride so you may find some gems in my past videos! 🤟cheers
Got my new iron last week
nice congrats to you too!
THANKS FOR YOUR REVIEW!
I also bought a 883 back in 2020. I absolutely LOVE this motorcycle. It is everything I love about a motorcycle, the rumbling sound, the open front with no fairings, good riding position and good looks.
Every time I’m riding this bike, I get comments from random people saying “Nice bike”. It is an eye catcher.
no problem! go check out my 2nd year review to see of you share the same outlook of the Iron!
I have a 2013 that I turned to a chopper.
Any one want to buy HD 2021 just 600 miles. I
@SonTran-xm5wb does it handle the freeway well ?
@@kevincraig8257 great
Great in-depth details. Nice one
Thank you! Glad you found it informative!
ah....I miss my sportster lol. Even the things I used to dislike about it, now I kinda find it endearing.
hehehe although I still have mine, I think I know what you are feeling. It is like a craving a greasy dish from College - you know it will hurt the next day but you want it 🤣
This is why you don’t sell your Sportster. Save up and get a second bike.
@@aucklandsadventures This. Exactly THIS. NEVER sell your Sporty. You'll regret it!
Like what they say about an old pick up truck you always regret selling it lol
Great video I just bought mine a 2020 883 sports on October of 2021
nice! hope you get some mods on em
Love your videos! Sold my 2020 street bob and bought another iron I missed it that much!
whoa what!!? I need more info on your side of this pls - what about the FXSB that made you want to go back to the Iron??
Fxbb, 107 not the 114
It was just too big and I didn’t do highway stuff just ride around town. I figure in time the sportsters will only go up in price now they have cut them off in Australia 🇦🇺
I previously owned a 2016 iron and regretted selling it! I was only trying to keep up with my own opinion of my self ( oh the sportster is a girls bike) 🤦🏻♂️
@@_S.E.J_ I definitely see the sportster price going up in a few years (especially the ones in good condition). It's cool that you picked up the sporty once again! Makes me feel stronger about keeping mine 🤟
Great review, thank you!! I'm currently taking my motorcycle training course and I'm seriously considering getting one of these. There are plenty of low mileage ones on the market so they're not hard to get. People are telling me that I should get something bigger as I'll probably only have this for a year until I want something bigger. For me though, I don't want to overwhelm myself in the beginning, lol. Wish I was riding where you are though because the roads here are very poor here (potholes) in eastern Ontario. So nice seeing you cruising around my old stomping ground 😊. Thanks again for posting such a great video. A little nervous about the tires now as I didn't know that issue before...
B4 I bought the 91 Sporty 1200 I had a Honda Scrambler 360, so that was an 840 c.c. jump,
even though it was like 40 yrs before. I did get a Wide glide, great for long hi-way rides, BUT
I kept the Sporty and I am glad I did, fixed her up new brakes, plugs rear lites wiring. . . a great
ride for back roads and main roads, still o.k. on the superslab.
i just got my first ever bike. Havent ride it yet but thanks so much for your video
Amazing! Congrats 🎉 what did you get?
Coming from an Iron 883, I definitely can agree with all of your points. Awesome video, keep it up!! Cheers
Glad I struck a common ground! What do you ride now?
@@KSMotoCafe Got a 2021 Softail slim earlier this year as well as a 2018 Heritage Classic 114 just in October :D But I miss the sportster tho, it's a fun bike to ride.
@@andreashaimerl6663 nice upgrades! does the heritage ride differently than the slim? I never tried a heritage
@@KSMotoCafe Mostly my wife rides the Heritage Classic, her channel is “Corinna in Canada” . both are softail models but the riding positions are sooo different! I don’t know which one I like more as they are both kind of unique and fun to ride!
@@andreashaimerl6663 lol omg I was just gonna mention to her that there is another viewer on my channel that has same bike combo as her. You guys have a really great channel and I am a fan!
Kris, did you consider saddlebags, l had them on my Sportster, they worked great. It is always smart to slow down no matter what tires are installed when riding on wet roads with leaves and debris, it doesn't take much for the back wheel to slid. I went on a road trip last year on my 883, the rest of the group were cruising at about 2400 rpm, l was running 4500 to 5000 just keep up. With my new (old) Heritage, no problem now. I still see you on a larger bike down the road, until then enjoy your Sportster.
I looked into a saddlebag set for the sporty but it would jeopardize the bobber / caferacer look and was too expensive. If I planned on long trips like you did, then yeah I probably would look at them more seriously or upgrade to a softail - your premonition is probably correct but I need to keep telling myself I don't need to upgrade haha
Awesome review!
thank you! More in depth analysis on my later videos for Battle of the Sportster series
Great review… thank you!
you are most welcome! be sure to catch the battle of the sportster series where I go in even more detail in comparison to all the other sportster models that I had the chance to ride and review
It always irritated me that they don't have fuel gauges on sportsters. Just a warning light. how hard is it to put a fuel gauge on? come on Harley.
lol me too
They do for $500 plus labor. Speedometer upgrade and tank float. I would rather had it from the factory that way. The extra money for the upgrade would be minimal added into the bike price.
I can recommend 'throw over' saddlebags. Very, very handy for a very reasonable price. They can look very good, to boot!
Excellent review.
thanks!
Really loving your channel. The Sportster S review was solid! What risers do you have on your Iron. I have a 2019 Iron 883 and looking for recommendations on either risers with pullback or new bars. Also, did you need longer cables for your risers?
Yay! I bought a used HD 4 inch riser that is just a straight bar. Any taller than 4" I would need longer cables but for mine, I just used the original wiring. Just from the angle of how the risers attach to the forks, it already gives you a good pull back. I would highly recommend it for those wanting to ride slightly more up right and have the handlebar closer to the body. I thought about getting a Z Bar from Amazon but the riser was readily available on the used market 😅. Let me know if want more specifics!
Nice work with putting a Roadster seat on it. That’s my favorite Harley seat and I didn’t know it could fit the 883. Did you need to make any modifications to fit it?
It's a nice bike. I'm not a fan of group riding either. Bit of a lone wolf when it comes to that.
Yeah I am with you - being a lone wolf on the road with your bike is when I fee the most free from catering to other people's choices. I have enough stuff in my life that I cater to those who I love or work for 😑. Thanks for leaving a comment!
I appreciate your comments. I learned from you and reading the comments. I'm nearly 80 and want to do one last around-the-USA before I die. At age 9, a neighbor (Borger, TXS) of my Uncle gave me a ride on his Electra Glide. That is the only time I was within 50 yds of a HD. I always considered HDs to be over priced and over weight. My engine-bike riding started with a 1955 Cushman Eagle and went thru British bikes from there. I still have my '78 1100Xs Yamaha. Needs rebuild as I had cardiac problems in '86 and parked it. Now one last effort and I have began to look at HDS We'll see.
what a background ! So cool that you are doing this in your 80s sir - keep me posted on your adventures!
Am new sub and great video and pretty much agree with you on 883 being a great bike with a few small mods.....Now that Harley does not make the 883 will become a classic in a few years(hold on to your Sportster like myself) stay safe bro.
thank you for your insight! glad to hear another 883 holder here :) I am about to film my year 3 review and boy my thoughts have changed a lot over the years of this bike but more so as a more experienced rider!
Stator, a steel laminated core upon which coils of magnet wire are wound, used to furnish power
to charge the bike's battery and keep electrics working. the engine's flywheel has magnets in it and spin
over the poles of the stator, inducing voltage, depending on the number of turns of wire and the amps
being determined by the size of the wire.
I guess it might just be me, but I do think it a fine idea if enyone riding a motorcycle
has a good idea of the various part of the engine and bike. in short knowing their ride
and knowing how all parts come together to keep the knees in the breeze, and a
better understanding of what to do if something happens along the road, YUP I have
been there, When i bopught that Sporty, she still had the fly-weights with electronic
ignition to advance the timing, so I am roling along in Sarasota FL and that came to
a stop when the fly-weights messed up due to not being greased, I had just bought the bike so I was learnin the hard way about maintenance !
Love the review I want one
thank you! it is a fun bike! Be sure to watch the recently completed second year review!
I'm surprised by what you said about rust. It must be related to your area. I live near the great lakes, been driving my '09 XL1200C since new, so that's 13 seasons now, and there's not a spec of rust on it anywhere. For saddlebags, I use quick-detach locking rigid saddlebags from Hardstreet. They have lots of room and are available in glossy and matte finishes. I like them because they are waterproof and can handle some cargo weight and they go on and off easily. I put mounting turrets onto my garage wall so when I take the bags off the bike, they hang on the wall. I typically only run with one bag, on the left side, just to carry my lunch bag, gloves, etc. on my daily trip to work. Running with no bag on the right is just to show off the prettier side of the bike.
Location definitely plays a role since I live on the westcoast with the ocean on every corner of where I live and ride! Great point 👍; as for the hardbags, I will take a look! Last I checked they were pretty pricey - do you recommend HD product or third party bags?
Great videos! Can can you tell me what kind of jacket you’re wearing and gloves? I really like the visibility aspect of them.
it's this! ua-cam.com/video/4LvH6YOdI3c/v-deo.html
glad i stumbled across your channel awesome mate! question how tall are you? cheers!
thanks for the support! I am 5'10"
I have Avon Cobra tyres on my 883. Excellent in all conditions.
thanks for the suggestion!
Avon Cobra Chrome tyres are great aftermarket replacements for the Iron 883, they are extremely grippy and last a long time. I replaced the stock brake lines on my Iron 883 with braided stainless steel lines, they do away with that spongy feeling.
thanks for the recommendation!
Should always get a brake bleed every 2 years or after winter is spongy should check the % if 3% needs to be flushed and changed and 2 might as well be prepared to change it or just change it.
Hi Mate
Put Avon Cobra Chromes on her and she will be transformed in the grip department!
If you can afford to keep it as no longer made and unavailable new anymore.
Luggage is possible with either H-D bags or Viking bags and putting the rear light on the rear fender.
So it looks like they will continue to make the evo sportster next year (in North America only). I just saw a listing for 2022 Iron 883. But I agree about keeping it if I can afford to! I heard good things about Viking bags - I will check em out :)
Buddy what with that castle behind you? I've been to Victoria a few times never seen something so fantastic bud! Been to the Craigdarroch castle but that beautiful man! On a side note what pants are those? Keep it up man like the videos
Royal Roads University (Hatley Castle) - it is where they filmed X-men for Prof X mansion
@@KSMotoCafe oh right on!
Have been looking at reviews of the Indian Scout Bobber 20 as I love the look and the engine's 100 HP. Now I'm considering the Iron 883, it look's great and I love the exhaust rumble. What worries me is the performance. You mentioned running at 5,000 RPM just to keep-up with your friend's bikes. What are your RPM's when riding at 100/110 KMH? I checked out the new Harley Nightster but can't stand the sound of the exhaust.
So I hope you watch my 2nd year review and the Nightster review to compare but on my iron 883, I can go on 5th gear at 4500-5000rpm to reach 130-140kph but it gets a bit wobbly. I can hold 120 relatively easily at around 4500. With that said, if you didnt like the sound of the nightster, you wont like the sound of the indian scout (sounds the same as the new Hd revolution max bikes).
Hi，I owned a 2020 Iron 883N and I shared the same feeling about the tank and milage. The light is on when I reach +/- 160 KM. Two things I noticed about the milage is there exists a gap between ODO and my GPS (I tested readings on a 200-KM road trip with my friend). #1: I have larger reading on my GPS than it has on my ODO for the road trip, approximately 10KM more on GPS.
#2: on the same trip riding with my friend (also 883N), his 883 showed 170KM while I read 153KM on my ODO.
We took two bikes back to Harley Dealer and asked why there are different readings on two 883N. Well, the best answer we get is "No Harley is the same in the world."
@@nfan883 lol what a typical answer 😂. I will look at the accuracy of the mileage on my bike now that you mentioned it!
@@KSMotoCafe My 2018 Sport Glide reads 7% more mileage that what Google Maps shows, on any given trip, exact same route.
Vancouver Island, cool.😎 It seems Canadians are in the metric/imperial dilemma as lots of us in the UK. We travel in miles but buy fuel in litres and various other mix and match measures. My favourite is you tube reviewers saying something along the lines of the seat height is 760 mm and I'm 6'1" tall.
lol you got that right! I am accustomed to short lengths and weights in imperial but speed, long distances, and prescribed drugs in metric lol
@@KSMotoCafe I have relations in Winnipeg so I'm used to listening to the hop from one to the other.
I just bought a 2022 with 40 miles today, I am so happy.
hell yeah brother! enjoy her :)
Hello KS MotoCafe, I really like my 91 XLH1200, still not too crazy bout hi-ways. I do have
forwards and they are very nice, I am sticking to main roads though, any road that has a
route# but not hi-ways like 95, 195, 495, 295 you know, main arteries or superslabs, besides
I am not in a hurry when I ride, more to just check out areas I have not been to. I had some
engine work done by a gear wrencher, Mike Ellis at ThunderBay in Tampa. Basically he said
"If you want to go north say Goergia, ur better off going up 301, varying speeds and not
likely to go above 60 mph."
that is awesome! thanks for sharing
We'll miss these little strokers when they're gone. But there are plenty on the market. XL's ferever!
I’ve had everything and 883 iron is My favorite
what is your second fav
The low fuel light is extremely over cautious. You'd likely see an additional 30-40km of use after the low fuel light. I'm not sure if the 2020 has a manual or automatic reserve fuel switch but you should have a decent amount of fuel left over.
that is my thought as well but I have yet to do ride my bike to absolute zero to get a true mileage from a full tank so I pussy out early hahah. My 2020 is auto reserve
100% agree that you have much more when the light comes on. According to the service manual, when it comes one you have a gallon left. which should give you about 45 miles (72km) depending on your riding style. The furthest I've gone on my heavily modified Iron was 145 miles (233km) when I was in the middle-of-nowhere New Mexico in 2018. Given my typical 43-45 MPGs, I probably had about 10-15 miles (16-24km) left.
@@GreatEgret did you carry around a bottle of fuel for emergency when you went on trips likes that?
@@KSMotoCafe This was on my Route 66 trip. Before leaving Wisconsin, I bought a one-gallon fuel container. The only time I used it was when I helped out a family that ran out of fuel near Gallop, NM. I ended up just giving them the container and never carried another. Episode 16 of the series: ua-cam.com/video/ezjj9T11esU/v-deo.html.
Nicely done.
Thanks Cris!
It would be nice if long term owner reviews came from the southwest where a lot of the machine can be tested without degrading it like rust.
good news is my second year review is coming up and rust hasn't spread any further
Just came across your channel. This is a great video and plan to go back and watch others. I've been riding for many years and am considering this as my second bike. Does the 883 have issues with oil getting out and all over the bike and your clothes? I hear different things from different owners there.
Thanks for watching! As for the oil leak for sportsters, the older models (pre 2014 I believe) had those issues. If you get newer models, they have fixed that issue. and my bike (2020) has not leaked any oil 😊
@@KSMotoCafe thanks for the quick reply. That oil issue was about the last thing standing between me and a purchase. Now I gotta go ride one and see.
That’s only when the oil tank is over filled and there’s too much oil in the engine
I’ve never ridden but I think I’m gonna get an 883 as my first!
it is a great choice! I am approaching 2 years riding it and I am still content with the bike as I keep learning how to mod it as DIY!
I got a R6 for my 1st bike, definitely alot of power for a beginner bike. I think I may get one of these 883s for casual riding. I sold my R6 a few years ago.
I've never owned a harley because of my riding priorities but I've always appreciated the brand. The rust comment is really disappointing. I owned a ninja 650 for seven years most of which it was stored outdoors and riden year round and it never had any rust. Certainly that bike didn't have the character of the harley.
Yeah, the experience of riding/owning a Harley is a hit or a miss for each rider. If you expect a european/japanese efficiency or performance, you will hate it. If you value the rugged, raw machine, customization, hertiage, and DIY work, you may end up being a HD fan for life
Is there a lot of salt on the roads where you live?
they dont use salt for our roads here but i live on the coast that has salt residue from the ocean.
Rain and wet leaves are slippery for any bike lol!. Also never had a speed wobble on my 2002 883 custom, do agree with the front brake not being that good but the rear is epic!. My bike is also on carbs as well as being about 50 lbs lighter. Good review though!.
Use of the rear brake is to be avoided in my estimation.
I found the twin slash runs better with the quiet baffles on, keeps the low end torque.
I also have the same impression but I thought it was all in my head. But yeah I no longer have deceleration pop and the sound is better
All Harleys need that extra little bit of back pressure to make the low end torque at lower and mid rpms, where we almost always ride, 99.5% of the miles we travel.
I changed the rear shocks on my 883. they are 2 inches lower, than stock. I had to get a shorter kick stand. have forward controls. it's like sitting in a lounger, and just cruse the country side.
A heavy bike with crap brakes isn't an ideal combination. Neither is an uneconomical bike with a small fuel tank, in fact it's amazing people buy these bikes at all, BUT they look cool and sound awesome which is a lot of what people buy a motorcycle for. I've yet to own a Harley, but I've ridden a Sportster and they're great bikes!
haha yeah it is hard to defend this bike from a practical sense but I love it!
nice review... really. I learned to ride on Solftail slim 107. Then had fatboy . Then road king and now Souped up road glide 114 with 7k worth of mods. I really want a sportster though probably the 1200 with exhaust and suspention mods just as a fun bike. Riding 900 lbs touring bike for a while now sitting even on 700 lbs softail feels like a toy. I cant imagine how 550 lbs sportster would feel. probably exactly as I want to ... a motorized bicycle lol
Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah if you started out on the softails and now on a roadglide - the sportsters will be very underwhelming and very toy like. If you like making custom bikes, it is a different story. But trying to get a sportster to the comfort and performance close to a softail will be a huge money pit!
@@KSMotoCafe all Harleys are money pit lol. I just want to sound of the evo motor and harley fun for relatively cheap from the sportster. I AM worried about the suspension little bit though . Even stock M8 softail suspension felt pretty and harsh bad to me but then again I’d only ride the sportster like 50 miles at the time probably at most
@@jiripastrnak1936 so true 😂! Yeah there are no other bikes out there that sounds as good as the evo sporty, thats for sure. The dyna twin cam comes close. As for suspension, the progressive suspensions seem to work for most sportsters but not sure if it would be as comfortable as a softail
I want a roadster seat on my iron 883! Do you have to get it from the dealership?
Also, you should put a high flow breather (I have the 587 from DK customs) external breather bolts or a catch can, and I skipped the expensive tuner and went with these xl-vied devices from DK that plug inline with the O2 sensors and regulate the air/fuel mixture and cost far less than a tuner and don’t void your warranty either!😉 Made a huge, HUGE, difference in the performance of my bike! I could never go back to stock now!
You can definitely order it from a dealership for a premium price (which for what it is worth, I wouldn't). If you get lucky in your area there will be one popping up as a used stock seat sale for a bargain because most roadster riders will upgrade their seat anyways. I will look into the breather combo that doesnt void warranty!
The only reason I ride a Sportster (2006 1200L) is for the shake and the sound. Other than that there is no reason to get one. The Sportster is a way to get the Harley experience on a budget. I would never consider buying a new one. I have bought a lot of new bikes in the past, and gotten ripped off big time on all of them. They were all Japanese. You get ripped off even more with a Harley. I got my Sportster in 2018, with 7900 miles, in near new condition, for $4200 cash, from a private seller. It has a lot of chrome and shiny paint, which is what I like. Not a fan of YABOBS (Yet Another Blacked Out Bike) It came with a clamp on H-D windshield, which I sold, a backrest, hard leather saddlebags with easy brackets, which go on and come off with a key, leaving nothing but the little docking posts on the bike. It came with floorboards, which I immediately swapped out for pegs. It also came with beautiful sounding chrome slip ons. The one bad thing about it was it had about 20 of those horrible Willie G skulls all over it. I got rid of all of them. Some just came off, but I had to buy some expensive parts like the mirrors, gas cap, derby cover, and timing cover to get rid of them all. I've been riding it for 4 years and absolutely love it. It is so much more fun than any Japanese bike because of that wonderful engine. Mine is carbureted, I have no desire to ride a computer cycle.
A Sportster is NOT a general purpose motorcycle. It is for those who want to ride that type of motorcycle. On the other hand, a crotch rocket is absolutely not a general purpose motorcycle. I have never owned one and never will. The last bike that I owned that could be called a general purpose motorcycle was my 1993 Honda Nighthawk 750. It sort of did everything. But it was just too smooth and too quiet. I like vibration and I like noise. And nothing does that better than a Harley EVO. I am currently looking for another Sportster because H-D is going to discontinue them. I have no interest in anything H-D makes today. I am NOT an H-D fan, I am a fan of the bikes they USED to make.
Nice review! I love the sound and shake of my evo sporty as well. I would even say it is the most authentic Harley experience out of all the bikes you can get as new since the new softails lost its rumble and shake when the milwaukee 8s came in
These are nice little bikes. But the thing to understand about them is this: ....
It is what it is. An 883 Sportster...
The worst thing to do, is to buy this bike and start "modding" it for performance. If you want a performance bike, don't buy a Sportster. In fact, don't buy any Harley if you want a performance bike! That's NOT what Harley's are about.
As far as Harley "upgrading their technology", which this new rider is in favor of, I couldn't disagree more. Harley has already all but ruined their line of motorcycles compromising with "modern" technology.
If you want high tech and performance, don't even look at a Harley Ultra Classic for example. Go and buy yourself a new Honda Goldwing. Performance wise, the Goldwing will run circles around Harley's best, Ultra Classic! BUT, if you want an old school, true motorcycle feel, shake rattle and roll with lots of chrome, go buy yourself that awesome Harley Ultra Classic full dresser...
One of the main problems today is Harley has become mainstream. Brand new riders with ZERO experience are buying Harleys as their first bike! Unheard of back in the day. Soccer mons buying and riding Harleys! Again, unheard of back in the day. Because of this, Harley has changed their bikes, toned them down, made them more rideable for new riders. And these people ONLY buy a Harley because of the name. And then after they buy one, they make foolish statements like, "I wish Harley would make their bikes higher tech, like the other brands".... 🙄🙄🙄
Anyone who says that, made a stupid mistake in buying a Harley.
It's all about what kind of riding you're going to be doing, and your experience level of riding.
People need to honestly answer those two questions BEFORE they ever start thinking about buying.
And do NOT just buy a Harley, because you think Harleys are "the best". Because their not. Japanese bikes are built very well, offer better performance, and will run a lot longer before causing you mechanical problems like a Harley will...
BUT, if you want an old school bike, and know that all Japanese bikes will outperform it and you don't care, because you want the nostalgia of a Harley? Even though you'll be unable to keep up with all the others when they accelerate down the road?
Then there you go... buy that Harley knowing what it is. Not with the intention of spending thousands of $$ on modifications and "upgrades", only to still have the slowest bike in the bunch.
I've been riding over 50 years, and have ridden and owned all types. From full dressers, Honda's and Harley's, to crotch rockets, Ninja's, to dozens of 2 stroke dirt bikes back in the day, to KTM 4 strokes.
It's all about WHAT you want to use the bike for. And WHAT kind of performance you're expecting to have with that bike. And lastly, your actual riding experience, which many idiots overlook, and those are the sad cases we usually shovel off the roadways.
So be smart about what you buy, by being informed and honest with yourself about your experience and capabilities, and how you will be using the bike...
Good luck!!
wow what a wonderful write-up! Though I don't agree with everything you have said, that's ok because most reviews are subjective anyways. Unfortunately for HD, the emission and noise standards are getting the best of the brand and the company is forced to change to become more like a metric bike brand. Their new sportster s, livewire, pan america is loaded with tech and is bringing in new customers while traditionalist stick to softails or used market. HD is going thru an identity crisis and it is unclear which direction HD will go next. Thanks again!
Do you like it over the 48?
2019 883 iron. Bike is awsome with. Vance and Hines genades. Drives can sureley hear you next to then.. but really loud
bro VH grenades are loud AF!
iron883 is it comfortable if the road is a bit rough?
We have same taste in motorcycle buddy
hell yeah 🤟
Adjusting preload on rear suspension will extend the comfort.
Great video, I test rode one yesterday and considering biting the bullet! My daily commute is only 2 miles from home to office, would this be a sensible option? I'm new to the bike world and don't want to damage the engine by doing short runs during the week. Thanks.
2miles is the distance if you take the short route - when you ride a motorcycle, you always take the long route 😅
@@KSMotoCafe haha that’s a very good point! I’ve just recently passed my test and have always fancied a Harley, my local dealer has one within my budget so really tempted. 😀
so you might want to watch my 2nd year review and one called "harley tax" to get the idea of the cost of a HD. Great bikes but it comes with a toll (if you fall for it). I am going with the DIY route where I am learning how to maintain, repair, and mod my bike
@@KSMotoCafe yeah I’m just making a cup of tea to watch your other videos 😀
Hello Mr. KS Moto Cafe, do you do ur own oil changes? service air filter check plugs. It is easy
and u can save some $$ I picked up from Harbour freight a nice 7 gal tank compressor and
made up a tank with hose as a portable so u can fill it from compressor and have air to go.
a multimeter is good so when u do maint. u can see how the charging system is and it could
give you an idea of what the regul8or is doing.
I have been going to the dealership for maintenance until my warranty is up. I plan on doing my own maintenance soon though
@@KSMotoCafe That is a good plan . . . that way they can't say you muffed it up,
However, if it is shown in the owners manual, it would make you think HD says it
is o.k. to do such maint.
@@raymondgarafano8604 you are right, you can do your maintenance under warranty but I didn't want to risk it
@@KSMotoCafe I don't blame you for that, apparently HD got in trouble with
fair trade commision or other gov. thing. that said. HD said for the longest time,
"Use only HD parts or warranty is voided. but if that same part from say DRAG
specialties is available, it is o.k. to use them. as it is I needed a new voltage regulator for my 91 Sporty and the one I got was from DRAG. No telling where
HD gets their stators from. I know they make them also but I would think they
might get them from other sources. As u probably know, the stator is the set of
woumd coils on a steel core under the magnetic flywheel that provide power to charge the bike's battery and run all electrics.
Bought my kid a 2022 last weekend
That is amazing!!! Great dad 😎- your kid will love it
Did the 4 inch riser require any cable or brake line changes?
nope all stock lines worked. There were some areas that were tight before I screwed the risers on to the bike
Can I ask how tall are you? I’ll be going to check out a 2022 in a few hours and was curious about the risers (bad lower back as well).
I am 5' 10" 190lbs. My bike reviews mostly include a side by side comparison shot of what I look like on each bike at the end.
@@KSMotoCafe Did you have to get longer cables? I believe you said you put on 4” risers? I’m 6’3” so I’m in need of something other than stock
luckily I was able to fit the 4" riser with stock lines. I heard 6" may be the max but after my experience installing the 4", I thinj 4 is the max
I brought an 89 883 sporty 1st Harley and it was for my son. Love riding. Been many years but never rode a Harley.
nice!
The rear tire slips because of the tire brand or because of the tire size that the 883 uses?
The tire.
This is good looking bike. I am confused between 883 and 48 🤔
Be sure to check out my recent Battle of the Sportster series for real detailed breakdown of each sporty! I just finished up the 883 and will do the 48 next
The 48 comes with 1200cc engine. It will looks better then the standard 883 in most people opinion(I love the stock 883 black in black colour)
The 48 will cost you more to buy.
If you buy an 883 it will comes with an 883cc engine not sure about the tank size it is slightly bigger I guess maybe not 🤣. It’s also cheaper to buy. If I was looking for an iron I would get the 883 or the normal sportster 1200 and just modify the way I wanted. I hope it helped you 🤙🏼
that video almost makes me miss my Iron 🙈🙈🙈
totally agree with the grip of the tires (or not there of 😂) as well as the lean angle 😂 scrapped these pegs so often 😁🙈💁♀️
First time I scrapped the peg i flinched so hard I almost ended up not making the turn haha! have you scrapped the pegs on the Slim?
@@KSMotoCafe Sounds familiar 😂 nope not yet and I was not going easy on her 🙈 neither with the heritage 🤩
Got a 2014 iron!
awesome! What mods have you got on it?
I love my 2021 snake venom.
that color is definitely 🔥 on the new iron
Ive just got a 2007 Suzuki M50, so slightly less capacity than the Iron 883, but liquid cooled, so similar power. And yeah, 120kph is comfortable cruising, more is pushing it, but it will do it, My courage has run out before the bike max speed 8) However, it is a very forgiving bike like the Iron, and the brakes, well, it has some, like the iron. However, it only cost my NZ$8000, so really cheap. 8) And they just don't make them like this any more, they simply aren't allowed to.
Any tire will slip on the wet leaves and stuff
I have HD 2021 , just 600 miles. Iron 883 ( for sale 9,000$.
2 years late, but man a sissy bar and forward controls changed my life
I just came across your video. Im considering buying a iron 883 im a little hesitant buying it because of its size.
welcome! how tall are you? also be sure to catch up with my recent 2nd year update review to see if this bike is good for longer term
@@KSMotoCafe im 5'10" i went and look at a 2022 iron 883. I really like it but i felt to big for it, i really like the street glide. I also look at a 600 gsxr
Hi dude. Recently I am riding a street 759. Will it be a wise decision to upgrade to iron 883?
no - if you have enjoyed the feel, sound, smoothness of the 750, then I would jump to Nightster 975 (the new revmax sportster). If you want more traditional harley upgrade, I would just move up to softails
@@KSMotoCafe Thanks. You are very right. Recently I took a test ride of 883 and found 750 is way smooth than this. Have a nice ride dude.
I love it
🤟😎
What harley model is that in 15:00?
Softail Slim: ua-cam.com/video/AAYRCF-0Lus/v-deo.html
No tire has much to offer against wet leaves or pine needles.
Take the useless little stubs off the foot pegs. One inch of rear shock travel is just dumb. It’s for looks to attract buyers who don’t knows any better. Get real shocks, probably 2 inches longer for a total of 3 inches of travel. You gain lots of cornering clearance, ride quality, safety in cornering, and better handling. Also, a bit wider bars take away all the top heavy feeling.
I am trying to get some progressive shocks on it but their inventory stock level is hurting right now
you really cant compare a crotch rocket to the iron 883 . the crotch rockets are made you lean were the 883 is more on the cruiser style .and the tire is also something that can be changed . I have been looking into the Iron 883 and they will tell you all that right there before you even get the bike lol . they told me they dont have that far of a lean and it dose have a smaller tank. and the tires are basic . I do really like the bike . they way it looks and feels . they also offer a saddle bag that goes on both sides .
Thanks for your points! Yes cruisers are generally lacking the lean angle compared to other bikes but there are cruisers with +30degree lean angles like the Roadster, Low Rider S, Fat Bob that are very fun to cut the curves with. If you like the details I put forward, watch my recent Battle of Sportster series to get more understanding where I am coming from for the Iron 883
Where did you get your seat?
it came up on fb marketplace! ua-cam.com/video/VmP2K7kLu6I/v-deo.html
Btw dude on the subject of your lower back pain, try stretching, it helped me a good bit
thx for the tip - I should be stretching more for sure. I just got my nerves burned so hopefully it helps with dealing with the chronic pain
Get the progressive 412. I waited so long to do it and man that first ride around the block with those 412s and it was magical. Now I realize how shitty the front is 🤣
haha I did! and here are my first impressions ua-cam.com/video/P3gRAHp_PKo/v-deo.html
@@KSMotoCafe just watched it! Awesome man I felt the exact same. I went with the 13 in shocks myself. Btw I subscribed 😉 gotta love the 883 content
@@883kodiak thanks for the support man!
Try the Michelin commander three for better traction on wet pavement
I love my 2022 iron 883.
right on buddy!!
@@KSMotoCafe I couldn't stand the stock sound so I took my stock mufflers off and cut about 5 inches off the end and removed the insides. I live in the states so most places is legal lol
@@iiviinstiinct3064 treat yourself and get a VH slip-ons or aftermarket exhaust
Not once did u talk about your height, weight and the ergonomics. That's a huge factor. Please provide more information on that, the controls and such. Otherwise great review.
you are right! i usually do that on my other reviews when I do the side by side comparison with my Iron but I guess I had assumed the viewers got tired hearing me say the same info over and over. I am 5'10" with 30" inseam!
@@KSMotoCafe that's what I was looking for. I keep looking at these bikes, I'm 6', not sure if it would work. But they are such nice bikes. Hard to walk away from them. Thanks for the info.
@@greasycanadianbiker yeah so you would probably fit better on the 1200 forty eight which comes with fwd controls as stock and it looks better since it has the slimmer gas tank but it is only 2.1G. So I suggest if you like the look of the Iron 883, just mod it with the fwd controls and you should feel comfortable. Thanks for coming by! I see you ride from the East Coast! I used to live there few years back - loved it. Cheers
@@KSMotoCafe Right on! Thanks!
No ABS? Is it necessary to have that feature for the 883????
Mine has ABS and it came handy few times
@@KSMotoCafe I was just at HD and was ready to buy an 883 and felt disappointed when I was told none of the bikes there had no abs…..
@@Randomvideos502 ah - yeah that's sportsters for you. ABS was added only recently. Most 883s don't have ABS; it isn't that great but I do feel that it saved me few times on a hard stop
It needs one more gear. But, even at 70mph it's has plenty left. Not supposed to go over 4k rpms on the new motor.
plenty left but takes a long time to get up to speed - which is my issue
@@KSMotoCafe I weigh 260 pounds and with me on it my son's new stock 883 jumped from 70 to 85 quick.
@@jeffomspaugh6691 I don't know what your definition of quick is but for me, when I hop on a Naked Sport Bike or a Softail, going from 70 to 85 is real quick - just a quick half throttle pull and I am at 85. With the Iron 883 stock, it takes a full throttle pull and a second or two slower than the other bikes to get to 85. But either way, it is what it is. I still love my Iron and your son chose right to get one
Everyone talking about the bike but look at the fkin castle in the back sheesh
lol yah its the castle filmed in X-Men as Prof X's mansion
I hate the stock Dunlop tires that Harley uses. I also find that they are very slippery.
agreed
Speed wobble at 75 MPH? These things are rocksteady to 105!
yeah it's been pretty consistent that my bike develops a slight speed wobble at 75-80mph mark. There are some fork stabilizers that I can buy that will eliminate it though.
@@KSMotoCafe you need to make sure your wheels are balanced
Do you still have the Sportster??
yup - theres two more reviews on my channel (1st year and 2nd year)
@KS Moto Cafe good deal. I have had a few and currently have a 2020 Roadster. Great bikes, like to see the Sportster content.
Rust. U keep your bike outside or do you ride on salty roads🤔
garage kept but I do live on the coast with the ocean
Ok, your reviews are amazing! You need to reach out to me. I have 2 bikes I would love for you to review. 1 is a beginner option and the other is an upgrade bike. I too have been riding only a year. Let me knowvif you are interested.
Thanks Jay! I definitely won't turn down an experience to ride another bike and share it :) But do you also live in the Victoria area? Send me a DM on IG (ks_moto_cafe) or email me at ksmotocafe@gmail.com!
How tall are you bro?
5'10"
This sporster is more than enough I dont understand the people who need a v16 with a 4000 cc engine to feel good on a motorcycle.