Iron 883

[thisisbenji]

Just ran across this, makes me really want a cruiser. This thing is beautiful.

[ForceofWill]

I like the 48 better

[dburgess1231]

These are badass. I want the blue one. $8k though.

[thisisbenji]

Same but the 48 is over 10k. 8k isn't so bad.

I wonder how commuting would be on one of these.

[ForceofWill]

I wouldn't think it is more comfortable than the ninja stock. Hope you have tough skin though. You think getting ridiculed for the 250 is bad. Hang out with cruiser guys with your 883 :P

[thisisbenji]

Haha, yeah. My girlfriend saw the yellow 48 in a parking lot the other day and is in love with it.

But, the 883 is pretty much the 250 of the cruiser world huh?

[ForceofWill]

Yea the 883 is considered the girl bike. 48 is the same but with 1200 and fatter front tire I think. Cruiser culture is weird, even the 1200 is small to most of them. I had a buddy get joked on for showing up with a 1200 lol.

[dburgess1231]

I would ride the hell out of an 883 and not care what people think

[checho323]

That's my next bike....felt in love when I first saw it at the dealer

[dburgess1231]

Originally Posted by checho323

That's my next bike....felt in love when I first saw it at the dealer

+1 but it wasn't at the dealer, it was at the motorcycle show here in CLE.

[sombo]

Originally Posted by ForceofWill

I wouldn't think it is more comfortable than the ninja stock. Hope you have tough skin though. You think getting ridiculed for the 250 is bad. Hang out with cruiser guys with your 883 :P

Actually I do hang out with the cruiser guys on my 883 and so far the only people to call the 883 a girls bike are people on here. Most actually complement on mine on the color and how great it looks. Then they say it's a great bike, you'll love it, the fuel economy must be great, you'll probably have that for a long while, and most of all..... 2 wheels is 2 wheels seems more prominent in the cruiser world than in the sport bike world.

As for commuting on one, the iron is a little more aggressive of a seating posture with a further reach to the handlebars. Also the seat is mediocre and doesn't last in comfort for long for most people. The Superlow that I got has longer handlebars that reach back further reducing the reach, has a more cushioned seat for longer riding, and has the 4.5 gallon tank for extra range compared to the 3.3 gallon tank of the iron. As for mileage, well just look at my signature.

[thisisbenji]

Ever since I saw the 48 I'v thought they're pretty sweet. I'm usually not a big fan of cruisers because of the huge size and high handlebars, but this bike kind of does away with that.

The super low seems like a nice bike, but it's not really my style.

There doesn't seem to be any Iron or 48s on craigslist though.

[sombo]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

Ever since I saw the 48 I'v thought they're pretty sweet. I'm usually not a big fan of cruisers because of the huge size and high handlebars, but this bike kind of does away with that.

The super low seems like a nice bike, but it's not really my style.

That's why there are several different styles and nearly infinite ways to customize them. And if you don't like the alternate stuff offered by HD, there's thousands of aftermarket brands to search through for stuff on these bikes. Every time I think I found what I want, I find more stuff to compare to.

[pjed]

I think that flat black Iron 883 looks awesome. I'd be a little concerned with the right side dragging when leaned over. Read some reviews of these newer Harleys and that was the main complaint. I'd still ride one for sure...very cool.

[sombo]

Yah, leaning is not their specialty. They have a lean angle of like 24.
On the bright side, the pegs do actually scrape first....... learned this one already lol. However, they transition from side to side super fast allowing you to zip through traffic fast enough to keep up with sport bikes through traffic.

[thisisbenji]

I'm more into just cruising anyways. That being said, if I got one I think I'd keep the 250.

Originally Posted by sombo

That's why there are several different styles and nearly infinite ways to customize them.

Good point, looks like I would want to get a new one then.

[Gregg_VA]

The 883 engine to cruisers would be akin to the Ninjette engine in the sports bike realm. The 883 is anaemic and the gas tank is so small you will be stopping for gas quite often. I guess if you were just looking to bar hop, a common phenomenon in the HD community I'm told, it would be a good bike. Also, like all other Harleys the ride will be quite smooth when the bike is in the back of a pickup bed or on a trailer. Good thing, because the 883 will beat your body up and the 1200 is no better.

As far as the 883 being called a girl's bike, I have heard that for years from the cruiser community - most often from HD riders themselves when they see a guy on a 883 Sportster, or as it is sarcastically called - a "Skirtster".

[Gregg_VA]

Aside from my thoughts on the 883 as a machine that should/should not be ridden, I must say that HD continues to confuse me. Here you have a blacked out bike, which seems to be the upcoming thing with the Harley riders wanting that flat black, non bling look. From that perspective that bike looks the part but then they put chrome pipes as stock?!? That makes no sense. HD sells black pipes, why not use them?

[dburgess1231]

Originally Posted by Gregg_VA

Aside from my thoughts on the 883 as a machine that should/should not be ridden, I must say that HD continues to confuse me. Here you have a blacked out bike, which seems to be the upcoming thing with the Harley riders wanting that flat black, non bling look. From that perspective that bike looks the part but then they put chrome pipes as stock?!? That makes no sense. HD sells black pipes, why not use them?

The chrome pipes accent the rest of the chrome. I think it would be too much if the pipes were black too and I love flat black an i feel this way.

[thisisbenji]

Harley Davidson Iron 883 by ratz 2, on Flickr

[dburgess1231]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

Harley Davidson Iron 883 by ratz 2, on Flickr

I stand corrected. Black is badass ha

[Mountain Dew]

Originally Posted by ForceofWill

Yea the 883 is considered the girl bike. 48 is the same but with 1200 and fatter front tire I think. Cruiser culture is weird, even the 1200 is small to most of them. I had a buddy get joked on for showing up with a 1200 lol.

It's because there's five different categories of harleys.

Touring: The big dressers, road king, road glide, electra glide.

Softail: The traditional one, with the hidden rear suspension.

Dyna: Another one of the traditional big twins. Not quite sure how to describe it, but it's an acceptable form of HD.

Then there's the two that they don't really like: Sportster, and VRSC (being V-Rod and Night Rod). I'm still not really sure why they don't like them..

[dburgess1231]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

It's because there's five different categories of harleys.

Touring: The big dressers, road king, road glide, electra glide.

Softail: The traditional one, with the hidden rear suspension.

Dyna: Another one of the traditional big twins. Not quite sure how to describe it, but it's an acceptable form of HD.

Then there's the two that they don't really like: Sportster, and VRSC (being V-Rod and Night Rod). I'm still not really sure why they don't like them..

because the vrod and nightrod are sportbikes (or sportier i should say. Not traditional HD)

[dburgess1231]

and they are awesome. haha

[kaiserz]

i love that bike too, That's the only cruiser I'm going to buy if i have the money.

[sombo]

I still have yet to find all these HD riders that supposedly hate the Sportsters. All of the cruiser and HD riders I've come across love them. The only people giving me s*** about it being a "girls" bike are all 100% on ninjette.

Also, the bike will NOT beat you up. I have no idea where you get that idea. The 900 and 950 metric cruisers are not really any smoother, have less power, and lower fuel economy. Also the Superlow has a 4.5 gallon tank which you can also get on the Iron as an accessory. So if you don't like the 3.3 gallon "peanut" tank, just upgrade to the 4.5 gallon "walnut" tank and be good for over 140 miles before you get the low fuel light on (comes on at 1 gallon left in the 4.5 gallon tank).

The old notions of HD about being harsh, non-efficient, prone to break down are long gone. They get better gas mileage than the metrics, have just as smooth of a ride as the metrics, and get the same or more power using smaller motors than the metrics. I've done a lot of test riding over the last few weeks and most of it was on cruisers from both Japan and the US. I'm sorry to say this, but the metrics from Japan are now playing catch up with HD in terms of quality, fuel efficiency, and comfort. Also some of them actually had more vibration than the HD's they are competing against.

[Jono]

Since we are all talking about Harley's....

Why do Harley riders blip the throttle every couple of seconds while sitting at red lights?

It is annoying as sh**!!!!

I don't see an other type of motorcyclist do this. It is always the cruiser folks. I don't get it.

[pjed]

Originally Posted by Jono

Since we are all talking about Harley's....

Why do Harley riders blip the throttle every couple of seconds while sitting at red lights?

It is annoying as sh**!!!!

I don't see an other type of motorcyclist do this. It is always the cruiser folks. I don't get it.

Haven't you seen that South Park episode?

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by dburgess1231

I stand corrected. Black is badass ha

I heartily concur. Black pipes really dressed your bike up and achieves the look that HD should go for on a stock bike. Well done....

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

It's because there's five different categories of harleys.

Don't forget dirt. HD has posted some significant accomplishments on the flat dirt track.

Traditional HD riders don't like air-cooled engines. Too much like metric bikes for them. If you want to see the real bias played out, look at the rules for the Hoka-Hey (at least the inaugural run two years ago). This event, NOT sponsored or endorsed by HD (at that time, not sure about now), specifically stated that the bikes had to be HD and the engines had to be air cooled. So the V-Rod was out.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by pjed

Haven't you seen that South Park episode?

Nope. Off to the youtubes.

Link to original page on YouTube.



LOVE IT!!!

[Xoulrath]

Originally Posted by sombo

Yah, leaning is not their specialty. They have a lean angle of like 24.

The Iron 883 is 30/29, according to Harley. Your SuperLow has the penalty of being, well, super low. Just saying.

[sombo]

Originally Posted by Xoulrath

The Iron 883 is 30/29, according to Harley. Your SuperLow has the penalty of being, well, super low. Just saying.

Hehehe, yah, sorry was using the Superlow's numbers there instead of the Iron's, my bad. I do plan on getting 13" shocks from Progressive springs (stock is 11.5" on the Superlow).


I also don't get that whole blipping the the throttle at stop lights. Only thing I can figure is one of two things: either they are a typical poser thinking they are totally badass and cool doing it, or they have the carbs so tweaked that they need to do that to keep it from stalling lol. I don't see it done on the newer EFI bikes which is why I am guessing about the carb thing.