Total Motorcycle Community Forums

noodlenoggin wrote:To add my two cents to the OP's subject -- I would heartily NOT recommend getting a brand-new anything as your first bike. You are going to drop it, that's going to happen. It's not a bad thing, and everybody does it -- I did it, and I'm glad I did it on a bike that was already bunged up.

If you want your bike to be an 883 Sportster, fine and great -- just get a used one, and spend a bushel less cash on the bike you're going to drop.

That's my opinion...worth the paper it's written on...

+1

I'm coming up on my first year anniversary of riding in June - I found a used Suz Volusia vl800 (currently called the c50) for just under $3k. Hondas hold value VERY well, and the shadows are excellent as well. use craig's list or if you don't know about (or have someone that know's about) bikes to check out the one you are thinking of, you can always (gulp) buy a used one from a dealer.

but I TOTALLY agree on used first - I've learned a TON of stuff with my bike - even having someone back over it in a parking lot - and the fact that it was a little bit banged up to start with and affordable helped significantly.

a lot of people say here, "it's your first bike - it's NOT your last one" good advice in my book

have fun and ride safe whatever you decide!

man5 wrote:Well it's either 833 Low or Iron 833, which is 3 inches higher for the seat and the price difference is around a grand. Any other differences between 833 Low and 833? I don't want to jump right into big bikes yet. If I jump into 1200 XL series, it's couple more grands on top and even the dealer told me to stay under 1000 as a beginner. The thing is, I'm not going to be making really long trips. The farthest I may travel is around 200 km one way. I'm still a young guy and I can't afford to buy Fat boy/bob or any other big expensive bikes that cost twice as much as Sportsters.

Here is a pic of my Iron 883 (first bike), love it.



I did a few updates. Black V&H Shortshots, Stage 1 SE, remapped by dealer. Blacked out highway pegs, relocated turn signals to triple clamp, flipped the mirrors, smoked front lenses, and I also now have the black diamond collection foot pegs, shifter and hand grips (hand grips are not on in pic yet).

Great looking bike there Warrick.

koji52 wrote:Great looking bike there Warrick.

Thanks!

Here it is, all finished up now, just took these this morning.

nice.

the commercial for the 883 Iron is what actually got me in the Harley Dealership when i was looking for a first bike last spring. incredibly good looking bikes, absolutely the classic definition of cool in my book.

The Diamond Series pegs and grips are nice. If I didn't already have my Performance Machine grips and pegs (which I LOVE), I'd probably have gone with the diamond series.

How comfy is that seat? All I remember about the stock seat on my old sporty was how much I hated it.

koji52 wrote:The Diamond Series pegs and grips are nice. If I didn't already have my Performance Machine grips and pegs (which I LOVE), I'd probably have gone with the diamond series.

How comfy is that seat? All I remember about the stock seat on my old sporty was how much I hated it.

I looked at several different sets of pegs and grips, but these matched the bike the best. I have no issues with the seat, seems pretty comfy to me, although this is my first street bike, so tough to compare to anything else. I have though about looking at seats next, see if I can find something cool and still comfortable.

I am chomping at the bit to get that OEM speedometer and clamp from the new "2010 HD Forty-Eight", it will go on the Iron and lays down nice and flat, unlike the big tumor they put on the Iron. I am sure that won't be cheap though.

Thanks for the nice comments guys. This is a bike I will own forever, hopefully go to my son someday.

jaskc78 wrote:the commercial for the 883 Iron is what actually got me in the Harley Dealership when i was looking for a first bike last spring. incredibly good looking bikes, absolutely the classic definition of cool in my book.

I have wanted a Harley since I was about 13-14 years old (some 25 years ago), and am now finally able to afford one, but i will guarantee you one thing, that commercial and this bike (from the first time I saw it) sent my deisre over the top. Had to have it, also helps that I am a small guy and the bike fits me perfect.

Yea...the upright speedo position always seems to ruin the lines of the bike. The 48's flat profile looks much better. Or you can mount the speedo down by the horn like alot of other guys seem to do...looks great but not sure on how easy it is to use while riding.

The bike looks great and I said that about my custom...loved that bike. Then I rode a V-Rod and haven't looked back.