Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ZooTech wrote:Well, keep in mind nobody around here "looks down" on small bikes by any means. It's nothing more than the typical "guy razzes other guy" antics...
All in good fun.

Ah! Gotcha loud and clear now. Might have done some of this from time to time, myself...

ronboskz650sr wrote:That's what happens when you let cars into a motorcycle race.

Too Right!

Myself, I prefer the sportster 883, I went and visited the dealer on saturday and had a good sit on the bike and chat with the salesman. I looks and feels like a great bike. The new models have a whole bunch of improvements over previous models and I love the feel of the mid-controls. Very comfortable and good riding position.

rapidblue wrote:Myself, I prefer the sportster 883, I went and visited the dealer on saturday and had a good sit on the bike and chat with the salesman. I looks and feels like a great bike. The new models have a whole bunch of improvements over previous models and I love the feel of the mid-controls. Very comfortable and good riding position.

They've also added something like 80lbs over the previous Sportster when they changed them in '04.....

High_Side wrote:

rapidblue wrote:Myself, I prefer the sportster 883, I went and visited the dealer on saturday and had a good sit on the bike and chat with the salesman. I looks and feels like a great bike. The new models have a whole bunch of improvements over previous models and I love the feel of the mid-controls. Very comfortable and good riding position.

They've also added something like 80lbs over the previous Sportster when they changed them in '04.....

That was due to the new frame. The engine is now rubber mounted, so it is no longer a stressed member. That requires a full cradle frame, which is inherently heavier.

They also added fuel injection as an option.

ZooTech wrote:

High_Side wrote:

rapidblue wrote:Myself, I prefer the sportster 883, I went and visited the dealer on saturday and had a good sit on the bike and chat with the salesman. I looks and feels like a great bike. The new models have a whole bunch of improvements over previous models and I love the feel of the mid-controls. Very comfortable and good riding position.

They've also added something like 80lbs over the previous Sportster when they changed them in '04.....

That was due to the new frame. The engine is now rubber mounted, so it is no longer a stressed member. That requires a full cradle frame, which is inherently heavier.

They also added fuel injection as an option.

Wasn't there something about a counter-balancers as well?

TechBMW wrote:I figured a guy with a simplex would just get another simplex and bolt a 16hp briggs and stratton v-twin in there

Ya know...that did occur to me...

I am waiting for the 883 and 1200's to arrive next week. I will take a spin on both and make a decision based on feel.

I'm like a kid the day before christmas.....

RangerG wrote:I am waiting for the 883 and 1200's to arrive next week. I will take a spin on both and make a decision based on feel.

I'm takin' bets on how that'll turn out!

Why buy an 883 when you can get a 1200?

All 883's ARE really....are just under-powered 1200's, if you know what I mean.

I think the idea of an 883 is to appeal to Ladies who may be wary of a big cube bike to start out on, (plus it's cheaper) but it's no problem, you might as well have the cubes at your disposal.

Big framed Blokes should stay away from the Sporty all together, (bike too small) get a Superglide at least.

Also a Sporty is not much Chop outside of the city/suburban environment.

The best of the Sporty's IMHO would be a 1200 Custom....Like mine!

CentralOzzy wrote:Why buy an 883 when you can get a 1200?

All 883's ARE really....are just under-powered 1200's, if you know what I mean.

I think the idea of an 883 is to appeal to Ladies who may be wary of a big cube bike to start out on, (plus it's cheaper) but it's no problem, you might as well have the cubes at your disposal.

Big framed Blokes should stay away from the Sporty all together, (bike too small) get a Superglide at least.

Also a Sporty is not much Chop outside of the city/suburban environment.

The best of the Sporty's IMHO would be a 1200 Custom....Like mine!

Funny thing. Mine is an 883 and I debated about building it up to a 1200, but that was before I had ridden it much. Frankly I can see no reason to increase to power beyond what the bike has. I can exceed any speed limit in this country and because of the different gearing with the smaller engine I can stick with the bigger cruisers quite nicely on the hills or during typical stop light excelleration.

I might do it some time down the road but not because I need more power, more likely just for a change. It handles 2 up through the twisty hilly mountain roads with ease and gets reasonable fuel mileage doing so. If I ever get enough kms on it to reguire an engine rebuild that will be time enough to do the upgrade. If the bike as it sits cannot keep up with the bigger muscle, they are traveling too darn fast for my style of riding anyway.