Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Sportster 883 low and 1200 low?

Can these bikes go at least 120 m/h? 80-120 is the normal highway speed here. Sportsters are the cheapest Harley I could find. I'd be disappointed if they do anything less than a 100 m/h. So do they?

and how fast does a fatboy or fatbob can go? I'm not looking for the highest speed, just enough so that I don't get bored. I know I won't be going over 150m/h, but I rather have a bike that's between 100-150, rather than a bike that can't even go 80.

Ok first off, where is 80-120 miles per hour the average highway speed? I want to move there.
Secondly most HDs have a top speed of about 120 MPH. But that's top speed. They're comfortably cruising at around 90-100 if you have the 6 speed tranny and around 80 if you have the 5 speed.
Thirdly, if you want high speeds a Harley is not for you unless you find yourself a V-Rod. But you probably won't find any of those for less than 8 grand.
I think you mean m/h as miles an hour, because the only other speed I can think of is Meters per hour, and 120 is abysmally slow.

You can probably get an XL up to 120 but you'd definately be bouncing off the rev limiter. I pulled my 883 up to 105 once and the bike sounded like it was going to explode. It'll do 80 just fine though. If you want a Harley that has plenty of pull left at 100, Wrider gives sound advice in looking at V-Rods. The V-Rod will run 120 mph just fine though you're going to get 10 miles to the gallon. If you want a high top end speed bike, you should be focusing on other brands and bikes of sportier character. You have to remember that running 100+ on any cruiser is going to be difficult for any sustained period of time. The wind resistance makes a fairing and windshield a necessity.

Are you sure you're not talking about kilometers per hour?

A quick look at the many HD tests recorded on the MCN Performance Index shows measured top speeds to run between 92 mph for a FLHTCU and 138 mph for a V-Rod. Sporties seem to give the best bang for the buck, the big Glides the worst.

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/articles/2010JanIndex.pdf

jstark47 wrote:Are you sure you're not talking about kilometers per hour?

Lol yes I'm talking about Km. Darnit Americans their miles had me confused.

Now that I know Harley can go around 100-120 miles an hour, it makes me feel much better. If it was 100-120 km an hour, than I'd be really upset. 100-120 miles an hour is good enough speed for me.

Ohhh ok, then yeah any bike 250cc+ ought to be able to maintain 100-120 km/h. A 250 cruiser might have a bit of trouble, but that's with a heavier rider on board.

wow man, I've had bikes far more capable than the vast majority of cruisers and never had the need to exceed 100mph.

RhadamYgg wrote:wow man, I've had bikes far more capable than the vast majority of cruisers and never had the need to exceed 100mph.

Really? Even with the B-King?

HYPERR wrote:

RhadamYgg wrote:wow man, I've had bikes far more capable than the vast majority of cruisers and never had the need to exceed 100mph.

Really? Even with the B-King?

Yup. I actually went faster (top speed) in my 1992 Civic than I did on any bike (115, but then the wind would get under the nose and make it feel insecure on the road). Now accelerating out of the tolls.... With minimal traffic, now that is fun. Yesterday I saw a guy on a 'Busa pulling out from the tolls and he was haulin' some "O Ring". Pissed me off since my bikes still at the Yamaha dealer and since I've missed all their late hours this week, and I'm working on Saturday I won't be able to get it until sometime next week.

Oh, and the whole traffic light thing. I tend to be moderate taking off from lights, but is someone is going to hang next to me and we are merging after the light, I'll open up the throttle. On the B (don't know about the FZ6) it didn't matter that they would attempt to take off when I did. I was gone.