I have owned 8 harleys including a 2011 ultra with 120r engine. This 883 is all I need for 150 mile trips. Yes if I'm touring I would need a bigger bike. I'm really having a lot of fun with this bike

 

Sportsters are great fun bikes IMO, I'm just a bit to big to ride one far but I regularly take the wife's 1200c for a quick blast. The 48 is my favourite sporty though.

 

Had a Sporty long ago.....put forward controls on it.....lot of fun riding around town.
Someone will soon post that it's a "girl's" bike, I'm fairly sure. Someone who knows nothing about them.

 

I miss my Sporty sometimes! If I coulda had 2 bikes - but!

BTW -

 

I do everything on a Sporty. From multi-thousand mile trips to daily urban traffic it does it all.

 

I'd still be riding mine if it didn't hurt my bad back......

have fun...ride safe

 

I love Sportys, but with my 34" inseam, it's a little difficult. I like to jump on the wife's bike occasionally .

 

I'll never knock Sportsters, I owned three of them. But my age and waistline have crept up on me and I no longer fit on them.

 

I rode my first sportster this past Friday. Moving for a friend before the big snow storm came in. Except for the coldest ride I ever took in my life the bike was a lot of fun to ride. Its for sale and wish I could afford to buy it for a second bike. 2006 883 if anyone in the south central PA or northern Maryland area is interested.

 

If Harley tapped into their Evel K roots and made a modern day 883 dual purpose a la KLR 650 they would not be able to keep them in stock. The 883 is fantastic - simple motor, lower insurance costs, easier to maintain and takes up less space if that's a premium.