sportster cruise speed
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 144
Likes: 17
From: Florida
Boy, was I surprised.
9 second 1/4 miles.
I measured out one exact mile and ran the Mile in 36 seconds.
Divide that by 4 (I believe I did the math right) and this means I averaged 9 seconds over 4 consective 1/4 mile runs.
I have since been out on the interstate and have traveled 165miles non-stop and averaged 70MPH (I know, it surprised me too)
I would not want to race your sportster, but I would ride along if you wanted to make the trip from Fort Walton to Tallahassee. Might take me a while to get up to speed, but I would hang with you in the long run..
You do have one very very fast sportster..
Last edited by 1HD4CJM1X4K; Sep 3, 2018 at 10:29 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,528
Likes: 12,142
From: Indianapolis
A racing bike designed for all out speed will hand an 883 it's lunch, wow I'm shocked I tell you... It's not even an apples to oranges comparison, more like a Saturn V and a rock. In other words, pointless.
BTW, I had a buddy who's son had a KX 80-85, whatever it was. That thing was dangerous fast...
Road Captain
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 201
From: Southern Ontario
That table posted above doesn't match my 2017 Iron exactly. Screaming Eagle 1200 kit, Stage 1 (TTS, 4" round intake, V&H Big Radius), no other changes. Travelling 120 km/h (75 mph) I'm at 3,800 rpm.
Last edited by TimmyPage; Sep 3, 2018 at 10:47 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 144
Likes: 17
From: Florida
According to a write-up back in 2001, Chuck Hawks wrote:
Harley-Davidson claims that a stock 883 Sportster motor produces 57 horsepower and 53 ft. lbs. of torque at the crankshaft. An 883 Sportster typical of those on the street, with SE mufflers, SE air cleaner and carb kit, and mild SE cams, was dyno tested by Hot Rod Bikes magazine and produced 55.2 rear wheel horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 53.7 ft. lbs. of torque at 4,500 rpm.
Harley-Davidson claims that a stock 883 Sportster motor produces 57 horsepower and 53 ft. lbs. of torque at the crankshaft. An 883 Sportster typical of those on the street, with SE mufflers, SE air cleaner and carb kit, and mild SE cams, was dyno tested by Hot Rod Bikes magazine and produced 55.2 rear wheel horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 53.7 ft. lbs. of torque at 4,500 rpm.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 690
Likes: 121
From: On my motorcycle
Madnss. I averaged four quarter-mile runs with my stock 883.
Boy, was I surprised.
9 second 1/4 miles.
I measured out one exact mile and ran the Mile in 36 seconds.
Divide that by 4 (I believe I did the math right) and this means I averaged 9 seconds over 4 consective 1/4 mile runs.
I have since been out on the interstate and have traveled 165miles non-stop and averaged 70MPH (I know, it surprised me too)
I would not want to race your sportster, but I would ride along if you wanted to make the trip from Fort Walton to Tallahassee. Might take me a while to get up to speed, but I would hang with you in the long run..
You do have one very very fast sportster..
Boy, was I surprised.
9 second 1/4 miles.
I measured out one exact mile and ran the Mile in 36 seconds.
Divide that by 4 (I believe I did the math right) and this means I averaged 9 seconds over 4 consective 1/4 mile runs.
I have since been out on the interstate and have traveled 165miles non-stop and averaged 70MPH (I know, it surprised me too)
I would not want to race your sportster, but I would ride along if you wanted to make the trip from Fort Walton to Tallahassee. Might take me a while to get up to speed, but I would hang with you in the long run..
You do have one very very fast sportster..
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 690
Likes: 121
From: On my motorcycle
So 17 years ago, some guy quoted a Harley brochure? Amazing.
How far will an 883 run on it's crankshaft? Probably not as far as it would on it's tires.
An 883 Sportster typical of those on the street, with SE mufflers, SE air cleaner and carb kit, and mild SE cams, was dyno tested by
Hot Rod Bikes magazine and produced 55.2 rear wheel horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 53.7 ft. lbs. of torque at 4,500 rpm.
A stock 883 will run 70-75 all day long. In 6 years of owning mine I'd done many 300+ mile days cruising at speeds of 70mph or greater and always felt I had enough passing power. Short burst to 85mph while passing cars was never an issue either. No idea what kind of HP/TQ it is and never really cared. If power is what I wanted Harley would be on the bottom of my list. I just like the simplicity and reliability of the 883/1200 EVO engine.
Btw an 883 is definitely a slug past 90mph but will do 100 even in stock form. Had a GPS on mine for a while and also used an app that kept track of my routes and showed average & top speed. Seen over 100mph on more than one occasion. Best I got on a flat straight road was 108 (GPS & phone app) but speedo indicated 111mph at the time. It probably helps that I weigh under 180lbs though.
Btw an 883 is definitely a slug past 90mph but will do 100 even in stock form. Had a GPS on mine for a while and also used an app that kept track of my routes and showed average & top speed. Seen over 100mph on more than one occasion. Best I got on a flat straight road was 108 (GPS & phone app) but speedo indicated 111mph at the time. It probably helps that I weigh under 180lbs though.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Do we know what year this 883 is?! We just got back from a trip through Belgium, Germany and France with Mrs B riding solo on our 2011 SuperLow. Much of our 1500 miles was spent cruisin at around 70/75 mph.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,528
Likes: 12,142
From: Indianapolis
A stock 883 will run 70-75 all day long. In 6 years of owning mine I'd done many 300+ mile days cruising at speeds of 70mph or greater and always felt I had enough passing power. Short burst to 85mph while passing cars was never an issue either. No idea what kind of HP/TQ it is and never really cared. If power is what I wanted Harley would be on the bottom of my list. I just like the simplicity and reliability of the 883/1200 EVO engine.
Btw an 883 is definitely a slug past 90mph but will do 100 even in stock form. Had a GPS on mine for a while and also used an app that kept track of my routes and showed average & top speed. Seen over 100mph on more than one occasion. Best I got on a flat straight road was 108 (GPS & phone app) but speedo indicated 111mph at the time. It probably helps that I weigh under 180lbs though.
Btw an 883 is definitely a slug past 90mph but will do 100 even in stock form. Had a GPS on mine for a while and also used an app that kept track of my routes and showed average & top speed. Seen over 100mph on more than one occasion. Best I got on a flat straight road was 108 (GPS & phone app) but speedo indicated 111mph at the time. It probably helps that I weigh under 180lbs though.
No you guys didn't, you two are either lying or delusional, someone on the Internet who goes by XRX says you are.
I know XRX set me straight, I now know what I saw was not real. I got my mind right...
