Buying a 2019 Iron 883
 

Hi All. Probably going to buy my first Harley in a week or so. Have had Japanese bikes my whole life and have been riding since 1985.

I'm looking at picking up a new 2019 Iron 883 and have a few questions. I appreciate any feedback you can give me.

1.) Test drove a used 2018 Iron 883 that the dealer said had a stage 1 kit done to it and it had a V&H Big Radius exhaust on it. I loved the power and performance compared to a bone stock model I had test ridden just before. Problem is the dealer couldn't tell me anything about the details of the stage 1 kit done to the bike. If I get the new bike, I'd like to have the same performance work done to it. Should I go with what the dealer recommends? They quoted me around $1400 US for the stage 1 kit and the V&H Big Radius exhaust (parts and labor). Not sure if the Harley stage 1 kit they plan to put in is different from what was on the used bike I test rode. Also, I heard if you have non-Harley kits put on the bike it voids the engine warranty. Is that true?

2. Price on the bike here in New York is $8999 (non-ABS and no security/FOB) and then $1000 in dealer prep & freight and blah, blah, blah fees. So the final price before taxes and DMV reg is around $10,000 US. Have any of you in the US been able to negotiate the price down a bit?

3. Aside from the performance work (stage 1 kit and full exhaust) is there anything else I should consider doing to the bike before I pick it up from the dealer?

Looking forward to any feedback you guys/gals can give.

Thanks!

3 words and one number

Get the 1200 motor

Wiz Out Man🤘

+1 on last response, u say u been riding since 85 on Japs. You will outgrow the 883 very quick. Go 1200 more bang for your buck.

Your an experienced rider as written.
1) +1 1200
2) Stage 1 = intake, exhaust, & software tune.
Dealer install, if they back your warranty nationwide, $1400 could be okay.
Stage 1 can bedone for less $$ and with better products/ results.
3) Fees = Negotiable.
Free/ included first service is typical and maybe more - such as parts discount card
(Another co-member may weight in on the what this dealers $1000 of fees consists of)
4) Sales tax & DMV New York....not much you can do.
5) Initial mods before leaving showroom....endless list, just do over time, such as a front suspension tuning.
6) Lastly, Used Sportsters may be abundant and could be considered, take a look at a few private party XL for sale.

Good luck, XLs are good bikes.

Buy a Used Big Twin instead. Lots of Low Mileage, Used bikes to choose from under $10,000. I bought a 2013 FLD with 1400 miles last Spring for $8,700.

OP, welcome to the World of Harley Davidson... If pure raw speed and power is your thing, don't buy a Harley Davidson, you won't be happy no matter which one you buy. If you've moved on from that mindset the 883 is a great choice. Keep in mind it is almost a 1 liter bike, and from the 1200's I've been around, they aren't all that compared to the 883 from my experiences.

I've done the Stage 1 aircleaner, Rush slipons, and reflashed the bike with an FP3 and it really wakes the bike up. I've got a buddy who has a 1200, and we were out one day and he took off. He got maybe a 50-60' jump on me before I realized what he was doing, but he wasn't able to pull away any further from me up to 90-95 mph when we backed out of it.

As I said, if you've got to be the fastest to impress your friends, don't waste your time buying a Harley, you won't be happy.

As said above, I would go with the 1200, you would already be ahead in performance and resale value. For what you would pay for the bike and stage 1 on the 883, you could probably get the 1200 and still have money left over for at least exhaust. Unless you just want the 883 Iron, then by all means get one, they are great bikes.

Plus I hear it's not that much more expensive than the iron 883

1. Harley sales are down, it is a buyers market, if your dealer won't come down off list price, and Harley reimburses for prep so they shouldn't charge that, then find another dealer.

2. The Iron 1200 is only $1,000 more than the Iron 883. The stock Iron 1200 will have more power than the stage 1 883. Spend the $1,000 on the 1200 and upgrade it to Stage 1 later.

3. The Iron 1200 does have different handle bars, but I'd rather swap bars on the 1200 than put a 1200 kit in the 883.

Agreed:)