Sportster ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Going to FL, we do take the super slab until we get to FL, then take the coast route on A1A. The 4-corners ride, we pretty much took I-40 until OKC, then rode as much of the Route66 until we cut into Santa Fe. The interstates were pretty much 70-75. We'd hit 80-85 to the nearest rest stop if someone had to take a leak though.
Stage IV
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 4
Likes: 9
From: Anchorage, Alaska
I decided on a Sportster as my first bike for multiple reasons. First, I really wanted a Harley-Davidson. Second, I'm a beginner rider and the thought of riding a 900 lbs bike was not very appealing: I want to spend time riding, not at the gym building muscle to handle a bigger bike. Third, the kind of riding that I like to do is in city streets, a 4 mile commute to the office or a 25-40 mile ride to the nearest town... hard to justify spending more on something with windshields, saddlebags, stereo and cruise control for that kind of riding.
As I develop skills, perhaps the Sportster won't be the right bike for cruising and longer rides. But until that time comes, it is the perfect bike for me.
As I develop skills, perhaps the Sportster won't be the right bike for cruising and longer rides. But until that time comes, it is the perfect bike for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,622
Likes: 6,441
From: Honah Lee
Whatever floats your boat and looks good on you My ridding buddy has had his Sporty purchase new back when Brunswick owned them. Has Harley and their logo on the tank. Way over 100K on it.
Recently, since retirement, he go a new huge Indian , a new truck and a aluminum bike trailer. Visits his son in Texas. He took the Sporty...
I don't think he fill comfortable on the huge bike.
Recently, since retirement, he go a new huge Indian , a new truck and a aluminum bike trailer. Visits his son in Texas. He took the Sporty...
I don't think he fill comfortable on the huge bike.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
Likes: 19,070
From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
I have a now old 2005 XLH 883. I like that particular model just for the way it looks, plain basic model with the 3.3 peanut tank. Its a modern version of what a Sportster always looked like to me.
They need to get back to a basic entry level model IMO...
I have a Dyna also a 2005. It is better on the long trips, you will "feel it" on a Sportster, but then again I'm old...
They need to get back to a basic entry level model IMO...
I have a Dyna also a 2005. It is better on the long trips, you will "feel it" on a Sportster, but then again I'm old...
Last edited by Super Glidester; Jun 3, 2021 at 12:13 PM.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 143
Likes: 53
From: New Orleans
The vrod was just butt ugly...doesn’t matter about HP when you look and sound like it did. It was doomed for cancellation from the start. And now with the patents on the motor expired, the motor is gone from the lineup too. The Sportster continues on...and contrary to internet hype and myth, I don’t believe its going to be out of the lineup. It may get a new engine but the Sporty will live on!
Last edited by MidnightXL883; Jun 3, 2021 at 01:40 PM.
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Banned
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 143
Likes: 53
From: New Orleans
Anybody here ever done business/upgrades w/ these guys?
https://www.883sportster.com/
That 5th gear pulley sounds like a good idea. Be kinda nice to drop the rpms by 500 or so at 72mph.
https://www.883sportster.com/
That 5th gear pulley sounds like a good idea. Be kinda nice to drop the rpms by 500 or so at 72mph.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 1,350
From: mississippi
IDK...but I do know it quickly reaches a point where you end up wasting alotta $$ w/out alot to gain from it. Looks like the V-Rod outweighs the 1200 by at least 60lbs if not more and in some situations thats alot but again its all in what makes the buyer/owner happy and I LOVE my 883 & of all the HD line the Sportster is the most simple. All you need on a Sporty is a speedo and many remove that.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 1,350
From: mississippi
unless you have changed the gearing it is not on par with a v rod.
Sporty gearing for the 1200 range from 115 to 123 top end v rod top end 143.
there is aldo a differance between quick and fast. Can a hammer 127t kit impove the sporty oh hell yes but there are just as many mod for the v rod and a destoryer v rod will kill most anything including the almighty v max and the busa and the h2
Sporty gearing for the 1200 range from 115 to 123 top end v rod top end 143.
there is aldo a differance between quick and fast. Can a hammer 127t kit impove the sporty oh hell yes but there are just as many mod for the v rod and a destoryer v rod will kill most anything including the almighty v max and the busa and the h2
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 612
Likes: 172
From: U.S.A.
if you look at the v rod specs the 1250 cc are slower then thw 1130cc models even though putting out 10 less hp the destrayer is the most powerful. If you can not beat a sporty on your v rod well you need to learn how to ride in higher ranger rpm's
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Banned
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 143
Likes: 53
From: New Orleans
Not trying butt in gentlemen...but Rhino is right IMO about the fact the Sportster IN REAL WORLD STREET RACING w/ riding skills being equal would have a distinct advantage. 680lbs vs 560lbs (at the heaviest) would be a hard obstacle to overcome. This makes me think of all the YT vids I see of dumbass kiddies fleeing LEOs on rice rockets. They usually evade being arrested because those soy saucers usually only weigh 450lbs at the most and handle like razor blades. But then they ain't HDs and I'll NEVER own anything HDs till I'm worm food.