OK, it's time to get the wife off her Honda 600 and on a Sportster. The last one I was on was a right foot shift so it has been a few years. Is a 1200 really a lot more powerful than an 883? Not dyno power, but real seat of the pants power.

 

Yes, there's a real seat-of-the-pants difference, it's a 35% increase in cubic inches, but that's not to say the 883 won't run 80 MPH all day long.

 

You don't want the wife struggling to keep up, do you Larry? Get her the 1200 so she can smoke you on your lead-sled. Unless that would be humiliating to you. Plus you're likely to use the Sporty from time to time, you'll have a blast on the 1200.

 

Larry
I'll sell you my 883, I'm ready for more power. 2010 Iron, cant be too far from away you, less than 5K miles... what'd ya say? ;-) It'll help me convince the wife to let me get the Slim I've been eyeing.
I'd say the 883 is great if not perfect for around town but 80mph on the highway for any length of time is less comfortable than I'd like.

 

the 1200 especially if you do alot of highway riding and you will appreciate it. The power isn't wheelie popping it just has some guts behind it.

 

Totally agree, off the line mine is just fine and keeps up just fine with my buddy on his 1200. When I ride his 1200 though the extra grunt is appreciated, especially after 2nd gear.

 

I'm biased but i think the Sportster is the best pure motorcycle HD makes. I'm 6 foot 1 at 240 and i can make my 883 go fast enough. As cHarley stated it will go 80mph all day long. I've ridden the Jap bikes so i can say i don't find any HD fast in comparison. Anybody that says a HD is powerful or fast kinda makes me smirk when you compare against just about any other manufacturer. 883 is slightly heavier than 1200 but they look identical. Most of the Jap bikes ride better. My old 83 Yamaha YJ-650 was more comfortable and far faster than my 883. My 1100 Special would eat a 1200 Sporty like Child’s play.

For a couple hundred dollars you can make it a comfortable all day ride compared to the stock set up. I pay 75 bucks a year full coverage insurance. I get 52-55mpg on average and i push it around about as easy as a bicycle at around 600 lbs. My only advice is if you go for a Sporty go for one with a 4.5 gallon gas tank instead of my 3.3 peanut or 2.1 on some other models.

 

Because 1200 motor will make the rest of the bike more comfortable. About 5 years ago I did 2374 miles in 57 hours with two "overnight" (more like naps) stops in a hotel on an 883.


If the 1200 lacks the power to pop a wheelie then the 883 is for sure the way to go.


Now we need the 883 is faster in 4th and the top speed flat out is 73mph crowd to chime in.

 

I went from a superlow 883 and a '95 883 to a forty eight 1200. To me, there is a definite difference power. There's also a difference in gearing. Took a little while to get used to the taller gearing of the 1200. But at 72-75 the 1200 is very smooth and feels more powerful than the two 883s I had.

 

Different gearing as well. The 1200 is definitely more relaxed cruising 70-80. Passing on the highway will highlight the power difference as well. Wife has an Iron and I have a 1200 custom, looks to swap off now and than.