Harley Davidson Sportster Iron 883 Review
When it comes to great starter motorcycles, Harley Davidson isn’t known for them. Harleys are loud, heavy, powerful bikes that have a very unique culture surrounding them. One that embraces the veteran rider for the most part.
To most non motorcycle riders you have only two types of bikes: Crotch rockets and Harleys. Although the Iron 883 might not be the most ideal beginner bike, it is one of the best to choose if you are a Harley fan.
Sportster Iron 883 Looks & Styling
One things that Harley’s have in spades is style. They are a unique looking, and unique sounding motorcycle. The Iron 883 is one of the best looking Harley’s in my opinion. It has a beastly look that is classic at the same time as it is modern. If you want an aggressive looking motorcycle, look no further than this bike.
The engine of this monster is powered by a 53.9 cu inch engine, or 883 cc’s. Hence the name. Normally I really try and stay away from recommending anything higher than 650cc’s for a starter motorcycle, but I know there are some people out there that want a Harley and nothing else will suffice. For those people the Iron 883 offers a good option.
That 883cc powerplant is air cooled and fuel injected. That means you don’t have to mess around with carburetors like you would on an older cruiser motorcycle. The blacked out and powder coated engine also looks amazing. It’s definitely a motorcycle with not very many chrome bits which really adds to that aggressive attitude emanating from this bike.
It’s relatively inexpensive for a Harley coming in at $8,399. It’s one of the least expensive Harley’s out there and is based on the sportster platform which has a proven track record.
The Iron 883 Has Some Heavy Metal
There is a very low seat height on this motorcycle which makes it easy to flat foot and give you more of a sense of security when you are stopped or going slowly. You will need that because this bike is MASSIVE. It tips the scales at 562 lbs. To put that in contrast, a Ninja 300 weighs 362 lbs and an SV650 weighs 437 lbs. That added weight really makes low speed maneuvers on the 883 harder than they have to be.
Is that a deal breaker for this motorcycle? I don’t think so. Lots of bikes are heavy, and that heaviness actually means you are a bit more stable when traveling on the freeway. If you have a longer commute or you plan on taking road trips then this would be a good thing.
A culture of safety?
One of the things I like about Harley is they offer a beginner riders training course called Rider’s Edge. It’s very similar to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) course, and in some areas it’s actually taught by the same people. The main difference is that Rider’s edge is a quite a bit more expensive (around $300) and the class sizes are smaller so you get more individual attention.
If you end up picking up an Iron 883 it would be worth it to inquire about their Riders edge course. You may even be able to roll that into the price of the motorcycle if you are good at negotiations.
Conclusion
To put it bluntly, the Harley 883 isn’t an ideal beginner motorcycle, but it would work in a pinch if you are dead set on having a Harley. It would be great for touring longer distances or any time you need a bit more power than what a Ninja 300 might offer.
Pros
- Fuel Injected
- Low seat height
- Aggressive styling
Cons
- Heavy at 562 lbs!
- More expensive than smaller displacement motorcycles
