Rigid_EVO is a 883 enough

[sid-eco]

I came to my spurtster from a speed triple, an' t.b.h. it felt like a moped for a while .. i checked out the 1200 upgrade choices, but in the end i've left it as an 883. You get used to it, and they balance the available power nicely with the chassis (esp. off-road !!). Ooh, and i've only got four speeds to play with, so i think that somehow makes it easier to live without tyre-shreading performance. Don't get me wrong, i rarely ride like my grandad; your sporty'll like being caned through the gears whether 883 or 1200/1215.

You jus' need to re-calibrate your brain to accommodate the difference in performance, The weight difference from a sportsbike is a welcome relief, and as the other posters have already testified, it'll cruise happily at eighty, with just enough left to get you outta car-trouble.

Here in the UK, we all seem to have been raised in the 'bigger is better' mindset, maybe 'cause the manufacturers want us to keep chasing our next groove-sickle, maybe 'cause we're all insecure about the length of our trouser snakes ??

If it doesn't work out for you, 'cause the brand image is soooo strong, the residual is amazing; you might even make a small profit if you decide to sell ..

Dude, buy one, you'll not regret it

[sep69]

When my bike still was 883 there was nothing really wrong with it.
It took me to about 100 m/h and I enjoyed riding it a lot.
Even just before I ordered my 1250 kit I thought there was no real need to do a conversion.
In the end I did it anyway because I wanted to learn to wrench and I did a course for that. I saw there that i could do a conversion myself if I wanted to and decided to do it for the learning experience and just for fun to check out how much more performance i could get out of my bike.
So I can understand totally that an 883 can be everything you want from a bike just like it was to me.
Just get one and enjoy it

[Baphomet]

Find a way to test ride them both before you buy.

[jharback]

Well I'm an old geezer and can remember when the Sportster was a youngin' (yeah, you know, those ironheads). But, I don't ever remember anyone thinking it was too small for anything.

[Bob F]

I've never ridden a 883

Test ride one at your dealer.

[Hashish]

My first Harley is my 883 and, like everyone has said, it will spend all day at 80mph without a fuss and has plenty of grunt to get out of its own way. You can't beat the mileage either. I plan a 1250 upgrade in the future, but it isn't high on the priorities list because the 883 is quite capable. Hope you find what you are looking for!

[iron9813]

I love my 883. Plenty fast and strong enough for me. I'm 5'9" and 200lbs. I ride two up with the wifey from time to time and still feel like I have enough juice. Like others have stated, I will eventually do the 1250 conversion for no other reason than I simply can. And like some have said, ride both. Go to a dealer and ride an 883, see how it feels to you. I have a feeling you will like it, and if you don't, get a 1200. Either way you go you're still on a Sporty! Just keep rubber side down and ride the hell out of it!

[indyrednek]

I've ridden mine across country twice and do not feel I need any more than 883.
Then again I'm rigid and less than 2" off the ground

[tracbike]

I bought mine as a spare from a friend that was in financial trouble back in 92, it is a 1986. first thing i thought of was upgrade, but never did it. Why? it was fast as hell and kicked ass. a lot of fun to ride. close ratio gears. It looks like a mini bike under me 6'1'' 220 but it gets the job done. I have been asked "whats in it"? Nothing i say,.. it's the rider.
It even gets to run ET at the All Harley drags at bike week,...I brought it as a spare bike for friend and decided to run it.

[redi2ride]

NOPE.... Go 1200... then go 1250...If your money comes like mine this should take you years. then you'll be ready for a BT(sofa on wheels)