2006 Harley-Davidson XL 883R Sportster

**Pwalo** · 30th August 2006, 08:12

I've got a cheap GS500. Seriously I don't think there's a lot wrong with the modern HDs. It's not my style because I find the riding position rather awkward. Have you considered a Triumph Bonnevillle, or similar?

Might do the same as the Sport, and suit you if you've been riding sportier types of bikes.

I do understand where you're coming from though. 100k is pretty easy on most non cruiser's, and just where they start to feel comfortable.

**Matt** · 30th August 2006, 08:54

I rode an '05 883 last year when I was on holiday - great bikes, especially if the weather is nice

- not the fastest thing around, but certainly enough speed for NZ and it all seemed pretty well screwed together.

Having said that, I learned to ride on a GS500 and I liked that too

Matt

**scumdog** · 30th August 2006, 09:16

Originally Posted by jase the ace

you would be better off with a push bike than that hog . a good head wind stuffs them . i guess u wont ever get a speeding ticket . cheers jase the ace .

And we AAAALLLLL want speeding tickets, right?

No offence shag but your comment is a troll - or a classic cliche by a noob with a small bike that may well have never ridden a Sporty.

**The_Dover** · 30th August 2006, 09:23

I might get a Sporty as a commuter.

It can't be any slower than the train.

**Shadows** · 30th August 2006, 11:21

Originally Posted by The_Dover

I might get a Sporty as a commuter.

It can't be any slower than the train.

It can.. depends on how you ride it

**The_Dover** · 30th August 2006, 11:29

Originally Posted by Shadmeister

It can.. depends on how you ride it

30k's bro but it still takes me 1.5 hours door to door.

or 35 mins by bike in rush hour.

but it kills tyres on the gixx and I don't wanna clock up lots of shitty pointless k's on it.

editing bastard.

**Big Dave** · 30th August 2006, 11:43

Originally Posted by The_Dover

30k's bro but it still takes me 1.5 hours door to door.

or 35 mins by bike in rush hour.

but it kills tyres on the gixx and I don't wanna clock up lots of shitty pointless k's on it.

editing bastard.

Not to mention it's a shit bike for the job.

Comfortably sitting bolt upright so you can see over the cars and the traffic further ahead makes more sense than the racing hunch.

And a motor with a more tractable low down power and torque curve is also much easier on bike and rider than a gp motor which doesn't sing till 7,000.

Sporty is great for the job - not as good as going flat maggot.

Personally favour the motard style for city work now.

**Big Dave** · 30th August 2006, 11:52

Originally Posted by Pwalo

I've got a cheap GS500. Seriously I don't think there's a lot wrong with the modern HDs. It's not my style because I find the riding position rather awkward. Have you considered a Triumph Bonnevillle, or similar?

I Luff Bonnevilles.
And this beauty:
http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_...otoAlbum5.html

**The_Dover** · 30th August 2006, 11:53

Yeah, I'd like something motardish.

I love the gixxer for commuting, it's got all the lowdown balls in the world and I find it fairly comfy cos 20k's of my commute is motorway, 10k's country road and probably 2 k's town. But I hate to think what it's costing in tyres and mileage.

Maybe I should stick to the train or get a GN? Unless anyone has a cheap motard going?

**Big Dave** · 30th August 2006, 12:12

Originally Posted by The_Dover

Yeah, I'd like something motardish.

I love the gixxer for commuting, it's got all the lowdown balls in the world and I find it fairly comfy cos 20k's of my commute is motorway, 10k's country road and probably 2 k's town. But I hate to think what it's costing in tyres and mileage.

Maybe I should stick to the train or get a GN? Unless anyone has a cheap motard going?

I was talking about city and peak times. The crouch still doesn't work for me. Never has, unless its a track day.

I even quite enjoyed the Vespa 250ie for city use - nailing it everywhere is a good way to ride.

We used to be able to do that on higest performance bikes too - not any more.

**buellbabe** · 30th August 2006, 14:31

Just curious, why an 883 and not a 1200?
The 883's are great but the 1200 has got so much more grunt! That said either of them are fun bikes and are go anywhere do anything bikes.
I had a 92 883 Hugger for awhile and the top speed was 180kph... with a headwind about 150kph!!! So what if its not gonna do 300kph? When do you NEED to? I get sick of people going on about how fast their bikes are when they rarely take them to the limit and if they do its only in a straight line...

Sportys are excellent bikes. Also I agree with a comment made about getting a 2nd hand one. In my experience ( I know ALOT of HD riders ) Sportys are quite often purchsed as an introductory Harley cos they are affordable or as a learner bike for 'the missus'... the bug bites big time and the Sporty gets traded pretty quickly for something bigger so you can get a good 2nd hand one with buggerall mileage on the clock... Not saying that the bigger Harleys are better, its just that there can be a bit of stigma attached to being a guy on a "Skirtster"... not all blokes are man enuf to handle the teasing from their mates!

**Big Dave** · 30th August 2006, 14:48

Originally Posted by buellbabe

"Skirtster"... not all blokes are man enuf to handle the teasing from their mates!

First set of corners negates that bullshit.

**buellbabe** · 30th August 2006, 14:53

Couldn't agree more Big D but sadly there ARE still people out there with that narrow-minded attitude.
They don't know what they're missing!

**Divot** · 30th August 2006, 15:21

Go for it and buy yourself a sportster!!!! I did just over three years ago and have never regretted it. Brought mine 2nd hand with 18,500k on it and now go 75,000k on the clock. Took it to the South Island in 2004 for two weeks and had a great time, my riding mate had a 1990 ULTRA and I had no problems keeping up with him at crusing speeds. Yep thy may not be the fastest bike out there but they handle beeter than any other HD's (except the Buell). If youwant a new entry level HD then the 883 is great. The 1200 is a bit faster than the 883 but at crusing speed you wont notice the diffrence. The 2007 sporties have rubber mounted motors and fuel injection. Wait till the start of October and go to your nearest HD dealer for the release of the 2007 models and take one fro a ride. PM me if you want any more info.