Sportser 883 vs. 1200 - Which Is The Better Beginner Bike? 

Thank you so much for watching and for leaving a wonderful comment! I try to be as authentic as I can with my videos and thoughts on the motorcycles I try! Ride safe!

Simping

I have been riding for almost 30 years and I have never once and definitely would not recommend any newbie to consider a Harley, no matter which Harley it is, I would not recommend a newbie to consider it, on the contrary, many of Triumph's bikes are very suitable for newbies.

God bless America

@@dan1769 poon

Sorry about it, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.

The same bike for 30 years? Holy moly

How muxh😊

uh i would respectfully disagree. i wouldnt give a 16 year old a 1200 hp drag car and i wouldnt give a brand new rider a liter sportsbike...

@@stufoo I would recommend something under 500cc and much lighter than a 500lb bike to a young rider a sportster is fine for an adult that has some common sense but it's still a heavy bike and really its as fast as most of Harley's bigger bikes.

Thanks for the support!! It's good to be back

Thats the only way I would ever get another 883 is if it had the 1200 conversion kit :)

@@Zer0Mood If you are going to put the 1200 conversion kit on it, what would be the point of getting the 883 still? Serious question because i am considering getting the 883 so i want to understand this mod.

@@DailYxDosE seem my response above

@@DailYxDosE been doing my comparisons and research I think the 883 has a bigger tank and something to do with the gearing ratios it's a little faster than a 1200 when you've a 1200 kit on it, probably why some would consider the 883 more maybe

@@DailYxDosE I got a 2019 883 for 5k my friend didn’t want the bike anymore so I paid off the loan and kept the bike but I’m going with the s&s kit heard it’s faster due to shorter gears, I’m going chain drive bs belt so I can pop wheelies trying ti make a stunt bike

Thank you! So glad I'm back! Merry Christmas!

L

Thank you and Merry Christmas!! You made the right choice!

Thank you! Can't wait to get back on it. All I do right now is go start it up every couple of days. 😅

My wife has a 95 883 bulletproof bike

Haha that's so crazy!! Thanks for watching!!

Thank you ☺️

Thanks for the tips and thanks for watching!! Ride safe!

If youre gonna put the kit on it why not get the 1200? Honest question. im between these two bikes right now

@@DailYxDosE a conversion Sportster (883 to 1202) is quicker because the drive pulley has two fewer teeth, hence it provides slightly lower gearing and therefore, brisker acceleration. The top speeds of both are roughly the same.

@@Boysenberr how do you get same top speed with shorter gear? I get the quicker accelaration, but I suppose longer gear shud have higher top speed?

@@stevetenggala2834 good question, and the short answer is, "if you want top speed, do not buy a Sportster." Remember that torque = acceleration and horsepower = top speed. H-Ds are not high horsepower machines; upright seating plus low horsepower means a top speed of, maybe, 100 mph max.

I’ve heard they like to rev, what would it pull up to in the rev range?

@@jimstenlund6017 I don't know the actual RPMs because I didn't have a tachometer. Going by sound it was spirited but not struggling.

@@jimstenlund6017 When it seemed like it needed some extra power, like on a steep hill with the trailer, I would just downshift and let it breathe.

@@jamessouthworth1699 I forgot most didn’t come with a tach.

Great first bike!!! Thanks for watching!

You had no previous motorcycle experience before that?

@@Juan-sg4ev none what so ever

@@mazda3jdm because I want to get a 48 as my first bike but idk if it has too much power for me, The only experience I have is the msf course

@@Juan-sg4ev nah don’t worry about it, Harley’s don’t make much power and they’re heavy, you’ll be good

I support this decision!! That’s awesome! Thanks for watching.

How much would one expect to spend to do the upgrade?

Yeah I know right, so many people do this and think it's cool but it is silly AF.

thats why people turn them to the underside , because when they are upright some people just see a mirror full their own shoulder.

In America leave my subdivision i am on 45 MPH streets and some at 50 mph.. On my way to work we have 70 mph speed limits…. Yeah an air cooled 883 is a beginners bike here. The 125 will just get you run over. My Himalayan has been on a 570+ Mile trip in a day and sent quite a bit of time at 70 MPH but not uphill and to bad the speed limit was 75…… It is a small bike for a big guy like me but my first bike… The 1200 Sportster would be fine choice recognizing that you have more than you need and you will need to respect it. From living in Spain growing up and my trips back to Italy and Spain once I was in the Navy my Himalayan makes more sense for distance, the 125s in and around town…. Would be fantastic. But lets be real an air cooled Sportster 883 is not even a strong water cooled 500… which are quintessential starter bikes around here just because of our roadways. You need enough to not get run over around here and just around town near me the 125 will get ya run over…. The environments of São Paulo or Europe are so different that from my house I can not even perform the break in rides according to the owners manual as I would be a road hazard. So what would be ideal to learn on over their are simply dangerous here. I agree we should probably do more than the MSF course I took. But common sense and patience got me home and to work and back and now venturing around Texas. Now am I as competent as some of those guys on the small bikes running hilly corners all their life on there bike NOPE but that small bike would make them have heart palpitations looking at our expressways.

Yes!! I can ride it at 5'5 without tippy toes! I think that would be awesome.

Get the Sportster Hugger or Sportster Low. You would do fine on those.

Jackie is about the same height. I think you'll fit ok. - Jon

I got an Iron 883 with stage 1 tune exhaust and air filter and shes got plenty of power. I will say the Iron 883 is much better an funner on back roads and country main roads with speed limits of 55 and 45. But she can do 70-80 no problem but because it's only 5 gears you will run at about 3500 rpm to maintain 70 mph in fifth gear but with a stage 1 your rev limiter is 7000 rpm instead of 6000. So is it the best for long highway trips? No but can it ride highway? Yes no problem. But if you can find back road routes it will be much funner better and more comfortable. The vibration is very minimal and just enough that you feel feedback of what you're doing but never too much where it hurts you. It's actually my favorite part of riding the Iron. I love it and I recommend it. You can do so much customization to it too and always do a stage 2 or 3 or 4 to add nore power if wanted. I would say it's most comfortable from 0-65 but can maintain higher speeds no problem and be tolerable.

@@CantTreadOnMe I appreciate the feedback bro Thankyou 💯💯

@@SerBarristanSelmy1 No problem brother. I wouldn't fear jumping straight into a 1200 sportster over an 883 as your 1st bike especially if you need to be on highways. Same weight as 883 but a good amount more top end power. Only thing I'd recommend is strongly considering mid controls on your 1st bike especially if you're under 6 feet tall. Im exactly 6 foot and forward controls make you feel less in control of the bike and can be awkward. My experience at least but everyone is different so try it for yourself 1st. Good luck and be well.

@@CantTreadOnMe 💯💯

And the Yamaha bolt, and also the Triumph Bobber (the prettiest of the lot imho)

Sportsters are very reliable solid built bikes. And you'd have to try real hard to kill a evo engine

It kind of depends on your stature. The Harley is heavier but the only problem is lifting it to the straight up position when it is on the side stand. Once it is perpendicular to the ground, it isn't much different than a small bike. The Sportster is a very MELLOW motorcycle. Nothing happens fast on a 250 or a Sportster. But the Sportster is a lot more versatile than any 250.

Still have it!! It needs a small repair before it's running again though.

@@JackiesMotoGarage good to see you back can’t wait to see your view for the time you had it... happy holidays

I'm 5'5 Thanks for watching!