You literally just saved me hundreds of dollars on insurance. I had never heard of Dairyland insurance. Now I don't know why I would ever go with anyone else. Thanks Blockhead!
Also when people don't return their shopping carts, it drives me nuts too. I made sure to return the carts even when I had my broke my ankle. The man who saw me return the cart with my cask on, just left his shopping cart by the corner of the store next to his car like it was nothing. Some people...
I'm 17 and I got my first harley. it's a 2003 883 100th anniversary with the gun metal blue paint. I don't know any other bike that fits me so nice like that sportster does.
Austin Mosier if you don't mind me asking, how do you pay for monthly payments and insurance. im a similar age and I want a bike really bad but money is a huge factor.
Oomer you didn’t see it, maybe he spit, cup accidentally fell out. He opened a door the second time debating to pick it up but maybe the light would turn green soon.
Cool vid. I'm in the same situation now. Doing a shit load of research on the Iron and the 48. I was leaning towards the iron and i think this video just sold me hahahaaa.
Excellent video. Clean audio. Crisp picture quality. You speak clearly and to the point. Now, I have two comments. 1). You are a very smart man to choose a well cared for Evo engine Harley. Cheap and reliable. Good on gas. 2). Keep away from performance mods. Sure, they will provide short term thrills. But all the gas you've saved by buying an 883 will be wasted on a gas guzzling expensively modded 1250cc immitation " 48 ". Imo I'd leave it alone. Now, watch some solid motorvloggers like Shawn Smoak and Motonewbrider. They both have sportsters. They may be able to help you if you choose to mod it. Tcrs !
Hey Richard, thanks for the feedback and kind words + comments, I appreciate it! I've actually already thrown a few mods on the bike, but nothing too major (AC / 2-to-2 exhaust, fuel controller.) Debating on the 1200 / 1250, but probably going to leave that alone for a long time! I watch Shawn Smoak all the time, actually quite a bit before I picked up my Iron, great guy and channel! I'll have to check out Motonewbrider. Thanks again!
+3800slomaro Someone who's car doesn't get good gas mileage, but they don't want a scooter? :) While it may not be important and is 'negligible' to you, it might be important and something worth considering to others. It was a consideration for me, and while it might not be that big of a difference on paper from gallon to gallon, over the life of the bike, I'd think the difference would probably look significant.
my "gas guzzling" 1200 gets 40-45mpg depending on how hard i ride. and thats with a good tune not running lean at all like they come epa mandated from the factory. it runs stong and cool and is much healthier for the bike than the 14.6 afr they come from the moco with.
I know this is an older video, but this was the one that convinced me to get my 883, and I haven't been more happy on two wheels. Been a sub for just a little bit, but your videos had definitely made my choice easier, much love brother Blockhead!
I also started on an 883. I had never ridden any type of motorcycle before this bike. I literally passed my MSF course on a Sunday and bought my bike the next Tuesday. IMO its a great bike to start on, a lot of torque, low seat hight, light, and great-looking. Its also pretty fast, my best was 105 (if you wanna go faster than that get a sport bike). Raced a new 6.2 V8 Silverado and we were going toe to toe.
Totally hit it on the head. Just bought mine for the exact same reasons you stated. Loving this bike as my first intro into the HD family. Thanks for the vids and tutorials. Ride safe.
Great video. I bought my 2014 voodoo purple 883 iron before I even knew how to ride. Saw it at the Harley dealership and it was love at first sight. Put 20,000 miles on her in 2 years. Living on an island that's only 100 miles around, that's a lot of circles. Next mod is a 1200 conversion kit. Ride safe and ride it like you stole it!
Matthew Kane I was on the street for 7 months before upgrading. if you want, go to my channel. I made an in depth review of the street 750 and that video will hopefully help you decide.
BxPolymath How did you enjoy the street 750? Harley claims it's the perfect city bike. I test rode one and didn't find it to be spectacular in any way. Why choose that bike over, say a Honda shadow 750? (I own a shadow, it's gutless but it's the absolute epitome of a cruiser IMHO)
Just passed my msf new rider course at harley davidson Pensacola. Ive been looking into the 883 and this video just solidified my choice. Great video and a new sub here.
Nice Vid , I ride a 2012 Iron 883, its my fourth Sportster. Sportsters are cool bikes, sure they are not lightweight or particularly powerful but they get the job done. The reason I bought mine is simple I liked it very much and still, and my bike is still mostly stock, save a K&N air filter stock replacement type, saves you money on having to buy new filters over the long run. in hindsight I wish I had bought a used one, I probably paid way too much for mine LOL but all the miles are mine. Insurance even here in expensive California is not bad for me, but then I'm a getting older 50ish dude. Nice to see another fan of the Sportsters. (Although the new XG 750 Street Rod is making me have thoughts of a second bike)
The Iron is an awesome bike, you'll never hear anyone say anything bad about it. It looks good, rides good, sounds good....you made the right choice. I have a Heritage myself, but if I were a smaller dude, I probably would've went for this bike.
Yeah by about the $400 extra you paid over the price of the Street Twin and who cares about resale value? If you sell the motorcycle you bought the wrong one.
For me it was a matter of the Harley's fit and finish. (I bought a Sportster "72") I was looking at the Indian Scout 60 and the Street twin. I already own two BMW road bikes so I opted for the union built Harley. I hear the Triumphs are partially or mostly made in India, and assembled in the U.K. Bought my Sportster with 400 miles on the clock and so far I love it.
i had a 48 for awhile, now i own a dyna lowrider. i still have a lot of love for the sportsters, so much fun packed into that bike. anyone who calls sportsters a girls bike either can't ride for shit or has never ridden a sportster. the time to upgrade will come, enjoy your rad sporty!
+socalflyer I've come across that a lot, people saying it's a girls bike, haha. I mean, I thinks it's a blast to ride, so to me that's all that matters. Away with all the haters, haha. Cheers for the comment socalflyer! 👍🏼
New rider here also I went to the Dealer and love the look of the iron, but thought it was a small bike. Seen the 48 and fell in love, researched used ones and thought this would be my first bike, went to the dealer seen a used 16 Slim S and threw common sense out the window. Bought it now growing into it and since it has the lowest seat height available and the throttle by wire, cruise and many new features it's not as hard to ride as I thought it was going to be still a little cautious cause it came with the 110 screaming eagle and it's 300 a month.
I inherited my Father in Laws 2000 XLH 883 several years ago and have considered upgrading to a newer bike several times. But it runs and looks great, being carbureted means it likes to be warmed up a little, but it also gives you that true Harley "potato potato potato" sound, even totally stock. Nice ride along the JYP... Sub'd
great review! i own a 2012 iron 883 a year older than yours, over 18,000 miles and still going strong! i dont baby my bike either! these 883s are meant to be abused! finally just got my new pair of tires on my iron this last summer ! only changed transmission lubricant and oil , yearly , didnt even adjust my belt yet! these bikes are so easy to maintain! but so easy to mod the crap out of them haha even 50 bucks can change the look dramatically. never get rid of the iron man!
Sounds like you've had a great time with yours thus far, glad to hear it! Enjoying mine as well, coming up on 5k service, it'll be nice to get fresh fluids :)
Thanks for this video, you’re a really calm reviewer and I liked this content. Many videos I’ve tried to watch have been incredibly annoying. You are very laid back and chill. I’m trying to get into the motorcycle world because I plan to sell/trade my mustang in and buy a motorcycle. So far I’m stuck between the 48 and the 883, we’ll see if this video helps me in my decision making, I’m only 4 mins in
Don't know if you already figured it out, but the red color of the filter is just oil. You can make the filter red again with the oil spray included in the K&N filter cleaning kit or it's also sold separately.
Hey Blockhead, you're sound as fuck, I'm just starting to get into motorcycles, and trying to look around for tips and shit as to how to make the most of em, and you've just got such a chill and class way of going about it Keep it up bud!
Nice video, dude. I just picked up a 48. In St. Pete. Got the exhaust and Fuelpak FP3, which is fun to fiddle with. Hope you're still enjoying your bike!
Love Blockhead and his crew. I researched a ton and Blockhead(along with Great Egret and Matt Laidlaw) make such great content for HD and the Iron 883 it was instrumental in my purchase of a new 2020 883 late last year. The only real advantage for new purchase is having a 2 year warranty that I had to use a couple times (electrical issue) that were fully covered by HD warranty. However, the rest of his points are all perfect. Great for new rider. Not crazy expensive. Modable. Fun to ride. The mid controls makes it easy to control for a new rider(flat foot easily) and insurance is around 35.00/month. Subscribe to Blockhead. You won’t disappointed. He seems like a real solid dude. RIDE SAFELY!!
Getting into motorcycles. Been eyeballing this model for some time now and this video and the other ones on your channel sold me. Good video keep it up! You’ve just got a new subscriber
nice bike man, I used to have a 2006 883R. it was a great bike and consistently got 58-60 mpg. that is until I bored it out to 1220cc and did cams. mileage went down to 38mpg but boy was it fun. I have a softail slim now but I miss the ol 883.
Nice, I'm debating on boring it out! I'm getting pretty low gas mileage even without boring it out, think I need to run the autotune w/ the FP3. Every time I hear about someone getting rid of the Iron, they always say they miss it, haha
Nice review, bro. I'm enjoying my Iron as well, and for many of the same reasons that you outline here. I definitely prefer the center-mounted pegs... just feel more in control and able to maneuver. I also think the Evo engine still shines after 33 years, and being air-cooled, it's a nice space heater at stops during the cool fall weather here in Ohio. :)
Just bought a iron today, such a different ride from a sports bike, thank you blockhead, all you vids have been great to watch and helped me make up my mind on the iron
I know this vid is a few years old but thanks for your opinions. They help save me the time of researching everything about the bike myself. Might just get me one of them. :)
Not sure if its the bike, or if it's because it was/is my first bike. But I can never part with it. So jealous of you guys in FL (I am from the tampa/bay area) you guys can ride pretty much year round. The weather here sucks in MD right now.
I went for a 2016 roadster, and love it. However, a mate of mine now has had 2 883's and loves them ! About your insurance blockhead, here in UK insurance would definitely be invalid you didn't inform them of engine mods. I know it's unlikely, but in the event of a fatal accident the engine could be stripped down as the 1200 mod is well known. I know insurance companies love to get out of paying compensation. For piece of mind, I would pay the extra dollars. Great video, now subscribed :)
Loved the video just wished the inner content of the video would've started a little sooner. Sweet comparisons and good reasoning man! I already ride an iron 883 but figured I'd watch this anyway haha.
+Matthew Mendoza True that, did take me a few mins to get there! I'll drop a time jump link in the beginning. Those damn litterbugs just threw me off my game! lol Cheers for the watch and comment, appreciated! Ride safe out there 👊🏼
I know this is a way older video but i just picked up a 2010 Iron 883 with the 1200 upgrade. Paid exactly $5,000. They seem to hold their value, and with 4k miles i thought that isnt too bad.
Just watched this man. Love your videos! I'm here in the UK and I passed my motorbike theory test last week. If the weather holds fair I'll get my practical real soon then I have permission from the wife. That's right...Permission! to get me an Iron 883!
Takes me back. I’m 70. Had a 65 CH. bored and stroked out to 74 inches. I loved it. Then put couple hundred thousand miles on two BMW’s. Still have one. A 1980. But jonesing for another stroker 883. They’re intoxicating. And two 4 9/16 inch strokes ain’t light on torque. And Sifton minus minus cams work great and accentuate that Harley lumpy idle that slays me to this day.
The 883 is a bike you can keep for life. The sheer number of after market options for it is astonishing, and the engine is a lovely, understressed lump - you can get a lot out of it. It's reasonably easy to take it up to a 1200 if you feel like it, or even throw in a 1250 performance kit if you want to haul some ass.
That's how I felt when I just got my Iron 883 this weekend. 2017 with only 1700 miles on it, guy already had put a day maker and some v&h slip ons which saves me a ton of money until i decide which exhaust I want.
These are the best new Harleys in my estimation. They aren't my kind of bike but you buy a Harley because it is a Harley, many bikes will out perform it but that in't really the point, like buying the new Bonnevilles that are well over priced but still well sought after. These just look so cool
Well said Ray! When purchasing it, I was buying it not to 'haul ass,' but to cruise and go with the flow. It's nice to have that extra pep, but if I wanted to zip around town as fast as I could, I would have gone the sport bike route. I have love for sport bikes, probably would own one in the future even, but for now, loving the Iron. And loving the look of the Iron as well :)
Just bought my first bike today and chose the 883 iron! Your videos are awesome and really helping me learn! Great stuff! Definitely joining your Patreon!
I went from a 2012 zx6r to a 2013 dyna wide glide. Harley's are a lot of fun and sound great. I miss the power sometimes but the dyna accelerates off the line so quick.
i love the sportsters , very well made versatile machines , ive owned three however as i live in the uk i have to ride a lot in rain and come across lots of roundabouts quite honestly the handling on all three sportys that ive owned has been so bad ive ended up selling them for that reason , great in a straight line and great to look at , sound wonderfull and very well made ,
I love my 883. I can't wait to get mine on the highway. Still learning how to ride and i got ro fix my shifter. I dropped it when i let the clutch out to fast. I'm looking in to getting shorty pipes.
I was thinking of the 883, but went with the 1200 because of the extra power and hopefully the bigger tank might take me further between gas stops. It seems like both bikes are nice.
I have a 2003 883 100th Anniversary Edition. I don't give a rats ass who likes the bike or not. I enjoy every second riding it. I didn't buy the bike to impress other bikers or enter a pee pee measuring contest...I bought it because I like to ride.
I could do that, but it might not be the most accurate review! I ended up taking my bike in after the exhaust + tune and they found out my throttle was only going up to 70%. After they adjusted that, it was a world of difference, so I wasn't just feeling the effects of the stage 1, haha
I am British. Did some work recently in the USA - but I couldn't spot a bad neighborhood - your comment about not stopping in a particular neighbourhood puzzles me - how can you see where is safe and where isn't. In the UK it's obvious to us by the vibe - but when the sun is shining in the USA it really isn't. Apparently I took a walk in the absolute worst part of a town in Ohio and didn't even notice.
There's a few tells about where rougher neighborhoods in the US are. 1) Check cashing place (like Amscot,) next to a liquor store. 2) Lots of bus stops. 3) Bars over windows of local businesses and houses. 4) Chain link fence / fencing surrounding communities / businesses / houses. 5) Heavy police presence in the area (either on patrol in vehicle or on foot.) There's a clear different here in Orlando anyways. I'll have to do a video in the future of the differences maybe, haha
hell yeah man. love the 883. got a 2009 iron last year with 2k miles on it. Ya that's right only had 2k on it and got it for 4500. love it!! only problem was exhaust had some dings and a little rust everything else spotless. changed exhaust to v&h big radius anyway. ride on and stay safe brother
started installing my drag bars and speedo relocation today. Did you have any problems with your turn signal hitting your speedo. mine was hitting but might need a little tinkering still. started getting late and ran out of time.
I took the rider's course through Orlando Harley last year & just been itching to ride ever since! I've been slowly saving up for my first bike. Let me know when you wanna sell that 883!
You got to love youtube recommendations. I was looking in to the Iron883 and the Indian Scout, and this video showed up. Thanks for the excellent review man, exactly what I was thinking.
Love the video, I ride a 2013 883 picked it up with 5000miles on it this summer. Funny enough, I always stand up over bumps with forward controls and ape hangers.
That's awesome, barely any mileage on that at all for a 2013! Mine had like 3,000 when I picked it up, practically new :) With apes and forward controls, you're able to get that angle to pull yourself up over bumps! That's a good solution. I imagine with stock handlebars like I have on mine + forward controls, it wouldn't be as easy, haha. I'm always thinking of going lower w/ the handlebars vs higher. Not quite drags, but maybe some clip ons.
Nice choice. I started with a sporster also but upgraded to a dyna street bob a couple months later. The fatter front tire handles better but I like the looks of a taller skinny tire better. Good luck brother. Keep the shinny side up.
Got my 09 Harley Vrod muscle only 4,000miles for $9,500 private sale. Had owned a softail springer,..& an R1 before ,....to me its the best of both worlds. Love this 883,..looks like a very fun bike
Love the channel. Just a point to bear in mind with insurance. Yes, if you upgrade the engine the insurance company will still see the bike as an 883, but if you ever need to claim, they will do whatever they can to not pay out. If they find the bike is a 1200 the insurance will be invalid!
Appreciate the note regarding insurance; in Canada, it's required, and a friend of mine, who kept his sport bike out on his front porch, woke up one day to find it - just gone. This was bad enough, but the damned insurance company threw out so many specious arguments to keep from paying up that he was ready to start bringing in a provincial ombudsman to start arbitration. They did FINALLY live up to contractual agreements, but he now takes serious security moves to ensure this never happens again.
I chose the 883 because I just got back into riding after 20 year hiatus. I plan to install a hammer 1275 kit this fall and elevate my anniversary edition. I already have stage 1 screaming eagle 🦅 intake and slip ons. Carb is tuned well. Can’t wait to big bore. I wanna see if it’s faster than the 1200 I bought my wife. She loves the look of the 1200 custom (chromed out). I love the look of my all black anniversary edition.
I have a 1200 sportster and it's light weight with more power I put a fatbob tank and rear fender and it's nimble on the street. There's a lot of options for the sportster type bikes only downfall is the chintzy sounding horn. Ride safe.
Yeah, of all the things I could upgrade or modify, I agree its the horn that needs it the most. Everything else about mine is pretty darn awesome! I'm lovin' it.
Wish I got a vid of it, but when I was test riding Harleys, the 48 felt pretty intimidating to me too size-wise. Glad you got what you like! Couldn't be happier with my Indian.
The 1200 conversion is a nice idea, but here in BC, Canada you need to declare the actual displacement of the bike when you insure it (ICBC has our balls in a vice) if you get into an accident, or even get pulled over at a road check and they find out you are only paying for 883cc when you have 1200cc your insurance is voided. You'll lose your bike and maybe your license. Personally, I think 883cc is plenty really. I ride a DR650 currently and I have no problem with highway speeds. an extra 233cc and one more piston should have no trouble really. All 1200cc does it drink more fuel and at $1.30+ per liter I'd keep the fuel sipping 883
Very cool, haven't seen a matte black 48! I've seen gloss before and it looked nice. I do love the motor and tires on the 48, the tires being bigger, especially the front, make it looks so much more beefy. Ride safe out there!
+burt spradlin We got lucky, it was more offshore than expected so the conditions in Orlando weren't as bad as we thought they were going to be. Mrs. Blockhead and I (plus the Iron, haha) are doing well, thanks for the thoughts and well wishes Burt!
great and informative video! this is the bike that I was really looking to get and you sold me on it. thanks for such a good clear video. keep up the great work man. love the bike! lol
Hey bro, you're in my area, awesome! I'm looking to go with the 883, just shopping it around in the area. I'm a fast ass so obviously there will be suspension mods to be done but I love the looks of the bike and the ride style.
