Harley advice

[12dja]

Hi there,
I am going to view a 1992 HARLEY DAVIDSON XLH 883 DELUXE SPORTSTER on Sunday with a view to making it my first Harley. I am quite excited as I have waited a fair while to get back on a bike and after popping about on my Chinese 125 for the last 6 months it's definitely time to find something a bit more adventurous. Anyway I was wondering if anyone could advise me on any particulars or known problems with these that may help me make up my mind before I commit. I don't know a great deal about bikes mechanically and even less about Harley's but I've spent most of my adult life maintaining my families vehicles and am an engineer by trade so am fairly handy.
Anyway I look forward to reading any advice and comments you are kind enough to leave.
Thanks in advance,
Dom

[MarJay]

You want to support the company who destroyed the only decent division it had purely for the purposes of corporate protectionism? Hardly a watchword for Engineering excellence and build quality.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Robby]

They're basic bikes, but parts can be pricey. If it looks clean enough and run alright, it'll be fine. 92 means Evo engine so it has hydraulic lifters, meaning the only maintenance the engine should need is oil and plugs.

Coming to it from a 125, expect a lot more torque but don't expect a drastically higher top end. Anything over 70 will be uncomfortable.

If it has the Harley branded tyres, don't expect to enjoy riding it in the wet. They're shocking.

[angryjonny]

Why a Harley in particular?

We rented a Road King in Hawaii and it was a hoot in the right setting, but give me something European or Japanese for every day use.

[12dja]

Thanks for the input. Especially to Robby who has put my mind at rest. I have done the fast car thing. I'm past that. Unless I win the lotto! As far as my intentions with any bike I buy is certainly not to get anywhere any quicker than is absolutely comfortable so top speed and acceleration are of little interest to me. I am more of a slow and steady kind of bloke and owning a Harley is surely a bucket list thing for us all at some point in time.

I will go take a look on Sunday and see what it's all about. I'm currently reading up on registration and all that nonsense. It's a fresh import and needs registration etc. A monumental pain by the looks of it

Thanks again

Dom

[Rogerborg]

[stinkwheel]

Never ridden either but anyone I know who likes their Harley says to not buy a small sportster. It will disappoint. If you want a sportster, get a big one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ariel Badger]

That will be "Helpful" Roger, you English teacher would be ashamed.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Alpineandy]

[Rogerborg]

[thx1138]

[mentalboy]

Back on topic:
Harley chrome, especially on their range of bling bike accessory stuff, can be shoddy.
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Make mine a Corona.

[dannymassive]

There is a forum dedicated to Harley Davidson owners here in the UK, I would suggest that you register and browse through the threads there. Obviously the USA forum is full of knowledge, but the UK models are slightly different as is our weather - it is nice to see British owners perspective on things.

[grr666]

I rode an 'Iron Hoof 801' or whatever they are called out for an hour on a test ride to see what all the Harley fuss was about.
It bottomed out way before my wifes 125 step through scooter would have on some quite ordinary bends.
Some further reading after I handed it back (after the dullest hour of my life) revealed it also had uneven lean angles
27degrees to the right and 28 degres to the left. I also couldn't believe how little poke it had, or that my little car
revs 1500rpm higher. They didn't feel the need to add a rev counter because it doesn't really rev. It sounded awful too.
I don't get to say this about many big bikes, but my ER6 commuter would totally rinse one of those in any test
but heaviness. Has the OP tried riding a bike that goes round corners and accelerates, you know the things a bike
is meant to do? For instance a MT09, they review well, give good bang for buck and are most importantly fun to ride.
Or is your choice of bike more of an aesthetic thing?
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Has anyone found out quite why they are laughingly called sportsters?
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Hetzer]

I've ridden the Breakout twice, for a fair distance the second time. A really pukka thing but worth even half what they want brand-new? Or even 2nd-hand? Fuck NO! Lol. You pay thousands for an idea/brand/image/concept/exclusivity. The engineering is off a depression-era tractor and the finish is Jing-Jong xmas-cracker.

But they do hold their 'value' so the risk is minimal.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Schmortster
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Vifferguy]

Ask Hellkat about Harley ownership in the UK, she has one.

[Alawson68]

Before anyone else says it

Don't forget your backless chaps for the test ride

Safety first
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1968 Vespa Primavera
2016 KTM Duke 390

[hellkat]

[Motorhate]

I’ll give you my two-bobs worth on my 2005 XL883 L Sportster that I’ve got. Not sure what condition / upgrades have been done on yours but mine needed a lot to make it even a half-decent ride. The shocks really are - “shocking”. They’re terrible and should be swapped out for a progressive set, or Hagon replacements immediately. The stock seat is shite and your back will hate you forever more when doing long rides. The combination of bad seat and bad shocks makes for a spine-jarring experience. Next the brakes. They’re shocking too. Single disc on front and back combined with poor quality callipers does not equal great stopping power. You’ll need to throw the anchor out of sharp braking and you’ll need to be more attentive due to the lazy braking. Not impressed at all. The stock exhaust is crap and should be replaced ASAP as will the air intake. If you do both, you’ll need to rejet the carbs which isn’t as hard as it sounds an and access is easy. Oil and plug changes are a breeze but the oil needs to be changed with 10w/50 every 2-3000 miles. There’s tons of aftermarket parts made by both Harley and other manufacturers out there of varying quality. Harley-Davidson will dry-anal you for most parts so its always worth seeking out an alternative.

All in all, my opinion of the Sportster (up to 2006) is very little bike for a whole lot of money. Stock bikes are a severely restricted powerplant held together by a mis-match of imperial and metic sized bolts and screws. For the price, it simply isn’t worth it. I can’t comment on the later fuel-injected models but the carb models are built on hype fof the HD name.
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Current - Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob | Harley Davidson FLTR Road Glide | Harley Davidson Road King
GONE - Honda CB500 Ratbike | Yamaha FZ750 | Yamaha XVS1100 | Kawasaki VN2000 | Kawasaki ER-6 F | Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster

[Evil Hans]

[Robby]

I agree with everything Motorhate said, apart from the seat - mine had an aftermarket seat that was designed for a much larger gentleman than myself, the stock single seat was more comfortable for me and looked better.

Apart from that, from stock they need air filter, exhausts, remap or rejet and rear shocks. Mine was the twin disc model so the brakes were OK, but the stock brake pads (like the tyres) seem to last a long time by not generating much friction.

I wouldn't buy one new. The sticker price is really quite reasonable - I think less than a Japanese equivalent cruiser - but you'll need to spend £1-2k on making worth riding, and people than tend to spend another chunk of cash on styling (keep the original parts, your styling choices will be offensive to most buyers).

I think of Harleys for grownups in the same way I think of pitbikes for children, just much more expensive. The stock machine is flawed, but lots and lots of parts are available to improve it, and they really make a difference. Do an air filter, exhaust and remap on a sports 600 and you may get a small increase in power and usability. Do it on a Harley and expect a huge improvement.

Also, don't get a Japanese cruiser. Nothing rides quite like a Harley. They're crap on paper and hated by a lot of people that haven't ridden one, but for some of us they're just right.

[gorillaonabik...]

Brakes. They are appalling compared to anything else. I test rode a 1200 Sportster and once I'd put my fillings back in, I was amazed how slowly it stopped, even at slow speeds.

I get why someone might want to buy one although that test ride put me off. Too slow, can't throw it around and stopped like an oil tanker which put me right off. Steered a lot better than I thought, a lot more responsive but dropped off the bucket list sharpish.

That and tassels. Too many tassels... * shudders *
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[naetype]