Its a size thing...

Hi there, hoping you guys could help me out. After many years (and 16 bikes) my childhood ambition of getting a Harley is close to being realised. Object of my attention is the Iron 883 but surfing for info (dangerous I know) has got me confused. Numerous tests and reviews advise that anyone over 5, 10 should steer clear as they will a) be uncomfortable and b) look ridiculous. I am just over 5, 11 and a slim 12 stone . With this in mind I went to my local dealer for a sit on a Nightster (all Irons sold) as its apparently physically the same size. Felt good to me, even got my wife to take a picture and it looked in proportion? Now most of these reviews were from the US...do we (UK) get a different spec over here? The seat hight of 735mm is certainly higher than what the US sites talk about.

I guess what I am looking for is real comments from people that actually ride the bikes around feel and to a lesser extent the look. I have a test ride tomorrow so that will answer a lot of this but 15 mins around the block is no substitute for real road miles.

Any advice gratefully received

[hogdiver]

Originally Posted by Tyler_D

Hi there, hoping you guys could help me out. After many years (and 16 bikes) my childhood ambition of getting a Harley is close to being realised. Object of my attention is the Iron 883 but surfing for info (dangerous I know) has got me confused. Numerous tests and reviews advise that anyone over 5, 10 should steer clear as they will a) be uncomfortable and b) look ridiculous. I am just over 5, 11 and a slim 12 stone . With this in mind I went to my local dealer for a sit on a Nightster (all Irons sold) as its apparently physically the same size. Felt good to me, even got my wife to take a picture and it looked in proportion? Now most of these reviews were from the US...do we get a different spec over here? The seat hight of 735mm is certainly higher than what the US sites talk about.

I guess what I am looking for is real comments from people that actually ride the bikes around feel and to a lesser extent the look. I have a test ride tomorrow so that will answer a lot of this but 15 mins around the block is no substitute for real road miles.

Any advice gratefully received

Me 5-8" and 11.5 stone , i HAD a Sportster and not to small for me, i gotta softail now as wanted the bigger Engine, but if the Nightster had been around i may have been tempted...go for it

[the_monster]

I wouldn't worry about the reviews. the press bikes are always better preped and most of the press view Harley as coco the clown and satan's love child regardless of what the bike is like.

try it out, that's the only way to find out and go round the different dealers trying the bike as well - some are better prepared than others.

[wizhard]

Hi.
Im also 5'11" and 12 stone and have no trouble with the sporty, I could have got a bigger harley but I like the compactness of the sporty and find it good for sit back and taking it easy sort of riding or having a blast round bendy country roads, its also better for filtering through traffic on our overcrowded roads than the bigger bikes. I think the big twins score when you are going to do very high milleges on bigger roads at speed. just my opinion.
mike

[Brigg]

Me 5'10 - 15 stone - Have an 02 XL883 and 07 1200C.... No problem.

Pulls my fat bastard weight no problem, both bikes ooze character... Justget what fits you best... and you are comfrotable with....

[MORDUEMAN]

I am 6' 4" and 15 stone and look like a Monkey on a Mangle when I sat on a Sportster, my knees were up around my chin.

Its not fair as I love Sportsters, why wont they fit !

[dgro76]

I'm 5' 11" and went for the custom to take advantage of the forward controls. I've ridden an 88l Low and did feel my knees were up around my ears.

I got lucky and found a custom within my price range but was prepared to go for a standard with mid controls - I'm sure I could have got used to them, but as with the Sportster range there are so many variations to choose from I got the old "if I spend an extra £xxx it'll make all the difference and I won't regret it in a years time" problem. I'm sure that if all Sportsters came with mid controls there wouldn't be an issue and I'd be riding it without any problems!

[brilliant monk]

hi I'm 6.1" about 12 stone and have had no prob's with the iron, I did have the forward controls fitted though, found the mid controls a little to cramped, every one who's seen it loves the look, bikers and non bikers so I'd say go for it you wont regret it.

[Sportsterboy1974]

Hi, i'm about the same size as you being 5ft 11" and slim. I have had three Sportsters all with mid controls and find them comfortable for short blasts but anything over 50 miles i start feeling like all knees and elbows. I would really recommend you get a test ride and take one out for a good hour (just tell them you got lost..lol!). I have rode a Street Bob once and that bike fit me like a glove..when i got back on my Sporty it felt like a monkey bike..lol! Unfortunetly a Street Bob is way out of my budget. The Sportsters are great little bikes though and i do like the look of the Iron..personally though i prefer the grunt of the 1200 motor. All the best

[BigKev]

Hi - I'm 6'5" and about 17 stone and enjoyed a 53c for around 18 months till I felt I needed more of everything and traded up to a Dyna FXDX.

All Harleys are crying out to be modified so you can make it your own.

When I got my Sporty, I added extended forwards, longer rear shocks, a bigger seat and buckhorn bars.

Fitted me nicely after that