Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 883 Hugger reviews

This was my motorcycle from the time it was new. The looks, power and sound of this bike are awesome. It cruises very well and is a solid and very dependable bike. The sissy bar is a removable unit that comes off in less than 20 seconds and leaves very little to show it was ever on the bike. The rear seat also comes off very easily and leaves the bike with a solo seat and smooth tail that is clean and bobbed. Show less

I have not been on a bike for two years or so and just got one again. I seem to like to be back on a bike again which is always missed when you have and are not. I would say I don't know yet on the overall but it is not a Honda so by association it is a better bike. Show less

This is a good motorcycle that you will want to keep. It handles narrow country roads excellent, but will do just fine on a major highway. The Fatboy is my favorite, but the Sportster is great for country roads. In other words, do not trade it in if you get a large road bike! Show less

This is my first Harley having only owned Japanese bikes in the past, and I can honestly say I'm starting to "get" the Harley mystique at this point. The 883 Iron is a wonderful combination of looks and performance that really spoke to me. Power is generous for its displacement and is delivered fairly evenly across the power band; the engine genuinely seems to like running at high RPMs. Maneuverability is extremely good compared to some of its siblings in the Sportster range because of its better lean angles both right and left. Low-speed maneuverability is absolutely amazing. The only drawback I see at this point is the fact that some compromises were made in the area of ride comfort. The "slammed" appearance of the bike comes at the expense of a very short rear suspension, which can be a bit jarring on bumpy roads. However, much like a Jeep, a great Harley is frequently built, not bought. At this point I've replaced the stock mirrors with different ones from the Harley line - this give me, and my wide shoulders, much better rear visibility. If you don't like the ride comfort, longer rear shocks are available. If you don't think it has quite enough power, Harley even sells an engine upgrade to turn the 883 into a 1200. I see this first 1,000 miles as the beginning of a much longer journey, and will likely continue to tinker with this bike for years to come. Show less

Well the ride is rough so I can see me upgrading the shocks and seat. Other than that I love the bike. I can't stay off it. I just make up any reason to go for a ride, short rides though (rough). I love the looks and the ride at low or high speed is great. You'd never know the bike's 545 lbs. It feels more like 200 lbs., like a dirt bike I had 30 years ago. Oh yeah, I should have mentioned I retired and thought I had to have a Nightster. I love the old time look, forward controls. Show less

I have owned this bike three full years, and purchased it new. I use it for commuting and transportation, riding about 3k-4k miles per year March - November. In Maine, that means I ride in temperatures ranging from 20 deg. F to 90 deg. F (20 deg. F is only bearable because my commute is 15-20 minutes). The Sportster is my third bike. It handles well for a cruiser/standard, and has good power for a 1200 cc V-twin. Gas mileage varies from the low 40s in mixed city/highway riding to nearly 50 mpg. on extended rides on secondary roads. Most maintenance is simple enough to do at home with basic tools and a repair manual. The main weaknesses of the bike are the suspension and seat. Personally, I would also prefer a cast 19 inch front wheel. My only issue so far has been a loose ground cable connection at the battery, which left me stranded beside the road a few weeks ago. My wife came with my truck and tools, and I fixed it in about 15 minutes. This is the price you pay for riding a non-counterbalanced V-twin. Show less

I used to ride sport bikes when I was in my teens and twenties. Then when I hit 30 I saw the light and went into some Honda cruisers, and almost bought a Honda VTX 1300 before I bought this Nightster. I have to say it's an awesome bike. It does vibrate and it's not annoying on the vibration. It's just part of the rumble of the 1200 cc motor's tone. The ride is very quick of the line, plenty of low end torque. I have a stage 1 and remapping of the EFI and it runs far away from the Honda VTX 1300 which a buddy of mine owns. Now he wants a Harley. It's very low to the ground so it's not for riders over 5'10" tall. I used to believe a lot of what all these people say about Harleys and now I know it's all in the eye of the individual rider. But if you look at the top ten list of what we Americans do compared to the rest of tbe world, Harley motorcycles are mentioned in the list as some of the best built and best riding motorcycles in the world. I mean why do you think there are such things as Shadows, Vulcans, Boulevards, and others trying to do it like Harley but just not quite doing it. Well enough I say, but that's my experience. Try one for yourself. Show less

I bought my 2007 883C in late 2010 from a guy who stored it for three years (it was still like new). I've ridden it for a summer and a half so far with no complaints. It's an awesome bike. If you're a "large" fellow, you might want a bigger engine, but the 883 is PERFECT for me (5'10 and 190 lbs.). It accelerates like a rocket, has plenty of low-end torque and cruises at 75 mph. all day long. The rubber mount engine and fuel injection are great additions to the Sportster line. It's classic, has beautiful lines, great mechanics and a well-executed package of exhilaration. If you want to be hunched over a chainsaw, or ride a poser, buy a metric. If you're after a real cruiser and you're not dramatically overweight, pick up an 883C! The forward controls and laid-back handlebars help ensure a comfortable ride and the huge gas tank helps you put on the miles without stopping so often to fill up! I can't say enough good things about the 883C! It's got to be the best version of the Sportster ever devised! Show less

Listen...I'm so tired of hearing people knock the Sportster as...an underpowered bike, a Harley rip-off, or my favorite....a woman's bike. Who can resist the sight of that peanut tank and the feeling it gives you when you sit on Sporty and see that tank? You want a "bigger" bike, there are plenty of them out there. My wife owns this bike, and she loves it. It's got all the power she will ever need and Sporty is a perfect fit for her. I ride an Electra Glide Classic, but I get on her 883L every chance I get. It handles great, and has enough power/torque in 1st and 2nd gear to lift the front wheel. The ONLY knock we had about the bike was the seat, which I replaced with a Mustang solo. Hey, there must be a reason that the Sportster is still Harley's number one selling bike in its arsenal. The problem a lot of people have is that too many equate size with performance. The 2007 883L is a fuel-injected performance machine. Get off its back and on its seat and you'll find that out for yourself. Show less

This is my 4th season on my Sportster, and it has been a very good ride. I road a 1200 Gold Wing for 17 years, so this was quite a change for me. To make the Sportster a better road machine, I replaced the seat with one from Mustage with a rider backrest. The rear shocks are progressive. I now have 47,000 mile on it with one small oil leak which was corrected. I am 76 years old, and I still love to hit the open road on my little piglet. Show less