Modern Vespa

I'm thinking about buying a HARLEY - DAVIDSON Sportster 883

Don't worry - My wife already knows about this "new idea"

Is there any real reasons not to buy? For example, seating, reach, weight, maintenance, bad for your back, expensive to maintain, bad manufacturing, etc??

I'll keep my Beverly Cruiser... I just like the feel of a bigger bike. I ride my BVC 10 times more often than my GTS 300 even though the GTS has better handling and acceleration

I don't know anything about the market in Europe, but the Sportster is (as you already know) their entry-level bike in terms of price, and as such, there are gobs and gobs of them on the 2nd-hand market. My only suggestion if you are going to buy a Sporty is to get one used...

Is there any way for you to snag a test ride on one before you purchase?

That experience would answer almost all of your questions about the bike.

Otherwise, if it's what you think you want, go for it.

The obvious answer I come up with "it's a harley!!"

My reason would be because it's not a Vespa, but I'm a little biased.

If you reeeeaallly like it and you know you'll get good use out of it, buy it! Even I can appreciate a nice motorcycle. Looks pretty good.

Pros:

You get to dress like a pirate and nobody makes fun of you.

Cons:

There are millions of other pirates dressed just like you.

lol

I personally like them. They're nice bikes, and the Sportster is just about the right size (for me).

My biggest problem with Harleys is the stigma associated with them, and I would probably decline to buy one on those grounds. Same reason I would probably not buy a Prius.

Too expensive (at least in Canada) and too heavy. Found the seating very uncomfortable. Lots of get up and go, but the braking was somewhat on the weak side. Handling was good, but no match for the Vespa.

I've had three of em, lots of fun, especially that low end grunt

As OAD shared on the MP3 forum the 2010 Buell Blast is the best use of a Harley yet. http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/blast/

Pros:
No valve adjustments, ever.
Long lasting drive belt (excess of 50K miles) that is auto tensioned
Torque
Pretty good handling "standard"
In the states HD will guaranty MSRP for trade-in(up) within a year.
Maintenance is pretty simple. Fluid changes and inspections.

Cons:
A bit pricey.
A bit on the heavy side but easily manageable (I'm very tall and wiry and can handle my Street Glide fine)
You get to listen to everybody tell you Harleys suck.

In the end. Ride one if you can then decide for yourself.

All bike decisions are decisions of the heart, there is no right and wrong. I haven't ridden an 883 but I don't think you'll get any improvement in handling and performance etc over the scoots you have. Seeing as Harley has had such poor year are we likely to get discounts soon? Also will you be happy in a years time knowing your riding their entry level bike rather than getting a used 1200? Have you also looked at bikes like the triumph speedmaster? Are you sure you want 3 bikes?

Go rent one. They rent Harleys almost everywhere. You'll get a much better feel for the bike by renting one for a day than taking a test ride.
FYI in 2004 the Sporsters changed dramatically by having their engines rubber mounted. It made them much smoother to ride.

I love my Harley. I also love my Ducati and my Vespa. None of them are better than the other, they are all different.

+1. Have done this on a couple of occasions, and had a great time riding them around in the OBX area.

Harley's "entry level", "chick" bike is 600lb wet with farkles. And the way you dress is up to you.

They can be outfitted with any number of seats, windshields, luggage racks, backrests, saddle bags, depending on your intended use. At least in the U.S. a dizzying assortment of that stuff is in dealer stock for "test sitting".

And Harleys are probably, % wise, less $$ than Vespas compared to other bikes of similar type.

there is only one reason not to buy one if it is not white don't buy it. I only like white ones. When I was toying with the idea I was advised not to buy the 883 which is the one I liked. They suggested to get the 1200 and the newer model with something different about the suspension or rubber mounting?? can't remember. I am not a Harley expert but appreciate the desire for one. I don't see them as very practical other then a show pony. So far I have managed to fight off the urge.

Why not? Arguably they are more practical than a Vespa after you put a trunk or saddlebags on them.
How so?
Maintenance intervals are every 5000 miles, and basically only require an oil and filter change. Hydraulic valves so no adjusting there. Belt drive so no chain to oil/adjust. Perfect fuel injection. Tyres apparently last much longer than Vespa tyres. No worries about power etc etc.

Just gas and go.

It feels good until somebody sees you?

I just got in from picking up my 2010 Iron 883 - it's way awesome! There is no reason why you shouldn't pick one up - none (my op). I can't wait to finish up work and go riding - I like my other scoots and won't be parting with them (sans the Sport) but the Harley is just great! You will not be disspointed if you go the Sportster route.

arguably, Lets face it for everyday use I am sure your GTS with a top box is hard to beat for practical everyday running around, leave unattended, securely locked up, light and nimble to park and wade through traffic. I stand by my statement and in reality are mostly used as show ponies made for american freeways. I know several people with them but none commute. We can argue that it is possible but it is not common because it is impractical. It is possible to drive through Amsterdam in an F250 but there more practical ways if you are going to do it everyday.

Damn Geo, I'm a jealous man. Love the 883. If the wife would let me have one, I'd buy one tomorrow. Still working on her.

.............ok now I'm hurt........I have a Pruis ........but that's ok because I agree with you on the HFD!

It's not the car, it's what you do with it that counts.

Tell me again why it is impractical? Put a top box on it and it is just as practical as a Vespa. And it's side stand is much much more stable than the center stand on the Vespa. I know, I have both. Go figure someone talking who has actual experience..

And like I mentioned, the Harley is much more practical when it comes to maintenance. It requires far less of it, with parts that last far longer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking my Vespa at all. I love it. But I'm just pointing out that the idea that a Harley is a 'show pony' as you put it is patently false. A Vespa can be one too. It depends on how the owner uses it.

the sprotster is a good all around bike and it is built for anyone that like the style don't be fooled it has very good power and fun to ride.

How about the Scootster? Its a kit.

www.scootster.com

Miguel

If given the choice, I'd go with the 1200 Sportster,
The 883 is considered the budget Harley.

Even the 1200 Sportster will give you the occasional thumbs down,
But the 1200 Sportster is the nicest medium between the two.

The stock Sportster seat sucks, but the Sundowner (from the HD P&A catalog) is suh-weeet. Beth thought about an 883, but opted for a 1200 in the end. The 883 Custom, 1200 Low and 1200 Custom have 4.5 gallon tanks, the 883 Low, 883 Iron and 1200 Nightster have 3.3 gallon tanks.

The Sportsters are a wee bit top-heavy feeling, more so than the Big Twins. Beth found that for everyday running around, she prefers to not fill the tank all the way (she's got a 1200L - 4.5 tank).

Check if the offer that's available in the States (full price on trade-in, if you trade up to a BT within a year) is available in Europe.

If you buy that Harley, you'll have four parts that I've had a hand in manufacturing; five if you get a BT.

The only Vespa - HD comparison I'll make is resale value. Vespa blows, HD WAY better, at least in the States.

The rest of the comments from people that have had NO experience with an HD should be disregarded.

The 1200 is actually lighter than the 883, too.

An old joke: What does shagging a fat chick have in common with riding a scooter.

They're both fun, until a friend sees you.

Seemed appropriate with all the HD phobia I've read here...The costume cracks, and personality stereotypes are truly amazing. But then having grown up in a MN city of 25K with two Harley shops in the 50's, I have a very different view of who rides an HD. I just wish they'd stop waving!

Miguel,

That's one long bike. Love the step through design.

Wayne B

I looked long and hard at the Iron 883 myself but in the end getting zero attention at the HD shop was enough to turn me off to buying one at that time. I was also a bit concerned about the image it might present as I use my scoot for work (Realtor), personally I don't judge based on brand but I know that HD riders like sports bike riders and even scooterists all have images/stereotypes in most peoples minds.

If you buy a new one you might just as well get a few thousand dollars in one hundred dollar bills and light them in your back yard.
Anyone who thinks Harley resale is good is "so five years ago" and has not been on ebay, cycle trader or craigslist where they sit unsold. There are boatloads of these useless chrome noisemakers for sale everywhere. If you know what a good handling bike with good brakes and power is like, you are going to be dissapointed in most of what HD markets. Harley has been cutting production for over 4 years now and are shipping half the bikes they did in '04 with no end in sight to the slow sales.

Same as buying a new Vespa. Or Honda. Or Ducati. Or BMW etc etc.

I'll have to correct you on that, Sorry.

What do a fat chick and a moped have in common?
They are both fun to ride until your friends catch you.

Why are they useless? I've had lots of bikes and currently my two motorcycles are a Ducati and a Harley. I know what a good handling bike is etc etc. I am not remotely disappointed with my Harley. You don't ride a Harley like a sportbike. Just like you don't ride a scooter like a dirt bike...

This sounds like just another opinion from someone with no actual experience....

True, but right now the HD is going to hurt you the worst by a big margin because of all the used ones available and the fact that the new ones just aren't selling.

Harley's sales have actually decreased far less than any of the other Japanese mfgs. What has hurt them are the bogus loans that they wrote.
There are lots of used ones available. There are also lots of used other bikes available. If you want to buy a used bike, that is great. Like I just did with my Vespa. But if you want to buy a new one, that is great too.
If people didn't buy nice new bikes, we wouldn't have nice used ones to buy!