Harley davidson....yeah, sorry...

[porsche4786]

Anybody here ride an 883? I'm supposed to pick up a 2004 883 custom for my dad. Just wondering how they are to ride.

[Mr.7]

Harley?  :lol:

[porsche4786]

Not sure if I would buy one, but I think they are pretty cool. It's going to be my dads though, not mine...

[Roadstergal]

Just wondering how they are to ride.

Vibratey, heavy, steers like a cow.

[porsche4786]

It can't be THAT bad.

[scratch]

If it doesn't already have forward foot controls (and pegs), the aircleaner (if fitted) will be in the way of your right knee, such that you will not be able to grip the tank with that knee, and at a very awkward, one-knee out angle. Unless, it has a 5 gallon fat bob tank on it (which I would prefer personally, with the forward controls, but that would be neither here nor there). It definitely wont handle like a GS, but it's not that bad either; just awkward.

[porsche4786]

It's got the bigger tank, 4.3 gallons i think, all customs have the forward controls, but on a 883/1200 it's not quite as far as the bigger bikes, I never thought about the air box being in the way on the right...oh well, i'm only riding it about 30 miles.

[scratch]

4.3 still ain't big enough. I haven't heard if they're coming stock with forward controls nowadays; last I remember is back in 1997 they didn't.

Edit: oops, sorry, 1987. (Actuallly, I remember up to '90, they didn't)

[porsche4786]

Yeah, the customs come with forward controls, all others are standard, but since I have longer legs it should feel better. I thought the gs's tanks were kinda on the big side at 5.3 gallons.

[davipu]

you might as well leave it there, it's going to be back in a week anyway.

[Roadstergal]

I thought the GSs' tanks were kinda on the big side at 5.3 gallons.

I love the big tank.  I can go all of the way around Rainier without refilling.  Most bikes have a sub-200 mile range, and it gets old fast.

[porsche4786]

it's not new, it's at a guys house. I think the newer harleys work better, the older ones had oil leaks, when i say older i mean like 90's

[porsche4786]

I thought the GSs' tanks were kinda on the big side at 5.3 gallons.

I love the big tank.  I can go all of the way around Rainier without refilling.  Most bikes have a sub-200 mile range, and it gets old fast.

I have to switch to reserve before 200 miles.

[GeeP]

you might as well leave it there, it's going to be back in a week anyway.

HAHAHAHA!

[oramac]

it's not new, it's at a guys house. I think the newer harleys work better, the older ones had oil leaks, when i say older i mean like 90's

My neighbor bought a 2004 883 with the orange / checkered flag paint job.  It was almost completely stock (aftermarket seat and windscreen), and it spent more time in the shop than under his rear due to mechanical problems and oil leak / fuel starvation issues.

On his first trip to the shop with the starvation issue (still under warranty), he had to have Screamin' Eagle slides installed in his carb, and his carb rejetted to get it to idle and accellerate correctly (with stock pipes).  Oh, and he had to buy the parts necessary to make his bike run normally.  Stock parts wouldn't correct the problem.  Then, he had to take it back because the airbox kept filling up with oil which was getting into his carb.  Another lengthy stay at the stealership and some more pricey but necessary aftermarket parts to make the oil leak issue disappear.  

At least the labor was free.  But, after buying the ridiculously inflated parts, who would know.

His bike has been back in the shop on three separate occasions since these, but I don't ask anymore since it seems to be a sore spot with him.  Especially since the GS I own was once his that he got rid of to buy the Harley, and while he sits at home on beautiful days, he sees me ride off on his 'old' bike.  :lol:

[The Buddha]

Most harley riders never have owned or ridden anything else ... They run like sheite ... and the freaking air filter is in the way of your knee ... my neighbor's 2 dyna - one was the evo motor and the other was a twin cam have been fairly reliable ... in his opinion, I dont agree totally though ... but he does maintain them, and have them in the shop often for maintenance type work, and they were both bought used from people that spent 1000's to get them done right. He still rode my virago 1100 and thought it was insanely powerful ... and my eli 1000 just about killed him he said ... Like I said ... clueless ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Ed_in_Az]

 

[ajgs500]

pot calling kettle black

[ditchdoc1017]

I rode a friend soft tail for about a week, the longest being about 100 miles trip at about 50 miles i could not feel my feet.Also the clutch was a killer so hard to pull it made my hand get tired quick in town.The only good point it's heavy so I did not get blown around alot on the road. i would give it a 6 on a 1 to 10. There no way I would pay the 15000 for one way ocer rated.I also have ridden a  2002 1100 Vstar about the same size bike but handles and rides so much better. You can find them all day long for 5000- 6000 around here.

[The Buddha]

Ed_in_Az ... you forgot belt drive ... which ironically is the only reason I'd ever buy a Harley ... that and the fact that they have 16 rear tires and 19 fronts ... usually ... However I am going to ride my neighbors in a bit, then see what it works like ... then I'll buy one when I find it for like $1500 ...  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  ... but hey I aint opposed to it in principle ... $1 per cc ... yea ...
Cool.
Srinath.