Is today’s 883 Sportster anything like the original?
#1
12-22-2018, 02:14 PM
Is today’s 883 Sportster anything like the original?
Just wondering if anyone has ever spun the wheels of a 57 or any of the early model sportsters. From what I read the displacement was similar. Were they about the same as today’s 883? Faster? Slower?
I have a 2017 Iron and I sometimes find myself cruising down the road wondering if this is what it felt like to be on one of the baddest bikes in town in 1957...
I have a 2017 Iron and I sometimes find myself cruising down the road wondering if this is what it felt like to be on one of the baddest bikes in town in 1957...
#2
12-22-2018, 03:41 PM
Club Member
They are the same capacity, but were born in a different age. I recommend reading this article if you haven't done so, which sets the scene nicely at the time the bike was first introduced. Note the small pipes, drum brakes and easier style. No they weren't faster!
They were actually developed from a sidevalve design, the KL, which was 740cc:
They were actually developed from a sidevalve design, the KL, which was 740cc:
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#5
12-23-2018, 12:09 PM
Just wondering if anyone has ever spun the wheels of a 57 or any of the early model sportsters. From what I read the displacement was similar. Were they about the same as today’s 883? Faster? Slower?
I have a 2017 Iron and I sometimes find myself cruising down the road wondering if this is what it felt like to be on one of the baddest bikes in town in 1957...
I have a 2017 Iron and I sometimes find myself cruising down the road wondering if this is what it felt like to be on one of the baddest bikes in town in 1957...
#6
12-23-2018, 12:22 PM
Club Member
Those were the days - when men were......
Last edited by grbrown; 12-23-2018 at 02:10 PM.
#7
12-23-2018, 05:42 PM
Stellar HDF Member
My Wife and I have the best from both eras. Her - 2004 XLH 1200 Custom, Me 0977 XLH 1000. My 77 Ironhead has P cams, S&S Super E, digital single fire ignition, ported heads and baffled drag pipes. The 77 Ironhead Sportster keeps up with my Wife's 04, even with her right wrist affliction (severe twisting motion.) LOL, just makes riding with her more fun.
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#8
12-24-2018, 03:39 PM
In '68 I had a Harley 125cc 2 stroke. I know it was AMF breeding, but it had the name. 
. Anyway, on my way to work in the mornings I always passed a guy with a Sportster. No idea what year but he was constantly kicking it over to TRY and start it. Usually I would hear a back fire and him cussing, but one day I head the backfire and a loud ooomph! I looked over to see him lying over the handlebars. Seriously, about a week later I saw him getting on a Triumph. No more sportster.
Those things were beasts to start. Heck I know the Sprints I later owned were not much better. Nowhere near as powerful, but still cantankerous.
. Anyway, on my way to work in the mornings I always passed a guy with a Sportster. No idea what year but he was constantly kicking it over to TRY and start it. Usually I would hear a back fire and him cussing, but one day I head the backfire and a loud ooomph! I looked over to see him lying over the handlebars. Seriously, about a week later I saw him getting on a Triumph. No more sportster.Those things were beasts to start. Heck I know the Sprints I later owned were not much better. Nowhere near as powerful, but still cantankerous.
#9
12-24-2018, 04:39 PM
Grand HDF Member
In '68 I had a Harley 125cc 2 stroke. I know it was AMF breeding, but it had the name. . Anyway, on my way to work in the mornings I always passed a guy with a Sportster. No idea what year but he was constantly kicking it over to TRY and start it. Usually I would hear a back fire and him cussing, but one day I head the backfire and a loud ooomph! I looked over to see him lying over the handlebars. Seriously, about a week later I saw him getting on a Triumph. No more sportster.
Those things were beasts to start. Heck I know the Sprints I later owned were not much better. Nowhere near as powerful, but still cantankerous.
. Anyway, on my way to work in the mornings I always passed a guy with a Sportster. No idea what year but he was constantly kicking it over to TRY and start it. Usually I would hear a back fire and him cussing, but one day I head the backfire and a loud ooomph! I looked over to see him lying over the handlebars. Seriously, about a week later I saw him getting on a Triumph. No more sportster.Those things were beasts to start. Heck I know the Sprints I later owned were not much better. Nowhere near as powerful, but still cantankerous.
I had a Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Sprint 350 (single cylinder) for a couple
of years ('77-'78). Mine would kick over pretty consistantly, but I never did
get used to the left-side brake/right-side shifter....
T.
#10
12-24-2018, 11:08 PM