883 is about $40/year cheaper in my case.

 

the 1200 is not quite as girly as the 883...that's why I got mine.............

 

tell him to get what he can afford and hell be happy its not like the 883 sux *** or anything...just the fact that you can get a 1200 in the same model is what makes people call it girly or whatever....but the first sportsters were only 883s...

 

If he wants to save money, a used late model 883 with low mileage would work just fine. Even with my wife on the back, the 883 hauls just fine. Gas mileage shouldn't be much of an issue, couple or five mpg in the 40 to 50 mpgrange.

 

I think they were only 45 cubes....BINNY.....have a good one

 

1200 has more torque and speed but I'm happy with my 883. If money is no issue then well, I guess get the 1200 however they both have advantages and disadvantages. More economical with the 883 , but to get from point A to point B is faster with the 1200.

 

I have owned both a 07 883 and a 07 1200. Night and day. The 883 was a great bike, but the 1200c is pure sunshine!

 

70mph on a 883 is the same70mph on a 1200

 

The "money" issue has more to do with getting it through his familial appropriations committee (ie - the wife) than anything else, I think. He still hasn't made a decision, but I've been sharing all of your ideas with him. Many thanks again for the comments/ideas.

 

i have an 883 and the worst part about it is haveing to put up with allt he "its a girls bike" bs... but once you get past that, good mpg, and great overall bike