I have an 883L also and have to agree, I replaced the seat with a Mustang and the shocks with Progressive, huge difference.. I also added forward controls, to me with this configuration it has close to the same seating position as a full dresser.. If I added floorboards I could do some decent distances on it.

 

Yes you should. Get one for forward controls or get forwards if the one you get does not have them and you will be just fine. I would get a 1200 as you will not be happy with the power of the 883, after having a big twin.

 

Forwards work for YOU, that does not mean they work for everyone. There are far more people using mids or rears than ever thought about using forwards.

 

Definitely go for the 1200. The engine is much more relaxed at higher speeds.
I'm partial to the dual disc R models. NONE of the HDs I've ridden has had what I would consider adequate, much less good, shocks, except for the XR1200. Longer shocks give more comfort and quicken the steering slightly, nice and nimble. I use 13.5" (adjustable length) Ohlins units. Great items.
I like the Storz rearsets with a thicker seat with better foam and a gel pad and a lower, flatter, and slightly narrower bar. I try to get it to duplicate my 1985 BMW K100RS ergonomics. They were perfect for me, but I'm about 6'4".
The stock Dunlop tires are not so good. I'm way happier with Metzler 880s.
So, go buy your new bike!

 

Be SURE to ride one a while before putting out the coin.
You may be comfortable on one, but its not likely.
Young guys can put up with a lot, but old guys like me want something much more comfortable.
I got my bike (2009 1200L) as it LOOKED so good, red paint, black and chrome motor, mag wheels.
The worst bike from a comfort standpoint I EVER owned.
At 6 feet tall, the bars are too close, the seat too low, the pegs to high and forward.
Hiway pegs did not help.
Stock, the seat is good for 15 minutes and the suspension was total trash.
I got a few new seats, a bunch of different handlebars, new longer shocks, progressive fork springs and changed the fork oil, and the bike is good for about 1/2 hour now.

I could ride my 1969 Triumph for 12 hours, even the crappy DR650 is good for 8 hours, and the sportster is good for about 1/2 an hour before I want to get off.

Love the bike, it runs well, looks sharp, handles ok, sounds great, it just does not fit me at all.

I would need to move the pegs back a few inches and increase the seat height as a start, not something you can really do easy....

I am going to be looking at a Moto Guzzi V7 classic in the spring, supposed to be comfortable....

 

Definitely ride one before you buy. There's a lot of people on here who want to tell you what YOU want in a bike, based on what THEY find comfortable. Mid-controls are the most popular controls in the world for a reason. Will they be right for you? I don't know, try it and find out. I'm 6'0" and ride a Nightster with mids. I've put hundreds of miles on in a single day, and been perfectly comfortable (except my butt, the shocks need to be replaced), not in the least bit cramped, and I'm not exactly young anymore. So mids work for many people. There are pluses and minuses for mids, forwards, rears, apes, drag bars, clip-ons, etc. You have to decide what works for you. The only way to do that is to ride various configurations and see what feels good to you.

 

"its a girls bike"!
what? some one was going to say it, why not me.haha
i have a 2008 1200c love the bike came with forward controles im 5foot10 230lbs
seat sucks but riding position is perfect for me.i have had surgery on both knees and had to sell my royal star venture because it was too heavy.
good luck sportys rule.