I'm going into my 4th season on my 883, done about 14,000 miles so far. Most riding is on highways w/55 or 65 mph speed limits. Some rides with wife on back. There have been two times I felt like I wanted more power: once going up a steep grade into 50 mph headwinds, and once going up a steep grade too slow for 5th gear. The first I had no business out riding in; the wind was sucking the gas out the carb into the filter because of the wind, and the second was inexperience, I should have downshifted.

I've wanted a newer, bigger bike many times, mostly in the winter when I can't ride. Then the weather breaks, I take the 883 out, and remember how much fun it is, and that it's powered just fine for me.

You have to decide what's right for you, no matter how many opinions you get. Enjoy figuring it out!

 

I had the same problem. Loved the look of the Iron, but was thinking I'd grow out of it fairly quick, so I started looking at the Nightster. After comparing the two, the aesthetic difference (as lame as it might sound) was a huge factor in my being happy with the bike.

What did I do? I called around pricing a new Nightster and got lucky. A dealer about 30 miles away had an Iron with the Screaming Eagle 1200 kit already installed for a few dollars more than a new Nightster would've cost me (I ended up getting it for a bit less than MSRP).

In the end (just picked up my bike yesterday) I think I would've been more than happy with the 883, but would've had that "what if" in the back of my head.

 

I hate you... :-)

 

The dude that walked in 30 minutes after I signed the paperwork hated me more

 

Have 94 Hugger 883 and still love it. The wife rides it, now, but I'll take it out every now and again. I have plans for it if/when she gets a new bike, but I'll never get rid of it.

 

I too love the BLACKED OUT LOOK and wish the Nightster came that way...! Why HD decided on chrome and grey for the Nightster is silly to me! I'm sure it's primarily about the money! Take the 883/nightster out for a demo ride and see which one you like better before buying one.

I love the torque of the 1200!!!! Although, I would say...if you're prone to getting speeding tickets - put yourself in an 883 cause there is a lot of temptation on the 1200. I'm a small chick and have taken the bike up to 95mph on my nightster in a 75mph zone and it didn't phase me...(yes, rather stupid - i know)...but it was nice to have the giddy-up! Of course I slowed my roll when I realized I was going that fast and that's not the norm for me.

BTW - I originally started on a vstar 650, and didn't want to get into an 883 because it wasn't a huge jump from the 650 (which I outgrew within 6 months)...so glad to have gotten into the 1200n!

 

I had the same concerns before I bought my 883C. There is plenty of power for my type of riding and ti can haul my *** just fine on the highway :-)

 

I had my the SE 1200 kit installed before i took delivery, so far 10k and not a problem. I also beat on it pretty hard back and forth to work and out on the highway. However the more highway riding I do the more I want to swap out the front pulley to a tooth or 2 larger.

 

I have both an 883(2007) & a 1200(2008). The 1200 is more suited to Xway, and long rides (more Power thru entire RPM Range) however if Im riding Rural areas even if Im doing a couple hundred miles a day I choose the 883. It's Final drive gearing is better sited to that type riding, and the gas mile is far better. Both bikes are fun to ride, I have over 21,000 on the 07, the 08 really isn't broke in yet.

Just my 2 cents worth.

HJC

 

The Sportster in my sig started out as an 883 but is now a 1200. I wouldn't do it any other way.

Three reasons. First, insurance. I only have to insure it as an 883 not a 1200 so it is cheaper. Two, gearing. The 883 comes with shorter gearing so when you go 1200 it's acceleration is better than a 1200. Even so, I got BETTER gas milage on the highway (70-90mph) with the 1200 than I did as an 883. Third, and this is the biggest one, you can do what you want. I went with 1200S heads, did a little work to them to get them to work with Thunderstorm pistons, and had the used cylinders board .010 to get a good, clean, and round bore to them to use with the new pistons. All that, including parts, came in at under $1,000 (the SE 1200 kit does NOT come with new 1200 heads...).

I never had worked on a motorcycle engine before but had no problems doing the swap. If money was not object, I could have gone with the 1250 kit and had my heads reworked really well for about $1400. A properly done 883 to 1250 conversion will destroy a factory 1200...90-100 WHP compared to about 74 WHP. Since you save money by buying the cheaper bike you can put that extra into the conversion, have a faster bike, and pay less in insurance.

Yes, the draw back is that problems are MORE likely but if you look around here (and other forums) you'll see the 1250 kits are pretty trouble free. They got this stuff down.

So if your heart is set on the iron, get it knowing the power of the 1200 is always an option later on. For me (see my Dyna) getting a bike I like from the begining OR (my Sportster which I paid all of $2500 for) a bike that I'm able to transform into something I like quickly is important.