hi all... Im sure this question has been asked before,, I did look a bit threw the forum before posting

at the end of this season , (sept-oct ) I plan on buying a sportster
my budget will allow for me to spend 5000-6000 ,, for this I can get a newer 883
or a bit older 1200..
I will be coming off of a honda shadow with 600 cc, and have one season ridding behind me ,, so still a new rider. I like both bikes in the customs,,

my main two concerns will be one resale and two ,, would I stay content with the 883 for a couple of years. As it is now the shadow seems to be lacking the umph

as for dollars spent .. investing // would you say money is better put into a 2006 1200 or a 2009 883 .. and say both with average miles for there year

any input would be great and welcomed.. thanks

 

My reply will be short - go with the 1200.

 

Most will want the 1200. With an 883, it will only take one time for someone to display more horsepower before you'll want more. This is not true for everyone but it is true for evry motorhead.

 

I'm a gear head... 883 was my first bike. Your 600 Honda might be faster, eh? What was the HP/weight on that thing? I know gearing is important as well, but do remind yourself "typical" 883 Sporty is going to be in the 550-650 lb range and has something like 40-50 HP. (Someone will correct me if those ballpark figures are wrong.) I have owned cars (and still have one) that are faster than my bike. The power to weight ratio of the 883 Sporty is decent for a car but in terms of motorcycle performance it would be something like driving a Honda Civic LX. Bear with me through my terrible metaphorical comparisons. The 883 moves and if you're driving like an idiot you can still get in to just as much trouble on it as a CBR600...

I've driven a few stock 1200s and a few modified 1200s and they're much faster, but it's not like you're endangering yourself if you go with the 1200. Literally, if you twist the 883 to WOT and get going faster than you having business to be going, it's not going to matter how fast you got there to do it when **** hits the fan.

I might be a little long winded here but I do have some SCCA Solo II Racing under my belt IN A CAR. I've also done track days at Willow Springs, Mid-Ohio, and Hallett Circuit... IN A CAR. I've been modifying and building cars for performance for awhile... I'm intimately familiar with clutch/throttle/power-to-the-wheels variables, limit of grip for tires, gyroscopic effects of sprung weight in the wheels, and the techniques you use in a car to rev match your downshifts. What is the point of all this? (Other than to satisfy my internet ego, of course!) Well, you're probably a more experienced rider than me, but I felt completely comfortable going with a 1200... I think you should do what you feel comfortable with, but be cognizant of the fact that you're not buying a Hayabusa and riding in flip-flops when you sit on a 1200.

It's ALWAYS possible to drive a 1200 like an 883. However, it's not possible to drive an 883 like a 1200.

I went with the 883 for reasons other than power delivery. The VIN on my bike will always dictate I own an 883, and it will always be legal, even if the engine VIN is different... Frame VIN is all that matters. Basically what I'm saying is I'm a complete bike rookie, and while I have the skill set to build and drive a car reasonably well around a track, I can't do that on a bike...

... and the 1200 is not going to get you in to trouble or be uncontrollable unless YOU make it that way.



At the end of the day the 1200 is going to get you in to that "OH ****!" area much faster than the 883. You crank it open at the flick of a green light and someone 400m down the road decides to pull out in front of you and you smash in to them, well, you might not have been going so fast on an 883... but then again you shouldn't really have been doing it anyway, right?

 

I have the 883 with the 1200 kit and I love it.

 

I'm of the opinion that 2006 is the best year you can get. I'd go with the '06 1200 and be respectful of the power. The fuel injected '09 will get you better economy (especially with it being an 883) but the '06 probably has a carburetor which will make it easier and cheaper to do engine enhancements when you feel like it. Gravity is my favorite fuel pump because it never quits working.

 

any bike made '07 later will be fuel injected EPA regulation.... The 1200 is very controllable as long as you don't get crazy. That goes with just about any bike though. I've ridden both but, I enjoy the 1200 more. I think the best performance combo would be a 883 with the 1200 conversion since the gearing is different for the 883 I imagine it would be a little more fun.

 

The 883 might be newer, and you can always bump it up to a 1200, but come trade in time, it will still be considered an 883. Because of the years you mentioned, I doubt that there would be much of a difference in that. (i ain't exactly a dealer) I guess it all comes down to which bike does "it" for you.

 

Time for the weekly 883 or 1200 thread. For a persons first post.......as always.

Grow a set of ***** and choose your own ride.


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I've owned a Honda Shadow 600, Ive ridden an 883 and I own a 2009 1200. So, I can probably relate to the question pretty well.

Either sporty will be a significant improvement from a performance standpoint. Test drive each and pick the one that makes you smile more......For me the 1200 was "more gooder" than the 883.