Hi,

I am 5.6 , 150 lbs , 43 years old .
Currently I am debating between Vstar 650 & Sportster Iron 883 .

There have been mixed reviews on Sportster Iron 883 stating its a chic bike & does not perform very well cruising on the high way.

I have ridden a yamaha 125 cc for more than 15 years & I am confident of handling the bike but I have not ridden in the USA for more than 10 years.

I am looking for a bike for pleasure ridding over the week end , but since I am small made I am concerned by the handling & the weight of the bike , safety etc.

I have looked at VSTAR 650 & Iron 883 , they weigh about the same & I liked Iron 883 more in terms of looks & seat height & engine but I could not test ride either one of them.

There are some great reviews on vstar 650 , where as for iron 883 they were complaining about the leaks , chick bike etc.

The Iron 883 is about $1500 more than a V STAR 650 but i can afford this.

I would appreciate your input & insight

Thanks

 

do you even have to ask?

 

friend of mine has a V-star 650. He is terribly jealous of my Iron. His Vstar sounds like a sewing machine next to my bike. Get the Iron, no Harley guy will ever call it a chick bike.

 

Truthfully coming to an HD site and asking this advice will get u slack, hope u got thick skin!! As for ur question, ride em both before making ur decision. The bike will choose u, 2 completely different bikes both in style and rideability. I had a vstar 650 classic prior to my king, the only reason i upgraded was i needed a better bike for 2up riding!!

 

Ive owned both, never been called chic bike before. With the price being a little more, you get what you pay for and the iron will hold its value much better than vstar!! Good luck with the purchase

 

Umm I maybe a little bias but Iron all day. My bud has a bigger Vstar I think 800 and I leave him behind plus look cooler Nahh I had a Shadow 600 and after a year of it was bored with it's limitations,I have had my Sportster for 5+ years now and still smile everytime I look at it and ride it.

 

Do NOT listen to what peope say. Try it!
I have had people keeping me off Sportsters saying that they were too small for me (6'+ 185lbs), whereas my new 2012 Nightster fits me perfectly.
Try both. The Iron is a pretty cool looking bike. No context there

 

I'd take a Harley over a Harley clone anyday.

 

I'll admit I giggled when I saw that this was posted on a Harley forum...

I was in a similar boat (although I'm a rookie rider) in that I was looking at the Honda Shadow Phantom and the Iron. I ended up buying the Iron (both were about the same price). No regrets at all.

I'm 5'5", 170 pounds and the bike is a perfect fit.

 

I don't get the chic bike thing at all. Ok 883 Iron or a 650 Vstar doesn't make sense to me. If it is a Harley with an 883 people say it is a chic bike. Any other metric bike like a 650 you don't here that garbage. I think people are just jealous because it's a Harley. Get the Harley!!!!!