I weight 217 lbs and I take mine on long trips. Sunday was over 200 miles and it's comfortable for me. Get a good seat and shocks and you will be fine. I know people that travel all over the place on 650's and such and they have no problem, so a sportster if set up right will be fine. Good luck bro

 

Okay, I'm going to reply to your question without reading any of the replies between there and here. I hope I'll be rehashing what everyone else has said. If not, I hope you listen carefully.

When I was 18 I bought my first purely road bike. I was about 160-170lbs. then but the same 6'6" I am today. That bike was a 1973 Sportster. 73 was the first production year with the 1000cc engine. Before and after I've ridden friend's 900's and can discern no real difference in regard to power. Today I'm riding a 98 1200C and still, see no REAL difference. The difference is the bike!!! The Sportster is quicker and better balanced. More responsive. To me, this means more FUN! And yeah that's right, I'm still riding Sportsters. I could afford any model but THIS is what I choose! I'm still 6'6" but now I weigh 225-230. Too small? You're kidding right?
Look Beau, if you like Sporties, I mean really like them for what they are not as a step on the way to something else, you'll adjust. You'll enjoy the ride and forget all that BS about it being small, under powered, or any of the other bull spouted by the guys who aren't TRULY Sportster guys. I'm running forward controls on the 1200C but I to prefer the feel... the balance, control and posture of mids. I've been toying with the idea of switching mine but haven't so far.

The real bottom line though, the question you should really be asking, is what do YOU want from a bike? Obviously you've ridden some. Ridden enough to realize you do like the ride of the sporty. You can add, or enven take off anything you want once it's yours and while some guys (and girls) out there may express their opinion of YOUR BIKE as though it matters... it don't! Get the ride YOU like Beau. Make it look and feel the way YOU want it to and don't make any excuses or apologies to ANYBODY!

 

change your front belt pulley to a 29 tooth and you will be geared the same as a us 1200 30 tooth will get you european 1200 gearing. pulleys can be had from drag specialties or harley.

 

Nope, US 883 has much slower primary. While Euro 883 has same primary as 1200.

 

Here are the numbers. Overall ratio for fifth.

US 883 - 4.071
EU 883 - 3.643
US 1200 - 3.517
EU 1200 - 3.400

I'm using EU pulley in front, that gives me 3.965 on fourth, faster than US 883 on fifth.

 

I'm 5'10 and 200lbs. I have an '04 883. Fit wise, the bike is comfortable for me and I would guess that it will be a good size for you too. The 883cc engine has plenty power and torque at 50mph and below, but once you get up to higher speeds, it feels strained to me, especially at 70+. Maybe it's just my bike. If you are going to do a lot of highway riding, I would say get the 1200, or even look at a dyna. For local commuting and short highway trips the 883 is just fine.

 

I'd say converting the primary to Euro spec is not expensive, should feel very different. For a 200+ lbs rider I'd recommend RK air shocks, not expensive either.
After these two mods 883 should be just fine everywhere, including long interstate trips.

 

I went on a fair trip last summer into BC.

I chatted with a fellow there that was touring the mountains on his 883. He was a lot bigger than me, and was riding 2 up with his wife, and loaded with gear. Without any problems at all.

After that trip I did change to a 30T belt sprocket and the 1200 primary chain and sprocket. (Mine is converted to 1200 btw.) On the highway with the 883 gearing I found I was running at about 4000 RPM. While I'm sure a Sportster will run at that RPM forever, I found it an annoyance. Especially with loud pipes. (The other thing I did after that trip was get rid of the Short Shots).

Just remember, it wasn't all that long ago a 750 was considered a big bike.

 

At 6 '0 around 205 i have no power issues even at 70mph plus on my 883r. I don't want a bike that rides like a car ie bagger.. A near 900cc bike is not a small bike by any means. I can throw my bike around with ease in most any situation and i'm an ox. I couldn't say the same if it weighed 300lbs more like a RK or Glide. Most bagger drivers can't control them safely outside of a straight line.

 

I'm 6'2-190, I have no problem with my Iron 883. I got the bike because that's what I wanted. I put forwards on it only because I like them. There's always going to be the hater's, Let them hate it's my ride and I love it. Get the bike YOU like and have fun riding it.