I did this very thing a year ago. Traded an 01 600 ninja for an 89 sportster 883. It was one of the best things I have done. Go for it!

 

IMO, the 883 Iron is one of the best looking sportsters coming off the showroom floor...

...go for it...

 

I have an iron! i love it. it has plenty of power. i have no problem riding it all day long. I chose the iron because of the black engine. i dont like the grey engine at all, i have saw a few with some age on them , and they just dont appeal to me. i am not sure what "in town mash" mean, but what i notice alot of looks and conversation. I chose my bike because it was the one i wanted. Could have ahd any bike in the showroom, and at first i looked at it and said " i wouldnt have that pos" i traded a 2008 yamaha r6 for my sporty too. it had about 2000 miles on it when i traded for the first Iron i had.
sorry for the book! lmao!

 

Ive ridden both, there isnt that much power diff in a stock 1200 and 883, just my opinion. i found it a better deal to get the iron with the black engine and upgrade it to a 1250. your always gonna have people bash the sporty, but they are what they are. Ive ridden big twins as well and i own a v star.my sporty will never leave my ownership, even when i do get a street glide i will still have my iron.

 

You can make the 883 better than any stock 1200 if you want to spend the money. if your going to leave it stock just get the 1200. if you want to build a faster engine find a good used 883 and put the goodies to it. Do your home work on the ruff ride and noisy valve train so you don't get a surprise from what your used to with your rocket.

 

Note: If you feel the need to 'smoke' any kind of motorcycle, perhaps your should be on a different forum and a different motorcycle.

Anyway, I was coming away from the Tamar bridge (Devon, UK) this morning. Now for those unfamiliar with Devon this is a toll bridge that leads into a dual carriageway up a hill. Some **** on a crotch rocket came weaving through two lanes of accelerating traffic on the white line in an enormous hurry. Perhaps he was a surgeon on his way to save a life? Or maybe an undercover agent rushing to defuse a nuclear device? Eitherway he was riding like a c**t and I was very glad that I ride a Harley and don't have to show off like that at the risk of my and others' lives.

 

I came from a Kaw 600 myself.. the ride is totally different but I enjoy my Nightster as much as the Kaw in different ways. If I had the space I'd probably own both so I could take sportbike to the track and the Sportster everywhere else.

 

883 will disappoint you, go for the 1200

 

Ive got both. Though the difference in power is definetly noticeable if I first had the 883 I would have been satisfied.

 

Awesome feed back guys thank you all I really fell in love with the 883 iron but I will still do more homework before I make a choice going to the Harley dealership now for a test drive