G'Day everyone!

I've been visiting here and reading the posts for a while but have finally registered as I'm about to take delivery of an Iron 883 (like a few others it seems!). Anyway, while I do spend a lot of time on XLForums I do want to be involved with hdforums as it is a local Aussie site.

I have plans for my Iron 883 build and already have a bunch of parts here and on order for it, so I plan on doing some DIY style posts while I build the bike so that it may help/benefit others in some way hopefully. I'm actually a car journo having written for dozens of the major titles over the years - this is just my first foray into bikes.

While I'm at it, I thought I'd may as well see if there were any Nightster owners on here who may be interested in a straight swap for Iron 883 wheels? I do like the cast wheels, but I just like the all-black spoked wheels better. So, if any Nightster owners prefer the cast wheels I have a brand new set ready to swap. The bike hasn't even arrived yet so they'll be brand new.

I will be removing my cast wheels myself so the swap would entail the Nightster owner arranging his or her own removal and fitting. Alternatively, I'll have my own bike lift and you could do it at my garage. I'm based in Sydney near Concord.

 

Anyways, good to be a member here and I look forward to participating in the forum as regular as I can.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aww BUCKET, that's gotta suck man! Must have been a hell of a pothole!

Hi Lisa, I've been reading your posts and I'm jealous that you've got your Iron already. I had my heart set on the Nightster for ages but I don't get my full license until December 13th which forced me to reconsider once they announced the Iron's release dates.

I am keen to do the wheel swap so if you know someone who is also keen (and their Nightster rims and tyres are still in great condition) I'm all ears.

Cheers

 Damon, I'm picking up my Iron tomorrow (Friday 2 Oct) after having the deposit down since 5 May. I ordered it with wire wheels,which was a $500 option, fitted, so that's not too expensive if you can't do a swap. I wanted the wire to make the bike look more retro but after seeing one in the US decided to stick with the alloys. Additionally, having spent a couple of hours cleaning the spokes on the Kawasaki cruiser that I'm selling to make way for the Iron I decided I'm just not into polishing chrome! One advantage of the alloys is that in the event of a puncture you can plug the tyre. Apparently you can't do that with spokes, but considering how rarely this happens (I've never had a flat) it probably doesn't matter. Here is a shot of an Iron with laced wheels - lucks pretty good. Cheers, Gil

Yeah, I know the spokes will be harder to clean but that's the look I'm after so that's what I have to take care of I guess. Frasers range me today (1st Oct) to hound me about sorting the finance issues for my bike so it shoudn't be to far away. Can't ride it until Decmber but that just gives me a good excuse to pull it apart and do all the modifications between now and then. It will emerge from the garage for its first ride already modified - and that's cool!

Thanks for the pic of the Iron with the wire wheels. I've photoshopped a number of build direction options and the parts are arriving every week for the build. So far I have Drag bars (off Night Train in black denim), new top clamp, speedo relocation bracket, Ikon front springs, adjustable lowering brackets for the rear, and low profile Road Glide air shocks. Oh yeah, and I have 'IRN88' number plates at the motor registry ready to pick up.

Next on my shopping list are bar end mirrors, Avon white walls and maybe slip-ons. I'm spraying the factory exhaust matt black (like the pic) but will probably do the 'gronk' mod on the factory exhaust prior to buying some V&H pipes.

Ultimately I want to head down the same route at the well known "Slackster" Nightster that's on XLForums.

Hi Damon,
My missus (Sporty Trace) would be very keen for wheel swap with your iron. Check you message inbox for our contact details.
Cheers,
Glenn.

Just got back from Frasers - MY BIKE IS HERE!!!!!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat on it, licked it, hugged it, pee'd on it to mark it as mine.


So pathetic but its my first Harley and I'm excited, okay?

LOL

Got mine today and can't believe how good it is - a way better performer than I expected. Still has stock mufflers as the black SE s won't here until next week. Yeehaaa!

Well, I don't get my unrestricted license until December. Trouble is, I've decided to part finance the bike for various reasons, and apparently I won;t get approval for finance until I have an unrestricted license, as they require insurance, which again I legally can't carry without said license....

I had no plans of riding it prior to December, but I do want to get all the mods done in my garage while I wait.

I'll find a way of getting around this in the next week or so and pick it up I'm sure.

Hi Damon,

Ive been thinkin of asking the same question on here but wasnt sure of the response... ive had my 09 nightster for 3 months, only 1600 kms on it and would be very interested in the clean swap for the irons cast wheels.

Im in newcastle so dont mind meeting half way if we were to go ahead with the swap. (if and when ur finance is sorted).

let me know how you go.

oz12

Hey Damon, You won't hear this often, but my hubby was right I'm keen to acquire some iron wheels.... my Nightster wheels are in good condition but certainly aren't new... about 25,000kms on them, so not sure how you'd feel about that. I'm away this week but will contact you once I get home and see what your thoughts are.

Thank you to everyone so far that has offered to swap wheels! Of course, I'd like the swap to be as painless for myself and whomever I swap with, plus I'd like the Nightster rims and tyres to be in the best condition I can get. It will be at least a week or two until I'm in a position to get the wheels off my Iron, as I haven't even picked it up from the dealer yet.

For now I'm all ears to anyone who has a Nightster and is keen to trade. Once I have my wheels ready to swap I'll let everyone know and make arrangements accordingly.

Thanks again everyone!

How has the iron come along damon?? landed yet?

 

Came and went, sadly.

Colin at Frasers asked if I would let my allocation go to another buyer who wanted one ASAP. Since I was forced to wait until mid-Dec I told him that was okay, and I'm happy to make another Iron buyer happy.

Colin promised that the very next one to arrive (Nov some time) would be earmarked for me so my new alloocation is probably already here anyway.

Still a month away until I can pick it up and when I do you guys will be the first to know!

If you haven't got your Bike yet, I would get the dealer to swap the Wheels . I did when I bought my bike . They where happy to and at no extra charge

That doesnt help my hopes of swapping my laced for some cast ones walka

SORRY

Nah, I doubt Frasers would be keen on that for nothing. I already asked them a price for simply removing and replacing the wheels front and rear and they quoted me around $280. I can buy a bike lift and socket set for that much and do it myself.

Is the Iron 883 bike enough for us taller gents ?, I'm 6'3" and was warned I might be a little tall and I havent had a chance to see one in the flesh yet.

Yeah, I'm 6'1 myself and it is borderline for me. I'll be going with forward controls for sure when I get mine. Even then I've been told I look too tall for the Iron but I've decided I want to have my filthy way with every model in the HD range during my lifetime so I'm starting at the bottom and working my way up.

thats the way damon, im with you!!
id have a look for some after market forwards for the new sporties, the genuine ones still dont let your legs lye out.. i looked briefly but didnt come across anything for the later mods. Just a thought if youve got some time before your bike comes.. (oh and if you do go genuine, buy direct from the us.. 350 opsed to the 700 i paid here!!!)