Hey all.. first post here!
I've put down a deposit on a new 48, as with most of the XL models at the moment no one has stock you can see/feel/taste let alone take for a test ride.. I've had a brief sit on the 883, Nightster, 48 and a test ride of an XR.
I owned an 883 std a few years back and really enjoyed it.
The deposit for the 48 is purely based on loving how it looks.. slightly dangerous! Are thre any guys here who have ridden/owned both 48's and Nighsters who can give me the low down on how they comparitively ride?
I'm concerned about reviews for the 48 mentioning zero rear shock absorbtion and the front tyre feeling flabby abd 'like having a flat'.
I need to be able to commute on this thing day to day, the small tank doesn't worry me so much, I prefer to stop at least every hour anyway..
Any opinions greatly appreciated!
Welcome Mr. Mow. I have an Iron 883, and have ridden a 48 and a 1200 Custom (the old model with the 21 inch front end). Honestly, there is no huge handling difference between the 21 inch front end, the 19 inch on my Iron and the 16 inch on the 48. The 16 inch is a little slower to turn in of the three, but I reckon low tyre pressure on either the 19 or 21 inch front would make about the same amount of difference anyway. If you get the 48, it won't be a problem, and the fat 16 inch front looks horn.
As for shock absorption.....now I may upset some people. All of the common view is that all standard Harley rear shocks are crap, and standard Harley seats are too firm. This may well be true relative to other after market offerings for seats and shocks, but..... I sold my Ducati to buy the Iron, and can honestly say that you don't know what rock hard shocks and unpadded seating even look like until you have ridden a Duke! My Iron, with standard seat and 883 Low 11 inch rear shocks is a f&*$ing lounge chair by comparison. I am perfectly happy with the ride of the low shocks (same as fitted to the 48), and the seat is great. I reckon the look of the 48 seat is better, and have nearly bought one for my bike twice now. Only thing that stops me is I know the 48 seat is less comfortable than the one I have, and when I ride a 48, I feel like I am going to slip off the back of the seat all the time. I only weigh 70kg, and am 5'8" tall, so that may have something to do with it as well.
Thanks guys, Its tough.. love the look but I'm honestly not 100% set on it.. Its made equally hard by not being able to test one, I've never had a bike that low.
luckily the guys I have the deposit with are cool with me changing at any time due to the long waiting list (hell, theres not even any guarantee I'll get one in late march!)
The nightster looks cool too, but the wait on one of them is even longer I'm told.
I enjoyed riding the XR, but it was just a bit.. I dunno, bland? I've had Ducati Monsters before, it sort of reminded me of one, but about 100kg over weight!
Thanks guys.. I'm still a little jittery about the 48.. but seeing the wait on Nighsters is.. well.. long!
I dunno, the other option is an XR, but I'm just not 100% about them either, guess I'll wait and see if my 48 ACTUALLY arrives late march as expected!
Interesting, thanks for your insights.. I'm primarily an inner city guy, but that is good to know.
Its also seems to reinforce the fact that HD gives our Irons and Nightsters much taller suspension than the US spec models, but for some reason the 48 misses out.
Cheers again man!
Harley City happened to get a couple of 48s on Friday so I grabbed an orange one, be ready later this week!
But.. need to track down some mid controls, can't deal with the forwards
So its been about 6 weeks living with the 48..
To record I think I've filled the fuel tank 378,000 times, seems every journey is a 'connect the dots' fuel station to fuel station!
I love this bike.. love it..
Its big, dumb.. but I just love it! Every morning is the anticipation to get it out of the garage and ride it to work, all day I'm just waiting for the commute home.
The handling has been a surprise, I was fairly worried the fat front would make it feel like steering a pregnant walrus, but.. have to say they did their homework, its fairly agile for a 250kg lard mobile. It is however a little bit skittish at times, tends to tram track heavily and at speeds can get a little light at the front, but generally feels very stable. The suspension is really quite ok, I weigh in at 78kgs though, i've not had any real dramas and really not in a hurry to change it out.. because..
The bloody thing grounds out everywhere! Even my sedate ride into work sees me dragging the feelers on the pegs through pretty much every corner, mine does have mid mounts though, so that may have something to do with it.
A lot has been said about the tiny fuel tank, the light for me comes on about 95ks, but honestly, an hour in that seat sees me begging for a break, its pretty damn uncomfortable and I have fallen off the back of it once (it has very little 'kick' to the back to hold you on, leather pants in particular can be very slippery!).
The brakes are average, no surprise there. The gearing feels wrong, at 100 it feels like it wants to be revving lower.
But I love it, I've owned a bunch of Ducatis, BMWs, Suzukis, Yamahas.. This is the first bike I've owned in 16 years that has actually puit the fun back into riding, had all of these grand plans for mods, but really, I love it the way it is.. aside from some detailing issues like the ugly exposed wiring and plastic cover bits they got a lot of it right in my opinion, so far its just some SE mufflers and the mid mounts.. When the cash is available I'm hoping for a 70's flake job on the tank and a tuck and roll/white piping reupholster for the seat, brake upgrade and an aircleaner.
Congrats Mr Mow. I know exactly where you are coming from here. I have had my Iron for just on a year now, and still feel the same excitement every time I ride it. Its big and dumb like you said, but more fun that two ferrets in your trousers. Minimal mods and just get out and ride it! TC
I was weirded out by the forwards at 1st and at how easily they scrape but now Im hooked .
personally I thought the nightster handled better but I love the looks of the 48 and I love that big front tyre
it does feel a little sluggish when I counter steer and it gets exciting over bumps around corners but having ridden 70's bikes mostly ,Im used to it
my ass is num and the fuel stops all know me by name
the brakes arnt much better than my old 70's bikes but they do something .Id hate to get into tank slappers on it
that said Ive had it a few weeks and Ive nearly run it in
straights ,curves ,twisties ,it shit loads of fun
It is not unusual to find admirers around it when i come out of the shops
have fun mate
48fan
hey Mr mow
I'm 120kg the 50mm of travel is not enough so Im starting to look at a different spring rate. At the moment I just look out for the bumps in the road
Kel
