hi all first post on the forum 

 

im looking at joining the HD world i moved to perth 5 months ago from the uk and got myself a  m50 boulavard, but now ive seen how much you can use a bike here i think its time to speed some cash.

ive started looking and want to go brand new, im stuck now betwwen a 48(fav at the moment) and a 883 iron, and was wondering your thoughts im going to take a test ride in the week of both so that may make my mind up, but would like to know from pepole that own them what they think..

 

 

thanks in advance 

 

great forum btw

 

 

steve 

48.

The 48 by a long shot

Welcome to the forum Zero.

This arguement has been done to death; if you like the iron buy it and if you like the 48 buy it. The realistic repsonse is that they're fundamentally the same bike, one has a bigger engine and 2 x 16 wheels and a shitty sized gas tank. The other has a smaller engine, 19 & 16 wheels and a larger tank. Slight differences in styling but overall a Sporty, is always going to be a sporty!! Platform is exactly the same throughout their current range of bikes with the obvious already mentioned changes.

Buy it because you like how it looks, although you'll no doubt spend a fortune changing shit on (it just happens). But what the others have already pointed out, 883's aren't going to set the world on fire in terms of speed. That being said, you can upgrade the 883 to a SE 1200 for less than the 48, so its a much of a muchness!!

Hope that helps?

Waz

thanks all that just what i needed i think its going to be the 48 but going ride them both tomorrow so will see


thanks

steve

Mate I love my Iron, but if I was doing it again it would be a 48 with a Nightster tank.

100% agree ^^

 

i am slightly biased but oh well. The 48 does loose abit of the looks when you swap to the bigger tank but the benfits are well worth it.

Yeah I nearly bought an XR-X for cheap, only 2000kms with V&H Widow pipe & SE tuner $13k.

Then I spotted the Iron for an even better deal & figured it'd be more fun to hot up, the big bore kit was always part of the plan.

Would still love an XR in the garage though...

As for the 48 I was never a big fan of spoked wheels but they've since grown on me, if I had the choice of Iron or 48 to keep motor stock then it'd be the 48. Nightster tank would be first upgrade.

Slap.

went for a ride on a 1200 custom yesterday with the same wheels as a 48 and i loved it, now just waiting for frasers to come back to me when they can find a bike

thanks for the responses very helpful

steve

I'm with all those who say get whatever you prefer. The great thing about these bikes is you can do whatever you want to them. Want a bigger tank but more power? Go a 1200 kit on an 883. Want a wider front tyre + more power + bigger tank? Throw an 883 tank on a 48.

End of the day, get whatever makes more sense to you. I got an 883 that I'm about to go 1200 with and couldn't be happier.

The 1200 Custom is a great bike. very happy with mine. Good Luck.

19" front wheel will handle better  than a 16" anyday

ordered a red 48 pick it up on the 15th

ive added se pipes heavy breather taco clock and derby covers for now

Iron with 1250 kit for sure

Bumping this one because I also have a few questions.

First thing to consider in the equation though is that I would eventually do a 1200 or 1250 conversion to an 883 if I bought one.

I equally like the look of both bikes, for different reasons. Chrome everywhere isn't my thing, so I love the flat black Iron 883's. (I do much prefer the look of an Iron to a Nightster and would rather upgrade an 883 than buy a Nightster for the larger engine.) I also dig the retro look of 48's and there are a lot less of them on the road than there are Irons, which makes them more attractive.

Either bike I'd probably replace the chrome pipes with black or wrapped pipes and adding a new filter and a tune.

Both being Sportys, is there any real difference in comfort and handling? Are they geared the same? Do both feel the same commuting through tight traffic at a stop/start pace? When cornering through light twisties are they more or less the same or do the different size front wheels and tyres make them feel different? I guess standard ride position with mid controls mean there isn't much between them on longer runs except for a slightly bigger tank, or is one more comfortable? I'm about 77kg and 6'10" tall.

I'm sure the topic has been done to death but I wouldn't mind hearing from other owners as I like both bikes in their own way.

6'10 you are going to look ridiculous on a sporty IMO.

I'm 6'1 and look a bit big for my 48 when I saw a pic of myself riding.

Love my bike though, I rode an 883, 72 and 48 and the look and performance of the Forty Eight ticked all the boxes, With some Apes you might be able to get away with a 48 or 72, but with the mids on a 883 you are going to be cramped up.

Argh, I meant 5'10". Keyboard isn't playing nice ever since I spilled a beer into it the other day and I missed that typo in the proof read.

I know sportsters are a bit small, but being anti-chrome there's not a lot of options. I'm not terribly keen on a Night Train, and while I'd love a Night Rod Special it's definitely out of my budget for now.

You can mix and match to suit your tastes, I went for the 1200 custom for the bigger tank, forward controls and the 1200 engine. Cheaper to change controls / tank etc than to upsize the motor?

Go the 72!!!