2011 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

[chornbe]

I just like it how peeps say what will save Harley is them building a 600cc sport bike.  Even though the Japanese 600cc sportbikes are collecting dust on the showroom floors, and Harley is still doing better than any of the Japanese mfgs in this economy...

It must be all the sucking, and all the time spent holding guns to buyers' heads making them write the checks. That's gotta be it.

[Rincewind]

The Bonnie is nice.  From a handling/sporty stand-point it is the obvious winner.  However it does lose a few points for its chain drive and valve checks when compared with the Sporty.  However, I think the Sporty and Bonnie are both a few steps ahead of the Guzzi from a dealer/accessory standpoint.  Each bike has its own strengths and weaknesses as well as different engine configurations between the set.  At the end of the day, it will probably come down to the test rides.  Hopefully I can get on the Bonnie and Sporty this weekend.  The Guzzi will have to wait until I can make it up to Tulsa.

I would get some quotes on Harley maintenance before it gets the automatic win in that category.  The difference against the Triumph may be less than you think, if both are dealer-maintained.

[greywolf]

They are a good begniner bike for the inseam challenged , my X started out on an 883 Low .  Yes overpriced , under valued , but also easy to ride and confidence inspiring.  They are actually quite fun on the twisties, no sport bike , but entertaining for neophites .



I think the 1200's are a lot better value , as they have enough power that you don't outgrow them so quick.

[Rabidsnipe]

...if both are dealer-maintained.

Which, for me, is highly unlikely.

Went and looked at the new SuperLow at Harley Davidson World.  They just received it in the Birch White color this week.  Up close the bike looks very nice; standard Harley stuff.  The wheels look sharp in person and it would surprise me if these don't turn up on some of their other Sportster models. The seat to handlebar relationship was nice, but I worry the pegs are too far forward.  

They didn't want me to demo the bike, though, because I wasn't in "buy if I liked" mode.  Although I was disappointed, I can understand considering I wasn't going to buy it and it is their only copy of a brand new and greatly improved model.

[chornbe]

Maintenance on a Sportster is a joke. Anyone taking it to the dealer is truly mechanically challenged.

Oil filter - $8
Synth oil, 3 qts. - $... whatever
10W/40 or Harley Primary oil, one qt. $6.

Air filter every... 20K? miles. $14.

The Big Twin bikes (Dynas, Soft tails, Touring frames) add primary chain adjustment (45 seconds), and a third hole for oil (trans lube), which adds another 15 minutes.

The occasional re-torquing and normal stuff. Of course there's always things like steering head bearings and wheel bearings, fork oil changes, just like on any other bike, but in 50,000 miles of Harley ownership, the routine stuff was it. Engine oils, fork oils, flushed brake fluid on both bikes after 2 years of riding.

The routine stuff... That's it. That's all. Simple. Cheap. Easy. Takes 20 - 40 minutes, depending on your comfort with tools.

[Rabidsnipe]

All good points. In the end it will come down to the ride.

[bomber]

Maintenance on a Sportster is a joke. Anyone taking it to the dealer is truly mechanically challenged.

Oil filter - $8
Synth oil, 3 qts. - $... whatever
10W/40 or Harley Primary oil, one qt. $6.

Air filter every... 20K? miles. $14.

The Big Twin bikes (Dynas, Soft tails, Touring frames) add primary chain adjustment (45 seconds), and a third hole for oil (trans lube), which adds another 15 minutes.

The occasional re-torquing and normal stuff. Of course there's always things like steering head bearings and wheel bearings, fork oil changes, just like on any other bike, but in 50,000 miles of Harley ownership, the routine stuff was it. Engine oils, fork oils, flushed brake fluid on both bikes after 2 years of riding.

The routine stuff... That's it. That's all. Simple. Cheap. Easy. Takes 20 - 40 minutes, depending on your comfort with tools.

do the new Sporties NOT have a a primary chain adjustment? Curious, cuz the Y2K lump in my garage sure does . . . . .

[Rincewind]

I stopped at the local Harley dealer on Saturday, just for fun.  They had one of the new XR1200X models there, which I drooled on.  Right beside it was one of the new low-models.  It wasn't this new Superlow, it was the Forty-Eight.  I was blown away at how incredibly low, thin, and minuscule that bike appears.  It made me feel like a giant.  The XR was normally-sized, and the Forty-Eight felt like 1/2-scale!

I nearly fit in my back pocket and took it home for my kids to play with.  And I already ride what many consider a small bike!  

[Geoff]

Only Harley could add new tires and shocks to a Sportster and call it a new model.  It probably took more time to write the press release than it did to update the bike.  

[stromgal]

This part in the linked article made me

"Wider triple trees spread the legs ever so slightly for the new lighter-weight wheel, in the process giving the bike a more masculine appearance"

I guess they must be talkin' 'bout the proverbial wide stance...

[steve.m]

would it be impossible to build a sportster that handles, not an XR but an actual sportster?  I mean, take all the low bikes and put a standard set of shocks and forks on there.  I had a friend of mine pshop my bike with the normal suspension, with the bobbed fender, i thought it came out looking pretty damn cool.  plus the idea of a sporty that could lean AND look cool with the bobbed rear was pretty alluring.

[chornbe]

would it be impossible to build a sportster that handles, not an XR but an actual sportster?  I mean, take all the low bikes and put a standard set of shocks and forks on there.  I had a friend of mine pshop my bike with the normal suspension, with the bobbed fender, i thought it came out looking pretty damn cool.  plus the idea of a sporty that could lean AND look cool with the bobbed rear was pretty alluring.

The only thing mine was missing some a few more degrees of lean angle which would have as simple as getting 14" shocks and different mufflers (the stock lower-shock mount hits the stock mufflers when you add longer shocks). Mine did pretty well with the 13.25" shocks on there and the fork rebuild I did. In fact, stock length forks are fine if you keep the 19" wheel and good rubber is available for that whee.. It's really the back end that needs to be raised more. (mine was NOT a lowered model).

The biggest drawback to the bike's handling is the 28948248 pound wheels, once you address the ride height.

[1KPerDay]

would it be impossible to build a sportster that handles, not an XR but an actual sportster?  

No... Chris Horny-Bee did it...

edit... delayed simul-post

[kevin_stevens]

The only thing mine was missing some a few more degrees of lean angle which would have as simple as getting 14" shocks and different mufflers (the stock lower-shock mount hits the stock mufflers when you add longer shocks). Mine did pretty well with the 13.25" shocks on there and the fork rebuild I did. In fact, stock length forks are fine if you keep the 19" wheel and good rubber is available for that whee.. It's really the back end that needs to be raised more. (mine was NOT a lowered model).

The biggest drawback to the bike's handling is the 28948248 pound wheels, once you address the ride height.

What about the flexible swingarm pivots?

KeS

[1KPerDay]

You're thinking of the FL.

[UFO]

SupersLow, such an unfortunate name.

[chornbe]

What about the flexible swingarm pivots?

KeS

You're thinking of the FL.

*nods*

The sportster has a standard bearing pivot swing arm and it's pretty stout.

[Oilhed]

Tweaked suspension. Yeah that 1.4 inches of travel is going to feel positively luxurious.  

I love the looks of the superlow, except the low part!  Use the same design with the XR1200X motor and tall suspension.

[Mr.Black]

Looks like just another Sportster to me.

I would have to concur.

[steve.m]

all i can say is jump on a sportster with a full travel suspension with the rear preload dialed as tight as possible and a 3/4 spacer added under the fork caps and you will be pleasantly surprised.  despite the harley name (i hate the slow rev of the 96 cu-in motor) the sporty still has a lot of sport on the street despite 50 years of dormant design.