Wampahoofus
Thread starter
Thanks for all the feedback folks, much appreciated. I'll see what I can get out of the dealers, but (as I figured) I expect it won't be much.
I've owned about a half dozen bikes over the years, mostly Japanese, some English, and loved...most of them anyway. I haven't yet owned anything American and since Harley is the home team (the engine plant isn't far from where I work), I'd like to give them a shot. Like many others I've laughed at the 'Louder, Shinier, Bigger' stereotype since I've started riding, and I generally haven't cared much for the Harley flavor. Which brings me to this bike...I want to see what I can make out of the 'small' Sporty. Put it on a diet, give it a proper suspension, keep it tasteful and relatively understated. Instead of ripping off all of the 'EPA garbage' and putting on open pipes to wake the dead, keep it CA legal and tastefully muted. In a way, I want to build the anti-Harley.
I've checked out the new Triumph Bobber (super cool BTW) as well as a V7 Stone III and RnineT. All are awesome in their own way and, objectively, offer more than a Sportster. The Sporty has a distinctly different personality though, which is really appealing. You buy an Alfa Romeo (or a Harley) with your heart, not your head.
For those claiming the 883 is a real dog, I think we have different frames of reference. The bike I've ridden the most, and to which my butt dyno is still calibrated, is a 76 CB360. It did everything I asked with 32 horses...the 883 will be fine.
Aaaaand if it all goes to [censored], I'm a 1250 kit and stage 4 away from serious shenanigans.
I've owned about a half dozen bikes over the years, mostly Japanese, some English, and loved...most of them anyway. I haven't yet owned anything American and since Harley is the home team (the engine plant isn't far from where I work), I'd like to give them a shot. Like many others I've laughed at the 'Louder, Shinier, Bigger' stereotype since I've started riding, and I generally haven't cared much for the Harley flavor. Which brings me to this bike...I want to see what I can make out of the 'small' Sporty. Put it on a diet, give it a proper suspension, keep it tasteful and relatively understated. Instead of ripping off all of the 'EPA garbage' and putting on open pipes to wake the dead, keep it CA legal and tastefully muted. In a way, I want to build the anti-Harley.
I've checked out the new Triumph Bobber (super cool BTW) as well as a V7 Stone III and RnineT. All are awesome in their own way and, objectively, offer more than a Sportster. The Sporty has a distinctly different personality though, which is really appealing. You buy an Alfa Romeo (or a Harley) with your heart, not your head.
For those claiming the 883 is a real dog, I think we have different frames of reference. The bike I've ridden the most, and to which my butt dyno is still calibrated, is a 76 CB360. It did everything I asked with 32 horses...the 883 will be fine.
Aaaaand if it all goes to [censored], I'm a 1250 kit and stage 4 away from serious shenanigans.