Engine behaviour (performance is too strong a word) is dictated very much by modern emissions laws, which you must flout at the first service if you want any fun on your Hog. Instead there's a nice pulsing thrum still coming through the seat, bars and pegs. And indeed the tingly vibes from the 45° V-twin fail to reach your parts. Let the engine drop to its lumpy tickover and watch it rock back and forth, independently of the chassis it's a weird sight. Certainly vibration has been dealt with by isolating the engine from the chassis by means of rubber mounts. Harley tells us there are four areas addressed in the Sportster makeover: vibration, performance, ergonomics and styling. More clues point to imminent arrival of Harley-Davidson Pan America 975 Other big-bore Harleys in the range are all fuel-injected. They've also brought the Sportster up-to-date in certain respects: it's more service engineer-friendly, it's more owner-friendly and it's had its obligatory digital-age makeover of the ignition laying the foundations for fuel injection, when the law finally squeezes it into going that way. Many of the revisions have rationalised a model which has been left alone, except for cosmetics, since 1986 when the Evolution family of motors was introduced. So how have they managed to completely revise these two models and retain the looks of their predecessors? Well in short, they've done lots of little things and nothing radical. From an 883 starter I'd still leapfrog it onto the big-bore brothers, however. But who would want another slightly pokier Sportster? For two-and-a-half grand more? No thanks.īut the 2004 model is worth considering, at least as an entry level bike, as it does have much more going for it than its predecessor, simply as a motorbike you can use. Anyone who's cut their teeth on an 883 wants the full-on Schwarzenegger-schtyle 1450cc bike next - it's the real deal.
There is the 1200cc version of the Sportster too, a bike often overlooked because of its no-man's land market position. The new 2004 Sportster 883, a complete revision of the previous model and only £50-£100 more expensive than the 2003 model. But the 883 is priced to be almost irresistible to someone who's attracted to the Harley 'thing'. The rest of the range isn't, by any stretch of the wallet (£10k-£17k). It's cheap - about £5,250 (2004 prices are to be confirmed). The Sportster 883 is the 'My First Harley' of the range. You only have to sort out your genuine Hog owner's image at your local Harley Motorclothes store and join the local chapter of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) and you're off, an instant Angel, with riding buddies, events to go to and that hairy scary image, even if it is only the thickness of a leather jacket and two-day-old stubble.
On top of that, your Harley comes, thanks to the Milwaukee marketing men, with an optional lifestyle and image which you can wear just at weekends, if that's what suits you. Riding a Harley is different to riding any other make of motorcycle - you need to try it before you criticise. Harley-Davidson, after all, is the world's best known motorcycle. It's a Harley and you are therefore riding a 20th Century icon, which, depending on the depth and colour of your motorcycling soul, could count for a great deal.
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