Comments: 1-15, 16-17
Front brake master cylinder required rebuilding at 2500 miles, and was recalled by the factory.
Diaphragm in carburetor became torn and required replacing at 4200 miles.
I bought an 883R brand new in 2005.
This is my first Harley after several Japanese bikes. It's no crotch rocket that's for sure, but that's not why I bought it.
It's as if it comes with a built in people magnet. At stop signs and convenience stores, people stop to comment all the time. That in itself makes this a fun bike to ride.
New from the factory, the exhaust is way too quiet. In fact embarrassingly so. And it had the notorious "carb farts". That is, when accelerating from a stop, the carb would backfire for a moment. Beyond annoying, this was dangerous if you were pulling out in traffic and the bike would hesitate until the carb cleared.
I purchased Harley slip ons, a Kuryakyn Hyper Charger air cleaner and jets. I installed them myself and was very pleased with the result. No more carb farts, increased power and a more "Harley" sounding Harley. Not loud during normal operation, but when I get on it, it screams.
Gas mileage was about 45 MPG from the factory, and dropped to about 42 MPG with the changes.
The air cleaner does weep a little oil from the crankcase ventilation, but it's more of an annoyance then a problem.
With the rubber mounted engine, vibration is almost unnoticeable until you get above 75 MPH or so.
I have a hard time keeping myself from smiling every time I ride it, almost to the point of looking like an idiot riding it.
I have heard stories that beer gutted, grizzled Harley riders would give me a hard time about riding a "girls" bike. It hasn't happen. In fact one day while at a stop light. I hear someone yelling "hey". I look over and it's a hard core looking guy on an old Harley. He wanted to know what the "R" in 883R stood for. (It stands for Roadster). I took that as a compliment that he was interested enough in my bike to even ask.
Probably about the only complaint that I have with it, is that it is cold blooded when it's first started up in the cold weather (I ride all winter long as long as there is snow or ice on the streets).
I have an update on mileage this weekend. With my girlfriend on the back, I got 55 MPG on the highway!
R stands for Racing.
Sorry chief. The 883R was inspired by the XR flat track racers, but R stands for Roadster. Look it up.
Hey there...
I have a 2006 883r.
I agree with everything you said here... down to the detail of the carb fart. I had a crank position sensor replaced and it helped a lot, though it still happens time to time... again... usually in first gear off a light or intersection.
Cold blooded... yup... exactly.
Girl bike.. I laugh because I bought mine from a female rider, and when the people in my office found that out... they never let up. (also... FYI... none of them ride.)
And yes. the R stands for Roadster... 2007 (I think) is the last year they made that model in 883 size to boot...
And as a last bit of info... I have been looking at new machines (just looking... not buying) but they all seem so low to the ground... I checked it out and a salesman said that the R in the older "dirt track" looking bikes make them much easier to lay on to turn a corner, because it has more clearance.
Anyway... take care...
Wondering if anyone could tell me why my 94 Sportster 883 is backfiring and hesitating?
"Wondering if anyone could tell me why my 94 Sportster 883 is backfiring and hesitating"?
If you changed its breathing (i.e. jets, air filter and / or exhaust) that can cause the problem if not properly "tweaked".
Another cause can be if you moved to an area that is of a substantially higher or lower altitude than where you previously lived, as the bike from the factory, as I understand, is carbed for sea level.
One more potential cause of your problem is the fact that oil gets into the air box, and that may be the most likely reason.
I bought an 883R for my wife. She rode it like all of 3 times. So it sat for a few weeks at a time and I took it upon myself to take it out and ride it.
I also have a Yamaha Roadstar 1700CC, it's a powerful bike and handles well, but when I get on this one and ride it, it's just plain fun.
It pulls hard up to hwy speeds, handles great! And almost everyone I ride with admires it and gawks at it.
The only problem I've had with it so far was the fuel pump died on it right at 1k miles. It spent 2 months in the shop (parts). I ride it to work every other day and gas is inexpensive to keep in it. Less than $10 to fill up. Seems to run better on premium fuel too.
Hopefully it will be a collectors item one day, last year for the R model in 07 and first year for the fuel injection.
Modding is easy; you just add it and it seems to take it pretty easy.
Yeah, I have an 03 883r, and while it hasn't got comfort or incredible handling, it has the appeal of yesteryear but with to-days tecnology. It puts a smile on my face and a ring in my ear, and a vibration up my spine, but that's what I love about it.
XL883R may have been discontinued after 2007 in North America, but appears to be still available in Europe (2008 & 2009 models). I have a 2005 XL883R and it runs fine.
I have a 95 XL883 Custom, my first Harley, and it also backfires through the carb, and it will get you in trouble especially when pulling out in traffic. I've had it in the shop 3 times for re-jetting and timing adjustments to no avail. It still backfires and it's embarrassing. I haven't done anything else to "trick it up". It's very cold blooded, you have to have the choke on for the first 10 minutes. It makes me wonder if all the Harley's do this or is this just a Sportster thing??? If it is, then why in the world with so my problems doesn't Harley do something about it???
I bought a slightly used 06 883R about 2 months ago. I too was a little worried that I'd be seen as riding a "girl's bike." Not so. I've also had hard-core bikers stop and comment positively, usually about the orange and black checkered flag color scheme. It simply turns heads.
A set of Vance and Hines shortshots and it sounds dynamite. It carb farts too, but only under certain bike/outside temp combinations. I totally agree, it's as cold-blooded as they come. But it roars up to 75 mph fairly well, and it's a kick to ride around town, which is most of my riding.
I'm going to look at an '06 883R in a few days. Here in New Hampshire, where every other vehicle in the summer is a motorcycle, a lot of guys ride sportsters - "regular" and "hard core" types. In fact, you see more men than women riders. I figure price is part of the factor - half of a big twin. Plus they're a better built bike than many years ago AND they're more fun to ride.
I just bought an 05 Sportster with 1640 miles on it, barely broken in. It is EXTREMELY cold blooded, requiring the choke to remain partially on for at least the first 3 to 5 miles or so. Pushing the choke off before then causes major carb farting, and yes it still farts long after it's been warmed up. It also has a grating, scraping sound that seems to be coming from the left side of the top-end, sounds like a dry piston, and will get more noticeable as it warms up. It has the stock exhaust so the noise is clearly audible up to the point that I wonder if people can hear it when I ride by!
I bought my 2006 XL883 from a woman with only 170 miles on it.
I love it, yes it farts and doesn't like starting for the first time each day. But once it's warm it's great.
I planning to ride from Palm Harbor FL to Gatlinburg TN this week. I want to ride the Dragons Tail (129/28 route).
I only get about 48 miles to a gallon, but I've got a 4.5 gal tank. That larger tank is a big help.
Hi.. I have the Harley 883 Custom. I love it, I went from Kaw Ninja to this because I just love the Harleys.. I have convert it from a 883 to a 1200 bore kit, screaming eagles it with everything. I put it on a dyno tester last week and was told to enlarge my jets (only giving 60bhp), which I have done with a drill LOL, because I have reached the largest I can.. I do have a problem when it is cold. It's sputtering. But hey it's a Harley.. (give it 10 minutes while you get ready) this bike will never be sold, too much to list on it now. I love it.. LOL..