simonwb
Back in black
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2008
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Leicestershire, England
Here in the UK, H-D have got a big test ride promotion on, so I thought I'd bite the bullet and have a go.
Went for the 883 Sportster Iron, which IMO is one good looking bike:
Well...what a difference from a Fazer! I knew a twin would be different from an inline four, but could hardly believe that two road bikes could be so chalk and cheese.
What I liked:
- small, low size
- finish: black all over, even the levers
- positive feel to the controls, gear shift etc
- self cancelling indicators!!
- neat combined brake light/indicator pods
- the thud thud thud noise
- the H-D experience: smart dealership, on the ball staff, good range of branded gear
What I didn't like:
- the brakes (or rather, lack of them!) just one disc on the front
- pegs touch down very easily
- no tacho!!
- how much the engine vibrates at idle
- windblast over 70mph
- the riding position. I'm just 169cm tall and for me the combination of the seat and reach forward to the bars got uncomfortable pretty quickly. However, H-D naturally have an answer for that with a range of different bars in all sorts of finishes
All in all, I surprised myself by really enjoying it and the way it encouraged me to putter around at 50mph, taking in the views. If I wanted a bike just for short rides on sunny weekends, I'd get one. But I don't - at the moment, I use a bike during the week as a fast and efficient way of getting around for work and my Fazer fits that bill pretty well.
Went for the 883 Sportster Iron, which IMO is one good looking bike:
Well...what a difference from a Fazer! I knew a twin would be different from an inline four, but could hardly believe that two road bikes could be so chalk and cheese.
What I liked:
- small, low size
- finish: black all over, even the levers
- positive feel to the controls, gear shift etc
- self cancelling indicators!!
- neat combined brake light/indicator pods
- the thud thud thud noise
- the H-D experience: smart dealership, on the ball staff, good range of branded gear
What I didn't like:
- the brakes (or rather, lack of them!) just one disc on the front
- pegs touch down very easily
- no tacho!!
- how much the engine vibrates at idle
- windblast over 70mph
- the riding position. I'm just 169cm tall and for me the combination of the seat and reach forward to the bars got uncomfortable pretty quickly. However, H-D naturally have an answer for that with a range of different bars in all sorts of finishes
All in all, I surprised myself by really enjoying it and the way it encouraged me to putter around at 50mph, taking in the views. If I wanted a bike just for short rides on sunny weekends, I'd get one. But I don't - at the moment, I use a bike during the week as a fast and efficient way of getting around for work and my Fazer fits that bill pretty well.
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