Do you consider the Harley 883 Sportster a chick bike?
bigdevil132003 asked:
So, based on price I’m deciding between the 883 Sportster and the 1200 Sportster Harley. Would you buy the older 1200 or the newer 883? They’re the same price. The 2005 - 883 has 1200 miles on it, but the 1996 - 1200 Sportster has 26K miles on it. But, being as the 883 might be referred to as a chick bike, I just wanted some opinions.
So, based on price I’m deciding between the 883 Sportster and the 1200 Sportster Harley. Would you buy the older 1200 or the newer 883? They’re the same price. The 2005 - 883 has 1200 miles on it, but the 1996 - 1200 Sportster has 26K miles on it. But, being as the 883 might be referred to as a chick bike, I just wanted some opinions.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
not at all, buy the newer one, “chicks dont usually ride harleys”, i just looked at the pick on google, maby post a pic on ur question, ide take it and it looks cool
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 am
I’d worry more about what size you need. The 883 is a nice little bike but the 1200 gets more pound on the ground
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Not so much chick bikes, but the Sportsters are considered “Starter Bikes”. Also, they aren’t very comfortable. You can get a better, more reliable, and much more comfortable bike for the same money if you don’t insist on getting a Harley.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
i’ve got a 95 883 with the 1200 big bore kit in it,and a few other goodies,surprises alot of people.
it could be a chick bike though,i’m kinda fond of fishnet stockings myself.
April 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I’m an 883 Owner, and have been riding bikes for 23 years. I wouldn’t consider it a chick bike. I would consider a Honda Shadow a chick bike. As for the 1200 vs the 883, that’s a personal preference. The 883 is a lighter bike and not really made for long long rides all at one time. I drive mine to/from work (about 25 miles each way) and it’s not uncomfortable. I have taken it on mini-trips (over 100 miles) and its still isn’t too bad. Of course, I’ve replaced the seat which probably made all the difference in the world.
Ultimately, chick bike or not, get what you are comfortable with driving. Don’t get some oversized monster bike if you’re not going to be at ease driving it around.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
The only people that call a Sportster a chick bike are yuppies that don’t know anything about Harleys the Sportster is a very fast bike. The 883 would be the one I would get mainly because of the miles, besides you can put a 1200 kit on it later.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:10 am
My X rode one of my choppers 131 ci but its your bike what do YOU want?
April 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
As many know I am not a fan of Harley Davidson.
Here is my take on your question. There is no such thing as a “chick bike”. Pure nonsense. Buy the bike that fits your needs and be thankful you are riding a motorcycle. Do not worry about image. Image is over rated and a fabrication by the motorcycle and auto industries.
It takes more that the average to be a motorcycle rider. Takes more skill and commitment. Takes a certain mental fortitude to be on a machine that offers virtually no protection for it’s owner.
As to the two bikes you are considering. I believe the newer 883 comes equipped with the engine rubber mounted. Not true with the 1996 1200. Also the 883 is fuel injected (I believe) but the 1200 gets it’s fuel via a carburetor. I sure like the fuel injection feature of my bike.
Beyond that ask yourself, what do YOU want out of a motorcycle. I for one enjoy traveling on my bike. Will these bikes serve that purpose if you share my views of a motorcycle? Perhaps if you honestly answer that question for yourself you may decide neither bike will fit you needs. But you are the only one to answer that question.
Best of Luck
April 14th, 2008 at 2:42 am
Buy the 883, ride it as much as you can, and have fun. Ready? Begin!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:51 am
It’s a Harley, man. Gender has nothing to do with it. Just get on and ride. And remember to shut your mouth to keep the bugs out.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Hey big devil,
I have this years 883 model, but had a 95 1200 Sportster previously. The 883 is far superior. Fuel injection, anti-roll thingy, alarm, smoother ride, and sursprising, nearly the same power!
My big burly husband loves to ride it too.
Not a chicks bike, but some chicks happen to ride it.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:36 am
That’s why I call it a skirtster.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
You can just get a Japanese bike and your fellow Japanese make bike owners won’t call your bike a ‘chick bike’ They will just call it a ‘motorcycle’.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:00 am
yeah its a chick bike.if you have to question it that should tell you something. all harleys are chick bikes or chump bikes. by a real bike and get a HONDA! unless of course youre a chick or a chump.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Only Harley guys say that. But it is a bike that can’t even out-perform a 250 ninja. The 1200 barely does and wont touch a 500 ninja. Pretty lame. Who would spend all that money just to have a bike that looks like half the bikes on the road and can’t outperform anything?
Shawn….I’ve test road a sportster about 20 years ago, didn’t compare to the BMW I ended up buying. Why are you bragging that you have already payed way more for a very non sporty 900cc ‘Sportster’, then put yet another $5K into it to make it 98hp? A 600cc sport bike is more like 120hp and is still leaving your bike in the dust and the 250 ninja is still going to rape you on the curves.
Weird that you guys always bring up spending thousands to bring your bikes close to sport bike horsepower, but in that argument you don’t let sport bike guy spend the same money on his sportbike.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
if your worried about what people think like that then you mite as well just save your pretty little pennys for marriage cause your wife(i hope thats what it will be) wont let you have a bike any way
April 25th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I think it was nick named a chick bike simple down to wieght n cc.
At the end of the day its a bike. And if someone else has a problem with your choice tell them to go and fly a kite!.
Its not the bike that makes the rider- its the other way round!.
You could be riding a GS500 and still give less expierenced hot heads on R6’s a gud run for thier money on a twisty road!.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Just make sure you can handle all of that 35 HP that technological marvel puts out. And don’t race any 250cc bikes. Buy a used 92 cubic inch Victory. They are not considered “Chick Bikes” and will smoke a Harley tractor.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
i personally would go for the ‘96 out of those 2. but shop around, you should be able to find a newer one for the same price as the ‘05 883. but i like the pre ‘04 sportsters. i love the rigid mount motor. the new rubber mounted motors just feel too ‘civilized’ to me. and a buddy of mine thought the 883 would be plenty, now he has 500 miles on it and planning to do the 1200 conversion.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:06 am
all the chicks that want to ride on the back wont call it that.
but some 110lb. victorias secret model that rides her own custom fat boy might.
if you cant take a little razzing maybe you dont belong on a Harley anyway & you should get a plastic buzz bomb.
they all look alike so no one can tell if your riding a 250 or a 1400.
get what YOU like & tell everyone else to go piss up a rope.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
it’s a chick bike when there’s a chick riding it, it’s a guy’s bike when a guy riding it…. i think i’ve seen more chicks on big twins than sporty’s cause a sporty has a higher center of gravity
and to ninebadthings…
i think you should go ride a sportster once, your comments prove you haven’t
May 4th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I love Harleys, but the 883 and the 1200 are for total gaywads.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I would go with the newer one it has electronic fuel injection versus the old carb set-up and the 883 is not a girls bike I have a 2007 883 that I ride daily for commuting and haven’t had any problems yet with it I went for the 883 so I could do some modifications and keep within a budget as for the Sportsters your looking at they all have very low miles for the years