Which Harley-Davidson Sportster Is The Best? We Compare A Sportster S To an Iron 883 To Find Out!

[@Indiansoul08]

Sporster s doesn't really sound like a Harley iron 883 does..old is gold.

[@CesarRamirez-cn5fw]

The older Sportster's are g.o.a.t. you can turn the bike into whatever you want a chopper, bobber, cafe , scrambler or even a full blown speed machine if you wish.

[@Mrdrivereight]

Yup! After 50 years if the new sporty stays the aftermarket community will be just as sick.... Hopefully!

[@notreallydaedalus]

That IS awesome, but there are a lot of people out there who don't think you should have to... Who would only buy a bike that's comes from the factory as the bike they want.

[@levytjale889]

True, Im Confused on what to do with mine?

[@levytjale889]

I prefer old models

[@mikewilliams5659]

Yes old school.

[@FrankySilverFace]

Can't beat the idle sound of the old carb bikes.

[@lynnlittle8671]

I have zero interest in the S. I just bought a 2021 48 a few weeks ago, she's a real Sportster.

[@AD-1911]

What did you pay?

[@nickcalkins8705]

I have a 2020 48. Wouldn't give the new S a second glance.

[@Uncle_Titus]

​@@AD-1911i paid 16k for a full custom With 16k km

[@lovingmylifeasIage6741]

I'm sorry but calling the S a sportster is an insult to Sportsters. Just a look similarity doesn't make the S a sportster. The Sportster has something that that the S will never have and that is character. There isn't any similarity in the ride between the two and the ride is the key. I owned a new 1977 Sportster as my first Harley which was the second bike that I owned. I ride a 2018 Iron 1200 now and every time I ride it, I can feel the same vibes that I felt on my 1977 Sportster. If I wanted performance I would get a Triumph Street Triple R which would be cheaper and better. I own both an MT07 and the Sportster Iron at 69 years old. Along with a 2022 Heritage Classic.

[@johnbarrett7534]

Agreed. They should have kept the 1250 Custom name as it was called before sale to the public. It was still a concept bike at that time when I first saw it.

[@MarkfromNewYork]

Time marches on.

[@KODstorm21]

Bought a Sportster S a few weeks ago and I’m loving it. To me, it’s worth every penny. I do wish it sounded a little more like a Harley, but that feeling goes away when you crack open the throttle

[@Helmigurt]

I got mine a few months ago and agree on the sound as the biggest drawback. I got the Jekyll & Hyde Apex full exhaust and love how it looks and sounds. Worth the high price of admission.

[@joshuamoore3515]

I'm hoping in the next year someone will co e out with a real exhaust, if not I will.

[@tonyprice4146]

I have a sportster 48 which I have had for about three years now. I seat on a sportster S but could not reach the ground as l am 5”4 tall. So will stay with my 48.

[@johnbyram3116]

I currently have an 07 1200 sportster I threw a leg over the nightster over the summer and it was definitely an objective improvement in every way but it lacks the character of the old sportster and personally I knew would get me in trouble.

[@Ridingon3TN]

test rode 2 sportster S's during 22 sturgis rally and was shocked at how much of a sport bike feel it had even in road mode. I will say that once things line up right I will be getting a S as my second bike. It truly is a beast of a bike to say the least and handled Spearfish Canyon with ease on the test ride.

[@nickcalkins8705]

These new sportsters and the pan American will go the way of the vrod in a few years.

[@Pik4Joel]

I have a 22 Iron 883. I've installed an after market air filter and slip-on exhaust... Sounds killer and takes off very heartily - hold on! I also mix the madditive high octane mix to 92 when I fill up. It's plenty for me - I'd like to take it on a mile dirt oval!!!

[@tomwinner5350]

I bought the sportster S. I’m certainly not disappointed.

[@phillcc8524]

in my younger days i scrutineered a race series called "battle of the twins ", we dyno'd every bike , the harley 883's standard produced 39 h.p. the race tuned bikes produced between 69 and 73 , now the regs allowed for carb rejetting , muffler replacement , ecu flash and that was it , no cams ,no cylinder head modification no bore modification and all place getters were subjected to top end tear down and measurement , so they are in a low state of tune from new and with a little work you can nearly double the h.p.!

[@sgt_sledge]

I really want an iron 883 to build up, a 1200 to keep stock/ stage 1, and a sportster s. I have no use for the Nightster, true msrp is only $1500 different. I'm leaning toward the rebel 1100 personally, but I still want the old school sportsters in my stable.

[@andrewsmith9575]

Nice review Kase! I would still be all about your bike buddy! It is the sound of music!

[@rob.carrillo]

Whoa is there a video with more of your 1200? That's a cool looking bike!

[@planetx5269]

I , like you have an 06 Harley,883, last of the carburators and I like carburators. The S is nice but I would rather have more ne. I love how it looks and sounds. I have black handlebars on it and nice looking leather bags and plan to have a little accent paint done to it. I also like how I sit low on it. Get back to me if you get a chance. I also have a beautiful Italian 500 cc Moto Morni.

[@CactusJack252]

I like both of them. I just wish that Harley offered cruise control for the old air cooled sportster. Those evo engines are damn reliable

[@TexasMadeCruz]

I love my Sportster S. I wish the exhaust was louder or sounded more throaty but it will move!

[@xw8462]

never happen. That's why it is not a real Harley.

[@Theophilus1968]

It would of been really cool if you could compare a new Revolution Iron to an older air cooled Evolution Iron.

[@ryanplambeck266]

I own a 2022 Sportster s and let me tell you me and my friends specialize in cornering and the sportster s makes all other Harley's pale in comparison... This is a bike that can keep up with street bikes in the corners. With the right tune and other small adjustments, this bike is a cornering dream

[@carlov.3017]

My order: 1. '06 - (Cases' Harley) 2. Sportster S 3. Iron 883

[@danbsimpson]

I have a Triumph Rocket 3. I traded my neighbor for a ride on his 883, it's soooo slow and actually feels like it handles way worse than a giant 2300cc brute. The new one is soooo much better I could consider it (although I've heard it's a rough ride), I could never consider the older Sportsters after riding many better motorcycles.

[@carlsitler9071]

Harley is a bit late to the modern age. In 1984 my V65 had 120+ hp. Now I have a 1200 Sportster with a carburetor and love it (2006).

[@blueeyeddemon2755]

1999 883c , with 1275 hammer build , a 2002 883 hugger ,2005 883 , and a 1996 1200

[@MontysMotos]

Could at least use a 1200 lol. The new one is going to be way better in every measurable way. Subjectively, some will always like the old one better. I had a 1200L for several years and loved the thing. Now I'm actually jonesing for the Livewire One.

[@the_jarmel]

Love the PoV Ride ......THANKS Kase. HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYONE ✌️

[@l8nite6000]

Now we have to wait on the video for the tank and seat on the 06, Looking good!

[@molonlabe8979]

Love the new Sportster S, can't wait to ride one. I currently own a 2011 V-rod and love it.

[@johnnycheese4532]

ask this same question 20 years from now and see if the answer will be the same. 883!

[@tasteapiana]

The presenter in this video reminds me soooooo much of a guy I knew in Denver back in 1994/5, he looks like him, sounds like him, has the same demeanor, it's uncanny. And, the guy I'm thinking of had a 1 or 2 year old son at the time, lived in, I believe, Thornton, was a guitar player, was into kung fu, president of the rocky mt UFO society, pretty unique guy, super identifiable and a really nice, polite, funny and smart dude. Baxter was the surname, iirc, can NOT recall the first name to save my ---.

[@ni7suj]

Great videos. I have a suggestion to apply a de-esser filter to the vocal track. Would be easier on the ears. 👍

[@Chewwy1973]

I have a 1200 special 48 and love it - tried the new one and hated it. If it aint broke dont fix it

[@dry509]

Sportspersons S sounds like hell…so do the M8 softails imo.

[@luissousa6]

I'm on my second sportster 1200 xl custom, this one is stock, my first one was tuned up, and it was fast. I'm used to fast bikes, I used to ride a V-max

[@notreallydaedalus]

Man, I love your 1200! That thing is beautiful.

[@billwilliamson9842]

the sportser s is the best at one thing for sure, havin the absolute worst soundin internal combustion engine ever, just horrid noise.

[@highwayman1218]

Too bad you couldnt get ahold of a XR1200.... A much better comparo and only Sportster Id love to have in the garage.... These new Sportsters seem to be having alot of issues and Id be leery of buying any of these "new HDs".... HD has always used customers as the R&D and the bays of HD dealers are employed with "parts changers" who prefer easy bolt on mods and easy maintenance for their $$. I wouldnt want to be the guy bringing this in for warranty bugs to diagnose.

[@paulfiore7083]

Love my '96 and '01 Sportster Ss

[@RN-dz3ug]

BMW RNineT and Sportster S , ✌️from Germany (Bavaria)

[@tophookhighroll1149]

I was lead to believe that the vrod engine was the revolution engine, developed by Porsche, and the revolution max is just the next version of that engine. So it would make sense that you said it felt like a next generation vrod than sportster because I believe it is. And make sense that it doesn’t have a Harley feel because the initial design was engineered by Porsche 🤷‍♂️

[@gregjones6828]

I have a pam am and although I don't hate the sportster s like some people I am more tempted to get a sportster just to get some Harley rumble. If I wanna go fast I can ride the pan am.

[@filoIII]

I've had 2 1200 Sporties. Not a CHANCE I'd EVER consider those new "Sportsters."

[@OMGGITSDAVID]

They should keep the iron 883. Maybe just make it liquid cool and update the gauges. It would be perfect.

[@hiddenmortimer5189]

Man I want your bike! What did you do to it? I want a sportster so I can set it up like yours but with buckhorns

[@masterdftw4983]

Im getting a 883 and putting a Hammer Performance 1275 kit on it. 883 gonna go burrr burrr.

[@LarueBurry]

Got 05 883R love it

[@Harmjass]

Harley should have went with a different name for the Sportster S. Being that its a completely different bike going all the way back to the 50's. Retired the Sportster name completely.

[@dw9390]

Had other harleys and bought a 2024 sportster s modified the face, ass and voice and I'm in love.

[@brianbraden2697]

Go watch any Sportster S review. Watch and listen to when the video blogger winds it up, especially if they are in sport mode. They will practically shriek. You can hear the smile plastered across their face. I've just passed 6K miles on mine and it hasn't even begun to get old yet. It's a sport bike disguised as a cruiser This is a great bike, especially for those who like performance and speed. Harley did good.

[@pastorbobncc365]

I ride an all original 1974 XLH and wouldn't trade for a new one.

[@trekbsg]

"Best" is a subjective word, which one is "best" for you would be more accurate. If you're used to buying metric bikes and running them as bought, with little to no modifications, depend on others for most of the maintenance and work to professional shops, then the new Sportster platform is for you, if you're one that prefers the old fashioned solid feel and torque of the older platform and you like to roll up your sleeves and getting dirt and oil under your finger nails and feeling the satisfaction of doing mods yourself, then the old school is for you.

[@jimzenglish1]

Probably closer comparison would be to a V-Rod

[@udxpierre]

I dont know if you even can compare the two. The new bike do not appeal to me in the slightest. I have a 2006 Sporty that was built. To be honest i'd rather buy an Indian ftr 1200 than the new Sportster S.

[@niceshot4563]

I own a Forty Eight and an XSR700 (which has the same engine as the MT07) and the XSR700 has MUCH faster acceleration than a Sportster.

[@jacobmartinez2732]

Change of an era; air cooled vs liquid cooled

[@robertpewsey8931]

I'm 60, and living in England. The old air cooled sportster is the one for me. The new liquid cooled all gimmicks, ugly thing leaves me cold.

[@CalmApron-nl7lw]

How about redesign the xr750 make a road runner out of it

[@danbsimpson]

is there no speedometer on the 1200?

[@filoIII]

883

[@engir63]

I ride small displacement bikes around 500cc

[@finneyman]

Two different bikes for sure. I like both but they are definitely different

[@desmojsn4350]

J'ai parcouru 2000km avec mon sportster s 1250, beaucoup la juge mauvaise mais moi je l'adore elle super fun elle marche tres fort et fait un bruit d'enfer avec son échappement two brothers ✌🏻🇨🇵

[@1941392]

What have we done? Raised a bunch of wimps. “Riding Buddy?” “Manageable?” …what’s going on here?

[@victoriabrockman5473]

98 and 02 1200 Sportsters... Under 500 lbs off the showroom floor (1200C was 480 lbs in factory dress), and will make 80 hp/80ft lb with a set of pipes and N4 cams after you remove the restrictor plate under the ham can. My '02 weighed in at 438 lbs with the electronics swapped out for a magneto and kicker. It is too easy to get those Pre-04 Evo Sportsters to burn up the street. You drop 15 lbs just by swapping the heavy H-Pipe/glasspack exhaust, and pick up 10 hp by pulling the air box restrictor plate; by pulling the battery and starter you can seriously dump weight in a hurry without changing the look of the bike. The rigid mounts will vibrate like a 2 stroke, but they were much easier to go fast on than the 04-22 rubber mounts.

[@jefferyberridge1444]

I think I seen those cylinders on a movie called wall-E that will never take the place of a real Harley sporster

[@texozz99]

I prefer old school

[@mikepeebles]

They now sound like a metric

[@Malikot911]

Are you wearing a Merlin jacket?

[@HDR20]

The new Sportster is a glorified metric bike at best. Too much plastic and sounds like a sewing machine and with aftermarket exhaust sounds like a tractor with a hole in the exhaust. The performance is great and a blast to ride but isn't an HD imo.

[@Tren_Rides]

Harley guys are stuck in 1960, it's time to move along with the rest of the world, Harley will die out if they don't make changes, and the sportster s is part of the next gen

[@omarsalgado9715]

​@@Tren_Rides Let's move along with the sewing world.

[@josephfriedrich9792]

Sportster s vs vrod would be a more accurate comparison

[@billwilliamson9842]

sportser S vs xr1200 would be more apples to apples.

[@josephfriedrich9792]

@BILL WILLIAMSON (pre 2003) sportster sport vs xl1200r vs xr1200 vs xl1200cx. And the sportster s vs the vrod

[@billwilliamson9842]

@@josephfriedrich9792 the new sportser and v rod are in 2 different classes, the only thing they have in common is they are both motorcycles with similar liquid cooled v twins.

[@ROCCOCYCLES]

Great, they put a lawnmower engine on it.

[@shelbylacanilao541]

Move on snowflake

[@EvendimataE]

the S doesnt sound like a harley....i just get a japanese naked bikeLOL

[@Nifilheimur]

Imo way way way too expensive for what it is. Engine is good but lacks character. Suspension is utter shit and riding postition is just wierd. Why not use the engine in the Bronx and let the sportster die with dignity... I love the old carbed Evo sportster, preferrably solid mounted as they look fantastic, sound even better and they just oooze character and heritage. New one has none of that

[@sinistersilverado965]

unless it has more than 1hp per pound of weight, it's slow

[@waynebelcher6081]

Give me the old-school simple Sportster any day. Simplicity is the word !! Not to mention it's a much better-looking bike

[@jamesdewar-mills1105]

The new ones just need a rotary blade on the bottom side there you go.. ride on lawn mower

[@ikonoklass]

Love High Country! Shout out to Jesus Negron!

[@toddfrost3019]

Older sportster all day!! New ones are ugly as hell!! Ill buy a rebel now over the new sport

[@larrymickey3419]

Compare the real sportster to sportster in name only.

[@terrencemanuelito7495]

Nothing Harley Davidson about it, just the badge. You are better buy a Honda Davidson. 😂 I don’t think it would be much of a difference between the two.

[@ramblinjay3816]

Eh..Nahhhh....Keep it old school.

[@Mayheezy592]

New ones are ungodly overpriced, call a dealer and let them inform you of the cost. Want to go fast buy a sport bike, want to get r@p3d go to a Harley dealer...

[@jerrychiasson9857]

Got a 996 or 1000 1977 sportster nothing sounds cooler…. It’s a bear but the new sportster engine is so ugly just my opinion…. should’ve taken cues from Indian…in engine looks. Then again, now if they would’ve used the V Rod motor with a V4 model😊 now you’re talking…. If you crave sport

[@saddle8bag]

The "best" at what? Speeding? You'll be able to run up the point score on your license faster with the new bike.

[@IMAXXHEW]

Old Sportster way better. The new one is literally 1 update away from Big Brother ALSO being able to "customize" the settings in the new digital TFT. All that needs to be added is uplink/downlink signal capability, then all the adjustments that the rider can change now, Big Brother will be able to take control. Don't even think of speeding... automatic speeding ticket issued. Don't even think of riding for pleasue... without an essential approved destination entered into the onboard computer, Big Brother will decide you are some kind of climate change denying gross polluter and your bike won't even start. Turn the uplink/downlink system off??? Not a chance, no way, it will be illegal to opt out of Big Brother keeping you safe and in compliance. Ride free? Not anymore... because you think the technology is so cool and you asked for it.

[@IMAXXHEW]

P.S. If you don't want to be a part if the dystopian Big Brother controlled future you must recognize NOW where he is hiding... and avoid him. His technology, no matter how great it seems, don't ask for it, don't buy it, and warn others about what we must do to keep Big Brother away so we can cotinue to RIDE FREE! Anyways all the best bikes at the bike shows are old scool and user friendly.

[@howiethehowitzer7398]

​@MAXXHEW eat your veggies, kids.

[@KODstorm21]

Damn dude it’s really not that deep lol

[@rob.carrillo]

RELAX

[@IMAXXHEW]

​ @KODstorm21 ​ @Rob Carrillo I know it's not that deep yet, you can still jump out anytime you want... until it gets real hot and you no longer have control of your legs. Don't say I didn't tell you to get out. And I will always be relaxed on my FLSTSCI.

[@paulfiore7083]

Exactly what i would expect from a woke German running the Company

[@azurikstone333]

All new Harley's are quiet and lame with lots of plastic and reflectors like a kids bike lol

[@azurikstone333]

All new Harley's are junk . Stay old school

[@johnbarrett7534]

I remember people saying that when the Evolution engines came out. Same with the VRod. I rode my Shovelhead for 24 years before buying something more modern.

[@shelbylacanilao541]

Maybe you need to move on and accept the fact that theres gonna be modern versions of the HD motorcycles. Move on snowflake

[@laplayeritablanca]

They should keep the old and came up with a new line instead

[@unspheredwings7859]

Not my cup of tea personally but they are absolutely fantastic bikes and super fun to ride. They put a lot of work into them and it definitely shows

[@carlsitler9071]

I wouldn't say they are junk. I'd say Harley copied the Japs.