Following on from the first post - while I've ridden plenty of sportsters before, this was the first ride on the Iron. I didn't even try it before I bought it. I figured it wouldn't be worse than it's predecessors and all those improvements must make it worth it.
Riding a brand new 2003 X 883R years ago made me appreciate the 2004+ rubber-mounted sportster. I'm sure there are plenty of pre-2004 riders out there who love them, but I just couldn't live with the vibration. Actually, I'm sure we can get used to just about anything, but should we really need to?
Starting a brand new Iron 883 is not what you expect. Everyone expect every Harley to break windows and scare little children. Legal requirements and state laws required new bikes (Harley's included) to run pretty quite and consequently has your new Iron sounding like a sewing machine. Ok, fair enough - it's not so bad... but it leaves you instantly wanting a louder exhaust for a few reasons. Firstly, a Harley needs to sound like one so you can impress your mates, then there's the safety factor of keeping driver from accidently running you over. Last but not least - you need to piss the neighbors off when you start your bike in the morning to get them back for all the years of their kids screaming at 6 am. So overall the stick Iron 883 has a nice idle and roll on, but needs beefing up.
Sound covered. Get on the Iron and unless you're long in the leg, the seating position is upright and comfortable. I'll get into aesthetic details later. Pulling off the lot was easy and generally everyone says the 883 is real easy to ride. I've heard that comment from mates who ride nothing but Japanese sport-bikes. Being a Ducati Monster owner, this seating position was about as close as I could find on a Harley.
The engine is really smooth and tractable. As expected, not much in the revs, but shift up quickly and there's plenty of meat in the torque. Harley have done a good job with keeping the "heart" of the Sportster while smoothing out rough edges. For example, on idle at the lights the bike has a fair bit of shake which gives you that raw chopper feel but then smoothes out in the revs which works great for me.
Despite being the 'smaller' Harley, this is by no means a small bike and weighs over 250kg. At 100kg more than my Ducati, it wasn't something that went noticed. Not that it worried me. It gives the Iron a solid stable feel on straights and isn't twitchy with a passenger.
Rolling away from the dealer was a bit of a mixed experience. Super happy to have this new beast I'd been waiting months for but felt a little undernourished on the power end. For a moment I thought there was something not quite right on it and was considering turning back. Blasphemy-I know! I stuck with it and got used to the way this thing made power and knew it would only be a day or two before I take a spanner to it.
Suspension is so much improved over any other sportster I've ridden previously. Not to say it can't be improved but has come a long way. Unless pushed hard, it won't wallow in the corner and isn't harsh over regular bumps. Stock setup is made for a single rider, so if you're looking to ride two up frequently, you'll do well to consider upgrading front and rear shocks.
Overall though, even out of the crate, the 2010 Iron 883 is a fine motorcycle, and boy does it turn heads. Attracts young girls and bald old men alike!
Next post: What make the Iron 883 special? Details and Aesthetics.
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