Sunday 25 10 09 - Harley Davidson 883 Iron

[aalnaeb]

Dear Luke.

I have a question for you. First allow me to give you some background info. I like motorcycles, and I've been thinking for a while about buying my first bike, and the one I had in mind is the Iron883. I do like its looks, and I am a fan of the Harley Davidson company.

Here lays the problem, I have never driven a bike before, and it's a bit intimidating, but I wanna learn first and get on the road.

Do you recommend the 883?

[motorcycleluke]

@aalnaeb Id never recommend a harley for a first bike, simply because brakes, handling, and suspension are really poor compared to other bikes! Dont get me wrong, i love Harleys, but if you want to learn to ride to the best of your ability, I would start on something a bit more mundane, and not so costly when you drop it!

[myJupiter7]

bad video

[njs97]

Whats top speed

[motorcycleluke]

@njs97 Not much mate - probs 90mph!

[3booody7]

how much di u get it??

[bishopodo1066]

Hey like. I just wanted say cheers for this review. Because of this I went to harley shop rode on one. e. then I bought one. Great little bike. er i did ro do the suspension though.

[Belgoboy]

I saw your review on the 1200 Nightster. If you could or would, would you recommend this or the 1200 as a first bike. And if you want what bike WOULD you get as a first bike. Subscribed as well.

[motorcycleluke]

@Belgoboy Id go for nightster bro! Preferred its more power!

[yeahuhword]

just wondered, do you thinka 6 foot 3 man could fit on this if he were to fit it with forward controls? Thanks bud.

[joiner1983]

@yeahuhword im 6'1" 234 lbs and i find this bike uncomfortable. not dissing it just saying test it

[msufan8854]

@yeahuhword 6'3 and how much do you weigh ? I ask because my uddy has riding my bike and is 6'2 and skinny and said it wasnt bad, my dad however is 6'3 and a little heavier and he said it was awful

[dustinnop]

the looks are just so damn good

[zsoltyka]

One thing, it would be really nice if in the future you could mount your camera in a way so that the engine sound is louder! You don't ruin the ride with music, so that's a plus!

[zsoltyka]

I really enjoy the type of reviews and on-board footage you have! Subscribed!

[motorcycleluke]

@zsoltyka Cheers bro!

[cforcalvin]

@MrProFiZ well harley has stronger materials and construction- but they're for different purposes though. harley's are great fun for cruising the highways, but on a track there's no harley that can out-corner and out-gun an R6. 360 lbs. 124hp. but yeah for my personal reasons i feel the harley as simply a machine and a work of art is more valuable. It gives something that can't be bought- a lot of charisma and personality

[cforcalvin]

I've had this bike for a year now, this and an R6 and due to limited space I had to get rid of one. I ride everyday so I figured the R6 was a more practical choice to keep, but the minute I sat on the Harley again to take it to be sold I instantly knew it's the R6 I was going to sell. Just the feel of it, the simple beautiful touches and construction, to the way it smells- everything is so classic it's too hard to let go of

[jamie25086731]

Luke that review was great this is the the bike I'm getting or the '48 just had my bike test cancelled that's tommorow cos of snow gutted...keep up the good work

[kugelfunk]

I just had it for a day from the local HD dealer (the yellow one, like that even more than the black one, looks really "different" from everything else out there!). And all you say in your vids is spot on. You would think this must be a very boring bike given the specs. But it feels so damn good riding it.

[MrThejayman]

Are u ever going to get the chance to review the Harley 48

[ApexIXMR]

Would you recommend this as a "first bike" for someone?

[motorcycleluke]

@ApexIXMR Yes mat eI really would!! Its not powerful at all, and apart from the fact harleys arent the best handling bikes, and the brakes aint great, its easy to just get on and ride!

[THEARMEDLIFE]

hey man keep the vids coming. i love that bike. all the guys that are bitchin about the camera shaking. well i ask to see there videos if they think they can do better. thanks for the video.

[trazanhund]

Wow, this something!!!

Sorry I'd not answer your nice

introduction you send me one week ago.

I read in the paper that HD have financial problems. Sounds bad!

[gregayo]

nice vid and beauty bike !

I want that as my first ride <3

[iron883sport]

Good vid, man iron stock really is nothing impressive but once u tune it WOW check out my vid with my iron

Thanks, 5 Stars

[motorcycleluke]

Glad you liked it bro!! Yeah man - defo needs a tune!!

love your video buddy!!

[danopd]

Excellent review(s). But the camera shake gives me a migraine.

You may want to turn off the digital image stabilizing function in your camera when you are shooting yourself handheld. This feature works better getting rid of camera shake from engine vibration so only leave it on while riding.

[motorcycleluke]

No stabilizing funstion there unfortunately - prob just need to get rid of the DT's!!!

[motorcycleluke]

Sorry mate!!! I dont get paid for this blog - its just a passion and a hobby - and I simply cant afford nowt else!!!

Will try harder!! lol!

[yohji79]

Dude, PLEASE stop the camera shaking.

[dbauernf]

I've mentioned it before and got bashed on.. It's actually because of the rather narrow field of view, like when you zoom in.. it's just the way his camera is, nothing he can do about it.

[yohji79]

How come we do not see it with other pple's videos? Well anyway, what a shame. The videos are actually quite good in clarity, just too difficult ot watch :( IMO, no point making a video that nobody CAN watch ..

[dbauernf]

You don't see it in other ppls videos because most use conventional compact digicams with lenses between 28 and 35mm (wide-angle), and his is probably 40mm or over, which is (without image stabilization obviously too much for this kind of usage).

[motorcycleluke]

Cant help i bro - its handheld!!! sorry!

[yohji79]

Let's hope u get a camera with anti-shake for Xmas! :P

[motorcycleluke]

Yeah If only I could afford one!! I got anext voucher for xmas buddy!!!

Its just a passion of mine - I dont make any money from them - and the two cmasd I have now cost me nearly £400 so I cant afford owt else!!

Will try harder!

[shoeless1979]

Am seriously torn between one of these and the Triumph Street Triple R although i'm still swaying towards the Harley as it's like nothing they've done before and when i tested it round town i loved riding it. I don't really race around the place but I'm still a bit worried i'll get fed up with the lack of power especially on the motorway. I comute on a Bandit 600 at the moment which isn't a fast bike but probably quicker than the Harley. I guess i should take the Triumph for a test ride.

[yohji79]

FYI, I own the Street Triple (Standard) and the 883 Iron. Both are nice bikes, but very different. You won't feel nice if you ride the Street Triple in a relaxed way, and you won't feel nice if you ride the Iron the hardcore way. So you got to decide which kind of riding style suits you more :)

[shoeless1979]

yohji79, thanks for the reply didn't think i'd come across someone who already owns the 2 bikes i want. How does the Iron hold up when on the motorway like what kind of speed can you comfortably sit at ? If i could afford to have 2 bikes maybe i'd keep my bandit 600 but i can't. I don't ride fast but i do commute 50 miles a day (mostly motorway) with my current job. I do like to know i've got a bit of power should i need it but maybe the Triumph would be wasted on me?

[yohji79]

Hi shoeless. I mostly ride my Iron at speeds like 60-80kmph. Anything higher than that, the bike dosen't feel that nice (for me). The Street Triple is opposite. You need to go faster (~100kmph) to enjoy it. It's best when ridden hard and fast (for me). But I would say the Street Triple is more versatile. You can ride it in slow or fast situations. The Iron IMO, is a bike for riding slow and easy. The power doesn't come so quickly partly because of the bike's weight.

[Azulreaper]

dude, very good video and report.