Harley-Davidson XLH883 Sportster
Manufacturer | Harley-Davidson |
---|---|
Also called | XLH 883 Sportster |
Production | 1991 - 95 |
Engine | Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder. |
Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
Ignition type | Electronic |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: 35mm Showa telescopic forks. Rear: Dual shocks with adjustable damping. |
Brakes | Front: Single 292mm discs 4 piston calipers Rear: Single 292mm disc 4 piston calipers |
Front Tire | 100/90-19 |
Rear Tire | 130/90-16 |
Seat height | 25.8 in |
Weight | 214 kg / 472 lb (dry), 221 kg / 499.4 lbs (wet) |
Fuel capacity | 8.5 Litres / 2.2 US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
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Engine
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder.. The engine featured a 9.0:1 compression ratio.
Chassis
It came with a 100/90-19 front tire and a 130/90-16 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 292mm discs 4 piston calipers in the front and a Single 292mm disc 4 piston calipers in the rear. The front suspension was a 35mm Showa telescopic forks. while the rear was equipped with a Dual shocks with adjustable damping.. The XLH883 Sportster was fitted with a 8.5 Litres / 2.2 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 214 kg / 472 lb.
Photos
Overview
Harley Davidson
XLH 883 Sportster
Take a Harley on honeymoon,
advises Rosie Marston. A good couple of weeks should do it. A life of bliss
H together or a parting of the ways will ensue. There's no compromise.
At last, the real thing! I've
ridden just about every Japanese custom from 250cc to 1500cc over the last
ten years, but Harleys have always eluded me.
Strictly speaking, however, the 883 is not a factory custom, it's just that
we have got so used to using the description for Japanese bikes. The factory
customs in the Harley range are the FXR Low Riders. In truth, the original
brief for the Sportster was to be 'light and narrow; make it powerful, make
it fast'. In short, a no frills sports bike, Harley-style.
Being a Harley, it's also easy to think of the 883 Sportster as a 'small'
bike. Well, yes, it is for a Harley, but 'eight hundred and eighty three
cubic centimetres' of engine is still some chunk of heavy engineering.
Despite this, the 883 is described in States-speak as their 'entry level'
model. The one to get you hooked on Harleys. It's almost the Stateside
equivalent of the restricted 125!
So, as a non-Harley rider, this 'entry level' model was just the ticket. To
set the record straight, the model tested here is the standard XLH Sportster
with some modifications. The single seat has been swapped for dual, pillion
pegs added and although the catalogue states cast wheels, wire spoked are
issued for British bound 883 models.
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION
WHAT can you say about the 883cc
45-degree aircooled vee-twin that hasn't been said before? Well, there's the
gearbox for starters.
All 1991 Sportsters have five speeds instead of four, advertised by the '5'
emblem on the side of the motor and each side of the petrol tank. Overkill?
Maybe, but when every Sportster since 1957 has only had four gears I suppose
they can be forgiven for making the most of it.
And there's more to it than just an extra ratio. The gearbox has been
completely redesigned with increased capabilities and ratios of 1st 10.19
2nd 7.41 3rd 4.45. 4th 4.45,5th 3.66.
Maximum torque is stated as
55ft-lbs @ 4500rpm. The clutch is now similar to that used on the big 'hogs'
and Harley claim the new transmission offers more positive gearchanges and
allows the engine to turn at lower revs for highway cruising.
I can vouch for the latter claim. I had been warned that Harleys vibrate but
I didn't need telling. I remember many a time seeing my brother as just a
blur astride his 1340cc Harley at tickover.
The new 883 though would only
vibrate enough to loosen fillings (no kidding, one of mine fell out!) if
revved hard through the gears. Ride it in proper Harley style and the vibes
are quite unobtrusive. What vibration was apparent was more of a thud, thud,
not the annoying high frequency type. After a few miles on the bike it was a
case of, vibration? What vibration?
Other changes to the Evolution engine spec include a new oil pump along with
improved oil routing. Redesigned lifters and push rod covers and the
relocated alternator offers improved output at low revs.
The whole crankcase is new. It's
said to be stronger and simpler.
In fact, according to Harley-Davidson, the only engine parts that haven't
been updated are the 40mm carburettor, cylinders, pistons and connecting
rods.
Starting it will never faze even the most nervous poseur. Just full choke
and press the electric thumb. Any bike that starts as well as that, even on
a cold winter's morning, gets my approval.
What it did always need was good
hard boot into the first gear of the day. After that gear selection was
hardly given another thought. It was the clutch that created attention. It's
so heavy I avoided town centres at first but as the test progressed I seemed
to manage better without recourse to bodybuilding classes.
The noise generated from the motor is tremendous. Almost every individual
component can be heard clanging and whirring but it is a curiously
reassuring noise actually, nothing like the ominous rattles of a sick
engine. And the staggered shorty dual pipes add a pleasant background tone
to the ensemble.Final drive is still by chain the Standard Hugger do not get
belt drive.
RIDING a Harley is supposed to
be all about tooling around on sun soaked roads without a care in the world.
Somehow thermals and waterproofs in frost-bound Britain didn't conjure up
the right 'cool' image. A vivid imagination did help as I dreamed of
tee-shirt and cut-off denims in California but the pursuit of the American
dream is best undertaken in warmer weather.
The 883 is by no means a fast bike. In fact its downright slow, so high
velocity freaks shouldn't bother. The Harley is a bike to be seen on and
it scores high in that department with attention from all directions as it
burbles by.
Anyway, searching for the Harley's top speed was actually an uncomfortable
experience. Far better to rumble leisurely along with the stress of modern
life slowly evaporating.
This enhancement takes some work
to achieve, mind you. It would be easy to ride a Harley five miles, get off
and vow never to ride one again. Like anything with 'character' there's a
period of adjustment.
My initial ride was anything but pleasant. Everything felt heavy and on
slippery roads I was ill at ease until familiarity with the bike made me
more relaxed. I began to 'feel' at what revs the Harley felt happiest and
started to enjoy pleasant journeys at an indicated 65-70mph. Mind you, I
wasn't the only one convinced that the speedo under-read.
I also learned also to make use
of the tremendous engine braking to compensate for the infamous brakes.
Single 11.5 inch discs front and rear are only adequate for modest riding
and have their work cut out stopping the 472lb (dry) weight quickly. I
wouldn't like to think my life depended on them in an emergency.
The tiny 1.8 gallon petrol tank allows around 100 miles between fill-ups, an
extremely jrritating feature on longer journeys. Potential owners will be
glad to know that a 2.7 gallon alternative is available.
Fast and nimble it may not be but the Harley can still be fun. Along
sweeping A roads the piglet (baby hog?) is a relaxed and enjoyable steed. It
has a solidly dependable (if slow) feel. No wobbles or surprises, a
methodical and patient style is the answer to staying on line around bends.
Unhurried that seems to be the right word.
The frame is a simple mild steel
double cradle with 39mm forks supporting the front end and box section
swinging arm with twin oil damped shockers holding up the rear. These have
five way pre-load adjustment but spent the test on position one. Even when
two-up our combined 19.5 stones didn't upset the handling.
The deep buttoned upholstered seat (28.5" off the ground) is pure bliss.
There's no pillion grab handle but the performance doesn't exactly warrant
it. I found the pillion seat comfortable for daydreaming as Pete rumbled
along on the front. For those even nearer the ground than me, the Hugger
version offers a mere 26.75 inch seat height
Maybe this luxurious feeling has
something to do with the Harley's latest isolated footpegs with new
mountings to soak up vibration which, say the company, was a result of
customer demand. Then, of course, there are the traditional spongy grips, a
type I find comfortable on any bike.
Dunlop Elite S/T tyres are marvellous (100/90-19 front and 130/90-16 rear).
Even over slippery roads the bike felt secure but so they should, having
been especially developed for Harleys. Better cord construction should make
them last 50 percent longer than standard, they claim.
Any misgivings I had about the
potency of such a small headlamp were entirely unfounded. That Cibie unit is
in the searchlight league.
The steering lock is set in the headstock due to the position of the
ignition. I supplemented this with a hefty Cycle-Lok as Harleys have a habit
of disappearing.
I didn't like the too-dim tinted mirrors or the sidestand. It was difficult
to flip down and never looked very secure. The bike always appeared to be on
the verge of rolling forward. I left it in gear for some peace of mind.
You'll need shares in polish to keep your Harley pretty. Our test bike had
1500 miles on the clock and the rust on the chrome wheel rims was an
appalling sight. Watch out for those exhaust shrouds as well, which are
potential rust traps.
A better front mudguard or flap would be a good idea for riding in the wet.
The standard guard is useless, allowing muck and spray on to the front of
the engine, starter motor and rectifier.
THE PRICE YOU PAY
saddlebags; Lexan windshield;
battery cover; belt drive kit and chrome engine guards.
As for spares keep it upright. Front brake lever £25.11, clutch lever
£23.75, handlebars £30.55, mirror £14.40, front mudguard £93.50, petrol tank
£210.16, headlight shell £14.66, indicator assembly £19.72, front forks
(complete) £479.52, exhaust headers £41.79 and silencers £84.96.
On to consumables. A set of front brake pads cost £26.31, rear pads £38.21
and an oil filter £5.91. An air filter would cost £18.65 but as it's the
washable type, this is rather academic.
Fuel consumption was better than expected, returning an average 58mpg.
OUR VERDICT
EQUIPMENT
THERE isn't much, but what's there is generally good. I particularly like
the self/push cancel indicators on each bar. They're similar to the BMW type
but botter positioned on the Harley.
Just one clock, the speedo. Anything more would be superfluous this isn't
a bike on which to count revs. On the right of the engine there's the petrol
tap and on the left the ignition-cum-light switch and choke knob. Behind
this is a plethora of messy wiring worthy of Italy's finest! Should the
old-fashioned naked battery be too much of an eyesore a cover is available
as an optional extra.
IONCE read, "if you own a
Harley-Davidson you don't just own a motorcycle, you own a solid chunk of
American heritage". (Harley-Davidson A celebration of the dream machine by
Graham Scott). I agree.
Comparisons don't come into the equation when assessing this bike. You want
a Harley? That's what you must have. What other option is there?
The 883 Sportster is the cheapest start. At £4299 it only costs £19 more
than it did four years ago some explanation for the expanding interest in
these bikes amongst riders looking for something different, and undemanding.
There are Harley optional extras that Japanese owners can only dream about.
Single seats; dual seats; single with fender pad; sissy bars and pads;
highway pegs; pillion pegs; chrome luggage rack; leather
THIS test could have been the
shortest on record but it wasn't. You'll decide to buy one or not. The
latter candidate is never likely to be convinced, the former will find him
(or her) self totally hooked after the honeymoon or convinced they've made a
mistake and start divorce proceedings.
In original 1980s form the 883 was described by some as crude. I can only
say that the subsequent refinements have made it a pleasant, uncomplicated
motorcycle. A rare beast. Many bikes that start off uncluttered somehow miss
the mark... You know, liquid cooling, false chrome, dummy tanks...
On the whole I liked the Harley, but the odds are against me owning one.
According to the company's 'profile of the average Harley-Davidson buyer',
96 percent of buyers are male, the average age is 34.6 years, 59 percent are
educated beyond high school level, 56 percent are married, 43 percent have
children and their average income is 40,000 dollars (around £20,942 on
current exchange rate).
I fail on four counts, but I'm not telling you which!
Source Which Bike 1991
Make Model | Harley Davidson XLH 883 Sportster |
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Year | 1991 - 95 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder. |
Displacement | 883 cc / 53.9 cub in. |
Bore X Stroke | 76.2 x 96.8 mm |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Compression | 9.0:1 |
Induction | 34mm Keihin carburetor |
Ignition | Electronic |
Starting | Electric |
Max Power | 48 hp / 35.0 kW @ 5000 rpm |
Max Torque | 85 Nm / 63 ft-lb @ 4000 rpm |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Final Drive | Belt |
Front Suspension | 35mm Showa telescopic forks. |
Rear Suspension | Dual shocks with adjustable damping. |
Front Brakes | Single 292mm discs 4 piston calipers |
Rear Brakes | Single 292mm disc 4 piston calipers |
Front Tire | 100/90-19 |
Rear Tire | 130/90-16 |
Seat Height | 25.8 in |
Dry Weight | 214 kg / 472 lb |
Wet Weight | 221 kg / 499.4 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 8.5 Litres / 2.2 US gal |