Did Harley 883 get cheap lately?

Did used 883's all of a sudden drop in price, or have I not been paying attention. I tested one of the new 48's, and the Iron a few days ago on some time off. It seems like a 883 with a quick bobber kit would be dirt cheap fun and the newer 883 felt great, the 48 is a blast but the tank is like 2 gallons.

Depending on what year you are looking at, 883's can be a real bargain. Our '87 is a fine bike. It will stay up with a big twin on the highway. I think not having a 5 speed drops the resale value a lot, but 4 speeds is all you need. I've seen them in the $1500 range, and that's cheap for that much bike. 2 gallons is a bit small, but that should get you over 100 miles, and by then you're ready to get off and stretch. Larger tanks are available. I put a 3.25-ish gallon tank on Dr.Linda's, which brings its range up to about the same as my bike.

I was looking for a "starter bike' and was astounded to see 883 prices so cheap (under $2500). I emailed by brother in law (HUGE Harley Sportster fan... has ridden his hardtail from Seattle to Chicago and back "just because").... about his opinion on one versus the old BMW R65 I was considering... kind of assuming I already knew the answer.

I was wrong... he told me the BMW was the better bike and with the 883 I'd want to sell it as soon as I learned to ride....

What started me one this was this image. The kit is ~1K for everything. I can do the paint and depolishing/wrapping pretty easy. ~4-5K for a real Harley bobber if I shop right and sell off the parts from the donor bike.

Now, that's cool !

That might be the only Harley I would EVER consider owning.

Any more info on that kit?

Here's Dr.L's

z31maniac wrote: That might be the only Harley I would EVER consider owning. Any more info on that kit?

http://bluecollarbobbers.com/web/

Here is the website. They have been getting some traction for a little while now. They have bobber kits for other less traditional bikes as well.

I mean bobber kits for a 250 Honda, here is one on a V-star. I mean I never would have bought a V-star but I would if it looked like this. Its not a lot of parts, really more removal of things like you would expect with a bobber, but no messing with the geometry of the bike. Heck throw on a vintage tank repop and you would be golden.

I just sold my '04 883 for $4k. It was fair, bike was cherry. I actually really liked it and will say- if you are looking, keep it to '04 or newer. The rubbermount engine is a revelation compared to the solid-mounts. Dead nuts reliable too. Also, I'll have to disagree with Dr.H on the 5 speed vs 4- I could have used a 6th on the highway. My bike was bone stock and wasn't MS'd though- so maybe that would have made it a bit easier to deal with wider spaced gears.

I think they're great bikes- anyone who says "you'll just want a bigger one in a year" is either full of E36 M3, or just never wanted an 883 in the first place. Get an 883 because you want one, not because you want a bigger bike. It would be tough to get me on a big twin, largely because I'm don't like the poser image. I'll ride an 883 all day because only those who really like to ride will be seen on an 883 (the miata of the bike world - image-wise).

I read the buell blast uses the same tranny as a sportster and it is 5 speed, don't know if it is true or not but that is what I heard. Blasts are getting parted left and right so a 5 speed might not be too hard to find.

If you can get an 883 for cheap I'd do it, my bike is half and 883 and it is really cool. Get an 883 then find a cheap 1200 kit and you are set. Then you sell me what you have left of the 883 so I have spares.

One of my uncles wanted my blast after it is a parts bike to put an old iron head on. I think a blast engine/tranny in an older scrambler would be bitchin!

Bobbers make my pants tight

What tire sizes do the 883s run?

Is it a possibilty to put proper sticky tires on one? A bobber style 883 that could handle the bends could be DARN good fun.

I realize that one would never handle like my old R6, but could be a fun experiment anyway.

z31maniac wrote: What tire sizes do the 883s run? Is it a possibilty to put proper sticky tires on one? A bobber style 883 that could handle the bends could be DARN good fun. I realize that one would never handle like my old R6, but could be a fun experiment anyway.

I very rarely ask "why?" to a question of vehiclular tomfoolery, but... why?

Why not?

These meats look pretty grippy. Not sure if that is a stock wheel set though.

yup...Ive been wanting an 883 cafe/drag bike for some time now...CAUTION: HD pRon ahead:

I am clearly on record as despising all things Harley made after saaay 1947 so leave it to me to actually like the unloved bastard child 883 (modded to look less ghey, ofcourse).

In battleship gray, sans shiny bits, with clip-ons like below it looks pretty awesome. Still a bit weighty for tossing around but these are super cheap now and looking like that - even if it was a horrible ride when complete you could flip it to a dentist or attorney who is just starting out and can't quite swing the fat boy with open pipes and tasteful scamming eagle air cover.

Exactly!

Crap GPS first pic won't show up on my iPhone. I'm getting very tempted by this now.

Sportsters actually handle pretty well. They're not a crotch rocket race bike, but all things considered, they corner well.

Don't forget there was a Spec race series for 883's some 20 years ago. They can race, if slowly.

Whatever happened to the dreaded "XLX" version of the 883? Dropped? Or is there a modern-day equivalent?

I surprised several people on my bone stock 883. I was crawling up the ass of several 600 riders on the roads around Berryessa in NorCal- I'm not good, but maybe ballsy. I'm not anymore....

z31maniac wrote: Why not?

Trying to make a chicken a duck. Sure you could put one of those stretchy cord bills on it, and a life vest, but in the end, that suckers still a duck.

Also flippers.

^Meh. Don't think it would be much different than some of the junk people around here try to make handle.

Osterkraut wrote:

z31maniac wrote: Why not?

Trying to make a chicken a duck. Sure you could put one of those stretchy cord bills on it, and a life vest, but in the end, that suckers still a duck. Also flippers.

You also need to make its ass water-tight.

you guys are killing me. right when i figure that two bikes is enough and i dont need more you guys post this. Bobbers are my favorite. i need another bike now. i hate you all haha

Although my insurance is like 30% more for a Harley so i gotta find a bike that looks similar to it with a V twin.

Ideas?