HD bringing back air cooled 883 Sportster

[Moparnut72]

I had a 2006 883 Custom, large gas tank. I bought it used with some scrapes on the gas tank. Turns out there were more issues, steering stop broken off and a messed up front wheel which wasn't obvious, the 2nd hand dealer tightened the steering to hide the issue. After fixing the issues I liked the bike hated the suspension, mainly rear shocks. I upgraded them somewhat but I couldn't see spending 1 K on a 3K bike. I test rode a 1200 and didn't see a lot of difference. It had a few Screaming Eagle accessories on it so I now wonder if it had a big bore kit. The dealer was a used bike and salvage company so they probably didn't know much about the bike. To be honest I wish now that I hadn't sold it. Here in Cali it is hard to find a decent Sporty under 5K.
kk

[davethewelder]

Harley not cool enough or smart enough to bring the sportster back.   The Bar and Shield is dead to me.

[JJ]

Always liked the 883 Sportster. Have ridden a few, but never owned one.  Have owned 5 Big Twin Harley's, FLH-S and Road Kings.
This model below is from 2000.  Cool little bikes

[PeteS]

I have ridden a lot of Harleys but never owned one. Why couldn’t the 883 have at least as much HP as a V85? Another two valve pushrod motor. In that case it should be able to keep up with most Harleys.

Pete

[Clifton]

Harley chose low rpm power and torque for their 2V motors. They typically sign off by 5,500 while the V85 makes 15 more peak hp but up at 7,700.

[PeteS]

The variable valve timing V85 doesn’t lack for low end power. Its not at all like previous Guzzi two valves, in fact almost the opposite. Power drops off over 6k RPMs.

Pete

[Clifton]

I was just going from my E5 V85, I've never ridden the newer version. My V85 loves it around 5,000-7,000, the Sportster seems to like 2,800-4,500.

[PeteS]

I am just thinking out loud. Harley stopped selling 883s for a reason, most likely they weren’t selling. If the new version is the same as the old one I am not sure they would start selling again. I think they would have more appeal with 80 HP rather than 50HP or whatever they had before. Just make it look the same. Using Triumph as an example, they don’t have any problem selling their modern Bonnevilles.

Pete

[Clifton]

I've wondered the same thing, why bring back the 883 Sportster unless you've made some major improvements? But maybe dealers have convinced corporate they can sell 883's similar to what they were, for $10,000?

Imagine if Harley, instead of the 100's of millions of dollars lost on the battery motorcycle program, they invested some of that in an all new air cooled Sportster that felt similar to the old ones only better in every way? Keep the low rpm torquey power delivery and push rod motor maybe 1,000-1200cc, only make it lighter, more powerful, with nice suspension. Counterbalancing the new motor would allow it to be a stressed member of the frame. Copy some of the tricks used in the Milwaukee 8.

The new Sportster platform could be versatile, offering maybe a basic Sportster with styling clues from the past, a pimped up Special, a touring version, an R version, and even a Pan American version. Guzzi's doing it, BMW is to an extent with the Camheads.

At some point in the future it can't meet emissions with air cooling, add water cooled heads.

[ridingron]

I still don't get the whole Harley thing, 883  or what ever.

[bad Chad]

Did I miss something regarding the new to come 883?  It seems that many of you fellas are assuming HD is just bringing the last iteration of the Eve 883, why?

As far as I can ascertain, all they have said is it will be an air cooled 883 sportster.   They can not bring back the 883 without making at least some changes to it or it won't be able to pass EU (not sure about US) emissions.   We don't know how or if the motor may be worked over, perhaps it will be stronger than the last outing, even with tighter emissions, Guzzi did it, I would think Harley could as well?

I hope they do follow through.  HD needs an old school Sportster, it's the only HD I actually admire.

[bad Chad]

The variable valve timing V85 doesn’t lack for low end power. Its not at all like previous Guzzi two valves, in fact almost the opposite. Power drops off over 6k RPMs.

Pete

I'm with you Pete regarding the better low end power do to the VVT on the 2nd gen v85.  But I have no clue what you're talking about when you say, "power drops off over 6k"?     I had a 17 v9, and it does have a really healthy power band, very similar to a 1100 big block, just falls off a little earlier at the top.   The new v85 pulls hard all the way to red line with no drop off, if anything it increases as you blow past 5500rpm!

[Clifton]

Did I miss something regarding the new to come 883?  It seems that many of you fellas are assuming HD is just bringing the last iteration of the Eve 883, why?

As far as I can ascertain, all they have said is it will be an air cooled 883 sportster.   They can not bring back the 883 without making at least some changes to it or it won't be able to pass EU (not sure about US) emissions......

Hopefully they improve it maybe an all new motorcycle. I understand they auctioned off all the old machinery to make it after discontinuing it.

[PeteS]

I'm with you Pete regarding the better low end power do to the VVT on the 2nd gen v85.  But I have no clue what you're talking about when you say, "power drops off over 6k"?     I had a 17 v9, and it does have a really healthy power band, very similar to a 1100 big block, just falls off a little earlier at the top.   The new v85 pulls hard all the way to red line with no drop off, if anything it increases as you blow past 5500rpm!

I am comparing the V85 to my ‘76 LeMans with its flowed heads. The ‘76 pulls hard way over 8K RPMs in 5th. I have had to back off at 8300 RPMs concerned with valve float. That corresponds to something over 130 mph. At 100 mph the V85 doesn’t pull nearly that hard. I’ve only seen about 112 mph though. Haven't had a place to try to go much faster. The LeMans was my track day bike.

Pete

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

If anyone wants to dig into the source of at least some of the information from the article, the 883 Sportster revival was brought up on HOG's 2026Q1 earnings call.
Here is a transcript: https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/hog/transcripts/554434-q1-2026/

"Our riders and many younger riders and our dealers have expressed it is the number 1 universal request from the Motor Company to deliver on a great Harley-Davidson Sportster, and what we're talking about today is the 883."

"The Sportster is number one request from global dealers. If you walked into our dealership in Shanghai, if you walked into our dealership in Louisville, Kentucky, if you walked into a dealership in Frankfurt, Germany, and you asked the dealer or a sales team lead in those dealerships, "What can Harley-Davidson do for you?" You would hear, "Bring back the Sportster." Yes, but it is, it's global truth in terms of the enthusiasm around that bike."

I take that as a self-jab that the Harley CEO acknowledges the current Sportster is not great 

Another bit that stood out to me, "U.S. Sportsters will be made in York, in our York, Pennsylvania facility."
IMO that's the right move as the current Sportsters are made in Thailand. ("MLY" World Manufacturer Identifier at the beginning of their VIN)

[Frulk]

My opinion only. The current sportster is not an attractive bike. It has HUGE cans on it. It looks Rokon-esque from the side view. The scale is off. Any 6 footer sitting on it looks like a circus gorilla.

My daughter has an 883. I’ve been trying to buy it off her for a couple of years. Not interested in selling it. My son in law has a nicely modified 1200. Tried to get him to sell it to me. No go. Neither have ridden either bike in approx 1.5 years. Recently they became parents. Told them to give me a price and I’d pay it. Nope was the answer.

The old 883 has that iconic look with the peanut tank. Once again Harley is slow to bring something to the market. It’s our 250th year of Independence. There should have been a scaled back Easy Rider Captain America themed 883/1000/1200 based on the HD 73 on the sales floor NLT 30 March 26.

Conservative apes, tall sissy bar, stepped king/queen seat, old glory tank… maybe make a slightly raked springer front end an OEM option. I would have thrown my wallet at them.

As it is I’ll keep riding mine….

[kballowe]

I have a buddy that ever owned just one motorcycle and here it is - a 2008 Harley 883.
Purchased brand new.  He still has it.  It's still factory stock.

[Moparnut72]

Hopefully they improve it maybe an all new motorcycle. I understand they auctioned off all the old machinery to make it after discontinuing it.
[/quote

This is what I had read when it went away. I have been told that wasn't the case but no one has presented any evidence or proof of that. Makes me wonder, how did the Chinese come up with one so quickly without blueprints and or tooling. How is Harley going to bring one out quickly without the same. I guess we will have to wait and see. I had a 883 Custom which I sold years ago. I have kicked myself ever since. I can't see myself buying one, too old to start filling up the shed again. My V7 and somewhat reassembled T3 is enough. Although if I could find an original dirt cheap I would be tempted, but that won't happen here in Cali.
kk

[JJ]

2016 Sportster Iron 883 

[JJ]

[Motormike]

Harley chose low rpm power and torque for their 2V motors. They typically sign off by 5,500 while the V85 makes 15 more peak hp but up at 7,700.

If you want a Sportster engine that makes power and has some revs, get an old tube-frame Buell.  Lighter flywheel, more compression, hotter cams.  90ish HP in 1200 trim.
Here's a pic of my old 1997 S1 Lightning.  Bought it new from Earl Small's Harley Davidson in Smyrna, GA (Atlanta).  Finally parted with it about five years ago.

[Clifton]

If you want a Sportster engine that makes power and has some revs, get an old tube-frame Buell.....

Yes they were nice motorcycles and wish they had kept making the tubes instead of changing to the cramped 52" wheelbase GP style bike.
My stock 1999 Cyclone before I put the race kit on.

[DC950]

I they bring back the 883 for the $3995 price, I might consider buying one.

I still have my "Ride Free Guarantee" card that allowed me to trade it in a year later on a Big Twin and get $3995 credit, which I did not do  I did a lot with it and kept the bike for 33 years.

[Shorty]

Shadetree Surgeon bloviates excruciatingly about the Sporty rebirth:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ7RcJ-BxTA&t=32s     

[Scott Carpenter]

Never ridden a Harley, let alone a Sportster, but I did sit on one a few years ago and that riding position is not for me. Neither is the weight, lack of ground clearance etc. I just enjoy throwing small block Guzzis into the corners too much. However, I think its a pretty good move but the price will be very important. If they get that right it could be the proper entry point into the brand, that the new liquid cooled bikes are not. Here in the UK I remember the £4999 883s back in 2000 and must admit I was tempted for a nanosecond. At the time my Breva750 brand new was £4700. But its like comparing apples and oranges.

[sdcr]

I they bring back the 883 for the $3995 price, I might consider buying one.

The $3995, guarantee buy back, was probably the most successful promotion the Motor company ever did. It got new riders on bikes, and helped them move into the larger displacement and profitable motorbikes.

[Shorty]

The $3995, guarantee buy back, was probably the most successful promotion the Motor company ever did. It got new riders on bikes, and helped them move into the larger displacement and profitable motorbikes.

Yes. I had a Harley dealer tell me that Sportsters were like trained dogs. Sell 'em, then the "bros" would shame and hound the owners into buying a "real" Harley. The Sporties would then come home to the dealership after the owners spend good $ on carb kits, cylinder upgrades and exhaust systems. Pretty good racket. 

[Motormike]

Back in Harley Davidson's "Good ol days" when they sold every bike they could make (say early 1990's or abouts) they used to have a big Comment Book setting out at their demo events like Daytona Bike week and Sturgis.  The Sportsters were still solid mounted engines back then. I still remember the comment I wrote after I demo'd a Sportster 1200.    "I would never own a motorcycle that had a vibration induced top speed of 60 mph."  I stayed with my rubber mounted FXR's. 

[Tom]

Best Sportster I've ridden or owned is my Buell S3 Thunderbolt.  Haven't ridden it in a while.  I have to replace the drive belt.    

Back to the thread.  First 883 that I rode was a 4speed that my friend owned.  Loud aftermarket pipes.  Great for setting car alarms off in the parking garage where he worked.     I did like the 5 speed that the dealer here in Kona let me use for a weekend.  The sales manager knew I was always interested but was into Moto Guzzi.  They had rejetted the carb tuned to an aftermarket exhaust.  Only limiting factor was the peanut gas tank.  Limited range.  The oem suspension was adequate for the job of mountain riding.  It seemed to lose power around 78 mph.   

[Mr Revhead]

This is probably a good thing. However we were told Harley sold all the plans and tooling to a Chinese company. Either that wasn't true or Harley will have to start from scratch. They will have to do some redesign to be able to meet emissions. I liked my Sportster except for the horrible suspension. Stay tuned.
kk

Why would a Chinese company buy that?
That would be quite a step back in quality