Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 SuperLow: Buyer’s Guide and All You Need To Know About This Motorcycle

• Table of Contents
• 1. Background of Harley Sportster Low
• 1.1 What Does XL Mean For Harley Sportster Series?
• 1.2 In What Way The Sportster 883 and 1200 Different?
• 2. Buyers Guide: SuperLow Harley Sportster 883
• 2.1 Which is better, to buy a Harley 883 SuperLow or iron 883?
• 2.2 Is The Sportster SuperLow a Comfortable Bike To Ride?
• 2.3 Can You Take the Sportster SuperLow on Long Tours?
• 2.4 What Makes The Sportster SuperLow a Good Choice For Beginners and Female Riders?
• 2.5 What is The Estimated Trade Price of the 2020 Harley SuperLow
• 3. Detailed Specifications
• 3.1 Engine
• 3.2 Dimensions
• 3.3 Chassis
• 4. Aftermarket Luggage and Modification Options for Harley Road King

If you are planning to buy a motorcycle from Harley’s Sportster family then you are probably looking for something more sleek and lean than the majority of other Harleys.

The Sportster line started back in 1952, and still, these bikes are in production which is enough to mark the success of the Harley-Davidson Sportster line.

These bikes can be good entry-level motorcycles because they are much lighter than other Harleys, especially the Touring and Cruiser bikes .

The SuperLow Harley Sportster is one of the famous bikes in the Sportster family. If you are planning to buy this motorcycle and need to know whether it’s worth the price then find out in this article.

Also Read: Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Iron: All You Need To Know

1. Background of Harley Sportster Low

Harley-Davidson is known for producing big and heavy motorcycles. In 1952, for the first time in history, Harley launched a middleweight motorcycle under the K model series.

It was the first model that supported a hand clutch. The design of these models was different from Harley’s other motorcycles. The foot brake lever was on the left and gear-shifters on the ride side.

Although it had all the looks of a sports motorcycle still it lacked in speed and horsepower. Moreover, at that time the cruiser bikes offered more speed and horsepower than these bikes, that's why the Harley fans wanted something extra.

Later in 1954, the K model motorcycles were re-introduced under the name KH. The horsepower of these bikes was increased due to the new 55 ci engine and some internal modifications.

Moving onto 1956, when the company reintroduced the KHK model. The engine was upgraded and this was the last year for all the K model series as in the future the Sportster XL series took their place.

The first Harley XL was introduced to people in 1957. The XL model didn’t have any major similarities with the previous models of Harley. Although,  the frame was a little similar to the K-model motorcycles.

Harley XL became a popular bike for street racing back in the 1950s. It produced a torque of 40 at 5,500 rpm so the street racers loved it.

Also Read: Read This Before Buying a Harley Davidson DYNA Super Glid

Until 1985, these bikes came with the ironhead engine, and finally, in 1986 these engines were replaced by the latest Evolution engine.

Some people started to say that the Sportster bikes are specially made for beginners and women. So, Harley took this as an opportunity and released Sportster 882 with a much smaller size and weight to attract beginners.

The distance from the seat to the ground was less which gave these bikes a similar look and feel like the Harley Low Riders .

In 1996, the custom Sportster was released that featured a new engine. And, the chain drive on Sportster was also replaced by a belt drive system.

In the year 2004, a significant improvement that was made in the Sportster model was that it featured a new rubber-mounted engine. The chassis was stiffer than before and the engine vibrations were also smoothed.

Three years later, a fuel injection system was introduced in all Sportster bikes and the carburetor was ditched.

In 2015, Harley released custom-styled Sportsters. This production line includes the Superlow 883, XL1200v, and the Iron 883.

The Sportster line is still in production and here we will be having a detailed look at the SuperLow Harley 883.

Also Read: Best Cruiser Motorcycles For Beginners in 2022

1.1 What Does XL Mean For Harley Sportster Series

The XL model designation was given to all Harley’s motorcycles in the sports line. As these bikes were smaller and lighter as compared to other Harley-Davidson motorcycles so by XL the company meant ‘Extra Light’.

Although these bikes are heavier than the majority of other motorcycles in the market, they are still lighter than Harley’s other production lines.

1.2 In What Way The Sportster 883 and 1200 Different?

The Sportster 883 gets its name from its 883cc engine that produces a maximum torque of 3500nm.

Whereas the Sportster 1200 features a 1200cc engine and torque of 4250 nm. This is the only major difference between both models.

The Sportster 1200 has a bigger engine so it has better performance in terms of speed and torque. But, it has a little more weight than the 883 which could be a problem for beginners.

Also Read: Best Motorcycle Rental Apps and Websites For Enthusiastic Ramblers

2. Buyers Guide: SuperLow Harley Sportster 883

The Sportster SuperLow 883 is an easy and fun bike to ride. It offers a balanced ride to beginners and the confidence to glide through the corners.

You will enjoy the attention you get while riding a Sportster SuperLow in the town. With the true Harley-Davidson styling, premium paint finishes, and flawless chrome the SuperLow is unparalleled in its class.

2.1 Which is better, to buy a Harley 883 SuperLow or iron 883?

Both of these bikes are from the Sportster line and have the same 883cc engine. But, the ride and feel of both the bikes are very different.

The iron 883 is easier to handle but the SuperLow gives you a vibe of riding a bigger cruiser bike because of its seat that is much lower than the iron 883.

But if you fall for sporty looks and want to make a strong street presence then the Iron 883 stands out from SuperLow. Both bikes can be easily customized. However, the SuperLow offers a better riding experience.

So, what’s a better choice in both these bikes comes down to whatever satisfies your needs and taste in bikes.

2.2 Is The Sportster SuperLow a Comfortable Bike To Ride?

As the SuperLow has less distance from the ground to the seat. It’s a comfortable ride for people of short height, female riders, and beginners. As reaching the ground is easier for them on this bike.

But for tall riders, the SuperLow is not much comfortable for long tours. It’s because due to the mid-foot controls your knees remain in a vulnerable position.

Maybe some customizations can make it a comfortable ride for tall people. If you have a short height and are a beginner rider then you will really enjoy riding the Sportster SuperLow.

Also Read: Viking Bags Sportster Sissy Bars 101 Guide

2.3 Can You Take the Sportster SuperLow on Long Tours?

The SuperLow 883 is a bike designed for traveling in the town because the engine is comparatively much smaller than the Cruiser and Touring bikes.

But, as the SuperLow is easy to handle and smooth on corners it can also be a good touring bike for beginners.

Veteran riders would say that the SuperLow is a poor choice for touring as it literally has no features of a touring bike such as windshield, saddlebags , and forward controls.

We would say that if you own a SuperLow then you can use it for tours by installing a windshield, high-quality saddlebags, and making some other necessary modifications.

But, if you are thinking of buying a Sportster SuperLow especially to go on long tours then it would definitely be a bad choice.

2.4 What Makes The Sportster SuperLow a Good Choice For Beginners and Female Riders?

The SuperLow features a smaller engine than other Harleys engine families. But, it delivers the right torque, speed, and rev to satisfy your soul.

The SuperLow offers a low center of gravity that improves maneuverability. Women also have a shorter inseam on average as compared to men.

But, as the seat of the bike has less height of about 25 inches and suitable width, it helps women to maintain good control on the bike.

The leaned handlebars, footpegs, and suspensions are designed to offer maximum control and comfort to beginners and female riders.

2.5 What is The Estimated Trade Price of the 2020 Harley SuperLow

You can get a Harley SuperLow somewhere between $7,500 to $9,000 depending on the color options, factory or aftermarket customizations, mileage, and overall condition of the bike.

3. Detailed Specifications

3.1 Engine

Type	Air-cooled Evolution
Stroke	76 mm
Bore	97 mm
Displacement	883 cc
Fuel System	ESPFI
Exhaust	Chrome, shorty exhaust with dual mufflers
Engine Torque	69 Nm at 3500 rpm
Compression Ratio	9:01

3.2 Dimensions

LxWxH	89x35x45.7 Inches
Wheelbase	60 Inches
Wet Weight	264 kg
Fuel Capacity	12.5 Liters

3.3 Chassis

Front Suspension
Rear Suspension	Coil-over, dual adjustable
Wheels	Split 5-spoke black rims
Brakes Type	Dual-piston front, dual-piston rear

4. Aftermarket Luggage and Modification Options For Harley SuperLow

Just like all the Low Riders, the Harley SuperLow can be a good choice for customization. You can put your inner artists at work and play with your bike to make it stand out in the streets.

If you want to take your SuperLow on a tour then you can always add some best-in-class saddlebags . Even if you just ride your bike within the town, saddlebags can instantly boost the look of your bike.

Moreover, you can enhance your comfort levels by upgrading your SuperLow’s seat with some top-of-the-line seats specially made to offer a luxury feel to the rider.

If you have some extra luggage to carry for a trip then try installing sissy bars on your bike and efficiently carry whatever you want.