Harley Davidson Sportster Iron 883 vs. Triumph Bonneville T100

Harley Davidson is one of America’s oldest motorcycle companies, founded in 1903. Triumph is the largest motorcycle company in the United Kingdom, having been around since 1983. Throughout history, the United States and the United Kingdom have been rivals in several fields, including economy, military, etc. But they have also competed to see who performs better in the motorcycle industry. Both the U.S. and U.K. have large and dedicated motorcycle communities, with plenty of fans eagerly awaiting the newest motorcycle models. If you asked motorcyclists in the U.S., most Americans would claim that Harley Davidson motorcycles are superior. You would get a similar response regarding Triumph motorcycles if you were to ask the opinions of motorcyclists in the U.K. This kind of debate continues with the latest versions of the  Harley Davidson Iron 883 and the  Triumph Bonneville T100.

The first model in the Harley Davidson Sportster series was introduced in 1957. These motorcycles were intended for racing, uphill climbing, and road trips. Over the years, more variations were built, with each new Harley Sportster model having its design adjusted to be better suited for commercial, racing, or military purposes. Today, you will often see Harley Davidson Sportsters ridden by police officers and veteran motorcyclists.

The Triumph Bonneville series entered the United Kingdom motorcycle scene in 2009. It is possible to track the gradual transformation of the Triumph Bonneville motorcycles by their upgraded parts. The earliest models had 865 engines, an air-cooling system, and a fuel injection system. As time passed, the engine size and displacement gradually increased and a liquid-cooling system replaced the older one. It was not until 2018 that the modern iteration of the Triumph Bonneville T100 came to be.

The Harley Davidson Iron 883 has a fully blacked-out body about 86 inches long from front to end. This vehicle is designed with a rake angle of 30°, a trail of 4.6 inches, and a wheelbase of 59.6 inches. The Harley Iron 883’s handlebars are positioned slightly forward but are within comfortable reach of the rider’s seat. The front suspension is a 33 mm fork with 3.62 inches of wheel travel, and the rear suspension is a coil-over, dual adjustable preload system with 1.6 inches of wheel travel. The front brakes are solid uniform expansion rotors, while the rear brakes are dual pistons. The front tire is a 100/90B19 57H tire, and the rear tire is a 150/80B16 77H tire. The Harley Iron 883 can come in three colors: black denim, white sand pearl, and gunship gray.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 has a blacked-out finish along the chassis and hand-coached lining on the fuel tank. This vehicle has an overall length of 87.8 inches, a rake angle of 25.5°, a trail of 4.1 inches, and a wheelbase of 57.1 inches. The Triumph Bonneville T100’s handlebars are closer to the rider’s seat to allow for a comfortable, upright riding position. The front suspensions are 41 mm cartridge forks with 4.7 inches of wheel travel, and the rear suspensions have Twin RSUs with preload adjustment with 4.7 inches of wheel travel. The front brake is a single 310 mm floating disc with a Brembo two-piston axial caliper and ABS, while the rear brake is a single 255 mm disc with a Nissin two-piston floating caliper and ABS. The front tire is a 100/90-18 tire, while the rear tire is a 150/70 R17 tire. The Triumph Bonneville T100 can come with single solid or dual-tone colors: jet black, meridian blue/tangerine, and carnival red/fusion white.

The Harley Davidson Iron 883 runs on an 883 cc air-cooled Evolution V-twin engine. This motorcycle is fitted with a five-speed transmission system that connects to the rear wheel via a chain drive. The Harley Iron 883’s engine is capable of a torque of 73.2 Nm, a horsepower of 49 hp, and can attain a top speed of 105 mph. The air-cooled system has difficulty keeping the engine cool when riding in high-degree heat. This Harley model’s design makes it better suited for traveling short distances as you will start to experience discomfort if you go on an extended, long-distance trip.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 runs on a 900 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine. This motorcycle is also fitted with a five-speed transmission system that connects to the rear wheel via a chain drive. The Triumph Bonneville T100’s engine is capable of torque of 80 Nm at 3,750 rpm, a horsepower of 64.1 hp at 7,400 rpm, and can attain a top speed of 115 mph. The liquid-cooled system reliably keeps the engine cool regardless of the temperature. This Triumph motorcycle is better suited for short commutes through the city rather than long highway ventures.

The Harley Davidson Iron 883 has a seat height of 25.7 inches, making it possible for shorter riders to operate this vehicle with ease. But the seat is within a reasonable distance of the controls, handlebars, and footrests so that almost all riders can sit comfortably and move their limbs freely. However, some taller riders may find it a little hard to maintain proper back posture while seated.

The Harley Davidson Iron 883 is a middleweight motorcycle with an overall weight of 564 lbs. Because this vehicle is built with a low center of gravity and a relatively short seat height, it is possible to lean side-to-side safely when making clearing sudden turns around tight corners. The Harley Iron 883’s sleek and narrow frame allows you to squeeze in between larger vehicles stuck in traffic.

The Triumph Bonneville T100’s seat stands at a height of 31.1 inches, slightly higher than the Harley Iron 883, but still low enough for shorter riders to mount without issue. Whether you are a short, average, or tall rider, this motorcycle’s seat will allow you to reach the controls, handlebars, and footrests without stretching too far.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 is a lightweight motorcycle with an overall weight of 503 lbs. Because excess weight is removed, leaving only the essential components, this motorcycle can accelerate quickly and maintain high speed. The Triumph Bonneville T100’s balanced frame encourages a consistently relaxed riding experience. The relatively low seat height and equally distributed weight ensure good maneuverability when navigating city streets.

The Harley Iron 883 and Triumph Bonneville T100 are two-wheelers best suited for short to mid-range travel through urban areas. Their design makes them comfortable for shorter and average riders to operate. Though they do not have multiple riding modes, the Harley Iron 883 and Triumph Bonneville T100 offer comfortable and smooth riding experiences. Both of them can be modified and customized with Harley Sportster aftermarket parts and Triumph aftermarket parts.

The Harley Iron 883 has a bulkier and heavier frame, its chassis being able to withstand impacts better when struck by incoming debris or hitting another vehicle. Due to being able to produce moderate torque and horsepower at low to moderate speeds, this vehicle handles well on short commutes on paved streets and short highway trips. Having a lower seat height than the Triumph model, the Harley Iron 883 makes it easier for shorter riders to mount the seat, move their limbs, and reach the controls, handlebars, and footrests. The Harley Iron 883 can also be fitted with saddlebags, tank bags, sissy bar bags, tail bags, trunks, backpacks, solo bags, sissy bars, fairings, or crash bars.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 is more affordable than the Harley Iron 883 by $454, outperforms its rival in every performance statistic, and can be operated by all riders regardless of height. Because this vehicle is beginner-friendly, the Triumph Bonneville T100 is perfect to practice on for newer, less experienced motorcyclists. Except for the seat height, its lower dimensions help improve its handling, maneuverability, acceleration, and speed. The liquid-cooling system ensures the vehicle is suited for all weather conditions and temperature ranges. It is possible to customize the Triumph Bonneville T100 with saddlebags, tank bags, sissy bar bags, tail bags, trunks, backpacks, solo bags, sissy bars, fairings, or crash bars.

The Harley Iron 883 has been a popular cruiser among female motorcyclists since its introduction. At the Harley Iron 883’s early sales, the demographic that made up most purchases were female motorcyclists. The Harley Iron 883’s seat, handlebars, and footrests best accommodate women as they provide a comfortable riding position that helps them maintain balance while riding at highway speeds. Also, the tuck and roll seat and low seat height ensure that female riders can smoothly handle and maneuver without much difficulty.

Both the Harley Iron 883 & Iron 1200 are part of the Sportster series, with the earliest 883 model released in 1986 and the first 1200 model built in 1988. The Iron 883 comes with more color schemes than the Iron 1200. The Iron 883 has a forward-leaning riding position, while the Iron 1200 has an upright riding position. The Iron 883’s engine, torque, and speed are smaller than the Iron 1200.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 is a beginner-friendly motorcycle because its low seat height of 31.1 inches and 55 mm ground clearance makes it easily accessible to all riders. Because of the balanced handling and comfortable riding position, novice riders can practice without distraction and with less risk of crashing. The horsepower and torque are not so powerful that beginners can suddenly lose control but allow riders to enjoy a fun riding experience.

The Triumph Bonneville T120 was the first motorcycle in the Bonneville series built in 1959, while the Triumph Bonneville T100 was an upgraded version in the late 2000s. The Triumph Bonneville has more colors and features, including riding modes and an extra front disc. The Triumph Bonneville T120 runs on a 1200 cc engine, while the Triumph Bonneville T100 runs on a 900 cc engine.

Though the Harley Davidson Iron 883 and the Triumph Bonneville T100 originally were built by manufacturing companies on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, they are accessible to anyone either brand new or previously used. Whether you believe the Harley or Triumph model is better depends on the individual needs and perspectives of the riders. Comparing the two motorcycles based on their specifications, you may prefer the Triumph Bonneville T100 for its better overall performance and accommodating dimensions. On the other hand, you may objectively weigh the pros and cons of the Harley Iron 883 and decide that its capabilities make it a better commuter. Because picking a motorcycle is a big investment, you should make sure to conduct research to better determine which model best fulfills your daily needs and fits your riding style and level of experience.