Honda Rebel 300 Vs Harley Sportster Iron 883: The Best Female Beginner Motorcycle

Being a female bike rider is not easy, especially when you are just starting. It is a tough job to first find a suitable bike that suits your size and preferences. As a female beginner rider, you may have no idea what it would be like to ride a motorbike.

When it comes to a girlish bike, there are two names that are commonly heard. Ask another female rider who has gone through the same phase; she will recommend the same. The first one is the Honda Rebel 300, which is known to be the universal beginner bike, especially for a female rider.

On the other hand, we have the Harley Sportster Iron 883, which is widely known as a girl's bike. Compared to other Harleys, it is way underpowered and slim. These two bikes always remain the talk of the town, especially if you are a female beginner biker.

Choosing the right beginner bike as a female rider can take you longer, but it is quite a fun task. You are not sure what you are looking for. You want a balance of power, comfort, low seat height, lightweight, and handling.

We will make it easy for you in this article so you can decide which bike you should start with as a novice. Keep on reading this article to learn which is the best female beginner motorcycle: Honda Rebel 300 Vs Harley Sportster Iron 883.

Starting with the engine size and power, the Iron 883 features a substantially bigger engine than the Rebel 300. The Rebel 300 has a small, entry-level, 286 cc single-cylinder engine. However, the good thing is that it is liquid-cooled, ensuring better heat dissipation. Meanwhile, Honda’s programmed fuel injection is standard on this bike, ensuring an ideal low fuel economy that is perfect for beginner riders.

The Honda Rebel 300 only produces 27.6 hp of horsepower and 28.74 Nm of torque. Such power figures make this bike an incredible beginner bike. If you are a female rider, the Rebel 300 is a totally unintimidating bike. You can easily hop on this bike and start riding without any fear.

The Rebel 300 is a perfect platform to start with. The performance capabilities of this bike perfectly suit female riders. Whether the throttle control, engine smoothness, and acceleration, everything is under control within a safe range for a female beginner rider.

On the other hand, the Harley Sportster Iron 883 is also a notable beginner bike. However, for a female beginner rider of shorter size and stature, the Iron 883 can be a little intimidating. Well, the Iron 883 is considered to be the slowest, lightest, and a girl's Harley bike. However, for a female novice rider, it may not be the ideal beginner platform. It may feel slightly heavy and big for novice women riders.

The power figures, including the 54 hp of horsepower and 73.2 Nm of torque produced by the Iron 883, aren’t considered top-end in the motorcycling world. However, they can still be a lot for new female bikers who have just started to explore.

When it comes to performance, both the Rebel 300 and the Harley Iron 883 are unique bikes. Both these bikes offer unique features, style, and performance. 

Starting with the Rebel 300, it is a sport cruiser bike that is ideally designed for urban riding. It is one of the easiest bikes to ride thanks to its construction, lightweight, and overall build. The Rebel 300 is a perfect platform to start your motorcycling career as a female biker.

The bike feels quite low to the ground, providing more confidence to riders. It can easily be flat-footed by the rider, which makes riding in urban areas easier. You don’t need to worry about putting your leg down immediately as you stop the bike.

The Rebel 300 handles smoothly thanks to the low center of gravity. Being the lighter option, you can easily learn how to turn corners and lean the bike while turning. You feel pretty confident and less intimidated, even if you have to turn a tight corner on this bike.

On the other hand, the Harley Sportster Iron 883 has a different class. It is better suited for highway cruising if you are a beginner rider. It may not be the most ideal choice for you to ride within the urban settings if you are a beginner female rider. It may seem small compared to other Harleys but for a beginner, the weight of this bike is quite substantial.

However, it isn’t like the Iron 883, which is kind of an unrideable bike if you are a beginner female biker. If you prefer riding on the highways and open roads as a beginner or don’t want to spend more time on busy and congested roads, the Iron 883 is a better beginner bike between the two.

If you get used to the weight of the Iron 883, the handling becomes easier. In fact, smoother than what you can expect from this bike. After all, the Iron 883 is a Sportster bike, and it is designed for better handling and maneuverability.

Considering the Iron 883’s performance, weight, and power figures, it can be an ideal second bike for female beginner riders. The Iron 883 is the easiest to ride Harley. However, it is not as easy as the Rebel 300, especially for a novice woman biker.

Being a female beginner rider, a motorcycle’s fuel economy can be one of the most vital factors that can play a huge role in choosing the right bike. At the entry level, a high fuel mileage is what you must expect from your beginner bike.

Considering the fact that the Rebel 300 has a considerably smaller engine than the Iron 883 and it is quite lighter, it provides impressive fuel economy. The Rebel 300 ensures a 78 mpg of fuel mileage (Claimed), which is considered to be exceptional in the world of motorbikes. It is obvious considering this bike has only one cylinder and it sips less fuel.

On the other hand, the Iron 883 ensures a fuel mileage of 51 mpg (Estimated). While it is lower than the Rebel 300, it isn’t bad considering it has a beginner V-Twin engine. As a beginner female biker, you must consider this aspect before making the purchase, as it makes a lot of difference.

Weight can play a crucial role in influencing the choice of the bike if you are a female beginner rider. The best beginner motorcycle for a female biker is the one that is lightweight. However, it has to be comfortable enough, like a cruiser bike.

To serve the purpose, the Rebel 300 is among the best lightweight options for beginner female bikers. Also, it is comfortable. The wet weight of the Honda Rebel 300 (ABS Variant) is only 370 lbs. Meanwhile, the Harley Iron 883 has a wet weight of 564 lbs. This makes the Iron 883, 194 lbs (88 kg) heavier than the Rebel 300, which is a substantial difference between the two.

Considering both the Rebel 300 and the Iron 883 are sport cruiser bikes with almost similar sizes and dimensions, the Iron 883 is way too heavy. It is mainly because of the use of metal in Harley Iron 883. The Iron 883, being a typical Harley, uses pure metal parts in its construction, resulting in a heavyweight bike. Due to being this heavy, the Sportster Iron 883 is not widely recommended as a first bike for female beginner riders.

However, being a heavyweight bike makes the Iron 883 a better option for cruising on highways and open roads. It is a more stable bike for highway riding compared to the Rebel 300. Due to being lightweight, the Rebel 300 isn’t suitable for highway cruising. It feels less planted if you take this bike on highways.

Ergonomics-wise, both the Rebel 300 and the Sportster Iron 883 are sports-style cruiser bikes. Both these bikes are beginner-friendly, modern-day cruisers designed for urban commuting.

Starting with the Rebel 300, it is a decently comfortable modern cruiser bike. If you are not a heavy or big person, this bike is perfect for you as a beginner. The riding position, along with the legroom and seating space, is more than decent. You do not feel cramped at all while riding the Rebel 300.

Despite being a sporty cruiser, the Rebel 300 has also received bobber styling, due to which it doesn’t compromise on comfort. The foot controls are though mid-mounted, but the bike still ensures perfect legroom for most riding conditions.

Unlike the classic cruiser, the handlebars on the Rebel 300 are not too wide and pulled back. Still, riders don’t have to stretch their arms much to grab the bars. Overall, it is a comfortable bike for urban commuting and light highway cruising, only if you are a beginner. It suits female beginner riders.

The suspension installed on the Rebel 300 may not be premium, but it ensures quite a smooth riding experience. They perform decently on paved roads and can also handle bumps gracefully.

Harley Sportster Iron 883, on the other hand, is a Sportster bike. However, it still has a classic touch. The foot controls are mid-mounted like all Sportster models, and the handlebars are considerably flatter compared to other Harleys. However, it is a Harley-Davidson bike. There are many aftermarket options to choose from. You can move the foot controls forward with the kit and replace the stock bars with a more touring-biased set.

The Iron 883 is not the most comfortable Harley, mainly because the purpose is to enhance the handling and maneuverability of these bikes. It is a perfect urban commuter, a good highway cruiser, and a decent tourer as well if equipped with the right touring parts.

However, as a female beginner motorcycle rider, compared to the Rebel 300, it may not be as comfortable and easy to move on busy roads and stop-and-go traffic. As a female rider, if you want to stick to the city roads, the Rebel 300 is a better and lighter option. It is a more manageable and better beginner platform, especially if you are a female rider.

Another disadvantage of picking the Iron 883 over the Rebel 300 is the stiffer suspension. The short wheel travel ensures stiffness, which is quite evident during the ride. You must not take this bike on bumpy roads.

As far as the styling and looks of both the Honda Rebel 300 and the Sportster Iron 883 are concerned, both bikes are unique in their own ways.

If you are more into a modern-style sporty cruiser with a bobber touch, the Rebel 300 will attract you more. On the contrary, if you are a fan of American cruiser style, especially the Sportster vibe, you will love the Iron 883 more.

The Rebel 300 has a unique cruiser style with its minimal build, fat tires, diagonally mounted gas tank, and elegant headlight design. The rest of the bike is almost naked with exposed engine and machinery.

Meanwhile, the Iron 883 is loved by the Harley community for its bare minimum and slim look. Despite being one of the most basic Harleys, it still boasts the same aura as other Harley motorcycles. Also, it may not look heavier due to its minimal and slim look. However, the Iron 883 is quite heavier compared to other beginner bikes, especially the Rebel 300.

The small and narrow gas tank design, tuck-and-roll solo rider seat, and its high customizability make it one of the most popular choices. You can transform this bike into anything you like according to your preferences.

Both the Honda Rebel 300 and the Harley Iron 883 have basic motorbike designs with no fancy tech and features installed on these bikes. However, being a modern-day bike that is still in production, the Rebel 300 is better in terms of tech and features. It is an updated beginner bike with LED lights, digital display meter, slipper & assist clutch, and programmed fuel injection. The ABS is an optional feature in the Rebel 300.

On the other hand, the Iron 883 only has ABS as an optional feature. It offers preload-adjustment in the rear shocks.

Another major difference between the two bikes is the engine cooling system. The Rebel 300 has a liquid-cooled engine. Meanwhile, the Iron 883 features a classic air-cooled V-Twin engine.

One major thing to consider while buying your first beginner bike as a female rider is the budget. Even if you have the budget, it is recommended not to go over the top when it comes to your first bike.

Considering the price and the value for the money, the Rebel 300 is a very affordable option between the two. Even the latest Rebel 300 model will cost you only $4,849. Meanwhile, even the used Harley Iron 883 will cost you more than that.

On average, a used Iron 883 can cost you somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000. After all, it is a Harley bike and it’s pure metal. Even for the value part, the Rebel 300 is better because it is more than enough for a female beginner rider.

Both the Honda Rebel 300 and the Harley Sportster Iron 883 are two great contenders for female beginner riders. Both are considered to be excellent girls’ motorbikes. The Iron 883, being the lightest Harley bike ever made, is known to be the girl bike, especially in the Harley lineup. Meanwhile, the Rebel 300 has made a big name in the beginner’s bike arena thanks to its lightweight and underpowered nature.

For a pure beginner, who happens to be a female rider with small or average stature, the Rebel 300 is a brilliant option than the Iron 883. The engine size difference may not be too substantial as far as the acceleration power delivery are concerned. However, the weight difference is pretty obvious between these two bikes.

The Iron 883 is way heavier than the Rebel 300. For someone who is not used to riding a motorbike and wants to start riding in an urban setting, the Rebel 300 can provide more confidence to the rider.

The Harley Iron 883 can be your best second bike after you have learned enough skills and gained experience. After all, you would want to do more than just ride within the city. After you are capable of handling highway speeds and manage the bike skillfully, it will be a better time to move on to the Iron 883, which is a better highway cruiser than the Rebel 300.