Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 Vs. Harley Sportster Iron 1200

When it comes to popularity and reliability, Honda and the Harley Davidson are among the top motorcycle brands. Both motorcycle brands are not direct competitors due to their specialized expertise and lineups. Harley Davidson focuses more on producing cruisers with comfortable ergonomics and torquey engines. Meanwhile, Honda builds motorcycle categories, cruisers, and the most reliable bikes with unique style, class, and performance.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is one of the most well-known cruisers in the Honda Shadow lineup. It was discontinued in 2007 along with the entire Honda Shadow VT1100 lineup. However, it is still popular among motorcycle enthusiasts due to being the simple, powerful, and customizable vehicle. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 was called the Street Rod of the Honda cruiser lineup.

Meanwhile, the Harley Davidson Sportster Iron 1200 is a simple yet attractive motorcycle with an innovative cruiser design. It has better holding value and a better quality build with a strong frame and parts. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200’s color schemes and fuel tank graphics were inspired by the 1970s Harley Davidson motorcycles. This article is a detailed comparison between the Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 and the Harley Sportster Iron 1200.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is an average-sized cruiser with a raked-out front end giving it a chopper-style look. It is available in a black color scheme with flame graphics that improve its hot-rod look. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 has a compact design and plenty of chrome parts, including a round headlamp nacelle, a front fork, two-into-two separate dual mufflers, and cylinder heads. Due to having a liquid-cooled system, it has a radiator behind its front wheel. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 has a blacked-out frame and engine strokes with chrome fins. The combination of chrome and blacked-out gives this motorcycle a classic cruiser look. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 also has average-sized and chopped front and rear fenders with a classic tail/stop light. It is fitted with a single-piece saddle capable of comfortable two-up riding. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 also has a simple peanut-shaped fuel tank, and gauges mounted to the wide, semi-sweptback handlebars with low risers.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is a modern-day cruiser with a blacked-out finish and unique ergonomics. It has a taller front end with semi-sweptback, high-mounted, mini-ape handlebars, and a planted lower end with a low seat height of 25.7 inches. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 has a slim design, a café racer-style solo seat, and a small fuel tank with a capacity of 3.3 gal. The blacked-out side mirrors, front turn signals, and gauges are mounted to the mini-ape handlebars. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 comes with chopped, bobber-style front and rear fenders, providing a full view of the stylish blacked-out, cast aluminum wheels wrapped around its Michelin® tires. It also has a classic round-shaped air filter cover and two-into-two, separate dual slash-cut exhaust pipes.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is powered by a 1,099 cc liquid-cooled, SOHC, 45 ° V-Twin engine capable of torque of 93.4 Nm at 2,750 rpm and horsepower of 68.9 hp at 4,500 rpm. Being an older model, it comes with twin 36 mm CV carburetors to ensure consistent fuel delivery to the engine and has a fuel economy of 45.5 mpg. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 also has a five-speed, sequential transmission that connects to the rear wheel via a cleaner and an easy-to-maintain final shaft drive. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 has a dual-pin crank engine design and lower gears than the rest of the Honda Shadow VT1100 lineup to ensure better acceleration and throttle response. The ignition adjustments and improved valve timing also ensure better performance and smoother riding quality.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is easy to maneuver while turning corners due to being a lightweight vehicle. It has a 336 mm single front disc and a 276 mm single rear disc brake to ensure adequate braking. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100’s 41 mm front fork and preload-adjustable dual rear shock absorbers with five-piston springs ensure a balance between handling and comfort when traveling long distances. The front fork has a wheel travel of 4.7 inches, while the dual rear shocks have a wheel travel of 3.9 inches.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is fitted with a 1,202 cc air-cooled, Evolution™ V-Twin engine capable of a torque of 98.97 Nm at 3,500 rpm and a horsepower of 60 hp. It has a slightly larger engine than the Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 with a compression ratio of 10:1. However, the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 also has a five-speed transmission and a final belt drive. Unlike the Honda Shadow Sabre 1100, it is equipped with an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) ensuring a better fuel economy of 48 mpg. Despite being fitted with a 1,202 cc engine, the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is considered an entry-level Harley motorbike. The 1,202 cc Evolution™ V-Twin engine provides reliable low-end torque that makes it better suited for city travel and short rides.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200’s narrow design and low overall weight ensure better stability while turning tight corners and maneuvering on twists and turns. The non-adjustable Cartridge style front fork and dual rear shocks provide inadequate wheel travel and are only suitable for riding on paved roads. The front suspension has a wheel travel of 3.6 inches, while the rear suspension has a wheel travel of 1.6 inches. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 also has a 300 mm single front disc and a 260 mm single rear disc brake, along with an optional ABS to ensure reliable braking.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is a comfortable, lightweight motorbike with forward-mounted foot controls, ensuring adequate legroom for taller riders. It has a seat height of 27.2 inches and wide, low-mounted, semi-sweptback handlebars, which ensures an upright back position. However, if you prefer laid-back ergonomics and a stretched riding position, you can replace the stock handlebars with pulled-back buckhorn handlebars.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is a comfortable, entry-level motorbike for shorter and taller riders. Although, shorter riders must sit slightly forward to reach the handlebars. Also, if you don’t know the basics of motorcycle riding, this vehicle is not suitable for you as the engine produces low-end torque. To add luggage options and improve comfort, Viking Bags has saddlebags for the Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 and backrests for Honda motorcycles.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is fitted with a flat solo rider seat that does not provide back support and comfort on longer rides. It has unique ergonomics and a slightly sportier riding style with mid-mounted foot controls and high-mounted mini-ape handlebars. It is not an ideal motorbike for taller riders due to its tighter legroom. However, shorter and average riders can comfortably ride the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 due to its low seat height of 25.7 inches and upright back position. It is perfect for city travel and daily commutes. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is uncomfortable for long-distance rides on uneven and bumpy roads due to its shorter wheel travel and tighter legroom. On long-distance rides, the rider will have to take breaks after every hour to stretch his/her knees.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 can be transformed into a tourer by installing a few aftermarket parts available at Viking Bags to increase storage capacity and improve comfort level and safety. The aftermarket parts include saddlebags, crash bars, fairings, handlebars, comfortable seats, sissy bars, and backrests.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 has all the qualities of a beginner-friendly bike, including a slim design, low wet weight, good handling, and a low seat height. Despite being fitted with a 1,202 cc V-Twin engine, this vehicle does not produce high horsepower and torque, which makes it best suited for beginners.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 has a torquey engine that help makes it an agile motorcycle. The 1,099 cc V-Twin engine ensures a good throttle response and acceleration. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 can attain a top speed of 107 mph.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 has a slim cruiser design and a slightly aggressive riding style. Due to being lightweight and agile, it can reach a top speed of 118 mph and accelerate to 60 mph within 4.2 sec.

The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 and the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 are simple and average-sized cruisers. Both motorcycles are entry-level bikes with good handling and cornering capabilities. However, the Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 has more comfortable ergonomics with mid-mounted foot controls and an upright back position. It is comfortable on long-distance rides and when cruising on open roads due to the engine producing low-end torque. The Honda Shadow Sabre 1100’s five-speed transmission, shaft drive, and wet multidisc clutch ensure easy clutch operation, smooth gear shifts, and good throttle response. Meanwhile, the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is a lightweight cruiser with a slightly underpowered engine that makes it best suited for beginners. The major difference between these motorcycles is their fuel delivery systems. Being an older model, the Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 is fitted with CV carburetors, while the Harley Iron 1200 comes with electronic fuel injection.