Here is as accurate comparison as I can manage. The OL just got a bug in her bonnet and traded her old hotrod piglet 1200 in on a new one for an "around town" bike.
First, the 883 is best forgotten, that one really is a girly bike with no useful power at all and, to make up the difference it's geared too low, making it a bit on the buzzy side.
The 1200 has some potential. Like all HD's, it has a lot of rotating mass and a lot of torque. This means that it can be quicker than a Triumph twin for a few dozen feet. Then the Triumph will whoop arse quite handily up to around 80 - 90 MPH. after that, they are about equal.
The new piglet is noticably heavier than the Triumphs and the frame/steering geometry is more designed for stability than handling. On a crooked road, any Triumph twin will leave it. Also, the Triumphs ride is infinately more comfortable, the 1200 is a bit harsh on the bum.
The rubber engine mounting is well done as far as vibration reduction, but it adds a lot of complexity and weight. I can't help thinking that there could be a better way to deal with vibration. My America is just as smooth with a hard mounted engine.
Reliability is a mixed bag. Most of the mechanical bits are well made and they have had a long time to refine the design. Unfortunately, there are a lot of parts, especially the electrical sort, made in far east cuntries that have a reputation for turning out junk. Also, their latest crop of engineers don't seem to have as much talent as the older ones. Just look at the problems they had with the twin cam and 6 speed transmission early on. They seem to be fixed now, but they should have done that before they went into production. Triumphs seem to have an edge as far as reliability.
There are enough Sportster models with forward controls, center controls, small fuel tanks, large tanks, even a factory lowered version to suit a lot of tastes, but they all share the same handling characteristics and engine.
The 1200 has the potential to be a fast running bike, but it will cost a fortune to make it so. On the other hand, the Triumph can be just as fast for little more cost than the difference in the initial price, and there is nothing that can be done to make the piglet handle as well.
So, your brother should start by going for some test rides to see what feels right to him. Then, he should think it over and decide just what sort of riding he really wants to do. A 1200 is fine for riding around town and showing off, except that it's hard to show off when you are one of hundreds. The Triumph is more suited for all kinds of riding and showing off, but you won't have the problem of trying to figure out which one is yours.
One more thing, if he does decide to get a 1200, Rush makes decent sounding pipes for them, not too loud, not too quiet with a nice tone. I wish they made pipes for Triumph.
