I'm vsiting my brother here in Oxnard (Silver Strand), CA, and I had the chance to take his new 2006 HD 883 Sportster for a ride yesterday. In comparing it my Speedmaster, I liked some things and didn't like others.
Things I liked:
Self cancelling turn signals (How do they DO this???)
The wide clutch and front brake handles
Chrome quality
Electronic odometer
Belt drive (smooth as a baby's butt)
EFI!
Things I don't:
Power (or lack thereof)
Vibration. Lots and lots and lots of vibration.
The shifter is too close to the foot peg to easily put your toe in and out of.
The clutch and front brake handles are too close to the grips to get your hands in and out of.
The grips are too small a diameter for my manly hands.
The itsy-bitsy headlight
The footpeg placement is too high. (I felt I was riding a dirt bike.)
Neutral is a bit close between 1st and 2nd making it hard (for me) to find.
Conclusion:
My brother likes his bike, and that's what counts, since he bought it. I'll stick with my speedmaster, and when/if it ever comes to buy another bike, it'll probably be a Triumph over a Harley. If it were a choice between the Sporty and the Scambler, it would be the Scambler hands down.
