Is a Harley 883 a Good First Motorbike?

Is a Harley 883 a Good First Motorbike?

From novice to experienced riders, almost all riders around the globe love Halrkeys. So now the main question is, is a Harley 883 an excellent first motorbike?

Choosing any motorcycle as your first machine entirely depends upon your experience level. We don’t recommend going with this Harley 883 if you’re a novice rider. 

So should you go with Harley 883 if you’re an experienced rider? What are the pros and cons of this motorcycle, and what’re other motorbikes that you can go with? 

Is a Harley 883 a Good First Motorbike? 

As mentioned above, Harley 883 isn’t a good first motorcycle. And if you’re a beginner, then we’d recommend you to stay away from this motorcycle. 

The 883 model comes with an 883CC engine which is too much for beginners to handle this motorcycle on highways.

The second reason why we recommend beginners to stay away from this motorcycle is because of its cost and luxury maintenance. It’s an obvious fact that all can’t manage and afford Harley’s maintenance cost. 

However, if you’re an experienced rider and have ridden high CC motorbikes in the past, then Harley 883 can be a game-changer for riding life. 

Harley 883 and Weight? 

The lighter is better for novices, and Harley 883 is undoubtedly not lightweight and can be handled easily by beginners. However, the weight of a motorcycle also influences fuel economy, handling, and braking. 

For a novice, it’s essential to have a lighter motorcycle having good fuel economy, excellent handling, and braking. And Harley 883 isn’t performing well on the criteria mentioned above. 

Even some people complained about the raking system that comes with this motorcycle. Although the braking system is sound, it could be great, and it’s presently not up to par compared to other motorcycle brakes. 

Fortunately, Harley 883 introduced the ABS mechanism in this motorcycle which makes the overall system great enough. 

If you’re going to buy a Harley 883 motorcycle, we recommend going with the ABS-enabled model. But again, the ABS-enabled mechanism could cost you more.  Overall Harley 883 isn’t a good first Motorbike

How can Harley 883 be a Good First Motorbike? 

Wait, what? You must be thinking why we’re writing this part after not recommending this motorcycle for beginners? 

We still agree that the 883 model is not suitable for beginners, but do some things make this motorcycle best for beginners? 

If we ignore the cost, engine size, and braking system, then here are few things that make this motorcycle best for beginners.

How can Harley 883 be a Good First Motorcycle?
Stability. 
Comfortability. 
Easy replacement parts. 
Easy on hands.
Great power.
Great customization option. 

The heavyweight of Harley 883 makes this motorcycle not suitable for beginners. But one thing which we can’t ignore is stability. 

Stability:

Manufacturers make this motorcycle a durable option that is considered best for beginners. With the excellent stability, you can expect that this motorcycle won’t fall on the highway when taking turns. 

Comfortability:

Comfortability is one of the most significant factors which could change the buyer’s decision. 

And fortunately enough, Harley 883 is a cruiser type and comes with low seat adjustment. It means you can expect great comfortable long-range riding.

Easy Replacement Parts: 

Harley 883 can be the best motorcycle that you can ride for many years. The best thing about this motorcycle is that it’s first manufactured at the time of World War 2. 

And you can expect good availability of this many old motorcycle parts in the future too. 

Easy on Hands: 

Because of the small seat size, riding on the Harley 883 makes the riding life easy. In addition, the small size seat puts the rider’s hands in a comfortable position which prevents any wrist pain. 

Great Power:

Undoubtedly the power of CC is the main reason why we are not recommending Harley 883 to beginners. But if you’re an experienced rider and could handle this motorcycle effectively, Harley 883 is going to be a game-changer for you.

The CC gives you an abundance of power that 500 CC models can’t give you or can help you touch the 900CC barrier. 

Great Customization:

Harley 883 also comes in a high variant. And the best thing about this motorcycle is that you can shift to a higher variant once you’re experienced in riding the 883 CC Harley.

Believe us, with this motorcycle, the scope of customization is endless.

Harley and Beginners? 

Harley knows the value of beginner riders, and they see that beginner riders can be their die-hard fans or source of profit. 

And that’s why Harley offers a good motorcycle course for beginners. The Harley course is the same as the MSF course or better in some areas. 

Unfortunately, the cost of the Harley course is around $300, which is somewhat not affordable for beginners. But the best thing about the course is that the strength of the class is less. It means you can expect more attention span individually in the Harley classes. 

Other Best Motorcycle for Beginners:

Manufacturers especially designed these motorcycles for beginners. These budget-friendly motorcycles come with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), an engine less than 600cc, and comfortable seats. 

Top motorcycles for Beginners. Engine Displacement or CC. 
KTM corner rocket373CC
Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE125CC
2017 Seat scrambler373CC
Honda Monkey125CC
Yamaha V star Raven250CC

KTM Corner Rocket:

KTM Corner Rocket.
Picture Credit: im a puzzle

KTM corner rocket is a naked standard type motorcycle with a 373CC engine, which isn’t too aggressive. This naked motorcycle is highly visually appealing and can be a sportbike for novices. 

The engine is a bit on the firm side, but capable enough to handle sports and weekend riding. Don’t stress out! This machine is easy to control for novices and is capable of reaching great speeds on the highway.  

Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE:

Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE
Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE is a mini naked motorbike that comes with a 125CC engine. This 125CC machine is budget-friendly and highly recommended for beginners. 

Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE comes with a medium size, 31.7 inches seat, which is highly adjustable if you’re not tall enough. Unfortunately, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE doesn’t come with an ABS mechanism.

2017 Triumph Seat Scrambler:

2017 Triumph Seat Scrambler:
Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The 70s and 90’s motorbike designs are still a favorite for many riders. The 2017 Seat scrambler is one of the top motorcycles with a 373CC engine with the original ‘70s and 90’s motorbike design. 

2017 Seat scrambler comes with advanced throttle and ABS mechanism, giving you an excellent look without any noticeable downside. 

Honda Monkey:

Honda Monkey.
Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Honda Monkey is a low seat 125CC engine motorcycle that was quite famous in 1960 in Asian countries. And finally, this motorcycle entered the US market with upgrades like ABS in two different colors.

Honda money is a small size motorcycle that might be too small for taller riders out there. But this lightweight machine has enough power to catch decent speed on the highway and make your weekends a great adventure. 

Yamaha V Star Raven:

Yamaha V Star Raven
Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Unlike the 600CC motorcycle, which isn’t good for a beginner, Yamaha V star Raven is one of the beginners’ best motorcycles. Yamaha V star Raven comes with 250CC and a five-speed transmission engine which isn’t too aggressive and neither too slow. 

Also, Yamaha V star Raven is a low seated motorbike that is the best motorbike for long driving adventures. The best thing about this motorbike is that it comes with a low seat height and it gives confidence to short-height riders. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is a Harley 883 an excellent first motorbike?

The 883 model comes with an 883CC engine which is too much for beginners to handle this motorcycle on highways.

The second reason why we recommend beginners to stay away from this motorcycle is because of its cost and luxury maintenance. It’s an obvious fact that all can’t manage and afford Harley’s maintenance cost. 

However, if you’re an experienced rider and have ridden high CC motorbikes in the past, then Harley 883 can be a game-changer for riding life. 

Is a Harley 883 is heavy motorbike?

Yes, Harley 883 is heavy motorbike. The lighter is better for novices, and Harley 883 is undoubtedly not lightweight and can be handled easily by beginners. However, the weight of a motorcycle also influences fuel economy, handling, and braking. 
For a novice, it’s essential to have a lighter motorcycle having good fuel economy, excellent handling, and braking. And Harley 883 isn’t performing well on the criteria mentioned above.

Is Harley 883 comes with good brakes?

Yes, some people complained about the raking system that comes with this motorcycle. Although the braking system is sound, it could be great, and it’s presently not up to par compared to other motorcycle brakes. 

Fortunately, Harley 883 introduced the ABS mechanism in this motorcycle which makes the overall system great enough.  If you’re going to buy a Harley 883 motorcycle, we recommend going with the ABS-enabled model. But again, the ABS enabled mechanism could cost you more. 

How comfortable the Harley 883 is?

Comfortability is one of the most significant factors which could change the buyer’s decision.  And fortunately enough, Harley 883 is a cruiser type and comes with low seat adjustment. It means you can expect great comfortable long-range riding.

Is 2017 Triumph Seat Scrambler is a good motorbike for beginners?

The 70s and 90’s motorbike designs are still a favorite for many riders. The 2017 Seat scrambler is one of the top motorcycles with a 373CC engine with the original ‘70s and 90’s motorbike design. 

Our Verdict:

Is a Harley 883 an excellent first motorbike? Choosing any motorcycle as your first machine entirely depends upon your experience level. We don’t recommend going with this Harley 883 if you’re a novice rider.

Also, the Harley 883 comes with great power and weight which new riders can hardly control. 

But if you’re an experienced rider, then factors such as stability, comfortability, availability of parts, and great customization could be some factors that can influence your buying decision. 

We surely recommend this motorcycle if you’re an experienced rider. But if you aren’t, it’s better to gain some experience to ride this heavy motorbike.