C50 vs Sportster 883

[renier8]

Hello everyone.

I am well on my way, after lots of research to buy myself a C50 for me and my wife.

I have not really considered a Harley, purely because I have seen most of the prices, and it is not what we are willing to spend on a first bike. But ofcourse when you start looking at getting a cruiser, you inevitably end up at a Harley dealer to look them over as well. I have somehow overlooked the Sportster 883, which are in the same price class as the C50. Same engine size, same waranty etc. etc.

So now I am slightly unsure. My heart tells me to continue my quest for the C50. Peer pressure tells me to try and get a Harley.

If I cannot get clarity on this, I suppose I will go and test drive them both to make up my mind, but in the meanwhile if someone here can give me some opinions - it would mean the world to me, as always.

Renier

ps: If there was other topics in the past dealing with this, please post links. Thanks.

[blackie1491]

Stick with the C50, more power, better bike for the dollar.

[DrBob]

The Sportster is NOT a cruiser. It is a standard, with footpegs below the rider rather than out in front. A Sportster is a great little toy for racing, playing in the twisties, etc, but it is not a comfortable ride for cruising and it just plain sux for two-up riding. Get the C50, save you pennies, and when you are ready buy a 'big twin' Harley cruiser, like a Dyna or Softail.

[qtib]

I to was looking at the 883 when I was looking at bikes. But then sitting on the both of them and comfort and size of the c50. They thing that helped me was to get on the bike and then stand up and balance the weight with your legs. The 883 was more like a toy very light and I didn't like the balance of it. Just my 2 cents.

[Rickster]

Power on the C50 is slightly better that the 883, same with gas mileage, the C50 is slightly better, but when it comes to comfort, the C50 just blows the little Harley away, so if you want to be able to ride for any distance, go for the Suzuki, but if you don't mind getting off to stretch every 50 miles, you might want to give in to the peer pressure, and get the HD. If you do go with the HD, remember that you can get a more comfortable seat, and hi-way pegs. So when you are doing your cost comparisons, remember to include any extras you think you will be adding. Harley's list of extras are endless, so you can customize it any way you like, but at what cost.

[TaterDog]

The C50 has shaft drive which is practically maintenance free, and liquid cooled means not having to worry about long stops in hot weather. I have a friend with a Sportster who had problems with heat affecting his cylinder heads or cams or . . . Ended up with a $1,000 bill. Something that C50 owners don't worry about. I agree with everyone else -- C50 should be a more comfortable bike for you.

[old&slow]

Isnt the 883 a womans bike

[rathr-b-cruisin]

I had a lot of people, including harley riders, tell me to stay away from the sportster. When you look at the c50 and you get fuel injection, shaft drive, liquid cooled, driver floorboards, nice big fat seat, and a hell of a lot of torque. You cant go wrong with the c50. I think you've been talking about riding 2 up, take a look at that hd's rear seat, and then compare it to the c50, which one would you want to ride on. $ for $ the c50 whoops a$$.

[S83]

Well, the best thing you can do is test ride both if that is an option. Don't succumb to peer pressure and take opinions with a grain of salt. It is all going to boil down to what you like, how it feels and fits for you. The test ride will clarify your choice as these two bikes don't have much in common.

[hammersfan]

Don't be silly, just get the M50

[RicoChet]

Who needs an 883, the C50 or.. M50 are way cooler, unique and better value for the money

[renier8]

Well thanks for all the information and opinions. I have also done some more reading, and now, of all the bikes out there, I am probably not even going to test drive the 883.

My heart is set on the C50, but to minimise any form of cognitive dissonance, I might just test drive 1 or 2 other bikes as well.


Renier

[ZukiChaos]

One more thing to add is that with teh Sportster you can buy a kit to take the 883 to 1200cc. I mention it because after you grow into the bike you may wish to add power...and the Zuki's don't have a way to add over 300ccs to the 800cc powerplant.

[Sgt Mike]

My son and I rode 255 miles yesterday, he on a 1200 Sportster and me on a C50, I went where he went, just as fast as he did and in more comfort than he has. He needed to stop every hour for a "butt brake", I could have went on the whole distance without stopping. Forward controls for a Sportster $350.00, a must if you're gonna take long rides. Like Dr. Bob said "A Sportster is not cruiser". If you get one you're gonna spend alot of $$$$ to make it comfortable. Buy the C50 and don't look back.

[Uncle B]

Originally Posted by Sgt Mike

If you get one you're gonna spend alot of $$$$ to make it comfortable. Buy the C50 and don't look back.

Or look at a C50T it comes with these extras: saddle bags, sissy bar, and windshield.

[92Notch]

Originally Posted by renier8

Hello everyone.

I am well on my way, after lots of research to buy myself a C50 for me and my wife.

I have not really considered a Harley, purely because I have seen most of the prices, and it is not what we are willing to spend on a first bike. But ofcourse when you start looking at getting a cruiser, you inevitably end up at a Harley dealer to look them over as well. I have somehow overlooked the Sportster 883, which are in the same price class as the C50. Same engine size, same waranty etc. etc.

So now I am slightly unsure. My heart tells me to continue my quest for the C50. Peer pressure tells me to try and get a Harley.

If I cannot get clarity on this, I suppose I will go and test drive them both to make up my mind, but in the meanwhile if someone here can give me some opinions - it would mean the world to me, as always.

Renier

ps: If there was other topics in the past dealing with this, please post links. Thanks.

I'd get the 883 Harley if I were you.

[TaterDog]

Originally Posted by renier8

Well thanks for all the information and opinions. I have also done some more reading, and now, of all the bikes out there, I am probably not even going to test drive the 883.

My heart is set on the C50, but to minimise any form of cognitive dissonance, I might just test drive 1 or 2 other bikes as well.


Renier

Cogni disso what??? I didn't even know my C50 had one.

Main thing, Reni, is get a bike and ride. Part of the fun is looking and making the decision. Enjoy the hunt!

[EasyE]

Originally Posted by TaterDog

Cogni disso what??? I didn't even know my C50 had one.

Main thing, Reni, is get a bike and ride. Part of the fun is looking and making the decision. Enjoy the hunt!

+1 Tater

Now that I have one, I want to keep looking for another. Does it ever stop?

[dcstrng]

<My heart tells me to continue my quest for the C50. Peer pressure tells me to try and get a Harley>

Window shopping is fun, but nowhere near as fulfilling as riding...

Never ridden a C50, but in the showroom they look nice enough – have ridden Sportsters now and again all the way back to the Ironheads (stock, chopped and rat-bikes) and the modern 883/1200s are by-far the most underrated bike in the Harley lineup...

If they want to, one can tour on `em just fine -- there are one or two ladies who cross the continent every so often on the non-rubber-mount ones so don’t buy the conventional wisdom... But it is true that Sporties are not usually purchased for touring these days and I do tend to agree with the writer who cautioned you away from a Sportster for serious two-up long-pavement work. On the other hand, I was recently corresponding with a guy from Alaska who with his wife had ridden down to the lower 48 did a month tour and then back home – had a great time by all accounts and they’re older than me, so it depends a whole lot more on the rider (and this is always true) than the bike... In any case, Harley doesn’t really support the 883s for touring and hasn’t since the 60s or 70s, or so... So that would be up to your funds and ingenuity – no you don’t really need forward controls to tour... logged many a happy mile with my feet firmly under me; however, now that I’m a stealthy refugee from the geriatric ward, I do find highway pegs or some other way to stretch the ol’knees are good things... indeed, I now prefer footboards... but many riders hate `em... again, like saddles and other ergonomic accouterments, it’s largely up to matching the bike to the hardiness and predilections of the rider...

Nonetheless, reading your posts, I’d guess (and it’s just a guess, so take it with a grain of salt...) you’d be happier with the Suzuki, at least for now...

[TaterDog]

Originally Posted by EasyE

+1 Tater

Now that I have one, I want to keep looking for another. Does it ever stop?

Don't think so, Easy E. I've done the same thing since I got my first trike (the kind you pedal, that is). Probably a good thing I can only afford to own one of these at a time!