New for 2010: Harley’s entry-level Iron 883

The Iron 883 is a basic pared-back retro naked that would sit well in a rich man’s shed alongside his Triumph Scrambler and his Moto Guzzi V7 Classic.

The styling is an exercise in minimalism with an attractive outcome.

Drag style bars sit atop a front fork with distinctive rubber gaiters.

The compact black headlamp leads the eye to the high-mounted 12.5 litre tank and then the line flows to the solo Sportster seat and on to the lovely chopped rear guard. The impression is one of lots of muscle in a compact package.

THE HARDWARE

The powerplant is the 883cc version of the fuel-injected Evo engine and as with the XR, it has a five-speed gearbox hooked up to the belt final drive. The seat height is a low 643mm.

Suspension is standard Sportster kit – non-adjustable telescopic fork up front and pre-load adjustable twin shocks at rear.

Single front and rear discs handle the braking.

Its compact look belies its 251kg dry weight.

RIDING IT

When you set off on an 883cc Harley you’ve clearly decided you’re not making a statement about ultimate performance or frightening the horses. It’s about wanting to have a slice of the authentic Harley-Davidson experience, though. It’s the H-D experience as defined by the lumpy beat of the 45-degree engine and the great shop window reflection of yourself on a chunk of American iron.

On the Great Ocean Road it kept some big Harleys honest through the tight bits. It did a lot of peg dragging but it still took to the task with gusto.

As for all current Harleys the clutch was light to use and the gearchange was reliable and accurate.

Its surprisingly porky 251kg dry weight is carried so low that it feels 50kg lighter.

SUMMING UP

There are many things that appeal about the Iron 883, not least that it’s a real Harley, brand new, for $11,995 (plus ORC).

It’s a fun bike that anyone can ride. In an ideal society there would be one in every garage, when the only issue would be whose turn it was to ride it.