1989 Harley Davidson Sportster 883
Now For Sale

Description - Finished Changes - Planned Changes - Harley Links


	This is a 360° picture set with everything finished. Click the picture to be able to rotate the pictures.

	This picture set shows process of repairing and upgrading the bike.


	This is how the bike looked when I got it.

A Description

The Sportster has been a significant part of the Harley Davidson lineup for a long time. And this 1989 XLH883 really shows why. It looks great, it sounds right, and it's an absolute blast to ride. The big thing for me is that when I hop on and go, it feels right. With the new forward controls, my feet are right where they should be, and now that the handlebars have been adjusted, so are my hands. It tracks straight down the highway (hands-free if you want), and still feels correct when put into a corner. The small, 883cc motor has enough power to make it jump whenever you accelerate in a new gear. I'm even more impressed with the power after having run the numbers on the fuel economy and found that I am getting about 55 MPG. Neither the Kawasaki I have now, nor the Yamaha that I had previously could make this kind of power with such exceptional fuel economy.

It's Now For Sale

It's been fun getting this one going. Now that it's ready, I have an extra bike. As much as I like this one, it's up for sale and available to the first lucky rider that strikes a deal. If you're in need of a Harley, this little Sportster is a great bike and is ready to go.

Finished Changes

Back Tire - The guys that changed the tire acted like they had never seen a tire with dry rot this bad. Fortunately it's changed and the new tire is on the bike. I feel like I can actually ride it now.
Forward Controls - The riding position is way too cramped on this bike (and I'm not a tall guy). I found some forward controls on Ebay and put them on. The bike is much more comfortable now.
Spark Plugs - The first time I really tried to run the bike, I didn't get a mile before I decided that it just wouldn't work the way it was. The motor spit, sputtered, and just didn't run the way it should. I took it back to the house and switched out the plugs. That little change made a world of difference in how the motor runs. Looking at the sooty ends of the old plugs also made it very clear just how badly the carburater kit was needed.
Spark Plug Wires - I installed a new set of wires shortly after replacing the plugs. The new set is much nicer than the old ones.
Oil change and filter - I have no idea when this was done last. Since a new filter and oil is critical to keeping an engine working correctly, this routine maintenance is now done and can be brought into a schedule.
Air Filter - Proper airflow is just as important as fuel and oil. The old filter has now been replaced.
Short Shocks - The problem that I've always had with the Sportster's is that the bike sits too far off the ground. I was able to find a decent pair of rear shocks. They are now installed and the ride height is much improved.
Speedometer cable - The previous cable was broken inside the sheath. It's now replaced and working.
Carburater kit - The seal around the plunger was broken and leaking. Now that this kit has been installed and adjusted, the bike runs very well. There's quite a bit of power and the fuel economy is exceptional.
Nuts & bolts - There were a few pieces of hardware missing. I believe it's better to have everything bolted down and tightened up. After a trip to the hardware store, everything is buttoned up appropriately
Polish - Some of finish over the aluminum pieces had cracked, flaked, and looked horrible. A little metal polish and a lot of elbow grease later, these pieces are shining the way they should.
Handlebar Adjustment - The handlebars where bent down to the point that it was uncomfortable to ride. Fortunately, four bolts and this is easilty adjusted to where they should be.

Planned Changes

All my plans have been finished. Everything has been repaired, polished, or upgraded to my satisfaction. Now that the bike is up to spec, it's a blast to ride.

Useful Harley Links

It's my first Harley and I'm still finding the good places to get information and buy parts. If you know of any good sites, please email them to me at James@JKellogg.com

Sportster.org is dedicated to the Harley-Davidson Sportster and enthusiast. The Sportster Home Page contains technical tips, Sportster pictures, classifieds, history and more.

Harley-Performance.com dedicated to the pursuit of Harley Davidson performance and what makes your ride a greater experience.