Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Roadster vs Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 (2014)

Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Roadsterstacks up against the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.

Spec comparison

SpecHarley-Davidson Sportster 883 RoadsterHarley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833
Model year20142011
Price$7,495$7,999
Engine883 cc883 cc
Horsepower52 hp
Torque70 Nm75 Nm
Weight255 kg249 kg
Seat height30 mm26 mm
Fuel capacity3.3 L3.3 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission6-speed5-speed
Front brakesDouble disc. Dual-pistonSingle disc. Patented, uniform expansion rotors. Dual-piston.
Rear brakesSingle disc. Dual-pistonSingle disc. Patented, uniform expansion rotors. Single-piston.
Tires100/90-B19 / 150/80-B16 100/90-19 / 150/80-B16

Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Roadster vs Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 — which should you buy?

Picking between the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Roadster and the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Roadster brings 52 hp in a 255 kg package, while the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 counters with its own power figure at 249 kg. On price, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Roadster has the lower MSRP.

Our spec tables above highlight the winning number on each line. For the full rider-focused reviews including real-world fuel economy, service costs and available colors, click into either bike: