Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 833 vs Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 R Roadster (2013)

Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 833stacks up against the Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 R Roadster. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.

Spec comparison

SpecHarley-Davidson Sportster Iron 833Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 R Roadster
Model year20132012
Price$7,999
Engine883 cc883 cc
Torque75 Nm70 Nm
Weight251 kg251 kg
Seat height26 mm30 mm
Fuel capacity3.3 L3.3 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission6-speed5-speed
Front brakesSingle discSingle disc. Dual-piston
Rear brakesSingle discSingle disc. Single-piston
Tires100/90-B19 / 150/80-B16 100/90-19 / 150/80-16

Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 833 vs Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 R Roadster — which should you buy?

Picking between the Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 833 and the Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 R Roadster usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 833 brings its published horsepower in a 251 kg package, while the Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster 883 R Roadster counters with its own power figure at 251 kg.

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: