Harley-Davidson XL 883R Sportster 883R vs Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom (2011)

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

Spec comparison

SpecHarley-Davidson XL 883R Sportster 883RHarley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom
Model year20112010
Price
Engine883 cc883 cc
Torque66 Nm70 Nm
Weight243 kg255 kg
Seat height30 mm28 mm
Fuel capacity3.3 L3.3 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission6-speed5-speed
Front brakesSingle disc. Patented, uniform expansion rotors. Dual-piston.Single disc. Dual Piston
Rear brakesSingle disc. Patented, uniform expansion rotors. Single-piston.Single disc. Single piston
Tires100/90-19 / 100/90-19 402/90-21 / 150/80-16

Harley-Davidson XL 883R Sportster 883R vs Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom — which should you buy?

Picking between the Harley-Davidson XL 883R Sportster 883R and the Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Harley-Davidson XL 883R Sportster 883R brings its published horsepower in a 243 kg package, while the Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom counters with its own power figure at 255 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: