Harley-Davidson 883 Roadster 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 883 Roadsterstacks 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 883 RoadsterHarley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom
Model year20112010
Price
Engine883 cc883 cc
Torque70 Nm70 Nm
Weight249 kg255 kg
Seat height26 mm28 mm
Fuel capacity3.3 L3.3 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission6-speed5-speed
Front brakesSingle disc. Dual-piston.Single disc. Dual Piston
Rear brakesSingle discSingle disc. Single piston
Tires100/90-19 / 150/80-B16 402/90-21 / 150/80-16

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

Picking between the Harley-Davidson 883 Roadster and the Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Harley-Davidson 883 Roadster brings its published horsepower in a 249 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: