Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 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 Sportster XL883N Iron 833stacks 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 Sportster XL883N Iron 833Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom
Model year20112010
Price$7,999
Engine883 cc883 cc
Torque75 Nm70 Nm
Weight249 kg255 kg
Seat height26 mm28 mm
Fuel capacity3.3 L3.3 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission5-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 / 150/80-B16 402/90-21 / 150/80-16

Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 vs Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom — which should you buy?

Picking between the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 and the Harley-Davidson XL 883C Sportster 883 Custom usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883N Iron 833 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: