Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster Preview

As the American biker maker Harley Davidson unraveled 12 bikes that belong to the five model families in India earlier and XL 883R Roadster is from the Sportster clan that attracted me much. The news is that these motorcycles will be made available in five dealerships opened all across India; New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh are the blessed cities as of now. The booking of the bikes will commence from April 2010 and so you can own your any of the 12 favorite dream machine sometime in July 2010. The XL 883R has got an authentic racing look and “R” precisely stands for racing.

With the chequered flag graphic the Roadster is sure to pound the pavements and steal your hearts. Features of the Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster The most attractive feature of the XL 883R is the wide rear tire and the short dual exhaust pipes which is an instant addiction. The V2 Evolution, 4-stroke 883 cc engine is rubber-mounted on the chassis and the transmission is much smoother and quieter.

The one-piece two-up seat looks trendy and comfortable. The bike took inspiration from the XR570 racing bike from the Harley’s. The engine is black powder-coated with wrinkle black covers and the visor, side covers, front forks and the air cleaner are given a satin black finish. The low-rise handlebars have also got a touch of black. The fuel tank sports a graphic similar to the racing bikes. The dual front disc brakes, mid-mounted foot controls, side-stand design are the other new features of the XL 883R. The fuel tank has a capacity to hold 12.5 litres of fuel.

The V2 engine ensures to generate maximum torque at lower rpm. The XL 883R Roadster is a fine combination of performance and styling. Pricing of XL883 R Here comes the bitter pill though; the HD XL 883R Roadster comes with a price tag of Rs.7,50,000 and that makes it affordable to only those people blessed with fat Harley wallets. And actually, the price factor will decide the success of the Harley Davidson bikes in the Indian market. With that being said one also couldn’t ignore the fact that there are good number of HD lovers who are eagerly waiting to get their hands on these bikes.

Tech Specs

Make Model Harley Davidson XL 883R Roadster
Year 2001
Engine Air cooled, four stroke, 45° V-Twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder.
Capacity 883
Bore x Stroke 76.2 x 96.8 mm
Compression Ratio 8.8:1
Induction Carburetion (40 mm constant velocity
with enrichener and accelerator pump)
Air Cleaner/Filter Oval “racetrack”;
Ignition  /  Starting –  /  electric
Max Power 68 hp  50.2 KW @ 4400 rpm
Max Torque 67 Nm @ 4100 rpm
Gear Radio 1st 9.717  2nd 6.690  3rd 5.180  4th 4.267  5th 3.615P
Frame Mild steel, twin cradle
Swing Arm Mild steel, rectangular section
Transmission  /  Drive 5 Speed  /  Belt
Front Suspension Conventional cartridge forks
Rear Suspension Dual hydraulic shock absorbers adjustable for preload
Front Brakes Single 292mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes Single 292mm disc 4 piston calipers
Front Tyre 100/90-19
Rear Tyre 130/90-16
Seat Height 723mm
Dry-Weight 235 kg
Fuel Capacity 12.5 Litres