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Touring on a Sportster

by Deeann Davis
(Tulsa, Okl)

I bought a 05 Custom Sportster 883 as a first bike. I am not riding yet as I am waiting on the safety class in March. I've been reading alot on the net and am wondering if a Sportster will be big enough for traveling. Some say yes, some say no, and some say it will vibrate too much if you go over 60 mph. I'd like to start doing a few things to it if I'm going to keep it, but if I'm going to have to upgrade pretty quickly I don't want to put any money into it for extras. What do you say, girls? Big enough for touring or not? Thanks for your opinions!

Comments for Touring on a Sportster

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Apr 17, 2016

Plenty tour on Sportsters NEW
by: Geekonabike

An 883 from 2004 and beyond will not vibrate badly for touring. I did two long tours with my 2006. One was about 1700 miles and the other about 3700 miles. True the sweet spot is in the 60-65 mph range for an '05 probably, maybe a little higher on a 2007+, and the pre-2004 bikes can have some vibrations due to the way the motor is solidly mounted to the frame. But it sure is a pleasure riding long distance on a bike like yours.

I'm also in Oklahoma. Here I was a bit less than 1/3 into my tour last year:

http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic.php?p=863071

Feb 26, 2013

Oscars travels
by: Deeann

Wow, sounds like you travel quite a bit. I'm glad to hear that your sporty handles the mountains well. Also glad that you are comfortable on it. That's an encouragement. Thanks!!

Feb 26, 2013

Sportster on the Andes Mountains
by: Oscar in Peru

I have a 1998 Sportster Sport, with which I have travelled quite a bit in Peru. I have gone from Lima to Cusco and back, around 1,700 miles, across the Andes, lots of curves and ups and downs with no problem, sometimes at above 12,000 feet above sea level. Also I have gone to the Central Jungle passing an overpass of 15,000 feet, in the high Andes with no significant loss in power. Also to the northern part of Peru, the jungle area, on a 2,000 mile round trip with no problem, sometimes riding 10 hours a day. This year I am planning on a trip to Ecuador, through the mountains and returning by the coastline, from Lima and back, around 2,100 miles. I am 5 feet 7" and weigh close to 240 lbs.
No problem travelling on a Sportster, I really enjoy it.

Mar 07, 2012

Sportster touring
by: Deeann

To Robin and Big D: Thanks for your comments! I am proceeding with plans to use the Sportster for touring. The information and opinions I've received on this site have helped me to feel more comfortable in using the Sporty for travel. I already have a full face helmet and most of the other gear. Just need to find some chaps now. I have traveled many times on long vacations in my pickup (I sleep in the back of it. I have a fiberglass shell on the truck) so I know to pack light and do laundry along the way. Also know how to get a shower along the way, food, etc. I'll be installing some air shocks to improve the ride and probably putting some Intiminators on the front. That will improve the ride drastically. Am about to get some bags on ebay to haul my stuff in. I should be ready to go anywhere pretty soon. Thanks again to everyone for their help!

Mar 07, 2012

Sportster touring
by: Big D

big boy 6' 250 lbs. I have both a street glide and a Sportster...and you CAN absolutely tour on your sportster...I recently did 1,590 miles on my Sportster taking me from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and i had no trouble...(the bike did not even have a fairing on it) 35 years ago and prior to the "touring" bike family peopled toured on Sportsters across the country....I would recommend a full face helmet and power port for your music, cell phone etc....all you need to pack is for 3 days and do your laundry on the road...

Feb 03, 2012

Not too small if you're comfortable!
by: Robin C

I can't speak for the Sportster, but I've taken my 650 V Star Classic on several long trips, and have never felt it was too small on the road. I've been riding for 2 Michigan seasons, and we have taken many trips, from just long weekends to a week or 2. I have put about 16,000 miles on her so far. As long as you are comfortable on the bike, and have bags or luggage you should be fine. I use a rack on my rear fender in place of the passenger seat and between the bag I mount there(the one I use depends on how long the trip is) and my saddlebags I have always been able to take whatever I need. Have fun and be safe :)

Jan 28, 2012

Sportster touring
by: Deeann

"Hi" to NightKat and Kathleen. Thank you both for your input! I've been doing some more research on sportster touring. It seems that it can be done very successfully but I'm sure a bigger bike would hold the road better. It just makes sense that a heavier bike will not be as subject to the wind, etc. I'm continuing to talk to people about the subject and appreciate all the comments that I've had. I think it's all going to boil down to how much touring I want to do. Thank you both again for sharing your comments and experience with me.

Jan 28, 2012

Sportster
by: Kathleen

I've had a sportster, Heritage, and now ride a Street Glide. My favorite was the Heritage, but for long road trips the cruse control and radio on the Street Glide are great. Warning about the Sportster, the DON'T hold the road as well as the larger bikes, it's like going from a bicycle on a dirt road to a Cadillac on a freshly paved freeway

Jan 24, 2012

Make it your own!
by: NightKat

I have a sportster, took it up to Sturgis this past year from Texas. Rode great, kept up with the guys and their bigger bikes. I put road king air shocks on mine just to make the ride a bit better, added some mini apes to put me in the right position and I'm all good. I thought about trading up to a bigger bike, but decided to do some work to my sporty and see how I liked. Now I love it! Taking it to Nova Scotia this summer :)

Jan 24, 2012

Sportster touring
by: Deeann

Hey gals! Thank you so much for all your input. I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond to my question. I'll try to get back on here after I take the Riders Edge class and let you all know how I'm doing. I'd sure like to keep the Sporty and not have to trade up to anything bigger. I'm encouraged by the fact that others have used them for touring. I'm not wanting a bigger engine, I just wondered if the bike was physically too small to be confortable. I'm 5'10" so that was my main concern. I think it will probably be fine for me for years to come. Thanks again for your advice!

Jan 23, 2012

Only you will know
by: Lynn - Florida

Only you will know if you want to tour on your Sporty. I know a lady who has toured on her older 883 and loves it. She rode from southern Florida to Kentucky by herself!! It is a personal decision and as you gain experience you will know.

Please keep us posted and best of luck.

Jan 23, 2012

Sportster
by: Joan

Deann, you WILL pass your Riders Edge course! The instructors are wonderful! They spend a lot of time with you and do everything they can to make sure that you learn what you need to know, are safe and have fun. The class that I took had all females in it, which was even more fun. Good luck with the class! Joan

Jan 23, 2012

Sportster touring
by: Deeann

Hi Joan, Thank you for your reply! I hope you enjoy your new Sportster and that it works out well for you. I'm already enrolled in the Riders Edge class for March at Myers-Duren. When (and IF) I pass the class I may just have to drop in on one of those HOG meetings. It would be great to talk to other bikers and get various opinions. It seems that everyone has something different to say about their bikes, experiences, and riding. I'll be anxious to hear it all! Thanks again for connecting!

Jan 22, 2012

Sportster
by: Joan

Deann, welcome from another retired Tulsa area sportster rider! I got my license in April of 2010 after taking the Rider's Edge course through Myers-Duren. My first bike was a Honda Rebel, then I bought a Yamaha VStar 650 and now I have my favorite bike - a 2011 883 Sportster Superlow. I absolutely love this bike! While I haven't taken any long rides on it yet (the most being a little over 100 miles), I do plan on doing some this upcoming riding season. I haven't made very many changes to my bike so far. I've added a windshield, sissy bar and just put on a new Mustang seat this past week. Like Dawn said, I would wait until you get some riding time in on your sportster before doing a lot of modifications to it. On a side note, we would love to have you come and join us at our next HOG chapter meeting at Route 66 Harley-Davidson. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 9:30 in the upstairs room. There are a few ladies that are new riders and also sportsters. You are more than welcomed to come and check us out. If you would like more information, please feel free to post on here and I will get back to you. Have a good week! Joan

Jan 22, 2012

sportster touring
by: Deeann

Laura, Thank you for your reply! You can see what I wrote to Dawn in reply to her. I think she's right in everything she says, and I also hope you're right too. It would be nice, and less expensive, if the Sporty was the only bike I ever needed. Let us all know how your summer riding goes this year. I'll be anxious to hear your thoughts about how the Sportster works out for you. Thanks again!

Jan 22, 2012

sportster touring
by: Deeann

Dawn, Thanks for your reply! I think you really hit the nail on the head for me. I'll do whatever I need to do to make the Sportster comfortable for me, but I'll hold off on adding all the extras. I really would like for it to be satisfactory for long distance riding because I don't want to have to trade up. I'm retired and I would prefer not to plunge into a more expensive bike. But I think you're right when you say that riding styles, likes and dislikes, etc. do change over time. I'll hang tight and see where I am in a year. I'll post some pics after I get my license in March. Thanks again!

Jan 22, 2012

Tour
by: Dawn

I have riden the Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha lines. I can't speak about the actual bike, however, I can say this: Wait on doing upgrades until YOU learn to ride. Riding is like eating. No one can tell you what you will like, just what they have experience with and like themselves. The bike I owned and loved to ride 3 years ago, is WAY too small for my liking now. I would definitely say to start small and somewhere between a 500 and a 750 is great. I started on a GS500E, 2 years ago I got a 650... within 6 months I moved into an 1100. Less than a year later, I bought my 2010 Stratoliner Deluxe 1900. I'm only 5'4" so the Yamaha line, I found was low enough to the ground without me having the do something to the bike itself to have it lowered.

Keep in mind that you'll probably keep the bike for a little while at least,so some upgrades might be unavoidable in order to be happy with the bike while you do have it. Most of the time, your typical upgrades can be added to the value of the bike. I never bought a bike with the intention of getting rid of it within the year. But I did... twice. Also, never assume that you what you feel comfortable with today won't change. I was very comfortable on my 650. I loved that bike. I found myself lagging when my husband and brother would take off, and I got my 1100 because the bike itself was almost exactly the same, just as comfortable, but had more power.

For touring, I would have to say, this might not be your permanent bike. Although, I still have my 1100 for aroud town. I feel my 1900 is still ok for even a trip to the store.

Keep the shiny side up! Post something after you take the class and how you love it!

Jan 22, 2012

hope so!
by: Laura

Well I hope it is! As my first bike,I bought 2012 Sportster 883 SL last August, and I plan on taking it touring this summer.

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