2014 Star Bolt vs. 2013 Harley-Davidson 883 Iron
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- In our urban performance bobber shootout, the choice is between the proven machine with a few well-documented idiosyncrasies, or the upstart contender that's eager to take on the champ. Who do you like?
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I don't get why everyone is arguing so much. I don't understand the hate. I own a 2013 Street Bob. I went riding last summer and pulled over at a popular mountain lookout, and two guys pulled up on Yamaha Stars. They came over and talked for a bit, and we admired each others' bikes. I complimented their bikes and they complimented mine. That's what it is like in the real world. We all share the love of riding, it doesn't matter if it's a Honda Rebel, a Yamaha, or a Harley.
I agree, I ride a Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero which is a 1700 bagger, the fairing is frame mounted(my preference). When I was looking my short list was the Harley Road Glide, the Victory Vision and the Honda F6B, I was not even looking at the Kawasaki. Unfortunately, at the time I was looking the Road Glide was not in production and the F6B did not have cruise control, so I was leaning very heavy on the Vision. I then happened upon the Vaquero(which was a 2 year old bike that was still brand new on the showroom floor) that was priced at $13,000 which was $8000 cheaper that the Vision, so I decided that buying the Vaquero was a good choice.
I belong to a riding group that is made up of all kinds of bikes, be it a scooter, sportbike, sport touring, cruiser or full dresser. While, we do poke a little fun at each other from time to time, we do have respect for each other.
Well said...
Roadghost88 spoken like a true moron
James Loftis the hate comes from the snob mentality, both ways. i love my yamaha twins, and all my harley buddies understand, yet abhor my love.
it is what it is, like some guys like certain types of broads.
nobody is right, passions collide often.
+MENSFORTHHILL99 if you can buy a Rolex why would you buy a Seiko....?
I like how one guy was able to rationalize why buying the Bolt was a better choice and the choice he'd make by backing it up with specs and analysis. The other guy just wanted the name that was stamped on the side of an inferior motorcycle.
John Hudson Iron is, surprisingly one of the more quality H-D's. Not gonna argue which one of those 2 in the video is better, but as far as Iron goes, you should try it, you'd be surprised.
John Hudson The name on the tank is the only argument you need man..
spyros v Keep smoking weed and telling yourself.
"I wanna be able to say i own a Harley." Why do the test? Why waste everyone's time with your opinion and "insight", it's worthless for someone trying to make a decision. Thanks for taking up time and space.
It's not all about you. And, wanting to own the best looking, most thumping, and the bike that is welcomed anywhere and the Sportster has a long history of reliability.
Ron LHeureux so many mistakes in this reply. Read the title of the video, watch it, then read my comment again. Hopefully that helps you respond quicker.
Competition is exactly what Harley Davidson needs. As an American, I want to see Harley Davidson succeed, and for many years now, they only sell based on nostalgia and being "American Made". I'd love for them to actually start to compete on things that REALLY matter to riders.
"For my 8 grand I wanna be able to say I paid for the name, not the superior motorcycle". -- John.
Spoken like a true sheep.
The Jimbo Channel He worded it like an ass but he has a point. Be fair. The Bolt wins on a few points on paper but there are many things that make the Sportster better to own in reality.
Harley has perhaps the best dealer network in the world. Like it or not, they treat their customers well.
If you take a weekend away and God forbid something should happen to your bike, you'll probably have a much easier time finding someone relatively nearby who can fix the Harley.
The list of aftermarket and custom parts for the Sportster is truly staggering.
The 883 Harleys have access to a number of kits to boost the engine to 1200cc or 1250cc. Many of these kits are covered by warranty. I am unaware of any such option for the Bolt.
Die-hard Harley fans exaggerate this, but Harleys DO hold their value better than most other motorcycles, provided they're cared for.
Contrary to popular mockery, Harleys are oil tight and don't fall apart. At least, not any more. Even their brakes are decent (for cruisers).
The Sportster has plenty of grunt for everyday riding. Any gains the Bolt has are modest at best and largely unnoticeable when riding normally.
I don't know if you've ever been up close to a Bolt, but in my opinion they're ugly. Lots of things that don't quite fit. The engine, for example, is too big for the bike - it sticks out the side and presses into the rider's legs. There's also an ugly bend in the front of the frame, and a space between the seat and the tank that leaves the bike's spine clearly visible. Like it or not, Harley has the aesthetic of the Sportster down.
Another thing many people find unappealing is the fact that the Bolt was deliberately made to resemble the Sportster. It's obviously trying to be something else. It's obviously an attempt at a clone. One thing I've credited Yamaha and Star for was trying to give their cruisers a unique styling.
Yamaha's a great company and makes some fine motorcycles, but the Bolt was not their finest hour.
Tim Hartley a.) with a harley, yeah I'd certainly be worried about finding a dealer on a road trip because...yeah. it's a harley. b.) if you honestly think you are gonna have trouble finding a yamaha dealer in the continental US, I don't think we live in the same country. I've ridden several harleys. they are the single most under-performing, under-engineered, worst-handling bikes in existence. If they weren't American, no one would care. The fact that they are an American company is the one and only reason anyone gives them a pass (in spite of the fact that maybe 20% of the bike is actually made in the states) I don't know why these harley fanboys get so asshurt when guys who ride imports call them out because there are far less expensive options that handle better, with more power, and will likely outlive the rider. I was at a harley dealer recently with a friend where the salesman he was talking to jokingly laughed at me riding a Honda calling it "cute". He sure wasn't expecting a response because the look on his face when I said "Yeah, I guess having a bike that runs well, handles, well, can outrun anything in this room with half its gears (and I don't ride a crotch rocket), and doesn't rattle my teeth out of my head when I ride it is kinda 'cute' I guess, right?" -- was priceless. He had nothing to say, and no other harley rider does either when you call bullshit on their bikes being superior to anything short of a riding lawnmower. If you're ok riding a bike that was designed using 30+ year old tech, that's totally fine. If we were talking about a car, somehow I think no one would be making these ridiculous claims about harley being "well-made". Us import guys tend to like modern engineering -- hence we don't ride harleys.
The Jimbo Channel I live in Australia, and even here you could throw a stick and it would probably land near someone who could fix a Harley-Davidson. The Big Four Japanese bike manufacturers are no slouches in that area either, but Harley is definitely the best in that regard. As for your crack about Harleys needing repairs, that's just not true and hasn't been true for years. It may have been true thirty years ago, but these days Harleys are well made. They don't fall apart, they don't leak and they can go from one side of the continent to the other and back again without incident. But they're not everyone's cup of tea, and that's perfectly fine.
I think you're giving the whole 'I only by 'Murican' crowd a bit too much credit there. If you ride a Honda, great. Honda has consistently put out fine motorcycles for years, and anyone who tries to make you feel inferior for riding a Japanese motorcycle is plain wrong, both in their view of Japanese bikes and in how they're treating you.
I'm getting the subtle vibe that you don't like Harleys, which is fine. I only like one or two models myself (honestly more of a European bike guy). But you've got to acknowledge that Harley has some strengths and does more than a few things right. Besides the marketing, of course.
Cruisers in general are a niche - they're measured by different criteria, and you either like them or you don't. People who try to argue a Harley's merits based on performance are kidding themselves. Take a Sportster 1200 and a Yamaha R1 around a track and the R1 will win every time. They're completely different styles of motorcycle and I don't get why people insist on trying to compare sports bikes and cruisers.
Cruiser riders look for the following things in their bikes:
- Torque.
- Comfort.
- Range.
- Style.
The order in which they prioritise those things changes from person to person. Many H-D models seem to tick the right boxes for many cruiser riders, hence their dominance in the niche. For others, Japanese cruisers are just as good - Kawasaki's Vulcan series is phenomenally good, and Yamaha's Star range, with the notable exception of the Bolt, have a distinctive style. For cruiser riders who really want to stand out, European models like the Thunderbird, California and Diavel are amazing. We all ride what we ride because we enjoy the experience of a cruiser.
Posers are spread throughout the whole motorcycling community - they're not unique to cruisers or to Harley riders. There are plenty of sports bike riders treating suburban roads like race tracks, or dirt bike riders whose ego surpasses their riding skills, just like there are cruiser riders who think they're badass. Ignore them.
You're alright, Tim Hartley. Cheers ;)
The Jimbo Channel I see your point, but don't forget about the resale value. HD has a tendency to hold value. That may not be the case with other bikes.
Yamaha for canyon carving, leaning and better braking... Harley Davidson for when you want to tell people you ride a Harley? LMAO. The dude in red is funny.
Paolo Peña Pathetic is how much Yamaha copied the Harley.
nomellocreampig Which is kinda funny considering that bobbers were often originally overweight harleys with huge fenders and frames cut down to resemble cleaner, simpler brit bikes of the 30s. The style is elemental regardless of who uses it. Besides, I don't trust the opinion of anyone who wears a beret
nomellocreampig Maybe some genious said wouldn't it be nice if we had Harley looks on a bike that didn't handle like shit.
Databyter Shouldn't use words you can't spell, genius. Also I doubt you have even ridden one of these bikes.
nomellocreampig I was agreeing with your comment. And no I have not rode either of those particular bikes, but I can read and watch videos and understand the difference between brand love and the love of great engineering. Harleys are great, but if Yamaha can emulate that style and do it with better engineering and performance, I gotta respect it.
Soooo the only reason he would get the iron is just to say "I have a Harley" clearly they both agree the bolt is a better bike.
Yes but that name means when you turn it in to trade up to a bigger bike you'll get more of your $$$ back.
Typical Harley "argument".
Ben Parent Yeah it is but if you try to sell a bolt it sells for much less. If you are planning on keeping that bike forever by all means go with that but you can't deny that a harley davidson holds its value well. People are willing to pay, call them stupid all you want but its a fact. Now you should get any bike you want, its all a personal choice after all
lmao! and is true lol
Stacy H I only see fat girls on Harley bikes. Adventure bikes, like mine, never have girls on them. Hot girls always gravitate towards the sport bikes.
a classmate of mine has the iron 883 and 3 weeks ago i got me the yamaha bolt. ive ridden both and i gota say, my bolt is way better. smoother ride, light weight, more power, great carving, and all around awesome.
the only problems i have(and i have to knit pick to find problems) the gap between the seat and tank, no fuel gauge, and the small 3 gallon tank.
Yamaha built a better Harley......
Ugh fail. It's just another ugly failed attempt to copy an original. Ten years from now all those bolts will be in the junkyard next to all the Viragos.
+Justin Pino I doubt it very much. Viragos are doing nicely thank you very much out on the streets and highways. Japanese reliability can't be equalled.
+Justin Pino
lol...Had a Virago... You are so right sir...
So one guy liked the Star because of "performance" (meaning: "quality" and "value"). The other guy like the Harley because "it's a Harley" (meaning: a name I can show off, despite any quality or value differences). Okay. Whatever.
WarriorPoet01 What is wrong with that..?? lol. I never understood that argument against Harley guys. As long as that's what s/he wants and s/he rides the thing, why should it matter? When you buy a Harley you are buying the best quality with the best fit and finish.
I mean, you said it yourself.. differences in values. Someone may value name brand more than another lesser known brand(not that Yamaha is lesser known). Why do guitarist like and buy more Fender's and Gibson's compared to Danelectros..?? Danelectros are a good guitar, preform well and have a great history(Jimi's first ever electric guitar was a Danelectro believe it or not). It's because Fender and Gibson have a status of being known and own the guitar world. Harley owns the cruiser world. Same thing with Nike over New Balance with shoes, Rolls Royce over Cadillac with luxury cars and Vizio over Element in HD TV's.
1225tdnelson "best quality with the best fit and finish"??? You've got to be fucking high, dude. Best "quality"? lol. Harley is so stuck in the stone age and so high on their own fumes that they feel change is beneath them. Their bikes are slower, worse-handling, WAY overpriced for the class of bike you choose, and they pretty much ignore almost every aspect of modern motorcycle engineering that nearly every other bike company simply accepts as "the standard". That is not my opinion, that's a goddamn fact. Every time you see a shootout of a another bike against a harley, the harley is always slower with crappier handling and overpriced. I applaud Harley for building the first production electric bike but I really don't see them offering anything at all in the last 30 years to the bike engineering craft. A HD is one of the priciest bikes on the planet in most of their classes -- what the fuck are you paying for other than their name????? Because it sure as hell isn't technology, power, or even ingenuity. Jesus Christ your comment made me laugh so hard I almost puked a little.
The Jimbo Channel is the original poster high too..? He used the word "quality" also my man. And I'm sorry but when I'm not looking for a supreme handling motorcycle when I buy a Harley or even a cruiser for that matter.. I'm not looking for a 120hp engine when I'm buying a Harley that'll spin the rear tire in 3rd. Do they handle well enough to go around a turn, cushy suspension, brake well and accelerate faster than a common every day car..? Of course they do. Then what else do you need in a cruiser when it comes to performance..??
And hell yeah fit and finish. I don't want to ride a cruiser that has plastic fenders, lesser paint, plastic aftermarket finishings or electrical wires hanging out every where. Ask anyone that and they'll have the same answer. Quite frankly Harley has the best visual fit and finish I have ever seen. They always look the best and you'll hear the guys in the shoot out say this constantly. Compare a Harley to a Honda or Yamaha. What aesthetically looks better? Opinion based question.. But the Iron 4/5 times gets the nod.
You said "so stuck in the stone age".. Then why does practically every motorcycle company make an retro bike?? I bet if you put the engine of a CB1100, Sr400 and Bonneville in a different chassis' and reworked the design of the bikes and engines they'd be faster and handle better. All of Indians bikes are the same way. But why do that when the market is trending on this "Vintage" vibe that everyone is into. And Harley wouldn't be leading the market in electronic features and settings of they were stuck in the stone age would they?
I was at a Harley demo ride literally last Sunday. A group of six riders mixed between two BMW K1200s, a Triumph Trophy, a Goldwing and a Yamaha FJR1300 all rode Harleys Touring models. They all said they weren't pleased with the performance but two, both BMW riders, bought Ultras that afternoon. They said the QUALITY of the electronics and the features of the dash and also the comfort of the bike is what sold it for them.
1225tdnelson As long as you are happy paying more money for less of a bike when it comes to engineering, then that's your prerogative. The fact of the matter is this -- no one would buy Harleys if they were not an American company at all. You can argue that all day every day but that's the truth of it. If Harley were a company outside the US and say, Honda were the American company, all of the "patriot" fanboys would be citing inferior technology as the reason that they don't buy HD and that the American company builds the bikes better. In spite of the fact that the majority of all parts on a Harley are made outside of the states (a lot of it is in Mexico), patriotism is their only real hold on the bike market. For the record, I own a CB1100 and its "fit and finish" is light years beyond anything HD makes today. It handles better, rides better, doesn't weigh 100lbs more than it should for it's size (like every HD seems to) and the engine doesn't rattle the teeth out of your head -- it's as smooth as silk. I'm sure a Harley drip would say "that's what a real man's bike is supposed to do -- rumble. American Thunder!!" but frankly that's just a cop out for shitty engineering. We can argue this all day, dude, but the experts never pick Harley as being the superior bike from any kind of tech or engineering standpoint. You are paying for a name and a license to get everything in their catalog with a harley logo on it. It's no different from a woman getting an expensive brand name bag then getting hat, shoes, and clothes to match. You are paying for the name -- end of discussion.
The Jimbo Channel And there's really nothing wrong with that even if I was. But thank you for your concern
The 2nd guy's response is all you need to know. 1st guy's reason for choosing the Bolt was performance. The 2nd guy's reason for HD is saying he can own a HD. So if you're looking to ride a motorcycle, go with Bolt. If you're trying to join Sons of Anarchy, go with HD.
Most MCY gangs don't only require an american made motorcycle, but that it be over 1000cc's of displacement. So the Iron probably isn't even a contender for that :-P.
Harley Davidson is the Apple Inc. of motorcycles. Made in a third world country and then marked up for your debt laden pleasure.
+papersplease lol surprisingly I had never made that comparison, Genius! That is spot on!
Trenton Reid but where do those assembly plants for Harley get their parts?
Indeed it’s made in Thailand not japan where the technology is far superior
What, the guy chose the harley on symbolic grounds alone? You don't choose a complex machine based on its name. Bogus judgement.
I just love how right there at the end when that guy in the red said, "being able to say I own a Harley." LMAO Since when does the ability of claiming your ownership over an object make it better???? What a fanboy... My 2010 Raider S has had ZERO problems and at least 3 of my riding buddies with Harley's have had there's in the shop for a non-scheduled maintenance problem since I've had my Yammy-Hammer! I don't dislike HD's, but the fuckin' fanboys need to grow the fuck up. I have a Raider S because Yamaha is my favorite foreign manufacturer and because I can't justify throwing down $30,000 on a Ultra Classic or a new CVO Breakout. And you know what, that does't bother me ONE bit.
George you just contradicted yourself saying "my favorite foreign manufacturer," that makes you a fanboy of Yamaha.
***** You should know what a fanboy is first, before you go using it improperly.
The guy at the end of the video that said, "so I can say I own a Harley" is a fanboy. I however, do not say "because I can say I own a Yamaha"... I own one because I like them and its the logical choice. Almost all of the metric bikes are the logical choice over Harley Davidson's. This is due to superior engineering and consumer friendly pricing.
So, if you're going to call me a fanboy, make sure you know that its because Harley Davidson is at the bottom of the technology ladder, not because yamaha is at the top.
George I'm not gonna argue with you on this. I've owned a lot of brand motorcycles including Yamaha and so far my favorite is Harley. Their more authentic in their designs and craftsmanship, love my clank sound when putting it in gear, and not to mention their made in America.
***** I'm glad you enjoy your motorcycle! I don't dislike Harley's. Ride Safe!
You too man!
Funny, Yamaha made a copy of a bike HD has been making for fifty years, and immediately it's superior. The only thing it loses points on is originality. The Japanese cruisers might be copies but their engineering is decades ahead.
Get your act together HD, starting with the death wobble in your Sportster! The more time goes by the more people are starting to realise that style and originality do not automatically make for a good bike.
Oops, my mistake. It's not just the Sportster that wobbles dangerously at speed, it's a brand-wide problem. Sorry about that.
launch4 I own a sporster and there is no death wobble get your facts right idiot
MajorBigBudz I said it's a brand-wide problem that affects a lot of people. No one ever said it happened to every bike they made. That's just ridiculous. I suggest you get your facts straight before you start making yourself look like an idiot. H-D and their riders get too much of that kind of publicity already.
vid or it dont happen
MajorBigBudz you just made his point for him dolt
Well sure you can't knock a good Harley, but to be honest I don't care about name and would want the best bike in that class without spending an arm and a leg. From a technical standpoint the Yamaha XV950 (it's actual name, not rebranded as Star Bolt) is a much better bike, sure she ain't as pretty but as far as cruisers go much more fun to ride, more manoeuvrability and stopping power and the little bumps in the road don't break your back. Japanese designed and made, rather than American designed and Chinese made. I know you cruiser guys probably aren't interested in sports bikes but look at Yamaha's track history - they build reliable machines which run well for many miles in pretty much every class, the XV950 will be no different.
If you gotta have a Harley then have a Harley, but don't knock the contenders which work from the same blueprint but iron out the kinks, cos that's exactly what this bike is doing.
Says it all with Harley snobbery. The one reviewer states all the drive and technical reasons why he prefers the Bolt and the Harley choice for the other reviewer is because he says he wants to say to himself he 'owns a Harley Davidson' No other reason given.
I prefer the 883 due to the sound, the seat and engine fit the frame better, the headlight, dual pipes, analog speedometer, the air box doesn't dig my leg, the bike feels about 50lbs lighter to me when maneuvering for some reason even know it is a heavier bike.
I like the bolt due to the suspension, R spec options, the slightly bigger engine, and the breaks. So yes, performance whys I would say the bolt wins it. However the aesthetic looks of the seat, engine gaps, speedometer and out of place looking exhaust put a serious damper in the bolts design for me. For an around town cruising bike with rare highway use. The Davidson style and feel just win this fight.
I can't stop laughing at people who whine about 'copying'. For me - it's called God damn inspiration. Copying for me = chinese things like Ipad that have same name and looks the same, but quality is much worse than the original. I became kinda confused with the name Star. Is this Yamaha in USA ? It just does not make any sense for me.
PS. English ain't the only language in the world - bear with it, before you start whining about grammary stuff.
they thought it was a v-star
Um.. It's not your grammar that's confusing.
What is the point that you are trying to make?
I would take the harley over the bolt. Self adjusting valves make a big difference in maintenance cost over long term ownership. There is also a lot more parts available for the sportster such as engine upgrade kits, exhaust, intakes, etc that aren't as available as the bolt. I love all bikes by the way. I currently own a 1997 honda magna but I have always wanted a sportster and I will get one sooner or later. I don't care what you ride as long as you ride. Be safe on the road everyone!
It is obvious you don't know what you are talking about. I have never had to do anything to my sportster. The engine has never over heated and I have never had any problems out of it. You don't have to change jets out anymore. Fuel injection has been standard since 2007. So the sportster is a pretty awesome bike. You are just bashing Harley Davidsons because you don't own one or have never ridden one. I have had a lot of different bikes from different manufactures. Your just another ignorant motorcycle rider that doesn't know what you are talking about. The bolt is a great bike I have seen them and it is a tried and true Yamaha motor but I will take my sportster 1200 over it any day of the week. It's more comfortable to me, better fuel range, I don't have to crack the heads to adjust the valves or worry about recalls from owning a bike that hasn't had all the little kinks worked out of it yet.
You brag about owning a sportster? So you must be a woman right?
Who the fuck are you to say what I have owned, and what I have ridden? I build bikes and cars for a living. I owned an 09 fatboy and it was always in the shop. So fuck off dumb ass. I will build you a custom HD all day long, and then get on my Raider and ride home.
You are obviously a weekend warrior who barely rides his little bitch bike and seems to think seasonal weekend riding amounts to being a biker.
Oh yea... Took HD all the way to 2007 to make FI standard. FYI ass hole, most REAL HD riders don't buy brand new, or even newer bikes. (just those dumb ass weekend warrior yuppies.) I found out why the hard way. The new ones are just as high maintenance and cost more for parts.
i HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WITH hd'S AND THEY all LOVE MY BIKE. Some even threaten to get a Yamaha and sell there HD's.
starbattles1 You are so full of yourself. Just for your information here is a list of recalls that Yamaha has had motorcyclerecall.com/Motorcycle_Manufacturer/Yamaha/4217. Like I said before you have no idea what you are talking about. You enjoy paying the higher insurance, less fuel mileage, tire eating bike you have and I will be perfectly happy with my bike. Let me know how it works out for you when you have to take off the gas take to change your air filter and then take off the heads to check the valve clearance on your bike. Also look at all you have to do when you have to change the drive belt on your bike. It is a job that requires a lot of work. And thanks for cussing at me. It just shows your maturity. You are the kind of guy that gives bikers a bad name and a bad reputation. You enjoy your bike and I will enjoy mine. Don't forget about that depreciation loss on your bike to!
Jacob James Oh I see the recall list, have you seen this one, it's twice as long ... motorcyclerecall.com/Motorcycle_Manufacturer/Harley%20Davidson/4207
Yes I have seen it. Recalls aren't a bad thing. If they were then Toyota would have had the "worst" vehicles on the road because of the massive recalls they had a few years ago and now Chevrolet is recalling almost every vehicle that they have. It is good that a manufacture has a recall because it lets the buyer know that there is a potential problem and that it is going to be corrected. Every one has a recall and just because they do doesn't make your bike "better" then anyone elses on the road and it doesn't make my bike "better" then anyone elses either.
Some one once told me Harley riders ride in big groups so that the guy at the back can pick up the bits fallen off the others guys bikes. I bought a 883c back in 04 and couldn't believe how quick the thing started to degrade, was also annoyed by the fact all the "official" HD upgrade parts were all made in Japan. I sold it a few years back and will NOT be buying another HD. The Yamaha I will look into though.
"was also annoyed by the fact all the "official" HD upgrade parts were all made in Japan" ... That's completely false! I can tell you with 100% certainty that Harley imports Mirrors, wheels, handlebars, turn signals, seats and headlight housings from overseas and that's all! All engine and structural parts are made here in the USA. ... Nice try though.,
Vanrocco66
Say what you like pal, doesnt change the fact that every accessory on sale in the official HD frachise where I bought my 883, all had "Made in Japan" on the packaging. The HD leather jacket I bought was even made in Japan. I don't remember remarking on where the engine or structural parts were made.
Accessories? .. Probably true. I'm talking about the important parts, frame, motor, .. etc. I actually have access through my job to a web site that tells me EVERY single item ANY company in the USA imports from outside the country and I can tell you that HD does NOT import and frames or critical engine parts from outside the country. .....
I was listening to hear some - any advantage that the Harley has over the Bolt. All I heard was about the looks. I was curious about how some other riding experiences are between the two - particularly the amount of vibration and how that effects them for long rides. I'll see if the article says anything
Edit - and the article did have more details: "At 65 mph, the Iron feels lithe and buzzy, with a willowy footprint that is too often blown off-line, requiring constant rider input. Moreover, all of these traits provide its rider with a teeth-rattling vibration in the butt, feet and hands - an unnerving sensation that’s exacerbated by the wavering mirrors and hard, unforgiving suspension.".. gosh...
and "The Star, meanwhile, runs smoother and is more poised. Its thicker grips, better suspension, steadier rear-view mirrors and surer stance all pitch in to provide superior stability and rider confidence over the Iron. Freeway commuters in the market for a bobber such as these would definitely be wise to opt for the Star."
everyone is saying the Bolt is the superior bike and bashing the guy for wanting a Harley. Did you hear why the Bolt is "superior"? The exhaust is higher. I think the thing to take away is that the performance was basically the same. Like it or not, the name "Harley Davidson" is a status symbol. It just plain old feels good to say, "I own a Harley." So if you have two bikes that are more or less the exact same for the same price, it's not crazy for someone to want the Harley, just to say they have a Harley. I would do the same thing and I'm proud to say it.
For most of the magazine people, testing bikes is like one night stands but for the buyer it's something they love and could live with happily.
I don´t like the fact that they copied it and personally, still prefer the iron on looks.
But the I look at most of the harley fanboy comments and I don´t feel like getting one just because I don´t like that "everybody that doesn´t have a harley wants a harley" attitude. It is a personal choice and I hate to see idiots braging about their harley when they don´t even know how to tighten a nut....
Both are good bikes and its a tough choice, but I would take the Bolt. The decideing factor was reliability, and the Japanese bike is just going to last longer.
IF it was "slightly better" I would agree with you. While the out right performance of the Star/Yamaha is only slightly better, I have never known a Harley owner who actually rode his bike that didn't have repeated trouble with it. I once went on a 3000 mile tour with several HD riders, all of their bikes less than 2 years old. I was riding a much smaller displacement, 20 year old Kawasaki, two up, through the mountains. Guess which bike was the only one that didn't have a break down. Buy Star
Harley is a legend sure some parts are made overseas but most of it is built in the good ole USA, nothing is like a Harley and you pay for what you get. I've seen a new Yamaha bolt traded in for Harley at the Harley dealer. I've owned a v-star, gsxr, fazer, rmz250 supermoto and honestly I am the happiest I've ever been owning a Harley.
But the “good ol USA “ has no money left for development hence why Harley is itself going down the tubes with technology sadly
Just don't see why anyone would pay more just for a name when the performance of the Bolt outweighs the Sportster
i would love the bolt if it could be EASILY customized thats my only gripe, otherwise it would be the bolt and im super into HD
They're constantly coming out with new bolt add ons every day plus Indian just came out with the Scout. Check it out
cool thanks for the nod!
True, nobody wants to look like anyone else. With that said, Harley wasn't the first American motorcycle company either. In th cruiser world,most bikes mirror each other due to its target audience refusing technology andvances and change. Just look at NASCAR for another example.
***** Really, when you compare these bikes, side by side, they only look similar, they're both V-twins. They're hardly identical. I prefer the bolt in every way except for that muffler and for most people, the exhaust is the first thing they change anyway.
A Harley is a Harley...Period !!!
That gap between the tank and seat? Really? Is that what keeps you from buying a bolt, you need to have YOUR bolts tightened a bit.
Have seen a few comparison videos between Bolt and Sportster and everyone puts both in the same price range. That would be in the US. However for those who live in Europe (like me i Sweden) the price diff is rather significant. Sportster starts at 120'000 krones (like 13-14000 USD), and the Bolt goes for some 90000 krones (like 10000 USD). And I just cannot find that extra 3000-4000 USD worth, except for the name. Unless you are in a bikers club. And I'm just not that shallow.
this is the R-Spec (they come in grey & green). the R-Spec has better rear suspension, different color choices, and suede-like seat with accent stitching. Many have said that the upgraded suspension difference is minimal to the base model Bolt though.
I have an Iron but I would ride the Bolt anytime. The main point for me is that after some time, Id get bored with the bolt. There's not much I can do with it. I dont go adding chrome stuff with HD all over it. I think only 1 piece says Harley on it and thats because it was on there when I got the bike. The Sportster itself has endless options as far as performance with little or no compromise As far as the price, buy a used bike, Sporsters are very dependable. Dont go to the Stealer and buy a new one. In the end, buy what you like and what makes you happy, you're the one riding it. Stay safe!.
Need to do a redo of this comparison, the Bolt current MSRP is $2,650.00 lower than the Iron 883 current MRSP
I bought my bolt because of it looks better, and the gap between the seat and the tank just looks good
No it looks worse
Interesting assessment at the end, but the reality is that there is a growing segment of riders that would say the opposite, meaning they don't want to be the "Harley" guy and steer away from them because it's just not cool anymore like it was for their dad or the past generation. The Bolt being a better bike is just a cherry on top. Hey, That's why I bought one.
the one point missing here. Harley (I like them) is dealer prep. the dealers will nail your ass to the wall. the msrp on a harley is where it starts at and only goes up. while yamaha knock out of the msrp.
why I bought the bolt over the iron. first was the 2 grand mark up on the iron and second was HD financing. 9.75%! really?
must be where you live and financing with the dealership they will fuck you over 7 ways from sunday. I'm looking for a bike myself and after looking at the websites for a couple different bikes yea there was a mark-up but it wasn't 2k
I like Both bikes & would buy either. It'll all depend on the OTD price.
iron 883 love it,,and buying it keeps some americans and canadians employed
I think either way you go you'll be happy. In terms of resale value should you not like the one you picked, Harley would probably win. Having said that, I'll take one of each please.
Rode both yesterday for about 50 miles each on different types of roads and my unbiased humble opinion is that the Bolt is the better bike of the two. Why? Cheaper price, engine is smother and vibrates less, the seat was more comfortable and the gears were less clunky. Having said that, the Iron 883 sounded better to me and felt somewhat lighter. Which one would I buy? Mmmmmhhh... The logical choice would be the Bolt but your heart can always outweigh logic.
Sorry, hit post before I was done. It is evident that Star had the 883 in their sights when they designed the Bolt. I saw one the other day and it is a good looking machine, but as I noted before its too bad the HD's are always priced way up from MSRP.
Harley also has GREAT aftermarket support which is important to me. Along with the signature Harley sound. Throw an exhaust and an intake on the 883 and it'll fix the ground clearance issue and make it roar. Along with making up for some of the power deficit.
i have driven both, the 883 and bolt. in thailand, a bolt costs $15,000 while the 883 costs $20,000. $5,000+ difference !! bolt costs much less in maintenance too. a lot of 883 owners just drive it because of the HD name. bolt is selling much quicker than 883. on top, i just own an indian scout $25,000 and driving quality is superb (different engine class lol). good vid. following. tks.
unclevit by the way, my colleagues are selling their HD for Victory. cheaper and better engine performance, they said lol.
The Harley looks iron, the bolt looks plastic.
Look to everyone that say's Davidson is the bad choice. Why. So the bolt has better stopping power. You can upgrade to dual disc on the iron. Slightly better performance, which can easily be upgrade as well. That’s like 2 things. Which can easily be upgrade for less than a grand. All I know is Harley been putting this bike out for 50 years. These guys didn't do a braking test or a drag test. If bolt wanted to be really impressive they should sell for half the price, because in 10 years with the bolt. Lucky to get 2gs on resale.
So the upgraded Bolt was placed against the stock Iron? I'd like to see the 1200 instead of the 883 in that case.
If we could just get rid of the fuel tank seam on the Bolt.
really cool to see yall riding in my home town. Almost every road you where on, ive been on.
Test rode a bolt last week. The thing is great. Shifts smooth, VERY responsive throttle...etc.
What is keeping me from getting it is the air cleaner box. There is a metal rod that surrounds it that just digs in to my calf while riding the bike. So, it's going to probably end up being a Star 950 that I get next week.
Enjoyed this vid. Thank you. I would have to choose the Harley, if all other things were equal, especially the price. Think of the add-ons, upgrades, dealer network, build and finish quality, ride and handling, and simply the legend that is Harley-Davidson.
Great video by the way. Clear and fair. I wish they had given these to you for a year and the video was an hour long.
what brand of helmet is the guy wearing with the blacked out visor?
Star took the concept, researched improvements while not violating it, and built a sweet motorcycle. Gotta say, I'd buy the Star if I wanted a smaller bike.
i can not believe he just said he would put 8 grand on the badge name alone. he could of said that from his arm chair. what a noob. way to many badge queens with that brand. id take the Bolt because its a better stronger more reliable beast. I also think it looks a tad better over all. a Yamaha win
Let's see, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area, (on Craig's list), there are about 10 Irons for sale in a 120 mile radius. 2009 bikes are running about $6-7K depending on owner urgency. Hmmm, a four year old bike maintaining 75+% of its purchase value.
I just wanna say.... For Harley... I really like their idle sounds... Don't care bout performance much... Cuz they're cruisers to begin with... So not made for speed... Ouh... I'm not a Harley freaks... Nor do I own a Harley... I just really like the idle sounds... Wish I can buy the iron sportster someday and just cruising on the highway :D
Seems like a fair review to me, Bolt is just a bit better in most respects, but the buts are big buts. The styling is a bit too much me too and I don't like the exhaust which is typically really ugly. I'm in the market for something like this, so would certainly consider the Bolt if it came over the pond.
Personally, I don't get the animosity between motorcycle companies. If you're on a bike, that's all that matters. I really like Harley-Davidsons. I've ridden plenty. I could've gotten one, but I didn't. It just wasn't right for me, and didn't work for what I was looking for in a motorcycle.
In my humble opinion, Harley makes some great bikes (the new Milwaukee-Eight engine was a much-needed improvement, and it's awesome), but they also have some duds. Same with Triumph, Indian, Yamaha, etc. No bike manufacturer is perfect. Get the bike that works best for you. Whether that's how it rides, looks, or if it's just the damn name on the bike. Get out there, be safe, and have fun, and if you're ever riding in my direction, you'll be getting a wave from me, no matter what you're on.
I think what the guy is getting at , is that 5 years from now the Harley is still going to be worth something, and Harley is a bike you never give up on, if it needs a motor , you put a motor in it , if the bolt needs a motor you have to ask your self, should I or is it worth it, that's the difference . you never ask your self should I fix it when it's a Harley , it's pretty ABC or 123.
+jojojeep1 most likely the Yamaha won't need another motor, but if you look at your motorcycle as an investment the yes the Harley will keep a better price tag.
+jojojeep1 most likely the Yamaha won't need another motor, but if you look at your motorcycle as an investment the yes the Harley will keep a better price tag.
I own a 09 raider 1900. And so far HD guys are the ones gathered around going oooh, ahhh, over my bike. And thats the reality of it.
Have yet to find any hard core HD guys say anything negative about my bike.
Some people on here just have internet rage. If you walked by my bike in the gas station parking lot you would be checking it out with mouth slightly open and a bit of drool oozing out like every one else.
They did mention better fit and finish and attention to detail on the Harley.Buy either of these and there is a good chance you'll be trading up.Guess which one will have higher resale value in 4 or 5 years.That Yamaha is really nice ,though.
I would take the bolt, however if something happened to it, I would probably replace it with the HD Sportster 72.
Star Bolt is a great bike, but I still went with a 2013 Iron 883 and love it.
Good day, can tell me about the iron because I intend to have a 883 now at the end of the year or early 2015, she knew defective arrows in the back, and I wonder if this issue was Senate in iron and it has very defect, thanks
Wel if you went with the Harley you went with the USA failing economy that today has no idea of technology or have any money to develope it for that matter.. Harley Davidson has lost its name and way and we all know it.. time to grow a brain
@fredb3 - "People who can't ride a Harley, reviewing a Harley!"
The problem is that they were trying to compare a motorcycle to a Harley. The only way to do that is to TRY to get the Harley to perform basic motorcycle tasks without causing spinal disk compression injury to the rider, or to navigate a simple curve without scraping the ground. Too much to ask, apparently.
..and that's what it boils down to: personal preference. If you love riding it (no matter what it is) then you are riding the right machine! I personally like the Bolt.
Absolutely! The Bolt beats the Iron Harley every aspect except the Brand Name. A Harley Lover here :)
If their basically the same bike why wouldn't you get a Harley instead of the star I understand that the star may perform a little better but what about the resale value the Harley would keep its value longer than the star
you bought a bike and thinking sell it .why dont you just dont buy it at all. Keep your money bro.
***** not the point bro I'm saying that if in seven or eight years down the road I want a road king or something else that the trade in value will still be close to 16k but I bet a victory bike won't be near that
Anthony Perez on the money brother. At times if you do a good down payment on the bike, when it comes time to trade it in most of the value is still there. Bikes are meant to please their owners, it is a whole package. For those looking for performance these are the wrong bikes BOTH, and when people starts blah blah about japanese bikes, the Euro guys talk about their MVs, Ducatis, Bimotas, and BMWs and so on. It never ends... but like I have said before. What a Harley is... only an owner would know...
you harley die hard fans kill me
The HD looks better, even against the r model yam, but the Bolt is the better bike for the twistys. Just depends where you ride most, FYI the Bolt is an upgrade bike as said. so that would need to be taken into account, the bolt seat is not so good to me, just does not fit the bikes lines well.
I ride a 2006 Sportster 1200 Low. I've had it about 3 1/2 years. I love it. I had to buy used (4700 miles when purchased) because 2006 is the last year with a carburetor, and I want nothing to do with EFI. It had aftermarket slip ons on it and had been rejetted when I bought it. I did some fine tuning with an EGA. While mine is a 1200, an 883 is about the same at idle and slower speeds. There is no way you can compare a Sportster with a Yamaha. My Sportster, even with a rubber mounted engine, still shakes like a jackhammer, and makes the most beautiful sound. I have never ridden the Yamaha, but I have heard and seen one idle. It does not shake, and sounds like a sewing machine. Aftermarket pipes would make it louder, but it would be a dull, boring noise, not the music a Harley makes. and it would be smooth, almost totally devoid of character. All Japanese bikes are like that. No matter how they look, and some of them do look good, they have been so overly refined that they are drop dead boring. Some of them are so smooth they feel like an electric bike. I want a MOTORcycle. And I want to feel and hear that motor. You don't buy a bike like this for functionality, you buy it for fun. And riding a smooth quiet bike is not fun to me. The Sportster wins hands down. And it is NOT because of the name on the tank.
why are they comparing the bolt to an iron 883?? the iron is not marketed as a performance bike like the bolt is why not a 1200 why not a roadster im confused.... id put my 98 S model against that bolt any day of the week but opinions vary i guess
Good for beginners but after owning a short while you'll want something with more HP. So don't bother with a 883, just purchase a 1200 from the beginning.
The problem with buying a 1200 (custom, 48, 72, whatever) is the premium you pay for that displacement (they start around 10.3). Not to mention this review is a bit dated, the base 883 now costs the same as the rspec. Though the 1200 you'll pay instead of 8400 10.3-10.5. Now 2000 bucks (more outside the US) is a lot for 300cc's of displacement and 20ft-lbs tq. Not that I don't like the 1200 more, but is 20ft-lbs tq. really worth 2k?
Now you *CAN* get an NRHS 1250cc kit for an 883 (or a 1200 for that matter) for $600 which is much more reasonable, but you have to be willing to rip apart the motor to some degree to replace the jugs and most people aren't.
Also need to take into account that HD dealers charge a $800 "setup fee" that others won't. You can get optional ABS on the HD for $700 which is nice for some people, same with the security for $400. Though based on the prices I see you're looking at about 9500 OTD for the Iron with no ABS and no security and 9k flat (or a bit less) for the bolt r spec.
*****
See I was looking at Honda bikes and same thing, i was disappointed that they did not have something slightly bigger for beginner bikes. A 750 would make me feel like I was riding my mother's 650 Vstar
very good review. I would buy the HD, it looks better and a bike in this class sells on looks. If someone is wanting the best performance bike for eight grand I suspect they will look for another bike altogether.
I had to sell my 8 mo-old 2012 Iron 883 here in Bogota, Colombia. There were no bolts around. Selling it: gooat deal, quick bussines, exact same price I paid to the authorized HD dealer. My financial situation got better so I headed to HD to get a new one: price has gone up since the USD/COP exchange has had a 6 month skyrocket trend. So I considered the Bolt for this reason: there is almost a 20% price difference for these brand new bikes. Ridiculous but true. Bolt beats Iron in every aspect in the performance area. Design wise? HD no doubts. Nevertheless I constatntly get shouted at my glacier blue bolt by young local pedestrians: ¨Hey hermano, que cool es tu jarlei daivinson!!¨
For the most part the differences in performance are minor and would only mean something on the track. In my opinion the Harley name, style, fit and finish overcome those difference. Between the two I'd be buying the Harley.
I will go for the yamaha because it is a little cheaper, but they look really similar.
Buy the iron and drop in a 1200 kit, cams, intake, exhaust and tune and you will have one of the fastest cruisers out there
Jacob James CVO Breakout.
If you buy the bolt you get a bike.
If you buy a Harley you get the Living History and a Bike.
i agree with luckylindy. I hardly have any harley gear. I rock mostly icon, im only 20 and love the look and feel of the harley. Its all opinion
They didn't say the Harley "sucked" turning right or that it was so much worse... They only said there were SLIGHT differences in these areas!
This is the first Star that I had an interest in since they created the name. I know it is another interpretation of the Sportster, and that is why I like it. That simple naked raw design appearance is to me what motorcycles should be. Too many fat bike and baggers flooding the market. I already have an 1400 Intruder for this reason. The Bolt seems fresh enough but I need more punch. Like a 1200 or bigger with less around it.
Nice bikes nice comparison.
@ Ken, that's because you added aftermarket shocks & suspension parts to raise your bike. It will have more ground clearance than the Bolt. Duh!
Can someone please tell me the name of the song at 0:05 ?
Thanks in advance!
Angels by 89ine. Next time, "OK Google, tell me what song this is".
it is the tradeoff between the brand and performance. of course both offers great quality, but you heard what they said. the star's motor is better and the suspension too. on the otherside, you can say you own a harley. The question is: are you having a motorcycle for you or to show for others?
I test rode both these bikes, and I'm being completely honest that both these bikes ride almost exactly the same. The differences are very minimal.
If you are going to buy a Star and hold onto it forever, then it is the best purchase for you no doubt. But if you EVER think you are going to trade it in for anything else, even the Star dealer would rather have your used Harley than your Star. It doesn't matter which model you buy. Harleys hold their value better than gold, and this is not my opinion. Just the bold truth.
I just got my bolt a week ago... dont care much of witch one is better... I got my motorcycle and thats that. Never road a harley but like everything it has there pros and cons.....
I got a 2015 Star Bolt and love it to death.
I agree with the gentleman in the red t-shirt. For the same price I'd buy a Harley.
Yamaha should have price it 1 grand lower than the Iron, then I would consider buying the Bolt.
it is one G cheaper, thats an rspec the bolt base is 7999
i think it will. im getting one. u get more bike faster better ect.
Nearly everything on the Bolt performs better. This is indisputable. That being said there's exactly one reason to get the Harley over the Bolt: for about 650 dollars (and some elbow grease) you can get an aftermarket kit to convert the 883 into a 1250. And there is still no replacement for displacement.
I find myself wishing the Bolt was more of an updated XS650 than a HD copy. The tank looks like the XS Special tank to me. I just wish they'd stayed with the Triumph engine copy. You can win over fans by beating the hometown heroes, but you're going to have to beat them by a lot. That said, there may be a lot of non-HD fans out there looking for a bike like this.
To me Yamaha really dropped the ball on this one. Without even trying this motorcycle should of been a hell of a lot better. I really feel like they just wanted it to be a little better than the 883 and nothing more. Yamaha should of just came out with something that just embarrassed the 883 with a lower price tag. Look, I'm a long term Harley guy, but I realize we don't live in 1936 anymore. If I was buying a motorcyle in the same class as a sportster id get one of these. im just really disappointed that they put no effrt into it.
Hey, I just visited Bolt website, and I realized that R-Spec has 3.9mpg lesser than a regular one. Do you have any idea about that?
One thing about the Star they don't have the aftermarket like Harley does when you get bored with the 883 you can ether do a 1250cc kit or 88/90 ci kits or just find Buell parts for it what ever you want tons of aftermarket for it the Star Bolt your just stuck with it. There is no aftermarket big bore or superchargers, turbos turn it into a cafe racer without making every single part from scratch what ever you want to it basically like they have for the Sportster.
What kind of mpg do these kind of bikes get? I ask as you say they're cruisers/commuters
Owned an FX SuperGlide for 15 years ... great bike! Currently have a Star RSTD ... great bike! Harley has resale value; the Stars not so much. Both the Bolt and the 883 would be fun rides, but after 3 years and 15k miles ... one will have greater resale value. Swallow it.
I like them both but I'd have the harley but I live in Britain so it would be mega expensive to ship over the harley