A new experience for me, this SuperLow. Always been passionate about sport bikes, I has not ever ride a Harley-Davidson. A bit ‘of awe is a must in the face of such an icon of motorcycling.
But also a bit ‘of skepticism for the size, weight, and to use completely different from what I usually do on two wheels. After ten days and many miles riding this 883 I find myself having to admit that we love the speed and performance superbike, we lose a big portion of driving pleasure.
Sequins and paillettes
The 883 Sportster Super Low – we tried mounting a series of accessories that lend an air very glam: the chrome and the details are wasted “Diamond Ice”, or rhinestone accents on details, logos and instrumentation, a bit dim too but the typical conception of “brutal” the custom, making this 883 object of desire of many girls, of which I could not help but notice the curious looks and admirable. The mission of this bike is the one to bring the female audience in the world of Harley-Davidson and not intimidate the novice riders, thanks to its small size, low seat and a handling than you expect. For the protection of all this luxury is the alarm as standard with a remote control that automatically engaged and disengaged the safety device when approaching or moving away from the bike. Unprotected single detail, and I admit that has raised some concern in me whenever I had to get away from the bike, the precious fuel cap with rhinestones, no key or any other antitheft device.
A bike for all
Designed for beginners, but nice at 360 °, the Superlow is never called into difficulties. Added with Confidence too, in the maneuvers to shut off the saddle in 695mm from the ground gives a great hand and high strength, as well as on the run: its V-Twin 883 cc Sportster Evolution has a wide rev range, just to facilitate departures and the curves at low speeds, always points in the first critical approaches to leadership. All this is facilitated by a dedicated chassis, consisting of a 39mm Showa fork with 108mm of travel and rear shocks with adjustable pre-load range of 54mm.
” A bike for everyone and with a wide range of use, conceived and designed with the specific purpose of putting the driver at ease “
The wheels are 5-spoke aluminum alloy machined (front 18 “rear and 17″), mountain Scorcher Michelin radial tires (120/70ZR18 front, 150/60ZR17 rear), whose profile and tread pattern have been developed specifically to enhance the maneuverability of SuperLow. In the design and development of tires, wheels and steering geometry, Harley-Davidson engineers have taken advantage of the experience learned during the development dell’XR1200X and motorcycles with target customers and use very different, but with great attention to handling, the which the team was inspired to get even for the SuperLow an optimal balance between steering geometry, tire and wheel alignment.
The V-Twin 883: icon
The Evolution Sportster 883 cc sequential electronic fuel injection (a device that is always turn up their noses more than a fond nostalgia of the carburetor) is obviously air-cooled and has a maximum torque of 70 Nm at 3,750 rpm. The final drive ratio, revised according to the diameter of the rear tire, the acceleration curve provides a pleasant and generous. The cylinder does not heat especially during the run and this is another important point in favor of comfort. The 17-liter tank Walnut Low Profile, whose painting is finished by hand on all the tanks as Harley-Davidson, provides a range of about 300 km and left in plain sight of the Evolution V-Twin, a descendant of the legendary Shovelhead, from which it inherits the historical displacement of 883 cc.
Our test. Custom yes, but deftly
As already suggested above, once in the saddle surprising confidence that immediately transmits the SuperLow, the pilot. Arms stretched to grasp the handle by bending wide and flat, with all the controls at your fingertips and central platforms for optimal posture. Certainly the remarkably low seat ergonomics of the platforms are not suitable for tall people, but with an average height (this writer does not exceed seven feet), the angle of the legs is optimal, as well as ground support: too high can not rest comfortably with both feet, another advantage for those who took his first steps into the world of cycling.
The dry weight of 251kg (260 in running order) goes almost entirely unnoticed, so that the SuperLow is agile in city traffic than ever you would expect from a bike that, although small, is still a custom. A custom sporting ambitions, as well as metropolitan: the engine has a nice couple who, despite the provision modular, everything at once and then riaddolcirsi during extension. The only flaw in urban driving is, needless to say, the paving: the low seat and stance low forced to slow down, and a lot, not to endure the bumps of damaged asphalt or the dreaded cobblestones. Of course the problem comes in brakes. It is important to stop the wheels and braking more energetic, although by sometimes you could get use to, but in beginning stages it could create problems with balance when stopped.
The colors available are three: Vivid Black from Euro 8900, the Blue Pearl from 9100 Euro and the two two-color Merlot Sunglo / Vivid Black and Birch White / Sedona Orange in 9400 Euros. The gearbox is slightly noisy, a feature common to all bikes of Milwaukee, but clean and precise in the grafts, the belt is soft and silent, I must admit that the difference from the classic chain drive is felt. The instrumentation is minimal, but there is everything you need: speedometer, and lights in sight, including the provision of fuel (very helpful the fuel gauge on the handlebar, available as an option, chrome and light blue markings). Another pleasant aspect of the instrumentation are the commands of the arrows separated: a position very natural and intuitive. The arrows, in our case, elegantly integrated with the rear-view mirrors, are automatically disabled by the speed and tilt angle of the bike.
Relax bike
The main feature of this particular 883 is a great desire to go forward plan that leads to who. That’s right, go up a position in the saddle and driving pleasure lead to modulate the throttle and enjoy the bike and, if possible, why not a nice view. Milan in the intense morning traffic, I left willingly than hasty and scooters from frantic motorists to enjoy a little ‘guide that offers carefree. During the long journeys on fast roads and feels a lot of the lack of a good windshield, but at least the vibration to the handlebars and footpegs, typical of V-Twin, do not bother even after several hours in the saddle. A bike really tailor-made girl also with regard to the clutch and brake levers, not at all strenuous activity.
Even in Super Low car it comes with Deep Bucket Seat design. The bike we tested, however, mounts a saddle Badlander tandem, which allowed us also to test driving with passengers in two. The position of the guest is comfortable despite the narrow saddle, and only after some ‘time on the road started to feel the discomfort of sitting a little stiff. The low ground clearance is heard especially in the run with passenger and dampens the little ‘sporty nature of the 883: the safety encourages cyclists to the crease, but a first “scratch” with stands and terraces leads to rapidly bring the bike into position vertical, in order to avoid having your wallet for boards and easels “filed.”
And ‘the price to pay for the pleasure of driving is low. So you are pretty well even in pairs on this Superlow, but … prohibition of loading: the rear suspension would be too tired. A nice surprise, this 883 SuperLow, even for those who approach for the first time in the world of “long forks.” A bike for everyone and with a wide range of use, conceived and designed with the specific purpose of putting the driver at ease.
Mission accomplished.
The colors available are three: Vivid Black from Euro 8900, the Blue Pearl from 9100 Euro and the two two-color Merlot Sunglo / Vivid Black and Birch White / Sedona Orange in 9400 Euros.
