Harley Sportster 883 Insurance

The Harley-Davidson Sportster is one of our favorite cruisers, compressing the heritage and style of the larger Harleys into a lighter-weight, better-handling package. The v-twin offers plenty of power for highway cruising and ripping around town, and the aftermarket support is nearly endless.

What’s more, XL883 offer riders an easy to insure bike. That said, every insurer offers Harley Davidson 883 insurance at a different price. You can easily overpay if you are not careful. Let’s have a look at the history of the 883, some of the types of insurance coverages that you may need, and a few ways that you can keep your insurance costs down.

Brief History of the Harley Sportster 883

The Harley-Davidson Sportster series has been in production since 1957 in various engine sizes and types. The original engine used in the Sportster series was the Ironhead. The Ironhead was replaced by the Shovelhead in 1966 and the current bikes are powered by the Evolution series of engines.

In 1984, Harley debuted the Evolution engine. The first engines produced were 1,340 cc and featured aluminum cylinders and heads. The aluminum construction made the engines more oil-tight as well as being lighter and more durable than earlier Harley engines.

In 1986, Harley introduced the 883cc version. The 883 features a different valvetrain layout than the larger output engines. The 1986 Sportster XLH was the first bike to feature the 883, but it was offered as an option for every Harley Davidson model through the 2005 model year. The engine has essentially remained unchanged over time; just a few tweaks have been made to accommodate changes to transmissions and final drives. One major exception has been the addition of rubber engine mounts instead of having the engine mounted directly to the frame–greatly reducing vibration.

883 Sportster Models

There are a number of 883 Sportster sub-models. Here are a few of the most notable:

• XL883 “Sportster 883”:  This is the standard model, with single seat, mid-controls, and 13-spoke mag or wire wheels.
• XLH883 “Hugger”:  This was the precursor to the “XL low” models, and included a lowered seat and suspension.
• XL883C “Custom”:  This bike has forward controls, dual seat, a solid rear wheel and drag bars.
• XL883L “Low”:  This is bike has a very low suspension, single seat, mid-controls, and 13-spoke mag or wire wheels.
• XL883R “Roadster”:  All models have triple discs and tachometers. Models with solid-mount motors have a 2-1 exhaust, 13-spoke mag wheels, blacked-out engine. Rubbed-mounted models have 2-2 exhaust, slightly different dual seat, wire wheel option, and more R colors. In 2010, the XL883R becomes the “Roadster.”
• XL883N “Iron 883”:  Similar to the Nightster, this is a blacked-out 883 with 13-spoke mags, mid-controls.
• XL883L “SuperLow”:  Introduced in 2011, this bike has black 5-spoke mag wheels with 18/17-inch polished rims, as well as the wider flatter “Custom” tank and mid-controls.

883 Sportster Insurance:  Recommended Coverage

Most states require motorcycle insurance. The minimum coverage required is a liability policy. Liability policies will not cover your bike, just the damages you do if you are found to be at fault after an accident. If you needed a loan to get your bike, the lender will require you to have more extensive coverage. The risk of having to pay for repairs out-of-pocket and bank requirements are why all riders should have additional coverage.

Collision coverage protects your bike under most circumstances in an accident. Comprehensive, on the other hand, protects from non-collision mishaps such as fire, wind, water, theft, and vandalism. Uninsured/Under-insured motorist coverage is another major consideration. On average, fifteen percent of the motorists in the U.S. do not have insurance coverage. Who wants to pay for damages caused by another motorist? The under-insured aspect of the policy protects you in case the other motorist is from a state with lower minimum requirements or the injuries exceed the policy caps of an at fault motorist.

883 Sportster Insurance Rates

Certain factors affect your motorcycle insurance premiums no matter where you buy it. These include, but are not limited to: make and model of bike, driving record, and the state you live in. With those factors in mind, there are ways you can lower your premiums. Given that Harley Davidson Sportster 883 insurance can range between $20 and $45 per month for full coverage (depending on the company you use and state you live in), you will want to do everything possible to keep your costs down.

Attend a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course. Graduating from a two day MSF course will enhance your riding skills, allows you to skip the ”skills” portion of the license process, and lowers your premiums. You can visit the MSF website(www.msf-usa.org) to find a course near you.

Good Student Discount. If you are still in high school or are in college, most insurers offer a discount for maintaining a high GPA. For most insurers that GPA is in excess of a 3.0, but you will have to ask the insurer you choose.

Maintain a clean driving record. This is just a logical way to keep your premiums down. Citations for DUI, reckless operation, and speeding are guaranteed to raise your premiums for years.

Multi-Vehicle Discount.  You can save up to 25% on your premiums by insuring all of your vehicles with the same company. Nearly all insurers offers such multi-vehicle discounts.

Shop around for coverage. This is perhaps the best way to keep your premiums in check. Fortunately, we can help. All you have to do is enter your zip code to get started. You will be able to compare rates and policies from a variety of top-flight insurers, all from your computer or smart phone.

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