I am late on this subject but could not resist....I owned both the 883 and the 1200 sportster. I have also owned Japanese nakeds/sportbikes/cruisers. the Harleys were a "phase" I was going thru......the Harley V-Twins are torquey, as inlines are more "top end". I believe as one guy said, the 250 Rebel beat the 883, as one time I was joking with a girl on a 250 ninja. The whole time I enjoyed the g-string and cool lower back tat she had, as I never got by her!!! I tried it with my 1200 sporty, and faired no better. I know the motors by compression are different, trannies, redlines etc, but my 1200 sporty used to run side by side with a guy on a mid 80's 450 Rebel, and he kept up all day........ I paid more for each of my new sportsters w/accessories (both 1989 models), than I did for my last cruiser, a 2005 Yamaha Vstar 1100 Custom. I owned 2 Honda CB700SC, an 84 & 86, and loved messing with the Harley guys with Bore Kits, and toying with a guy who has 600 more C.C's and 10-12 grand more in their machine. My friend has a 79 750 Super Sport, with an 833 Bore Kit, and that thing is a beast!!!!!!! Since recently getting into cafe's (pre-1980), I am impressed with what I have seen some of the small machines do. My current money pit is a 79 CB650 cafe build, and with the stock engine rebuild, and stripping it down of all excess metal, cutting frame down etc....it kicks ass!! I wish I would have done this years ago. I have sold all my other bikes...."Built not Bought" from now on!! I'm impressed with the guys here that take the old 250, 350, 450, 500cc machines and make them screamers...you guys know where the real fun is!!!! Should have bet your brother.......