Compare Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight®

Compare Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight®

Compare Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight®
View Inventory

2022 Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ Overview

If you’re in the market for a new Harley-Davidson® cruiser and live in the Greater Rochester area of New Hampshire, then look no further than the Harley-Davidson® Shop of Rochester. We have the entire 2022 Cruiser lineup, including the Iron 883™ and the Forty-Eight®. You can test-ride both of these vehicles at our location by scheduling an appointment. Our showroom is open to you during our standard store hours, and you can visit us at your convenience. We’re also available to assist you with a motorcycle loan, extended coverage, motorcycle insurance, gear, accessories, learning to ride and much more!

Harley-Davidson® Cruiser Family

The cruiser is a classic American motorcycle style that Harley-Davidson® helped to introduced in the 1930s. The 1960s is when the style really came into its own and became iconic, and even though these motorcycles have evolved greatly over the decades since, they have typically drawn inspiration from that period. Cruisers are motorcycles that emphasize the joy of riding above all else. You can have a fast cruiser but the emphasis is more on comfort and convenience than the a-to-b speed of a sport bike. The builds often lean toward minimalistic and are thus not as usually built up as a full-dress tourer.

2022 Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™

The 2022 Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ is among the most affordable motorcycles in the H-D lineup. It is a quintessential Harley-Davidson® cruiser and is quite popular as a first motorcycle. The build is stripped down, and the aesthetic is blacked out, which is the modern trend. Three color options are included in the MSRP: Black Denim, Gunship Gray and White Sand Pearl. The bike has a low profile and mid-mount foot controls and puts the rider in a forward riding position. The engine is an 883cc air-cooled Evolution.

2022 Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight®

The 2022 Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight® is also an affordable motorcycle. While not priced as low as the Iron 883™, it is in the same ballpark, which is why the Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight® comparison is so prevalent. Like the Iron 883™, the Forty-Eight® is stripped down, but it has more of a traditional chrome look and features a peanut-style fuel tank. Vivid Black is the standard color, and Reef Blue and White Sand Pearl are offered as premium options. Ride characteristics include forward foot controls and a forward riding position, and the engine is a 1200cc air-cooled Evolution.

Performance

The biggest difference when comparing the Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight® is that the Forty-Eight® has a bigger Evolution engine. The Iron 883™ with its 883cc engine is rated for 54 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 54 pound-feet of torque at 3750 rpm. The Forty-Eight®, on the other hand, with its 1200cc engine is rated for 66 hp at 6000 rpm and 73 lb.-ft. at 3500 rpm. This is a rather significant different. In the past, you had the option of the Iron 1200 if you preferred the Iron but wanted the bigger engine. That option is no longer available. The Iron 883™ provides ample acceleration for most, but if you’re unsure, we highly recommend comparing both through a test-ride.

Ride Characteristics

Both motorcycles are about the same size, and while many shoppers assume that the Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ weighs less than the Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight®, the reverse is true. The Forty-Eight® is also not as tall and sits a bit lower to the ground. Another notable difference is that the Forty-Eight® has wider tires and heavier front end, which changes the feel of the ride. The smaller fuel tank may make a difference depending on how you’ll ride. You should also note that the Iron 883™ has mid controls whereas the Forty-Eight® has forward controls. Which is best for you often depends on your height, and while swapping out foot controls is an option, it does add to the cost of your bike.

Personalization

Harley-Davidson® Shop of Rochester has a parts store that gives you full access to the H-D catalog. Both the 2022 Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ and the 2022 Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight® are well supported, and since they both have minimalistic designs for the most part, they both serve as excellent blank canvases for customization. From an aesthetic standpoint, it really comes down to whether you prefer the more modern blacked-out look or the more traditional chrome-out aesthetic.

Request more Compare Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight® information

If you have any questions not covered by our Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ vs Harley-Davidson® Forty-Eight®, call us today or reach out to us via email. You can also shop Harley-Davidson® Shop of Rochester in person at your convenience or online anytime, and if you’d like to set up a test-ride, we can do that for you by phone or through the online scheduling tool on our website.