It’s been four years since Harley-Davidson introduced the Iron 883 as part of its Dark Custom lineup, and the same timespan since I got one for a test ride and review. That bike is still one of my Top 10 fun bikes to ride. There’s something very no bullshit about it.

At the time, it seemed that Sportsters were still H-D’s dirty little secret — one viewed by the Harley faithful as the Motor Co.’s “little bike” or “girl’s bike.” Since then, you can’t hit the So Cal highways and byways without spotting a Sporty blasting down the lanes, rider decked out in the proper uniform — open-face helmet, T-shirt or T-shirt/flannel combo, skinny Levis and Converse/Vans/work boots/hipster boots.

This is great as the Sportster, in all of its incarnations, is an absolute blast to ride. Lightweight and zippy (well, zippy enough). At one time in my two-wheeled life, I owned an Ironhead Sportster (hey, there it is to the left) that sat more often than it ran, but damn did it look good sitting there. The problem was electrical gremlins (after a homegrown rewiring job) but it also liked to shed parts while going down the road. Take the generator for instance. No really, take it, because it’s laying back there in the No. 1 lane on Artesia Blvd. in Torrance. Bolt holes in the case stripped out easily and had to to Heli-Coil or filled and retapped. Damn do I miss that bike.

Well the new generation of Sportsters has found a new generation of fans and that’s pretty cool. In honor of these little runabouts, I’m resurrecting a review I did back in 2009 on the Iron 883.