• The 883cc V-twin is the smallest of the Sportster engines produced since 1986.harley davidson - moteur image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
  
  The Sportster model motorcycles have been some of the most popular in the Harley-Davidson product line, having been produced continuously since 1957. The "883" designation refers to the capacity of the bike's V-twin engine, the 883 cubic-centimeter version being the smallest of the Sportster engines produced since 1986. Several small changes were made to the Sportster line in the 1995 model year.
  
  

Engine and Performance

• The 883-centimeter Sportster engine is a four-stroke engine with two cylinders in a V-type configuration. It has a 3-inch bore, a 3.81-inch stroke and a compression ratio of 9:1. It develops 42 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and produces 58.8 ft.-lbs. of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine is air cooled and features electronic ignition. The bike's top speed is approximately 92 mph, and it is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in eight seconds.
  
  

Drivetrain, Chassis, Suspension and Brakes

• Beginning in 1993, a belt drive replaced the chain drive on all Sportster models, and in 1991 a 5-speed transmission became standard. The bike has a double-cradle steel frame, cartridge front suspension and twin-shock rear suspension. Front and rear disk brakes are standard. Curb weight is 489 pounds, resulting in a power ratio of 6.34 pounds/horsepower.
  
  

New Features in 1995

• In 1995, a vacuum-activated petcock was added to all Sportster models, which required the ignition switch to be moved to the steering column. Also in this model year, an electronic speedometer replaced the mechanical speedometer used on earlier models. Retail prices for 1995 883 Sportsters ranged from $4,995 for the XLH model to $6,120 for the "Sportster Deluxe" model.