Harley Davidson XL883N Sportster Iron 2018 Service Manual

The Iron 883 is Harley’s stripped-down, blacked-out entry into the Sportster line, introduced in 2009 and unchanged for 2018. It has a black engine, black exhaust headers and mufflers and black 9-spoke cast aluminum wheels with machined highlights. A lowered front and rear suspension with a low, narrow solo seat, just 25.7 inches high, provides comfort and confidence for riders of all sizes and experience. Reviewers note that for only a modest price surcharge the Iron “baddens up” the entry-level Sportster image, and it’s often viewed as a “starter Harley.” The 2018 US price was $8,999, with Hard Candy Custom finishes at $9,449.

The engine is the air-cooled, rubber-mounted 883cc Evolution V-twin, with a 76.2mm bore, a 96.8mm stroke and a 9:1 compression ratio, fed by Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection. Torque is 53.8 lb-ft (73 Nm) at 3,750 rpm by the US J1349 method, or 68 Nm at 4,750 rpm by the European method. The gearbox is a 5-speed with a multi-plate wet clutch, a 34/57 chain primary drive and belt final drive, with ratios of 10.407, 7.436, 5.53, 4.583 and 3.93. Harley lists fuel economy of about 51 mpg.

The chassis has a 39mm fork with 3.6 inches of travel and twin coil-over emulsion rear shocks with preload adjustment and 1.6 inches of travel. Rake is 30 degrees with 4.6 inches (117mm) of trail on a 59.6-inch (1,515mm) wheelbase. Brakes are dual-piston calipers on a 300mm front disc and a 260mm rear disc, and tires are a Michelin Scorcher 100/90B19 57H at the front and a 150/80B16 77H at the rear. Lean angles are about 27 degrees to the right and 28 degrees to the left.

The bike is 86 inches (2,185mm) long, with 5.5 inches (140mm) of ground clearance. Seat height is 25.7 inches (654mm) laden and 29.9 inches (760mm) unladen. The tank holds 3.3 gallons (12.5 litres), and engine oil capacity is 2.8 quarts (2.6 litres) with the filter. Weight is 545 lbs (247 kg) as shipped and 564 lbs (256 kg) in running order.

This factory service manual covers the procedures, torque specs, and diagrams needed to keep a Sportster Iron 883 XL883N running the way it was built to.