Cruisers
1998Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger
26 fields on record
The 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger is an accessible entry-level cruiser ideal for new and smaller-framed riders. Known for its low 27.1-inch seat height and manageable 220kg weight, this air-cooled V-twin delivers authentic cruiser styling with nimble handling. Its reputation rests on combining genuine Harley character with approachable performance and affordability.
- Capacity
- 883.0 ccm
- Engine
- V-Twin, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Dry weight
- 220.0 kg
- Seat height
- 688 mm
- Power
- 50.0 HP (36.8 kW)
What’s new for the 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger
vs the 1996| Spec | 1996 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 42.0 HP (30.9 kW) | 50.0 HP (36.8 kW) |
| Torque | 58.8 Nm (6.0 kgf-m or 43.4 ft.lbs) | 66.0 Nm (6.7 kgf-m or 48.7 ft.lbs) |
| Top speed | — | 150.0 km/h (93.2 mph) |
| Seat height | 680 mm (26.8 inches) | 688 mm (27.1 inches) |
| Fuel capacity | 8.50 litres (2.25 US gallons) | 12.50 litres (3.30 US gallons) |
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- It's built for relaxed, low-speed cruising and boulevard riding rather than outright performance or long-distance touring.
- Built for
- It has classic air-cooled V-twin cruiser charm, with a torquey, laid-back power delivery and unmistakable Harley thump.
- Not ideal for
- It's not the right bike for riders seeking high-speed thrills, aggressive cornering, or serious off-road capability.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Will it fit you?
Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to usReliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →51
out of 100Average
The Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 83.9% of the time, 0.8 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 51% of models.
This covers every year of the model.
Test records don't say which version a bike is, so this covers Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Standard / Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Hugger together.
83.9%Passed first time
7.5%Failed outright
8.6%Fixed during test
11,000Typical miles
641Tests
Pass rate by miles ridden
All years of this model.
Against its rivals · ranks 5 of 6
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 883 Standard | 81 Excellent | 155 |
| 2 | Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 883 Hugger | 81 Excellent | 155 |
| 3 | Kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan | 66 Good | 6,084 |
| 4 | Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 | 62 Good | 939 |
| 5 | Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger | 51 Average | 641 |
| 6 | Suzuki VS 800 Intruder | 48 Average | 1,753 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 883.0 ccm
- Power
- 50.0 HP (36.8 kW)
- Torque
- 66.0 Nm (6.7 kgf-m)
- Engine type
- V-Twin, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.2273 HP/kg (dry)
- Bore x stroke
- 76.2 x 96.8 mm
- Cooling system
- Air
- Fuel system
- Carburettor
- Starting
- Electric
- Valves per cylinder
- 2
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Belt
Performance
- Top speed
- 150.0 km/h (93.2 mph)
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1498 mm
- Seat height
- 688 mm
- Dry weight
- 220.0 kg
- Wet weight
- 235.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 12.50 litres
Chassis & suspension
- Front wheel travel
- 104 mm
- Rear wheel travel
- 54 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Single disc
- Front brakes diameter
- 292 mm
- Rear brakes
- Single disc
- Rear brakes diameter
- 292 mm
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 883 cc | 883 cc | 883 cc | 883 cc | 883 cc |
| Dry weight | 217 kg | 220 kg | 220 kg | 220 kg | 220 kg |
| Seat height | 660 mm | 660 mm | 680 mm | 680 mm | 688 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 8.5 L | 8.5 L | 8.5 L | 8.5 L | 12.5 L |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger?
The 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger has a Capacity of 883.0 ccm (53.88 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger have?
The 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger has a Power of 50.0 HP (36.8 kW).
How many gears does the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger have?
The 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger has a Gearbox of 5-speed.
What is the torque of the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger?
The 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger has a Torque of 66.0 Nm (6.7 kgf-m or 48.7 ft.lbs).
How much does the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger weigh?
The 1998 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Hugger has a Dry weight of 220.0 kg (485.0 pounds).
Shop this bike
Affiliate linksWe may earn a commission from qualifying eBay or Amazon purchases made through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Similar bikes
Same category, weighted similarity
1998 Harley-Davidson XL883C Sportster Custom
883 cc · 228 kg · 688 mm
1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Hugger
883 cc · 220 kg · 687 mm
1998 Suzuki VZ 800 Marauder
805 cc · 207 kg · 700 mm
1997 Suzuki VZ 800 Marauder
805 cc · 209 kg · 700 mm
2000 BMW R 850 C/r 850 C Avantgarde
848 cc · 239 kg · 740 mm
2001 BMW R 850 C Classic
848 cc · 256 kg · 740 mm
Please log in or register if you'd like to leave a comment.
Own one? Add it to My Garage and write an owner review with an Owner badge.