HARLEYS vibrate like an old tractor and Sportsters are girlie's bikes. Bet you've heard those comments - I've put in a good few miles on older Sporties and, yes, they did vibrate. I chose to treat that as part of the charm.

The new Sportster with a rubber-mounted engine doesn't vibrate and is definitely more charming - and a lot of fun.

Compared to the Big Twins the XL883 is compact, to say the least.

Sat on 19in front and 16in rear wheels, the seat height is a low 693mm, which makes it a perfect choice for riders that find other bikes a stretch. My wife found the 883 a perfect fit and more manageable than her own bike. Thankfully Christmas is a long way off.

That size has given it an undeserved reputation of being a girlie's bike, a slur on females and Sporties.

I felt perfectly at home on the bike - the riding position puts the rider in a more sporting stance, feet just behind the knees and body leant forwards to the narrow bars, a position that enabled me to remain comfortable at motorway speeds without a fairing. On a freezing cold day I had thought about wimping out with a quick blast, but the new Sportster proved so comfortable and entertaining that I kept it for two days and enjoyed it despite the occasional snow shower.

The most striking thing was that the vibes have gone, not reduced, gone - no blurring in the mirrors or tingles through the bars.

I've heard comments about the clutch being stiff, maybe it's my natural ruggedness but I found it light and complemented one of the best H-D gearboxes I've used.

Changes have been made to the frame. It's reported as being 24 per cent stiffer and I found it nimble enough to enjoy everything the engine has to offer through a variety of fast bends and swoopy roads.

Suspension is of the traditional swinging arm with forks layout and coped well with everything I encountered. Let's just say that spirited cornering is fun!

The 883 in the bike's name refers to the engine displacement, an engine that produces 42.8bhp and 41.5ft/lb of torque.

On the road a twist of the throttle brought a satisfyingly rapid response from the engine and the smoothness of the new engine meant I had to closely monitor the speedo even on the motorway.

This shows how deceptive the XL883 is, like a Jack Russell it doesn't do to under-estimate it because of its size.

The 883 Sportster starts at £4,995 which includes an unlimited mileage two-year warranty and a year's Harley Owners Group membership.

Test rides and further information from Dockgate 20. Call 023 8057 1200 or check their website www.magicgroup.us