Harley-Davidson XL 53C Sportster Custom 53 Specs (Top Speed | Horsepower | Weight)

The Harley-Davidson XL 53C Sportster Custom 53 motorcycle specifications include a 883 cc (53.88 cu in) engine and a listed weight of 245 kg (540.1 lb).

Key specifications

2002-2003Model years
883 ccDisplacement
67.0 Nm @ 4,400 rpmTorque
245 kgDry weight
700 mmSeat height
12.5 LFuel tank
1,510 mmWheelbase
159 mmGround clearance
Model years covered
20022003

Year-specific specification changes

No material specification changes from the 2002 baseline were found in the available data.

How the Harley-Davidson XL 53C Sportster Custom 53 compares

This compares the motorcycle with all Harley-Davidson models in this specifications database. The blue marker is this model and the grey line is the Harley-Davidson database average.

Displacement883 cc
Low 165 ccAverage 1,275 ccHigh 1,868 cc

About 31% lower than the Harley-Davidson database average. Around the 20th percentile across Harley-Davidson models.

Seat height700 mm
Low 622 mmAverage 689 mmHigh 780 mm

Very close to the Harley-Davidson database average. Around the 71st percentile across Harley-Davidson models.

Fuel capacity12.5 L
Low 7.9 LAverage 17 LHigh 22.7 L

About 26% smaller than the Harley-Davidson database average. Around the 17th percentile across Harley-Davidson models.

This model Harley-Davidson database average

Harley-Davidson database percentile rankings

Percentiles show where this motorcycle sits across the Harley-Davidson specifications database. They are descriptive database rankings, not performance ratings.

Displacement20th

883 cc — larger displacement than about 20% of Harley-Davidson models.

Seat height71st

700 mm — taller than about 71% of Harley-Davidson models.

Fuel capacity17th

12.5 L — larger than about 17% of Harley-Davidson fuel tanks in this database.

Dimensions compared with Harley-Davidson average

Each measurement is compared with the average value across Harley-Davidson models where that dimension is available.

Overall length2,245 mm
This bike

2,245

Harley-Davidson avg

2,376

6% below average.

Wheelbase1,510 mm
This bike

1,510

Harley-Davidson avg

1,599

6% below average.

Seat height700 mm
This bike

700

Harley-Davidson avg

689

Close to average.

Ground clearance159 mm
This bike

159

Harley-Davidson avg

128

24% above average.

Mechanical overview

Engine layout snapshot

V2, four-stroke • 883 cc • Air cooled
Chassis snapshot

Wheelbase 1,510 mmSeat 700 mmClearance 159 mm
Belt (final drive)

Additional useful specifications

Bore/stroke ratio 0.79:1 (Undersquare)

Engine specifications

Engine type V2, four-stroke
Displacement 883 cc (53.88 cu in)
Torque 67.0 Nm (6.8 kgf-m or 49.4 ft.lbs) @ 4,400 rpm
Bore × stroke 76.2 x 96.8 mm (3.0 x 3.8 inches)
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Cooling system Air
Fuel system Carburettor

Transmission and drivetrain

Final drive Belt (final drive)

Brakes, wheels and tires

Front brakes Single disc
Rear brakes Single disc

Dimensions and weight

Dry weight 245 kg (540.1 lb)
Seat height 700 mm (27.6 inches)
Overall length 2,245 mm (88.4 inches)
Wheelbase 1,510 mm (59.4 inches)
Ground clearance 159 mm (6.3 inches)

Fuel and emissions

Fuel capacity 12.50 L (3.30 US gal)
Reserve fuel capacity 1.90 L (0.50 US gal)

Disclaimer: Specifications may vary by market, trim, production date and optional equipment, and scraped or historical data can contain errors. Comparison and percentile values are calculated from Harley-Davidson models in this specifications database. Always double-check important specifications against the motorcycle owner’s/service manual and official Harley-Davidson information before relying on them. Visit the official Harley-Davidson website.