Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: HD 883 or 1200

  1. #1
    Join Date
    19th November 2017 - 06:48
    Bike
    HD Sportster
    Location
    Wanganui
    Posts
    3

    HD 883 or 1200

    Hi team

    I've just picked up my first HD sportster 883 and am wrapped with it. Alas I'm after some advice... when I purchased the bike the previous owner told me it was fitted with a 1200 kit, is there any way apart from tearing the motor down, to tell if the bikes indeed been fitted with the kit, as again this is my 1st Harley and I don't have previous experience to compare power difference ect.

    Shes a '96 fitted with screaming eagle pipes + intake if that helps

    Please excuse the ignorance and any advice would be much appreciated

    Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    Join Date
    14th July 2006 - 21:39
    Bike
    2015, Ducati Streetfighter
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    9,081
    Blog Entries
    8
    The 883 goes like a 250. The 1200 much better.

    It's a good question though. Without popping a head to check piston size. If a HD shop fitted the kit they should have a record.

    Pop to your local HD dealer and ride a 883 - if yours has the 1200 you'll notice the difference.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    19th November 2017 - 06:48
    Bike
    HD Sportster
    Location
    Wanganui
    Posts
    3
    Cheers Allan appreciate the quick advice. Will definitely look at that

  4. #4
    Join Date
    26th January 2010 - 19:14
    Bike
    2012 Suzuki Boulevard M50
    Location
    North Shore, Auckland
    Posts
    987
    Doesn't the 1200 come with the larger tank, while the 883 comes with the peanut tank. Though that wouldn't differentiate a 883 that was converted.

    Just imagine a 1200 with the peanut tank, you'd be able to pass most things except a service station.
    There are two songs, "Stairway to Heaven" and "Highway to Hell" which I think give an indication of expected traffic flow

  5. #5
    Join Date
    5th January 2007 - 14:58
    Bike
    motocompo
    Location
    Buttfuck nowhere
    Posts
    5,156
    Quote Originally Posted by Old Steve View Post
    Doesn't the 1200 come with the larger tank, while the 883 comes with the peanut tank. Though that wouldn't differentiate a 883 that was converted.

    Just imagine a 1200 with the peanut tank, you'd be able to pass most things except a service station.
    Wow, that's cool, a bike that runs on peanuts. What will Harley think of next.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    28th September 2015 - 10:26
    Bike
    2015 Aprilia Tuono Factory
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    236
    Race against a 1972 Skoda, depending how far ahead the Skoda is will tell you whether it is a 1200 or 883.

    Cheers

  7. #7
    Join Date
    8th October 2006 - 16:33
    Bike
    big shiney pommy thing
    Location
    In the middle
    Posts
    247
    Hey Polo,as far as I'm aware you can't tell externally,I had a 1200 sporty and a mate had an 883 ,the 1200 was definitely gruntier but the 883 was sweet as well ,and both sound good so don't worry about performance to much as it isn't a Harley strong point.Either is a good motor and they are strong and will run forever ,enjoy it man

  8. #8
    Join Date
    19th November 2017 - 06:48
    Bike
    HD Sportster
    Location
    Wanganui
    Posts
    3
    Cheers for the replies, all valid points. Either way I'm happy with it. I'm happy cruzing at a hundy k's and she gets there no probs. The bike is rego'd as an 883 but picks up a lot better than my vs700, just wanted to know weather it was due to 183cc's or 500

  9. #9
    Join Date
    20th March 2006 - 22:22
    Bike
    ducati 900ss Harley XLCR café racer
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    595
    At 80 mph the difference is obvious

    1200 will accelerate nicely and the 883 won't

    And if you have a burette you could do a capacity check by measuring the volume of oil you could pour into the cylinder thru the spark plug hole

  10. #10
    Join Date
    6th July 2017 - 22:38
    Bike
    2015 Suzuki M109R
    Location
    Wanganui
    Posts
    80
    There is a rough way of telling by taking out a plug, put a thin stick in the cylinder and find bottom dead center, then using a stick poke it in till it touches the far side of the cylinder wall and the top of the piston, mark it where it comes out of the spark plug hole and measure the length. They will measure different but I cant remember the exact measurements.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •