HD 883 or 1200

[Polo84]

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

[AllanB]

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.

[Polo84]

Cheers Allan appreciate the quick advice. Will definitely look at that

[Old Steve]

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.

[sidecar bob]

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.

[Cosmik de Bris]

Race against a 1972 Skoda, depending how far ahead the Skoda is will tell you whether it is a 1200 or 883.

Cheers

[240]

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

[Polo84]

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

[popelli]

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

[Dak S83]

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.