I have an 05 1200c. Mild cam job, jets and vance pipes. It's a blast to drive. Stoplight to stoplight that is. It's set up comfort wise for touring. But cruising at 70-80 seems like a chore for it.
I'm new to the whole belt drive. Have owned many bikes, but this is my first legit Harley. Anyone know how much of a pain or not it is to change the rear sprocket to something with a smaller final drive?

 

My 883 is fine at those speeds, even faster. The cheapest tuning aid known to makind is earplugs! If you are riding long days, in fact on any trip except short ones, you really should be using them. Your bike is fine, you are the weak link, where comfort is concerned! Try them, they cost pennies.

As for changing gearing, the rear pulley is not available in alternative sizes. The best place to change gearing is in the primary, where you can swap the crankshaft compensator sprocket, although that may also involve changing the chain. However none of that is necessary if you follow the suggestion above!

 

I have really nice bluetooth sound canceling eat buds. It's not the noise. Just a little concerned about being at such elevated rpm for 2-300 miles at a time.

 

My 04 1200C doesn't seem strained at all at 80. You could put an 883 transmission sprocket on one for faster acceleration, 1200 transmission sprocket is 30 teeth, 883 is 28. Lot of folks on this forum have mentioned putting 1200/1250 kits in their 883's and leaving the 28 tooth, but haven't heard of anyone changing a 30 to 28. Forget my 883's rpm at 70, but it's low enough to comfortably cruise at that speed, and a bit higher; my 883 has a tach.

 

Shrewd chap! As for your engine, it is built for it. Simple as that. If you chaps can't build bikes for your riding conditions it's time to give up all hope - your bike is fine, honest.