Just wondering how many miles do the 883 sportsters on average last before a needed a total rebuild?

 

As a guess for my '96 XL883, I expect to get 100,000 miles before I start thinking about engine work, after all it is an EVO.

This assumes that I don't do something stupid and keep good oil in it.

Oh this forum, there are several well past 100,000 and many in the 50,000 mark.

 

Even when your engine decides enough is enough it is fully rebuildable - and then again..... You'll be fine for life and be able to pass it on!

 

And when you do rebuild it.....throw a 1250 kit in it

 

10 or 20 miles... then they explode... galaxy note 7 style....

 

The Evolution engine should easily be good for 100,000 miles before engine work might be required. I have a friend with over 130K on his with no problems, and have heard as high as 280K without having to open the engine or heads. The EVO is a damn tank!

 

Mine...I replaced the 883 with the NHRA 1250 kit at 64,883 miles. The inside of the engine looked like it had just rolled off the factory floor. I still have it carefully packed away in my garage. I wouldn't hesitate to put the 883 engine back in and run it another 65,000 miles.

 

Besides the obvious cc's or CI, What is the difference between performance between the 1250 and the 1200 kits?

 

There is more than one answer to that! In converting an 883 by using a 1250 kit, a popular upgrade, the additional capacity also comes with an increase of CR, so we get two improvements for the cost of one. It is relatively cheap and provides a substantial increase in performance. Further gains can be had with new cams and head work.

An H-D 1200 conversion simply turns a stock 883 into a stock 1200, costs a lot of money, includes lots of parts (cylinders and heads, etc) and gives relatively little improvement in performance. There are SE stage kits which are better value for money and also tune the engine, for better non-stock performance.

Hope that helps a little!

 

The 883 produces 50 ft lbs of torque.
The 1200 conversion increases the torque to 70 Ft Lbs.
This is a 40 percent increase in Torque.

You will find the same percentage in HP gain.

If you also increase the compression (1250), you will notice an extra performance boost.

Tuning is very important, but regardless, you will feel the difference.

40 percent more Torque is significant.

ussoldier1984, let us know which way you go, if you decide to do a conversion.
There are many different kits and there are many different shops.
Choose carefully and you will be rewarded nicely.

If you are happy with the 883, there are benefits to being happy.
There are benefits to increasing the compression. Many consider the benefits, then they get the notion it is essential to being happy with their conversion. There is always the quest for more power, hence the Milwaukee eight.

It is often cheaper to sell what you have and move up to the next level.
But, if you have to rebuild, then invest wisely.
Others find the 883 quite adequate.