Start your Sportster 1200/883
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 265
Likes: 96
From: RSA
Start your Sportster 1200/883
For long I have experienced the frustration of a "hesitation" when starting the 1200 Sportster having a good 6 months old battery - it acted as if the compression was too high. I checked everything - the bike charged the battery correctly etc. etc. I fitted a new OEM battery, charged it with my "bike charger" and it seemed a bit better. However after not riding about 8 days or so the "hesitation" was back... Again I charged the battery with my *brand name bike charger* and it started but still not immediately - still the hint of hesitation... I then hooked up my car battery charger (Max 6 Amp) and left it on for 5 hours (this charger also limits the amps as the battery gets fuller). I include a video of the startup now - I think this is how it must startup!. The so called bike charger is just crap! I'd like to hear/see your Sportster Startup too please!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
Only charge small AGM bike batteries on the low milliamperage maintenance chargers.
You can't pack in more CCA then the maintenance charger does.
We have had a multitude of threads on the Sportster's battery size and starter.
Most do it.
Keep your bike well tuned, use the proper grade lubrication in it.
Just leave in on the maintenance charger. (0.75 milamp one)
Remember however occasionally after a few years to pull and have the charged battery load tested.
Only way to be safe since it is hard to know a battery is wearing out if it's alway on the maintenance charger.
Batteries kept that way have a tendency to get the last start leaving home.
You can't pack in more CCA then the maintenance charger does.
We have had a multitude of threads on the Sportster's battery size and starter.
Most do it.
Keep your bike well tuned, use the proper grade lubrication in it.
Just leave in on the maintenance charger. (0.75 milamp one)
Remember however occasionally after a few years to pull and have the charged battery load tested.
Only way to be safe since it is hard to know a battery is wearing out if it's alway on the maintenance charger.
Batteries kept that way have a tendency to get the last start leaving home.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 21, 2026 at 04:52 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 1,940
From: Santa Ana, CA
A lot of it does come down to compression and what not. I had that same hesitation when starting. I rebuilt the top end and added compression releases to the heads and with the compression release open it was an instant (and I mean instant) startup every time. Swapped motors, no compression releases anymore, all new starter, electrical, battery and hesitation is there. Frankly, it always starts so the hesitation does not bother me.
Last edited by OCSpringer; May 21, 2026 at 05:01 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,554
Likes: 3,978
From: San Diego, CA
Have you tried to restart the bike after a long ride, like a half hour to an hour? Your charging system should have time to fully charge the battery. Does it hesitate then?
My bike hesitates too, but I have a LFP battery. They supposedly need one stab of the starter button to "wake up" and the second push of the button turns over fine. Either way, my battery is almost six years old and has acted the same way since new. Like OC says, it's just the nature of the beast. I have a higher compression 1250 as well.
John
My bike hesitates too, but I have a LFP battery. They supposedly need one stab of the starter button to "wake up" and the second push of the button turns over fine. Either way, my battery is almost six years old and has acted the same way since new. Like OC says, it's just the nature of the beast. I have a higher compression 1250 as well.
John
Last edited by John Harper; May 21, 2026 at 05:02 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 519
Likes: 399
From: So Western Ohio
My 1200 has done this from day 1. I put a higher capacity battery in it, still does it. I have some custom made, high quality battery cables waiting to be installed, but I think it's just the nature of the beast. With the plugs out up on a jack in 4th gear, it takes a grunt on the rear wheel to turn the engine through. The valve springs are heavy and the fitment is tight. I guess.
It's a Sportster thing. I don't think the 883s have the problem. I could be wrong.
It's a Sportster thing. I don't think the 883s have the problem. I could be wrong.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
Have you tried to restart the bike after a long ride, like a half hour to an hour? Your charging system should have time to fully charge the battery. Does it hesitate then?
My bike hesitates too, but I have a LFP battery. They supposedly need one stab of the starter button to "wake up" and the second push of the button turns over fine. Either way, my battery is almost six years old and has acted the same way since new. Like OC says, it's just the nature of the beast. I have a higher compression 1250 as well.
John
My bike hesitates too, but I have a LFP battery. They supposedly need one stab of the starter button to "wake up" and the second push of the button turns over fine. Either way, my battery is almost six years old and has acted the same way since new. Like OC says, it's just the nature of the beast. I have a higher compression 1250 as well.
John
Had my 2004 Softail 20 years. Now it was FI with the open loop, no oxygen sensors. Aways started and ran well from below 32F to 95F. Stock except a SE open box oil wet filter.
With a good battery, rarely was there a hesitation unless you turned it off from a hot fast run and fired it back up like after a gas stop.
It would hesitation till it clear one cylinder probably and then firing on both cylinders took the load off the starter.
As the battery wore out of course, hesitation became way more noticeable and sometimes banged the starter with a kick back. I knew immediately it was new battery time.
Another trait was you didn't dare hit the starter and let up.
On the FI, if you did that, you had to crank the second time holding the throttle open slightly to let air clear it or it would not start.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 21, 2026 at 07:27 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 910
Likes: 647
From: west coast
I've gotten used to the hesitation too, it now seems normal. Is your bike a 2004+ rubber mount? If so that is part of the reason, HD went to a smaller battery on those, there was less room due to the much stouter frame required when the engine was no longer a stressed member. The earlier solid mount bikes used a much bigger battery, same as what Dynas used back in the day..
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,083
Likes: 1,959
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
My 2011 Custom also had this "hesitation". The OEM battery has only 200 CCA, and I think this contributes to that hesitation. I've since changed to a lithium with more rated CCA about 5 years ago and it starts right up.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 2,381
From: Florida
Let these guys blab on and on, but without doubt the best thing I ever did for my old Sportster was put in a Anti-gravity lithium battery. Pricey, but never again did I have a moment's hesitation.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,143
Likes: 12,707
From: South Carolina
My `89 Softail has done this since new.
I replaced the original starter with a higher kw model, but really no change.
I also changed the clutch shell ring gear and pinion gear from 9/66 to 10/84, still didn`t cure it.
Once it gets past the initial compression stroke it cranks over fine and starts quickly, I just don`t like that initial starter stall at the first compression stroke.
I figure that the 180psi cold cranking pressure was a struggle for the starter.
I had compression releases installed in the heads, in process of reassembly now.
We will see...
I replaced the original starter with a higher kw model, but really no change.
I also changed the clutch shell ring gear and pinion gear from 9/66 to 10/84, still didn`t cure it.
Once it gets past the initial compression stroke it cranks over fine and starts quickly, I just don`t like that initial starter stall at the first compression stroke.
I figure that the 180psi cold cranking pressure was a struggle for the starter.
I had compression releases installed in the heads, in process of reassembly now.
We will see...
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Yesterday at 08:28 AM.