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So I bought the 11 1200C. Travelled 250 miles to get it. The ride back was jarring. BAD rear shocks. But this is no tourer so for the round town milk and bread bike it will be fine. Seat wasn't bad for 5 hour ride. Actually I enjoyed the bike. Wasn't an Ultra or heritage But was a visceral feeling. Reminding me why I started riding motorcycles so long ago, The deal was pure wholesale ($6200 2011 3900 miles with $600 in accessories)so I really bought the deal over the bike and will wait a month before spending any significant coin on it.
That said I have some questions:
1. The bike has I believe Rush Slip ons and they are loud and the lower RPMs are peaky the bike tends to surge a bit. There is no air kit. So I ordered some 258s from DK Custom Thunder Torque hoping to quiet it down and get some low end torque and quit the bike a tad. I really don't want to buy a Tuner yet and do a stage I. Are Vieds easy to install? I used them on a RK and they worked well.
2. The rear shocks are set on five, for heavy loads. Will dialing them down help damping?
3. Has anyone installed the MOCO's Rear turn signal relocation kit? Does the rear tire have to come off to do so? I don;t want to ride with a back pack so I will add some bags.
4. the bike has the QR sideplates and back rest. how can that be converted to handle a set of bags? Should I go with no QR side plates?
Thanks. It's a fun bike. I was looking at the 1200Ts as well but could not wrap my head around a $12K Sportster. When I think I could build that bike for $2500 or less on top of the $6200 I paid for mine.
Last edited by TenMidgets; Mar 21, 2015 at 10:49 AM.
For the turn signals: I put HD's kit on my '06 1200C. Didn't care for the looks too much, but it made room for my bags. The tire did not need to come off, but you will want to jack up the bike a bit or the bolts currently holding the turn signals in will hit the tire on their way out. I don't know what wiring changes Harley may have made to the Sportsters since '06; I had to cut and solder my turn signal wires.
For the sideplates: Check these brackets out: http://www.leatherworksinc.com/leath...dlebags/SPT-R2
There's a version available that's compatible with the QR sideplates. The brackets are hardmounted to the bags, and the entire assembly can be pulled off whenever you want by a keyed release mechanism. When it's off, you can't tell it was even there; it looks very clean. The brackets are made by GreatBikeGear, whose turn signal kit I just used on my Dyna (looks way better than the Harley kit); the website I linked has some very high-quality saddlebags as well.
For the turn signals: I put HD's kit on my '06 1200C. Didn't care for the looks too much, but it made room for my bags. The tire did not need to come off, but you will want to jack up the bike a bit or the bolts currently holding the turn signals in will hit the tire on their way out. I don't know what wiring changes Harley may have made to the Sportsters since '06; I had to cut and solder my turn signal wires.
For the sideplates: Check these brackets out: http://www.leatherworksinc.com/leath...dlebags/SPT-R2
There's a version available that's compatible with the QR sideplates. The brackets are hardmounted to the bags, and the entire assembly can be pulled off whenever you want by a keyed release mechanism. When it's off, you can't tell it was even there; it looks very clean. The brackets are made by GreatBikeGear, whose turn signal kit I just used on my Dyna (looks way better than the Harley kit); the website I linked has some very high-quality saddlebags as well.
Thanks. Looks like a great solutions as I think looking at the kit, it has the extended hardware to replace Harleys.
I wonder looking at them if the bags have a large gap between the bike and the bags. s. I had US Saddle Bags and they held up well for 8 years on a Yamaha.
There is a gap. I don't have pictures of them on my old Sporty, but here are the ones I just put on the Dyna. I reckon the fit would look similar on your bike since the fenders are alike. And for good measure, there's also one of the turn signal kit. I chose black because I like the contrast between that and the chrome.
The answer to question #4 is longer bolts. I have the QR with Viking bags installed. Just had to get 4 inch bolts to make it all work.
XIED install is simple plug and play connectors. I recommend the VIEDs to give you a some adjustment options. Just a few dollars more then the standard XIEDs. Easy to dial in. Check the classified in both Sportster and Dyna sections.
Night Rider site will give you the correct application.
#2) The best thing that you can do is change out the rear shocks. I rode for 2 years on my 2012 1200c on stock shocks and upgraded them to air shocks from a touring bike over the winter and the ride is much much better. No adjusting of the stock shocks will do a lot to help with moderate bumps on the road. I paid $50 for a set.
#3) The rear turn signal kit does not require anything other than putting a hole in the fender to run the wiring to the back above the license plate. If you can put quick disconnect plugs on you bags I would suggest putting lights on them and not drilling your fender.
OP, unless you are extremely obese, or have a passenger on the back, there is no reason to have the springs preloaded to maximum setting. Does the bike even squat if you sit on it?
OP, unless you are extremely obese, or have a passenger on the back, there is no reason to have the springs preloaded to maximum setting. Does the bike even squat if you sit on it?
Glad you got the new addition home and enjoying the ride.
I have the stock shocks and I've dialed it to the softest setting. I'm about 150# on a good day, and that setting suits me fine for around town riding. Longer rides and the RK gets the saddle.
On the bags, you'll have to decide on that one as different brands have different detach kits. Look into the H-D saddlebag supports as an option, then you can have any soft leather bags you want.
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Some questions 1200C
