Weight Reduction List
 

Hey everyone,

I recently got a 2002 Sportster 883 and I want to do some weight reduction and upgrades. I've read several weight reduction threads, but to be honest they weren't very helpful. I'm hoping for "part number x and it weighs 12 lbs less," not "it's a little lighter." On many other forums they have a designated thread that lists parts that were removed/upgraded and their exact weight. I'm hoping we can do the same with this thread to help everyone searching for this information in the future.

Let's start with some of the most common parts:

1. Front fender
2. Highway pegs
3. Passenger pegs
4. Belt guards
5. Stock shocks
6. Stock exhaust

Just getting the weight of these items would be great, but I'm hoping this thread will eventually become much more comprehensive.

get rid of the rider

I weigh 140 pounds, which is nearly the same thing lol

I went from 13-spoke mags to 9-spoke, 9spk rear was almost 3# lighter, total weight savings between 5-6lbs.

I got rid of my speedometer. I swear it picked up 5 mph. I would get a good scale and start weighing parts. It might get expensive after the simple stuff is done. Aluminum sprockets will make it rev a bit quicker. Magnesium wheels will lighten it up a bit too.

step 1: buy an sv650
step 2: .....
step 3: profit

That's too easy though. I've always been a car guy so I see the 883 as a fun sleeper project. It's probably smarter to just buy a bigger bike later, but honestly it doesn't currently seem worth it. It would cost me at least a few more thousand to upgrade to a Dyna, not to mention the 100% insurance cost increase. Or, for half that much I can upgrade the suspension, still have a comfortable ride, and be on a sub 500 pound 883 making V-Rod power.

Its smarter and cheaper. If you really want a sleeper pick up a 2003 883r and put a 2001-02 buell lightning motor in it. In high school I had a 1200 sportster and rode with mostly sportbikes. I got so fed up with the poor handling I picked up a buell. You can only do so much with a bike that's plain heavy for the power it's making.

I agree, but I think the Sportsters have more potential than people realize. Just for fun I checked the specs of a 2016 GSX-R600. They weigh 418 lbs wet and make 100 whp, so they only have a 75 lb advantage. Combine that with my body weight, and the fact that the 883 would make literally twice as much torque, and that's a recipe for impressive. I'm sure it would put a hurting on any crotch rocket up to 100 mph. That's good enough for me because I don't like jail or death.

75lbs is a lot more than most realize. I had a 470lb 100hp lightning and sportbikes would walk it. A skilled rider in the twisties could give them a run but once the road opened up the harley just falls on its face. It gets expensive to make a sportster really out handle a sport bike, if even possible.