Model year help?
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Stage II
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 2
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Model year help?
Was looking at this 2003 1200 on eBay.
been advertised as a 2003 but this to me does look like a later rubber mount model.
important to me for this to be a 2003 rigid mount for chopper reasons.
It could have been produced 2003 and not registered until early 2004? Im not too sure
any help would be appreciated
thanks alot
https://ebay.us/m/CGkjeI
been advertised as a 2003 but this to me does look like a later rubber mount model.
important to me for this to be a 2003 rigid mount for chopper reasons.
It could have been produced 2003 and not registered until early 2004? Im not too sure
any help would be appreciated
thanks alot
https://ebay.us/m/CGkjeI
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 1,940
From: Santa Ana, CA
You are correct. That is not a rigid mount sportster. The easiest signs to spot are the lifter blocks, primary cover, and oil tank. It's from a "collection" so they probably just made a mistake. Clean bike though.
Last edited by OCSpringer; Feb 19, 2026 at 06:13 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,966
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From: Scottish Highlands.
The solution is quite simple, the Harley-Davidson model year runs from September until August, so the rubber mounted 2004 Sportster models went on sale in September 2003 and ran until August 2004.
If the Sportster in question was first registered between September and December 2003, it is a 2004 MY, which has a 2003 licence plate.
If the Sportster in question was first registered between September and December 2003, it is a 2004 MY, which has a 2003 licence plate.
Last edited by Rob Roy's Revenge; Feb 19, 2026 at 07:24 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,233
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From: England
With the trim on the tank and the smart badges on the tank it looks very much like one of the anniversary years, 100 or 105.
My partner's 2008 was 105 year Custom but was painted orange and black.
Just looked and the exhaust also looks wrong for 2003, no interconnect in the headers.
My partner's 2008 was 105 year Custom but was painted orange and black.
Just looked and the exhaust also looks wrong for 2003, no interconnect in the headers.
Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Feb 20, 2026 at 03:27 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,966
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From: Scottish Highlands.
It is possible that the factory were using up the 100th anniversary badges for 2004 Sportsters built in late 2003, the rubber mounted fuel tanks front mounting point is 3/4" wider that the rigid mounted tank, 4-1/4" bolt on the 2004-up, 3-1/2" on the rigid.
It would not be possible to mount a 2003 tank on a 2004 Sportster without the tank being modified to make the mounting point wider.
If the factory didn't install the anniversary badging a previous owner may have done, that would be difficult due to the anniversary badges being a restricted sale item that can only be bought by divulging the VIN number of the Sportster so that H-D know it qualifies for them.
For some reason, I cannot view the Sportster in question to see it for myself.
It would not be possible to mount a 2003 tank on a 2004 Sportster without the tank being modified to make the mounting point wider.
If the factory didn't install the anniversary badging a previous owner may have done, that would be difficult due to the anniversary badges being a restricted sale item that can only be bought by divulging the VIN number of the Sportster so that H-D know it qualifies for them.
For some reason, I cannot view the Sportster in question to see it for myself.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 1,959
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I agree the bike is a 2004 model year. The 2003 Sportsters only had the peanut style tank and the larger tank came out on 2004.
Here's the link.
Originally Posted by Rob Roy's Revenge
For some reason, I cannot view the Sportster in question to see it for myself.
Last edited by RKZen; Feb 20, 2026 at 09:01 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: The Wasteland
It is possible that the factory were using up the 100th anniversary badges for 2004 Sportsters built in late 2003, the rubber mounted fuel tanks front mounting point is 3/4" wider that the rigid mounted tank, 4-1/4" bolt on the 2004-up, 3-1/2" on the rigid.
It would not be possible to mount a 2003 tank on a 2004 Sportster without the tank being modified to make the mounting point wider.
If the factory didn't install the anniversary badging a previous owner may have done, that would be difficult due to the anniversary badges being a restricted sale item that can only be bought by divulging the VIN number of the Sportster so that H-D know it qualifies for them.
For some reason, I cannot view the Sportster in question to see it for myself.
It would not be possible to mount a 2003 tank on a 2004 Sportster without the tank being modified to make the mounting point wider.
If the factory didn't install the anniversary badging a previous owner may have done, that would be difficult due to the anniversary badges being a restricted sale item that can only be bought by divulging the VIN number of the Sportster so that H-D know it qualifies for them.
For some reason, I cannot view the Sportster in question to see it for myself.
