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Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 05:28 PM
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Default 883 or 1200
I posted this yesterday on the newbie board. I was wondering if there was a not so evasive way of finding out if your 883 has a 1200 conversion. I know you can measure the cylinders but that requires taking the heads off. I was wanting to know if there is another way. I am getting the bike sat. from relatives and it used to be my uncles and since he is not there anymore no one knows much about it. I was thinking one option would be taking the plugs out and looking for reverse domed pistons but I am not familiar with the engines and from what I read there are several different ways to do the conversion so I don't know if this would give me an accurate answer. Any ideas would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Chirs
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 05:44 PM
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You could ride it

If it goes, its a 1200
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 05:58 PM
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LOL! or you could have it dynoed. If its in the 40's it's an 883 and if its in the high 60's or 70's its a 1200. This also gives you a good baseline if you want to do future mods.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 06:20 PM
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Both goodd ways to find out, you might get lucky with a vin number search also. Any work done at a dealer will be logged under that number.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 07:22 PM
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I'm looking in my manual right now, there is a VIN number map.

The number should go like:

1 HD 1 CV 3 ...

The "3" in that sequence denotes which engine is present. 2 = 883cc, 3 = 1200cc. (In this case the 1200cc)
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by EricM
LOL! or you could have it dynoed. If its in the 40's it's an 883 and if its in the high 60's or 70's its a 1200. This also gives you a good baseline if you want to do future mods.
I agree with Eric.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 05:01 AM
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Race a know 1200, if you keep up it's a 1200.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 06:42 AM
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Remove the rear plug, use a dowel about 1/4 inch diameter, 3 or 4 inches long, First make sure the piston is bottomed out then measure the distance or mark the dowel at the top of the head with the dowel inserted into the plug hole, resting on the piston. Bump the starter till the poston tops out then measure or mark the dowel again. Hence stroke should be different measurement on a 1200 coversion then an 883 due to length of the piston from its connector pin to the top.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 06:46 AM
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The stroke will still be 3.81" no matter where you start or finish the measurement.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 09:55 AM
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ask a magic 8 ball.

really though, you should be able to tell by riding...
 
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