883 or 1200?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Acworth Ga.
883 or 1200?
Greetings,
My question is as follows: I am planning on purchasing a 2001 Sportster C, either as a back-up or flip it. The air cleaner stamp states 1200 but when I read the instruction in the owner’s manual on information about the VIN the VIN on the bike corresponds to an 883. Is their any other way to distinguish between an 883 and 1200? Besides the obvious engine size. I do not know enough about these bikes to tell them apart.
My question is as follows: I am planning on purchasing a 2001 Sportster C, either as a back-up or flip it. The air cleaner stamp states 1200 but when I read the instruction in the owner’s manual on information about the VIN the VIN on the bike corresponds to an 883. Is their any other way to distinguish between an 883 and 1200? Besides the obvious engine size. I do not know enough about these bikes to tell them apart.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
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Get the ENGINE VIN and check it. It could be that it was originally an 883 and has been bored to a 1200. Then the guy probably wanted to let everyone know it had a 1200 plant and put a 1200 cleaner cover on it. If your VIN says it's an 883, my guess is that is what happened though.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
My 1991 has the factory sticker on it, it's by the VIN, that states it is a 1200.
Also check the engine vin against the frame vin. See if there the same.
Also check the engine vin against the frame vin. See if there the same.
Last edited by JW1200; Feb 12, 2009 at 08:54 AM.
vin numbers will only tell you what it was when it came from the factory. and there is no external way, that I am aware of, to tell the difference. If the seller can't document a conversion I would think you should treat it as an 883. There is a big difference in performance but only riding it will tell you that, and only if you know how the 883 performs. Take it to MO and pull some of the long grades. If you can get better than 75 in 5th with bags and a T bag full it's probably a 1200. my 99 883 maxed around 70-75 there last summer
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46,845
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From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
vin numbers will only tell you what it was when it came from the factory. and there is no external way, that I am aware of, to tell the difference. If the seller can't document a conversion I would think you should treat it as an 883. There is a big difference in performance but only riding it will tell you that, and only if you know how the 883 performs. Take it to MO and pull some of the long grades. If you can get better than 75 in 5th with bags and a T bag full it's probably a 1200. my 99 883 maxed around 70-75 there last summer
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From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
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