So I've been searching for a while to see if there's anyway to tell if an 883 has the 1200 conversion done other than to pull the engine apart and measure the piston, preferably an easier way? Reason is the '99 Sportster Custom I recently bought and am fixing up at the moment, the guy I bought it from said the guy he bought it from said it has the 1200 conversion done to it. I would like to confirm since it has the SE intake and I'd like to upgrade the exhaust ( or at least take off the mufflers and stick some BCT Thunder baffles in the pipes for the time being) so I need to order a jet kit and would like to get the correct one. Also where are good places online to get carb jet kits?

Thanks for any help guys.

Edit: Oh it has 2 gauges, RPM and speedo where as I see most other sporties with just speedo. Is this normal for the year bike or is it something the original owner did and might be indicative that it indeed has the 1200 conversion?

 

Unless the tach was added, you probably have an 'R' model (Roadster) if you have ridden both a 1200 and an 883, you can tell the difference easily. I always thought my 883 was gutsy until I got my 1200N. Now i feel like I should be wearing spurs on my boots to get the 883 moving.

Another way to tell is to check the displacement or volume through the spark plug hole. I don't remember the procedure, it is posted on the forum here somewhere.

 

I did a VIN check on this site http://www.bigboyzheadporting.com/vin.htm and this is what it tells me: Model - XLH C53 Custom, Engine Size - 883cc XLEVO. So not sure about the Roadster part. I'm new to Harleys and have never ridden one, this is my first Harley and I now have the bike running but can't go on the road yet since it needs new tires and is not licensed at the moment. The bike has been sitting for 4 years so I got it cheap and couldn't pass it up. The plan is to turn it into a bobber style or similar look to the nightster so will be cutting the rear fender and painting over most of the bike.

About the displacement through the park plug hole, do you mean a compression test? If so I'll have to research for what's the difference between the 2. Thanks for the help.

 

Why not go ahead & pull the heads to see what ya got? Then replace the gaskets with thinner ones to up the compression a bit.

 

More work than I'd like to do and the less the better, I know, I'm a lazy bastard lol or is there a jet kit out there that'll cover both the 883 and 1200 for when I do the intake and exhaust?

 

If it is a Custom, the riser and bar clamp have been changed. What size is the front wheel? Custom has 21 inch spoked wheel. There was something about lowering the piston to lowest point then filling the chamber with a light oil or something, measuring as you pour it in. The amount it takes will tell you what volume you have in the cylinder, if it takes around 600 cc, then you have a 1200.

 

Go find someone riding a stock 883 or a stock 1200,,
If you Blow away the 883 and or keep up with the 1200 you'll know,,
You dont have to drag race and risk a ticket,,
Get out In the open on the superslab and do a 5th gear full throttle
roll on from 55 to 75 mph...
The 1200 will spank the 883,,,

 

It does have high risers with chrome drag bar, and all the HD covers in the front for the risers, may even be a bar with the high risers in one piece. Not sure until I get to pulling that all off. Also I checked the jugs and it is stamped 883 so I have my doubts that it is a1200 now, maybe the guy I bought it from misunderstood the original owner when he was buying it - that is a possibility as he had an indian accent.

What are my choices for jet kits, any that cover both 883 and 1200?

I'll try to post some pics of the bike as it is now so y'all can see how it is now.

 

And here's pics...hopefully this works... Take it easy on how it looks/shape it's in, I got it cheap ($1000) as a fixer upper to make it look how I want it to. Anyway here goes...

 

Nice bike for a grand regardless of how many CC's it is.