My DIY 1250 conversion thread: EFI version
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
So I retarded the timing of both my clinders by 5 at the 1000rpm/0 throttle position and it seems to have made a big difference. Went for 2 rides today did some errands and extra stops and the bike only hesitated when starting 3 times out of about 20. Adjusting the timing was so easy and I am SO glad that I am using the SEPST.
The SEPST allows me to fine tune every part of my ECM. It is so worth the $500 I paid for the cables, SEPST and software. I also keep doing Smart tune runs while I am breaking it in and it has been running better and better each time I take it out. I am now 300 miles into my break in.
It may sound intimidating to be tuning your own bike if you have no experience but I had no experience and it is not hard. I spent a few nights reading the manual, learning about the different aspects of tuning so I now understand what is happening, but it's the software that does all the work.
The SEPST allows me to fine tune every part of my ECM. It is so worth the $500 I paid for the cables, SEPST and software. I also keep doing Smart tune runs while I am breaking it in and it has been running better and better each time I take it out. I am now 300 miles into my break in.
It may sound intimidating to be tuning your own bike if you have no experience but I had no experience and it is not hard. I spent a few nights reading the manual, learning about the different aspects of tuning so I now understand what is happening, but it's the software that does all the work.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
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Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
Thanks Grbrown!
My knowledge is quite limited but you are right, I am learning. Thanks to people on here, especially Dan at NRHS, I am getting some good information. I never would have known about adjusting the timing without someone telling me, but like I said in an earlier post, the SEPST makes it possible to do these adjustments easily.
My knowledge is quite limited but you are right, I am learning. Thanks to people on here, especially Dan at NRHS, I am getting some good information. I never would have known about adjusting the timing without someone telling me, but like I said in an earlier post, the SEPST makes it possible to do these adjustments easily.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
also I would like to add that I went shopping for synthetic oil for my upcoming oil change at the 500 mile mark. I wanted to use Amsoil but the price up here is crazy. Here were the prices per liter (quart) that I found up here where I live:
Amsoil 20w50 $21
Lucas 20w50 $11
royal purple 20w50 $13
the amsoil is just too expensive. I think I will go with one of the others listed.
Amsoil 20w50 $21
Lucas 20w50 $11
royal purple 20w50 $13
the amsoil is just too expensive. I think I will go with one of the others listed.
not sure if they have a Cycle Gear up in your area but I recently did my oil change and they have a promo going on Mobile1. Buy 5 quarts and get a $12 rebate. So it's like buying 4 and getting one free... you just have to wait for a check in the mail.
http://www.cyclegear.com/_static/web...orm_021612.pdf
Mobile 1 20w50 $12.99 each (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product...oil/web1004558)
good job on your write up and thanks for all the pictures that you included, they're great and very helpful!! I originally was going to buy an older 883 and do the conversion kit but found a great deal on a 1200 that I couldn't pass up. Since then I've been contemplating for sometime on selling my 1200 for a profit and get an 883 and to do the conversion. your build makes me want to do it even more! lol
Cheers!
http://www.cyclegear.com/_static/web...orm_021612.pdf
Mobile 1 20w50 $12.99 each (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product...oil/web1004558)
good job on your write up and thanks for all the pictures that you included, they're great and very helpful!! I originally was going to buy an older 883 and do the conversion kit but found a great deal on a 1200 that I couldn't pass up. Since then I've been contemplating for sometime on selling my 1200 for a profit and get an 883 and to do the conversion. your build makes me want to do it even more! lol
Cheers!
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
I really enjoyed doing the build it was a lot of fun. the main point is that it saved me about $1000 which would have been the extra cost if I had paid the dealer to do it for me. Went for 2 rides today and it just seems to get smoother and smoother. 600km into my 800 km breakin.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
I got to 420 miles of my engine break in earlier today so I decided it was time to open it up a bit. The NRHS general instruction sheet says once you get to 400-500 miles feel free to wick it up. I think I have been doing a very good break in. I have been careful not to lug the engine but also careful not to go over 3200 rpm. I have been varying the speed and rpms a lot, never letting the rpms sit steady for more than a minute or two.
I went home, hooked up my SEPST, put it into record mode and hit the road for about 30 minutes. I didn't go too crazy but the bike ran really well, pulled really well, and the engine is smooth, well, as smooth as a 1200 Harley engine gets. I do love the feel of a vibrating Harley engine.
I looked at the data from my tuning run and my rpms peaked out a couple of times about 5000 but most of the time I was running in the 3400-4500 range.
I am now at 440 miles on the new engine. I am going to run it to about 550 miles then I will change the oil and start to really open the throttle.
I went home, hooked up my SEPST, put it into record mode and hit the road for about 30 minutes. I didn't go too crazy but the bike ran really well, pulled really well, and the engine is smooth, well, as smooth as a 1200 Harley engine gets. I do love the feel of a vibrating Harley engine.
I looked at the data from my tuning run and my rpms peaked out a couple of times about 5000 but most of the time I was running in the 3400-4500 range.
I am now at 440 miles on the new engine. I am going to run it to about 550 miles then I will change the oil and start to really open the throttle.
Mich, loving this thread. How's the break in so far? Have you been able to really open up the throttle yet?
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
The weather here has sucked so I have only been out a few times lately. I am just hitting 500 miles and have opened it up a bit 2 times. I would say that i have been maxing out about 5000 rpm at the most but the bike is running awesome. I am going to continue smart tuning with the sepst, but honestly, we don't have any big freeways here and it is going to be tough to get the upper rpm throttle positions over 3rd gear. I am changing the oil this weekend and then I will start to ride more aggressively. Definately a lot more power for sure. I have owned several japanese 750s so I am used to higher horsepower and I notice the lack of HP compared to that but with this build the torque is so nice, lots of pull. I am definately enjoying it, it was well worth the money spent. I think next winter i will upgrade heads and cams and will document that change the same way.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 17
From: victoria bc
Just came back from a ride. all I can say to anyone thinking of doing this conversion, don't hesitate just do it. You won't be sorry. So much low end pull, it's hard to wipe the grin off my face when I ride. The 883 is ok but it really can't be compared to the 1250, it really is like a totally different bike. Even with stock heads it flies.