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Your right up is great. If I had a place to do it, I would. I keep my Iron in a small shed and do all my work on my lawn. Not exactly the place to take an engine apart and put it back together.
Yup 1250 kit plus N4 cams with no head work. If your budget is under 2k fo same set up like me plus head work and that's all under 2k. For me head work is next, I really couldn't afford head work.
Only special purpose semis have an 18 speed
Most only have 8,10,13
On another note haha
I would keep your sporster and have it worked on
That smaller lighter frame is going to be a blast over a dyna(with the same or equal amount of power) to ride in my opinion
So, just jugs and pistons will give me a good boost. What would the total cost of parts be? Also, on average, how many hours of labor am I looking at for a shop to do it? Think I may test ride a dyna this week and see if it's worth all the extra money or if I should just stick with my Sporty and do the basic 1250 kit to start.
If you have everything you need ready to go you can easily do a 1250 conversion in a weekend. if nrhs puts the pistons in the heads for you it really is just a matter of removing gas tank, air cleaner, carb or throttle body, rocker covers and boxes, heads, pushrods and slide off the cylinders, pull off pistons then start reassembling it. make sure you have the harley manual for your model and year. you would save a ton of cash doing it yourself.
Took me 2 nights, about 4 hours each with plenty of beer breaks, and a brother's helping hands. He is also knowledgeable about internal combustion engines, and building them.
Last edited by SportyPig; Jun 3, 2012 at 03:20 PM.
Went and sat on a SB, WG, and Super Glide today. I'm going to probably demo the Street Bob. It doesn't feel as comfortable position wise as my Iron and it seems very wide. The 1250 kit is now the front runner. Going to see if I can twist my buddies arm who used to be a Harley Mechanic and see if he'll be willing to help me. Hopefully I can put the bike in his garage up on his lift and do it in a weekend. Thanks for everyone's help.
There are two more ways to gain speed. First, lose weight (no joke). Nubz is right when he talks about lighter frame weight. Racers constantly strive to reduce weight and maximize the power to weight ratio. Your sporty is more nimle than larger bikes which brings me to point two. Increase you riding skills. I love riding with the big boys. Yes, that 110" SE is going to pass me on the straights but, what's that, break lights galore. That's when I do my hard lean fly-by right through the crowd (I'm smiling when I do it). Yes, they'll catch me again on the straights but, "Oh look, more turns." Those big bikes are large, awkward, heavy, and overpowered. My 883 can pass 100mph with me sitting straight up in the wind. I make 112 if I lay out over the tank and kick my feet up over the rear fender (feels like flying). If all you're doing is red light hole shots from bar to bar or the money doesn't matter, go for the horsepower. Otherwise, work on cornering, control, and technique they can't match. If they buy you a beer, you'll tell 'em the secret to how your 883 can keep up: You're a better rider.
I know I can corner faster than the big bikes. Looking for more acceleration and more power at highway speeds in general. I think with a little more work on comfort and the 1250 kit I will be happier on longer rides. I know it will never be as comfortable as their couches are on the highway!
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