883-1200 head differences

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Nov 2, 2012 | 06:06 AM

mrfikser

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Joined: Oct 2009

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From: Maryland near DC

883-1200 head differences

I have a '00 883 and would like to know what is the differences
between a 883 head and a 1200 head...I am considering doing the 1200 kit and want to know why the pistons are different for the kits and straight 1200 pistons when using the original 883 heads..or are they different??

Nov 2, 2012 | 07:19 AM

1984_FXRT

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 533

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From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfikser

The two biggest differences are that the 1200 heads have a larger combustion chamber, and slightly larger valves. The reason for the different pistons is that the 883-1200 conversion pistons have a "dish" in the top to maintain a "reasonable" compression ratio.

If you squeezed the extra volume created by the .5" overbore into the 883 chamber size, you'd end up w/a compression ratio too high for street gas, stock ignition and stock cams.

Nov 2, 2012 | 08:10 AM

Scuba10jdl

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Joined: Aug 2009

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XL Heads This article from Hammer Performance explains it in great detail with pictures. You'll know all there is to know about the heads.

Nov 2, 2012 | 08:11 AM

mrfikser

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From: Maryland near DC

are the 1200 heads the same for all the sportster evo engines including solid and rubber mount??...and is it worth buying the 1200 heads??

Nov 2, 2012 | 08:42 AM

baka1969

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Joined: Jan 2012

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From: NE Philly

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfikser

are the 1200 heads the same for all the sportster evo engines including solid and rubber mount??...and is it worth buying the 1200 heads??

If you click the link Scuba10 posted you'll have all your answers.

Nov 2, 2012 | 11:56 AM

mrfikser

Thread Starter

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2009

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From: Maryland near DC

thanks scuba...you posted at the same time as I was asking the second question...That site has all my needed info....

Nov 2, 2012 | 08:18 PM

Dual-Linkerts

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Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 393

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From: Southern Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba10jdl

XL Heads This article from Hammer Performance explains it in great detail with pictures. You'll know all there is to know about the heads.

Excellent article Scuba

Thanks!

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Nov 3, 2012 | 06:49 AM

grbrown

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Joined: Jun 2007

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From: Bedford UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfikser

are the 1200 heads the same for all the sportster evo engines including solid and rubber mount??...and is it worth buying the 1200 heads??

Take a look a NRHS's website, where they have performance graphs for their 1250 conversion. You will see that they give a substantial increase in performance through the rev range most of us ride in. Different stages of head porting really only improve performance in the higher rev range. Their ported 883 heads will flow better than stock 1200 heads.

Unless you expect to run into the top end of the rev range regularly, you may not need either ported 883 heads, or stock 1200 heads! You could save your cash for gas.....