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Posted: 8/27/2016 9:07:21 PM EDT
Been riding a sport bike for years, but a buddy just bought an 883 iron, didn't have a license and needed someone to drive it home. I had a smile from ear to ear. If I get one, going to try and get an 07 or up for fuel injection, possibly and 08+ for the rubber mounted engine. Anything else I need to know? Yeah, I know I will probably get made fun of by "the real" Harley riders, but don't care
 ETA: Got an offer of a 1999 (?) Fatboy and have some questions. The owner claims this bike only has 6000miles on it, is that possible? I mean really? Is there anything specific to this year and model bike that I should be on the lookout for? Here are the pictures they sent me, can anyone decode what exactly was done by the receipts? My Harley-foo is limited: Owner states it is a 1999, but title and build paperwork state 2000?         |
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Posted: 8/27/2016 9:16:05 PM EDT
[#1]
Get a 1200 if you get a Sportster. You'll get tired of an 883 real quick.
My old 1200: 
A bike I'll never get rid of: 1983 XL 1000 
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Posted: 8/27/2016 9:21:09 PM EDT
[#2]
Yup, Your out of your mind.
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Posted: 8/27/2016 9:25:19 PM EDT
[#3]
The 883 is the way to go, you get the 10% shorter gearing in the primary and 3.5% at the front drive pulley. You can swap for a 1200 drive pulley to make it more friendly at highway speeds. If you regularly do 80+ for extended periods, I'd get a 1200 for the primary gearing alone and run an 883 drive pulley. You can also get 883's for next to nothing, which helps justify tossing the 883 jugs and order a Hammer Performance 1250 kit and cams of your choice and have about 100 HP vs. the 40 of the stock 883. The stock top end is heavy and cylinders are twisted / warped. All 07+ are EFI and all 05+ are rubber mounted. 07-08 has EFI under the seat which limits solo seat options. 09+ moved it to behing the rear jug. Plan on a $350-450 Dynojet PowerVision...also from Hammer. Also plan on replacing the fork springs and rear shocks. A superbrace really helps.
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Posted: 8/27/2016 9:56:00 PM EDT
[#4]
The answer is it depends...
Stock 883 you'll quickly get bored with how little power it has Stock 1200 you'll eventually get bored but you can probably ride it for a good long whiel 883 that you do a 1250 conversion (I prefer hammer performance as well) at the SMASH level or higher you'll probably enjoy the fuck out of that bike. I'm a big sportster fan, own a 93 that's been hopped up by hammer performance, but I wouldn't buy one made after 2003. If you don't want to get one that old then look at the Dyna's instead. They ride better and handle better than the current sportsters. Hard to believe but it's true. |
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Posted: 8/27/2016 10:02:22 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The answer is it depends... Stock 883 you'll quickly get bored with how little power it has Stock 1200 you'll eventually get bored but you can probably ride it for a good long whiel 883 that you do a 1250 conversion (I prefer hammer performance as well) at the SMASH level or higher you'll probably enjoy the fuck out of that bike. I'm a big sportster fan, own a 93 that's been hopped up by hammer performance, but I wouldn't buy one made after 2003. If you don't want to get one that old then look at the Dyna's instead. They ride better and handle better than the current sportsters. Hard to believe but it's true. |
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Posted: 8/27/2016 10:11:53 PM EDT
[#6]
Wrong move,
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Posted: 8/27/2016 10:23:26 PM EDT
[#7]
The 07 883 had 7 point injectors starting in 08 they swapped to 25 point injectors, and switched to a different full pump on all sportsters.
Personally would go a 10 or newer on a sportster. I owned an 08 883 til earlier this year. The relay/fuse box got redesigned for a reason after the 07-09 models. I carried a spare system relay after getting stranded twice. Water and road grime would get behind the system relay from those years and short it out. Sealed relay isn't something you can fix on the side of the road unless you have a spare. |
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Posted: 8/27/2016 10:30:03 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: why? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: The answer is it depends... Stock 883 you'll quickly get bored with how little power it has Stock 1200 you'll eventually get bored but you can probably ride it for a good long whiel 883 that you do a 1250 conversion (I prefer hammer performance as well) at the SMASH level or higher you'll probably enjoy the fuck out of that bike. I'm a big sportster fan, own a 93 that's been hopped up by hammer performance, but I wouldn't buy one made after 2003. If you don't want to get one that old then look at the Dyna's instead. They ride better and handle better than the current sportsters. Hard to believe but it's true. In a nutshell...
To me the only advantage that 04+ bikes have is the aftermarket support for parts is stupid (as in lots and lots of parts). With the Rigid Mount era bikes your options are pretty limited and the aftermarket guys really don't care to make stuff for them now since they're now at the youngest 13 years old and at the oldest 27 years old. So if you're a parts swapper then 04+ is what you want to look at. If you like to do more custom stuff then the older bikes are fine. I could go further into detail about it but that hits the main points really. I think the Dyna is the better buy for not too much more (can't recall which model but it's the cheaper ones) compared to the new sportsters. |
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Posted: 8/27/2016 10:30:38 PM EDT
[#9]
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Posted: 8/27/2016 10:31:40 PM EDT
[#10]
No.
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Posted: 8/27/2016 11:29:16 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The 883 is the way to go, you get the 10% shorter gearing in the primary and 3.5% at the front drive pulley. You can swap for a 1200 drive pulley to make it more friendly at highway speeds. If you regularly do 80+ for extended periods, I'd get a 1200 for the primary gearing alone and run an 883 drive pulley. You can also get 883's for next to nothing, which helps justify tossing the 883 jugs and order a Hammer Performance 1250 kit and cams of your choice and have about 100 HP vs. the 40 of the stock 883. The stock top end is heavy and cylinders are twisted / warped. All 07+ are EFI and all 05+ are rubber mounted. 07-08 has EFI under the seat which limits solo seat options. 09+ moved it to behing the rear jug. Plan on a $350-450 Dynojet PowerVision...also from Hammer. Also plan on replacing the fork springs and rear shocks. A superbrace really helps. My dad has a Nightster, if it is anything indicative of riding sportsters on the freeway then they universally ALL suck on the freeway. Yeah, you can do it, but they are really out of their element at freeway speeds. Across town or to the corner store, sure. Droning on the freeway? Fuck that noise. |
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Posted: 8/27/2016 11:43:57 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: My dad has a Nightster, if it is anything indicative of riding sportsters on the freeway then they universally ALL suck on the freeway. Yeah, you can do it, but they are really out of their element at freeway speeds. Across town or to the corner store, sure. Droning on the freeway? Fuck that noise. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: The 883 is the way to go, you get the 10% shorter gearing in the primary and 3.5% at the front drive pulley. You can swap for a 1200 drive pulley to make it more friendly at highway speeds. If you regularly do 80+ for extended periods, I'd get a 1200 for the primary gearing alone and run an 883 drive pulley. You can also get 883's for next to nothing, which helps justify tossing the 883 jugs and order a Hammer Performance 1250 kit and cams of your choice and have about 100 HP vs. the 40 of the stock 883. The stock top end is heavy and cylinders are twisted / warped. All 07+ are EFI and all 05+ are rubber mounted. 07-08 has EFI under the seat which limits solo seat options. 09+ moved it to behing the rear jug. Plan on a $350-450 Dynojet PowerVision...also from Hammer. Also plan on replacing the fork springs and rear shocks. A superbrace really helps. My dad has a Nightster, if it is anything indicative of riding sportsters on the freeway then they universally ALL suck on the freeway. Yeah, you can do it, but they are really out of their element at freeway speeds. Across town or to the corner store, sure. Droning on the freeway? Fuck that noise. Yeah they ain't great dedicated highway/freeway bikes that's for sure. Short jaunts (for me up to an hour) are fine but long trips can be pretty brutal if still stock. I always look for the mythical 6th gear if I'm on the highway with mine
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Posted: 8/28/2016 8:20:24 AM EDT
[#13]
They are fun bikes but I'd keep the gsxr.
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Posted: 8/28/2016 8:38:04 AM EDT
[#14]
I think you're nuts.
There are about a billion bikes in between. A billion. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 11:30:53 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
why? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The answer is it depends... Stock 883 you'll quickly get bored with how little power it has Stock 1200 you'll eventually get bored but you can probably ride it for a good long whiel 883 that you do a 1250 conversion (I prefer hammer performance as well) at the SMASH level or higher you'll probably enjoy the fuck out of that bike. I'm a big sportster fan, own a 93 that's been hopped up by hammer performance, but I wouldn't buy one made after 2003. If you don't want to get one that old then look at the Dyna's instead. They ride better and handle better than the current sportsters. Hard to believe but it's true. Seems like it wasn't till 2004 that the Sportsters got the much beefier crank pin and upgraded tranny. I run Drag Specialties motor mounts & Mil-Spec hardware in the rear. Also worth mentioning, upgraded valve seals around 07, upgraded oil pump around 06, drastically improved heads from 04+. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 11:31:38 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The 07 883 had 7 point injectors starting in 08 they swapped to 25 point injectors, and switched to a different full pump on all sportsters. Personally would go a 10 or newer on a sportster. I owned an 08 883 til earlier this year. The relay/fuse box got redesigned for a reason after the 07-09 models. I carried a spare system relay after getting stranded twice. Water and road grime would get behind the system relay from those years and short it out. Sealed relay isn't something you can fix on the side of the road unless you have a spare. Good point, it's best to pull all the fuses and relays and pack the fuse block with dielectric. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 11:38:35 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My dad has a Nightster, if it is anything indicative of riding sportsters on the freeway then they universally ALL suck on the freeway. Yeah, you can do it, but they are really out of their element at freeway speeds. Across town or to the corner store, sure. Droning on the freeway? Fuck that noise. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The 883 is the way to go, you get the 10% shorter gearing in the primary and 3.5% at the front drive pulley. You can swap for a 1200 drive pulley to make it more friendly at highway speeds. If you regularly do 80+ for extended periods, I'd get a 1200 for the primary gearing alone and run an 883 drive pulley. You can also get 883's for next to nothing, which helps justify tossing the 883 jugs and order a Hammer Performance 1250 kit and cams of your choice and have about 100 HP vs. the 40 of the stock 883. The stock top end is heavy and cylinders are twisted / warped. All 07+ are EFI and all 05+ are rubber mounted. 07-08 has EFI under the seat which limits solo seat options. 09+ moved it to behing the rear jug. Plan on a $350-450 Dynojet PowerVision...also from Hammer. Also plan on replacing the fork springs and rear shocks. A superbrace really helps. My dad has a Nightster, if it is anything indicative of riding sportsters on the freeway then they universally ALL suck on the freeway. Yeah, you can do it, but they are really out of their element at freeway speeds. Across town or to the corner store, sure. Droning on the freeway? Fuck that noise. This was my though exactly one the way home with it for the first time, all highway. This is also why I immediately started upgrading the suspension and added the Superbrace. I knew going into it that these were things everyone said had to be done so I wasn't terribly surprised other than just how bad it was. My 1250 Nightster absolutely loves love at 90 mph with custom 11" Road King shocks, Progressive springs with 3" spacers, and 3" extended forward controls. I am 6'2" 215 lb. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 11:42:29 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah they ain't great dedicated highway/freeway bikes that's for sure. Short jaunts (for me up to an hour) are fine but long trips can be pretty brutal if still stock. I always look for the mythical 6th gear if I'm on the highway with mine .
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
The 883 is the way to go, you get the 10% shorter gearing in the primary and 3.5% at the front drive pulley. You can swap for a 1200 drive pulley to make it more friendly at highway speeds. If you regularly do 80+ for extended periods, I'd get a 1200 for the primary gearing alone and run an 883 drive pulley. You can also get 883's for next to nothing, which helps justify tossing the 883 jugs and order a Hammer Performance 1250 kit and cams of your choice and have about 100 HP vs. the 40 of the stock 883. The stock top end is heavy and cylinders are twisted / warped. All 07+ are EFI and all 05+ are rubber mounted. 07-08 has EFI under the seat which limits solo seat options. 09+ moved it to behing the rear jug. Plan on a $350-450 Dynojet PowerVision...also from Hammer. Also plan on replacing the fork springs and rear shocks. A superbrace really helps. My dad has a Nightster, if it is anything indicative of riding sportsters on the freeway then they universally ALL suck on the freeway. Yeah, you can do it, but they are really out of their element at freeway speeds. Across town or to the corner store, sure. Droning on the freeway? Fuck that noise. Yeah they ain't great dedicated highway/freeway bikes that's for sure. Short jaunts (for me up to an hour) are fine but long trips can be pretty brutal if still stock. I always look for the mythical 6th gear if I'm on the highway with mine .
I've ridden almost 9 hours straight, all highway, on the stock seat. Wasn't the best time after the 6th. hour, but very doable. The day started out at 28 deg. and ended at 46 and I just had jeans on. I'm also running an 883 drive pulley with a 160 rear tire and I don't shift into 5th until at least 65 mph or else the engine is lugging. There is absolutely NO NEED for a 6th gear on a Sportster unless you want to top 130 mph. Evo engines are much happier at 3k RPM than the 1,500 these old fatties around here lug em around at. If you have grip / peg vibration, check the front motor mount bolt, they like to loosen up. Hit it with red loctite and mark the bolt/nut so you can get a quick visual. The stock motor mounts wear out every 10k. Get the harder Drag Specialties ones, they're half price too IIRC. Also good to check the lower mount / link and the upper, front mount bolts as they like to work loose, especially when these other things have already worked loose. The rear motor mount bolts (x3, hex head, zinc plated, non drive side) like to shear the heads off if you are a super fatty that rides aggressively, or aggressive 2-up. My wife and I broke one in just 5k mi. of dragging the pipes and pegs. Mil-Spec bolts and antisieze is the way to go. It's a whole new bike when all these things are dialed in properly. There's no way in hell I would ever be happy with a stock bike though. If you aren't into tuning and wrenching, you should prob. look at a performance bike from the start. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 12:29:43 PM EDT
[#19]
06 1250R, bare steel, Line-X'd seat, 1200R heads, Bassani pipes, HSR carb, Twin-Tec ignition 
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Posted: 8/28/2016 12:31:16 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By JackalAR Seems like it wasn't till 2004 that the Sportsters got the much beefier crank pin and upgraded tranny. I run Drag Specialties motor mounts & Mil-Spec hardware in the rear. You are correct. If I ever need crank work done on my bike I'm sending the right case half to hammer and having them convert it to the 2004+ setup. Doubtful I will ever need to though since I'm not racing the bike. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 12:57:21 PM EDT
[#21]
Go buy a Triumph Street Twin if that is what you want. Same idea but a much better bike all the way around.
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Posted: 8/28/2016 4:08:57 PM EDT
[#22]
I had a Nightster 1200. I really enjoyed the bike after riding sportbikes for years.
But after a few years, it began to develop issues (electrical) and I traded it in on a Buell XB12Scg. I enjoyed the Buell more, just a better handling bike. That said, I'd still ride a Sporty. I prefer the 48. Check out the new cafe racer-styled Roadster 1200. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 4:20:02 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Get a 1200 if you get a Sportster. You'll get tired of an 883 real quick. My old 1200: http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae237/Redscale/20140309_161608_zpseinkmnid.jpg A bike I'll never get rid of: 1983 XL 1000 http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae237/Redscale/Harley_zpsldocd8ys.jpg I sold my nightster in March, just didn't ride it much. I get the itch every now and then not going to lie |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 4:44:33 PM EDT
[#24]
I would ride one first but if it is what you want just do it. Life is too short to ride bikes you don't like.
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Posted: 8/28/2016 5:26:13 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I would ride one first but if it is what you want just do it. Life is too short to ride bikes you don't like. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 6:52:52 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
RIF Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I would ride one first but if it is what you want just do it. Life is too short to ride bikes you don't like. So buy one, my point stands. |
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Posted: 8/28/2016 7:19:34 PM EDT
[#27]
My sportster was a 2000 model with a hard mount engine. Mirrors were useless on it at pretty much all speeds. It was an 883. Put a 1200 kit on it with Andrews cams. That bike would run. It was a lot of fun but I wanted to do more interstate riding so I traded it off for an Electra Glide. I still miss it for city riding.
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Posted: 8/28/2016 7:23:00 PM EDT
[#28]
Don't do it. I've had every type of bike. Went from a CBR600 to a Yamaha bolt and it was lame. The bolt is an 883 but better. I've had an 883 too. So you'll hate the switch even more than I did.
Get a more comfortable sport bike. Fz09 or something. |
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Posted: 8/29/2016 4:20:47 PM EDT
[#29]
If you like the personality of the Sportster engine and still want performance/handling, consider a Buell. The XB-12 can be had for pretty cheap these days. Parts are getting harder to find, but you can still find them with some hunting. They are pretty reliable for the most part, with a few quirks like any other bike. If you get a XB-12S Lightning, the seating is very upright and comfortable. I find my XB-12S more comfortable than the Sportster I have test ridden.
The XB line of bikes are Sportster engines with many performance mods already done (higher compression, bigger air box, etc.) and put in sports bike frame. They handle extremely well, as well a GSXR. It has decent power, although nothing near a true sports bike and will get killed by a 750 or 1000 GSXR over 80mph. But on the road, not the track, it has enough power to keep things interesting. The torque is down low where you want it for street riding. It isn't a bike you get for track days. |
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Posted: 8/30/2016 12:07:45 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you like the personality of the Sportster engine and still want performance/handling, consider a Buell. The XB-12 can be had for pretty cheap these days. Parts are getting harder to find, but you can still find them with some hunting. They are pretty reliable for the most part, with a few quirks like any other bike. If you get a XB-12S Lightning, the seating is very upright and comfortable. I find my XB-12S more comfortable than the Sportster I have test ridden. The XB line of bikes are Sportster engines with many performance mods already done (higher compression, bigger air box, etc.) and put in sports bike frame. They handle extremely well, as well a GSXR. It has decent power, although nothing near a true sports bike and will get killed by a 750 or 1000 GSXR over 80mph. But on the road, not the track, it has enough power to keep things interesting. The torque is down low where you want it for street riding. It isn't a bike you get for track days. All of this. The XB series are just a fucking blast to ride, all the time. I'd test-ridden a friend's husband's XR1200X. I really, really wanted to like it. But, it handled like a fucking dump truck, and wasn't particularly quick to boot. It wasn't incredibly comfortable (too upright for higher speeds, and that stupid airbox/tank cover thing got in the way of your knees), but it was nice-looking and extremely attractively finished. Another friend (Jakezor here) has an XB9SX which I've ridden. Better than the XR1200X in every conceivable way. More powerband, better suspension by a long shot, better steering feel, slightly better brakes, far better vibration isolation, more comfortable seating position, looks better (though that's just a personal preference), and was 125 lbs. lighter, to boot. Buell did everything H-D could have possibly ever done with a Sportster mill and packed it into a chassis that was really very good by any standards. I still somehow haven't gotten hold of an XB, but I will before they're all pounded into dust and impossible to find spares for... |
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Posted: 9/4/2016 10:37:10 PM EDT
[#31]
See 1st post, need some questions answered and opinion of trade
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Posted: 9/4/2016 10:45:07 PM EDT
[#32]
I am confused by that paperwork. Is it a Harley or somehing that was built?
The mileage is certainly possible. I just bought a 06 Speed Triple with 3,000 miles on it. Not ever being used has its own set of issues. My fork seals started leaking while it was sitting in the garage. |
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Posted: 9/4/2016 10:51:04 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I am confused by that paperwork. Is it a Harley or somehing that was built? The mileage is certainly possible. I just bought a 06 Speed Triple with 3,000 miles on it. Not ever being used has its own set of issues. My fork seals started leaking while it was sitting in the garage. |
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Posted: 9/5/2016 10:11:47 AM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I am confused by that paperwork. Is it a Harley or somehing that was built? The mileage is certainly possible. I just bought a 06 Speed Triple with 3,000 miles on it. Not ever being used has its own set of issues. My fork seals started leaking while it was sitting in the garage. thats a homebuilt. I am not sure about the frame manufacturer. Personally I would pass on that one. |
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Posted: 9/5/2016 10:55:55 AM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
thats a homebuilt. I am not sure about the frame manufacturer. Personally I would pass on that one. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I am confused by that paperwork. Is it a Harley or somehing that was built? The mileage is certainly possible. I just bought a 06 Speed Triple with 3,000 miles on it. Not ever being used has its own set of issues. My fork seals started leaking while it was sitting in the garage. thats a homebuilt. I am not sure about the frame manufacturer. Personally I would pass on that one. Yeah, I posted on HDforums.com and every answer was "run away as fast as you can" so.....should I get it? :P jk |
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