| Author | Message | ||
     Nevar |
Ok. Looking at HD Sportsters. Which would you buy? 883 or 1200? Pre-2004 (solid mount engine) or post-2004 (rubber mount engine)? Tim | ||
| Cataract2 |
post 2004 1200cc | ||
| Jeremyh |
1200....lets put it this way. my dad bought a 90' 1200 for 2k dollars, rode it for 1 1/2 years put 200 bucks into it (tires) and sold it for 3200 dollars. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I will soon be in the market for a solid mount Sportster for a streettracker project. I'd get an 883 if the price was right - easy and fun to make a 1203 out of it and it might offset the price enough to fund the embiggenment. Plus, a solid mount uses most of the same parts as my M2. I'd definitely get a rubber-mount for an XLCR replica, though. But that project will have to wait... | ||
| Rick_a |
If it were to be kept relatively stock it'd be a post '04 1200. 883's are pathetic. I think a pre '04 would be great for a Twin Sports road race replica. Those were the coolest looking racebikes EVER. | ||
| Mikej |
This one of course: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=21&post=505642#POST50 5642 We can work something out on the delivery. If we'd been a week or two earlier you could have rode it home with the Ferris crew. | ||
| Nevar |
Yes. I would be keeping the bike stock (I know, I'm weird!) From the reviews I've read, the rubber mounting (and accompanying frame strenghtening) of the post-2004 XLs has added 75 lbs or so. The pre-2004 Sportsters were "relatively" light bikes. Is this weight gain worth the reduced vibration? Tim (Message edited by nevar on September 07, 2005) | ||
| Nevar |
Mikej, Thanks. But I'm still im the "just looking" phase - I would have to sell one of my five bikes now to make room (most likely the 929RR). Tim | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Tim, in a word YES If I were to purchase a Sporty now, it would be a post '05 883R, then take everything off my spare XB engine and put it on the Sporty that I could. Get the FI throttle body and manifold from an X1, and swap on the spare harness that goes with the spare motor, and add a fuel pump... | ||
| Nevar |
This will be a tough decision and one I won't have to make for a few months: XB12R or Sportster. And even though I usually buy used bikes, another factor that I have to consider - my disgust for the local HD dealer. Tim | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wouldn't buy any sportster made later then 1969. But that's just me. | ||
| Chainsaw |
1200 is 2k more IIRC. Get an 883 and put a 1200 in it, save a grand. 883 is cheaper to insure (not by much) and the VIN will always read 883. | ||
| Tripp |
i'd love to turn one of them orange 883 jobbies into a crazy 1250 sleeper, it'd be so much fun to have somebody say it's a granny bike, then smoke em!  | ||
| Dagwood |
Nevar, You have a PM. | ||
| Tramp |
none of 'em. i own a buell. what's the advantage of a sporty, again? | ||
| Mikej |
Tramp, Let's see if I can count a couple of considerations: 1. Resale value. 2. Public perception that leads to resale value. 3. H.O.G. recognition, that leads to resale value, we'll just ignore the frilly comments XL riders get at times. 4. Trade-in value at Harley dealerships. 5. Trade-in value at non-Harley dealerships. I'm sure there are other reasons as well. This is all just based on my personal observations and personal experiences. Not to argue the point, but go ahead if'n ya wants to.  | ||
| Josh_ |
I really want my 92 883 Hugger back, but that's just me. I will buy my 96 Hugger (1200 conversion) back from my Mom if she ever gets something new. | ||
| Kaudette |
Recently bought a 05 1200 R for my wife. Not as flickable as the solid mount sportsters but it is pretty quick and as long as you don't push it too hard, it goes right along thru the turns. Change the seat and you can ride long days on it. Stock rubber sucks in the wet - slip slidin' away - but it's a good starting point. If I had to do it again, I'd maybe look at a Dyna (lower for the wife) but you can't go wrong with the Sports... btw - other bike in the garage in a XB12S and the local HD people make me want to buy anything but HD/Buell every time I see them - so next time I probably will... | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Definately a post 2004. My neighbor has a 1200 Custom, it's a nice bike. I've ridden it, neat bike. He recently upgraded the intake and put on a set of SE slip on's. The combo made a noticable difference in performance. Sounds way better to! For a non-classic Sportster, the are just fine... Brad | ||
| Lowelltroll |
O.K....How does the motor in a 1200R compare to a Buell motor? Says it has the hot cams, heads and piston. Does it compare with a Cyclone or a Thunderbolt? I'm sure they don't compare in handling. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
The Sporty I would buy, if I had to? 2006 883R, black. With Tripps 1250 idea.  | ||
| Rex |
I would buy the Steve Storz sportster...Beautiful bike.....rex | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
what's the advantage of a sporty, again? See my previous post, then add "better launch potential for AHDRA events" | ||
| Ezblast |
A Buell! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| 2hogs |
My 0.02. A post '04 883 is wise if, like a lot of HD folks, you like to 'customize' your rides. Why? A friend (w/883) is thinking of a 1200 kit. The shop said the stock 883 heads are easier to work and flow just a pinch better when ported and polished than the 1200 heads as the 883s have more material initially to work with. Also a 883 with a 1200 kit and a good port and polish has more hp and tq than a stock 1200. The actual bike purchase price maybe a wash depending on if you do any of the engine work yourself. Removing the heads, and jugs and taking them to a good shop should save a few over taking the bike in. Plus as noted most cases an 883 is cheaper to insure. Cheers | ||
| Tramp |
Mike J said (in response to my question regarding the advantage of a sporty over a buell): "Let's see if I can count a couple of considerations: 1. Resale value. 2. Public perception that leads to resale value. 3. H.O.G. recognition, that leads to resale value, we'll just ignore the frilly comments XL riders get at times. 4. Trade-in value at Harley dealerships. 5. Trade-in value at non-harley dealerships" Ok- so all 5 of your answers were really only one answer: resale. that being the case, why stick with a psortster? there are other motorcycles with better resale. I'm kinda disappointed that resale would be one's reason for foregoing superior handling & horse. if you want an investment, buy a small vineyard or water rights anywhere in america. if you're seriously concerned with HOG recognition, run, do not walk, to your nearest leather store and purchase conchos to affix to every piece of disco-bondage attire you own, including any leather do-rag. and don't forget to call everyone else with a harley "bro", and everyone else "citzen" in your best william smith 'vocce laryngitae' ...  (i'm bein' "ironical" please don't be offended...not directed atcha) | ||
| Nevar |
All right, all right. No fighting. A Buell cannot be compared to a cruiser. Two different bikes. Every once in a while I think I need another cruiser so this time I'm looking at Sportsters (all my previous cruisers were metric). Tim | ||
| Tomd |
Nevar, If you go with a pre-04, you want to stick with a 5 speed, (91 and up) The 4 speeds are fine around town but on the highway, they really buzz. The early 5 spd 1200's are geared a little tall for around town, grab a countershaft pulley off an 883 delux and you will really wake the bike up. If your going for the hot rod route, look for an 883 to start with, then slip on a set of 1200 cyl and Wisco pistons. Hog the stock heads out and you will have a faster bike than a stock 1200 because of a slightly higher CR and better breathing because of better chamber shape. You'll also have less stress on the lower end with the lighter weight Wisco's. Drop in a set of SE "drop-in's" or mild andrews, a rejet and a Supertrapp or an early SE Kirker 2 into 2 megaphone system (if you can find one that is, they are hens teeth now.) and you'll have a Sporty that will give the 90 inch bikes fits. Tom | ||
| Aldaytona |
Get the pre 2004 basic Sportster 883, I rescued a 2000 model from a fate of being loaded with cheap add on chrome and leather accessories, and poor maintenance (the prior owner thought it had a serious mechanical problem, I knew it was a very loose primary chain). He wanted out so bad I had to buy it. The solid mount late model Sportsters are really decent handling bikes with help from Progressive suspension fornt and rear, add bolt on Thunderstorm heads and matching pistons, Yost CV1, and a White Brothers 2 into 1 and you get YEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. And for not a lot of money either. | ||
| Sportyeric |
The correct answer for "Why buy a Sportster?" is ------------more character! 883 and convert to 1200! Solid mount. With clip-ons and bar-ends mirrors the vikbes disappear. Add rearsets and better shocks and go spank some racer boys. |
