sportster 883 to 1250 conversation

mbroyda

mbroyda

Well-known member
Who has done one of these conversions? I'd like to buy you a beer and pick your brain.
did you get a shop to do it?
Which kit did you use?
How does it effect reliability?

Cheers
Max
 
I have a 99 skirtster, A friend and i installed a 1200 jugs and piston in about 8 hrs.
Bought the kit at JP cycles, and final hone only needed. New gaskets and jets.
The timing is a pain, plan on changing that too. I found the bike to run & ride
smoother and way more torque to play with.
 
did the 1200 SE kit in my basement over a winter...few hours here and there, no special tools aside from the clutch spring tool was required. (if you have a decent range of tools already) - might need c ring pliers, that's it aside from your standard tools. Assembly lube was a bit tough to find here..ended up picking up a tube while in the states.

One huge chunk of change is the ECU reprogramming. can do at harley for a good wad, or buy something like a powervision programmer to flash the thing.
 
Mean Machine said:
Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but why not just sell the bike and buy a bigger one?[/QUTE]


It's a pretty standard upgrade. And there are benefits to having a modified 1200/1250 over a stock 1200. Namely, the gearing set up from the 883 will give you a little more out of the hole over a stock 1200.
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Mean Machine said:
Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but why not just sell the bike and buy a bigger one?
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They dont make the sportster iron with a 1200, they have a nightster but I like the look of the iron better. Plus everything that was already mentioned.
 
RetroGrouch said:
Bigger bike without bigger insurance.
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Not if you actually inform your insurer. Then you'll probably have a hard time even finding someone to cover it. Although I guess the chances of them figuring out what you've done are slim to none...

Or at least for me any insurer I've ever contacted about any vehicle tells me they'll refuse to insure it with engine mods. Except for Wawanesa. They would cover a vehicle with engine mods but they wanted a dyno done after and would raise rates based on how much extra HP you have. But I also had my worst insurance experience with them.
 
JFD said:
did the 1200 SE kit in my basement over a winter...few hours here and there, no special tools aside from the clutch spring tool was required. (if you have a decent range of tools already) - might need c ring pliers, that's it aside from your standard tools. Assembly lube was a bit tough to find here..ended up picking up a tube while in the states.

One huge chunk of change is the ECU reprogramming. can do at harley for a good wad, or buy something like a powervision programmer to flash the thing.
Click to expand...

how difficult is it to do yourself on a scale of 1 to 10? I do some of my own wrenching, but the most i've done so far was re-jet a carb on my other bike
to be honest i'm a little nervous about cracking open the engine myself
 
mbroyda said:
how difficult is it to do yourself on a scale of 1 to 10? I do some of my own wrenching, but the most i've done so far was re-jet a carb on my other bike
to be honest i'm a little nervous about cracking open the engine myself
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I have a feeling we've spoken on this in person before Max...

I think if you're brave enough to just tear into the engine, you'll be fine.

Hardest thing to do was the clutch spring replacement - only cuz you needed a special tool (which I have). :)

Just takes patience. - and label/document everything you pull out, and it's orientation - also if you mess with wiring, ensure you take pics to know what goes where . Document what you unplug and where it leads.
 
JFD said:
I have a feeling we've spoken on this in person before Max...

I think if you're brave enough to just tear into the engine, you'll be fine.

Hardest thing to do was the clutch spring replacement - only cuz you needed a special tool (which I have). :)

Just takes patience. - and label/document everything you pull out, and it's orientation - also if you mess with wiring, ensure you take pics to know what goes where . Document what you unplug and where it leads.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply, where did I meet you before?
I've done a little more research on it, and its starting to look less intimidating so I think i'll take a crack at it sometime soon.
 
That was an interesting read James, I finally decided to grow some balls and do the build myself, ordered the 1250 Hammer kit, Power Vision tuner, and air cleaner yesterday, still need to find a service manual,
 
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