G'day all,

Hoping you guys can give me some insight into particular 883 - 1200 conversion kits i'm looking at.

This is the one I'm looking at getting, I have a local dealer with it and a good price tag : http://www.sscycle.com/go-fast-showcase/motorcycle-engine-kits/cylinder-and-piston-conversion-kit-for-sportster/

However I know HD also offer the SE conversion kit, which also includes heads which the S&S kit does not require but results in a change in compression I understand.

This is the HD supplied kit, which is only a bit more than the S&S kit http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/se-883cc-1200cc-stage-1-conversion-kit

My question is, which would be the better option? Will there be any issues with longevity or anything like that if I go the S&S kit?

G'day Noctm

Are you doing it yourself and is the bike EFI?

Just went down the same process using Hammer performance 1250 kit with factory 883 heads and using a PowerVision to must say the bike is lots of fun to ride.

If you get really bored I have a timelapse of the conversion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYrIgOM9to

Only surprise I had was that I need to upgrade the clutch as it could not cope.

PS Cost was about AUS$600 for the Power Vision and US$680 for the 1250 Kit including gaskets

G'day Noctm

Are you doing it yourself and is the bike EFI?

Just went down the same process using Hammer performance 1250 kit with factory 883 heads and using a PowerVision to must say the bike is lots of fun to ride.

If you get really bored I have a timelapse of the conversion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYrIgOM9to

Only surprise I had was that I need to upgrade the clutch as it could not cope.

Hey mate thanks a lot for the reply.

Yeah I will probably do it myself and probably enlist the help of a mate with more mechanical experience than I just to be safe. Bike is EFI and I have the SE Pro Super Tuner

Didn't realise Hammer did the same sort of kit at around the same price - i had only seen their complete conversion kits which seemed to be in the several thousands. Can you please provide a link to the Hammer kit you speak of?

Did you just upgrade the clutch spring or more of the assembly?

So there's no issues that should arise as far as you're aware by using the existing 883 heads?

This is a great read http://www.hammerperf.com/883conversions.shtml as it does through the pros and cons of each option. I am not after a racing bike (owned those before ) but did want more performance than the 883.

The main downside is that choosing to use the 883 heads means you need to buy dome pistons and this means you may have issues later if you want performance heads. So it is best to work out how much performance you want within budget and do it all in one go.

The swapped the spring to an SE one and it still slipped so I swapped the complete pack to a Energy One kit. However it seems that lots of people have no issues.

Also check out http://www.nrhsperformance.com/ekit8831200.shtml , similar price

Okay great - i'm not chasing crazy numbers so in terms of performance I'm pretty much after whatever the basic 883 - 1200/1250 conversion kits will give me.

In regards to the pistons - the S&S kit has dished pistons and the Hammer kit has domed pistons, is the story the same here if I ever did want to change out the heads?

I'll guess I see how I go with the existing clutch and see if I have any dramas, and then upgrade the spring and then the plate if need be.

Thanks again for the info mate. Any extra tid bits you think will be helpful please feel free to add them in I am keen to hear it all.

Also when I spoke to HD re the SE Stage 2 883/1200 kit at my local dealer in Sydney they said they would discount the price of the tuner as I did not need that. This is the kit I am talking about

http://www.boardtrackerharleyonline.com/harley-davidson/screamin-eagle-pro-sportster-883cc-to-1200cc-stage-ii-conversion-kit-29836-10

fmacdonald, my dealer said the same to me aswell when i enquired. Harley Blacktown?

 

Im in the process of doing this as well. I think im going to change out the heads though, its just been hard to find some. Was looking at the screamin eagle (even then i would have to get the breather bolt holes drilled and tapped as im carby and the current heads are efi suited), but at almost $1k for the heads i could get the 883 heads ported and valves upsized. Still tossing up whether to go all out or simple. I really need to see one that is running stock 883 heads up close. 

Yes, it was Blacktown If you are near place you are welcome to pop by

@#ck I need to learn to read what I write before hitting submit.

Yes, it was Blacktown If you are not to far away you can pop by and suss out my bike (PM me). I know what you mean about the heads, ebay Australia lets us down compared to the US. I would like to upgrade to Brembo brakes but they are just too dear locally.

asps here's a picture of an 883 converted to 1200 with the stock 883 heads (S&S kit with a different fin profile on the barrels, some kits have the same fin profile so you can't even tell the difference):



so in your guys opinion, would i be better off going to SE kit that has heads included, or does it not really matter much if i just go the kits that use the 883 heads and dished/domed pistons?

Noctm from what I understand they are similar of you are happy to stop there but if you then wanted to add bigger cams etc the 1200 head is better.

Could you blokes get headwork done locally? There are a couple of reputable places in Sydney

When I looked at pricing a few months ago the options came to

Hammer Kit, Gasket Kit, Pistons Pre Gapped and Postage ~ $1000 AUD
SE 1200 Stage 1 Kit with heads but no tuner (part number 30003-10) is about $1800
SE 1200 Stage 2 Kit without heads but with tuner (part number 29836-10) is about $1800 less $500 for the tuner

Not saying it is correct but I went with Hammer in part as I wanted them pre gapped as it reduced the work for me (yes I am lazy)

If any of you guys who are thinking of upping your 883, I'm in the process of upping my 1200 to a 88 inch hammer and its going to cost shit loads, heads, cams, lock up clutch etc, etc. So if anyone wants to buy standard 1200 cylinders, pistons heads etc at a very good price let me know. It will be quite a few months as Hammer are letting me do a lay buy. nButb if anyone is interested let me know.

Sorry about the double post but figured this was worth a separate entry as opposed to editing.

Just spoke to Frasers - they've got what they call a SE 'Torque it up' kit. I've been quoted about $2500 including fitment. The kit includes just about everything except heads, including cams, clutch upgrade etc. and according to them is a much better way to go than the standard SE 883 to 1200 kit - better numbers and so on.

After calling around and reading up, i think this is the way I'm going to go - seems to be the best route for bang for buck.

Did they give you the part number? Sounds good. There is also the SE Stage 4 kit ... hmmm nice

This is the stage 4, http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/screamin-eagle-stage-iv-street-performance-kit-–-sportster-models--black-non-highlighted-heads (US price)

Be good if i could go this way, unfortunetly i have a 1992 carby so a bit of machining is needed to fit late model heads.

Hi asps91 and noctm,

asps91 didn't get your pm so send again if you are interested to h.gill@murdoch.edu.au (same to yo you noctm, and we must catch up as you live just down the road). I have no idea how much 1200 barrales, pistons and heads ertc are, but if you are interested half price plus postage? Noctm will deliver or you pick up and get Ando to to do the work, he's good and lives just down the road. If it has to be quick will sort it out, but rather pay for the hammer upgrade slowly. But f a firm offer will get the 88 inch ordered.