Just wondering if anyone can tell me why HD does not put a badge with the engine size on their sportsters because the 883 & 1200 look so much alike ???

Do you mean on the engine itself or on the bike? My bike as 883 painted on the tank, little do they know it is really a 1250

The VIN says if its a 1200 or 883 - The first field will look like - 5HD = made in USA for sale outside USA. Then either 1 for 1200 or 4 for 883, Then model number, e.g. LE = XL883N, LC = 48 ; CT = 1200Custom. This is from the owners manual

new ones say 1200 on the timing cover, they got rid of the "5"

 They should have 74 cubic inch or 55 cubic inch as they are American & they don't measure in metric so why do they measure big twin in cubic in h but sportster & V Rod metric can you tell me that?

Because 55 cubic inches sounds small

That's HD!! they still have MPH speedo in USA looks slow, but just measuring in KPH does to increase speed. Cubic inch it should be sounds right or are we on metric cruisers?

5 and a half inches sounds small......

Cause no one cares to look at em

sportsters were initially produced to combat the british imports BSA , Triumphs, Norton etc most of which were 650 cc or 750cc. So on the showroom floor the sporties were in cc so the buyer could compare the engine size to the brit bike without doing a math conversion from CI.
Hope this helps.

Cheers John

haha, so it seems size does matter, or a least the allusion of size.

yep, that's why HD makes a 110ci engine that puts out 82rwhp haha

bolt on sporty's make more.

mine says 883 right on the number plate! lol.

Brash, yeh the big girl a bit weak, but she can torque! TQ looks ok for stock. but 110C I.

Look all you need to do is lift a head off, look at the hole!! the 74 c i has a quarter of an inch bigger hole!!