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Iron 883 engine conversion

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  • fatbat
    fatbat
    3 years ago
    I wouldn’t stuff around with a conversion. Just buy the harley 1200 bike and customise as you like including paint etc.
  • skotte
    skotte
    3 years ago
    Quoting BLKFLME on 05 Dec 2020 05:54 AMedited: 05 Dec 2020 05:55 AM

    Hi Skotte, agree with Chester. Having converted my previous XL883N to a 1275 with a Hammer kit and the costs associated (kit, clutch pack, tune and labour if not doing it yourself) with the conversion you would be better off with a 1200 straight up. It may be just me but I couldn’t really tell much difference between the performance of a stage one kitted 48 and my converted 1275. I never took the bike high enough in the rev range to notice but the Hammer kit was solid and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it 👍🏻

    Hi mate, thanks for the feedback. I have now done a complete backflip, pretty much taking your advice and thinking of just getting an Iron 883, and just getting it resprayed. The awful colours were the only thing pushing me away from the Iron 1200, and not a fan of the fat front tyre, rims and peanut tank on the 48.
    The Iron 1200 has larger heads, and apparently different gear ratios which I didn't know. I'm now thinking of an S&S Cycles 1250cc Hooligan kit which includes cams etc. or even potentially hammer performance, we'll see. 
    Thank you for you help.
  • skotte
    skotte
    3 years ago
    Quoting fatbat on 05 Dec 2020 07:25 AM

    I wouldn’t stuff around with a conversion. Just buy the harley 1200 bike and customise as you like including paint etc.

    Hi mate, thanks for you help. I actually have changed my mind and potentially just getting the 1200, do maybe a stage 2 etc. custom matt black with a harley eagle or something :) 
  • fatbat
    fatbat
    3 years ago
    Wise decision which will save you money. Although the beauty of these bikes is the endless amount of customisation. Don’t like the peanut tank on a 48, change it. Same with wheels, handlebars, seats.....

    More and more people using wrap as an alternative to paint too. I like the look of the 72 but that’s just me. I’d want the biggest fuel tank possible which still looks alright 
  • skotte
    skotte
    3 years ago
    Quoting fatbat on 05 Dec 2020 07:34 AM

    Wise decision which will save you money. Although the beauty of these bikes is the endless amount of customisation. Don’t like the peanut tank on a 48, change it. Same with wheels, handlebars, seats.....


    More and more people using wrap as an alternative to paint too. I like the look of the 72 but that’s just me. I’d want the biggest fuel tank possible which still looks alright 

    Yeh I think the right move. I'm going full blacked out bobber, tank lift, drag bars, short shots, mini LED lights etc.
    I am toying with the idea of putting the larger 4.5 gallon tank on the bike........
    Yeh never thoguht of that, wrap, hmmmm. I'm thinking matt black with a grey eagle airbrushed, very similar to the 115th anniversary 48, looks awesome.... 
  • BLKFLME
    BLKFLME
    3 years ago
    Quoting BLKFLME on 05 Dec 2020 05:54 AMedited: 05 Dec 2020 05:55 AM

    Hi Skotte, agree with Chester. Having converted my previous XL883N to a 1275 with a Hammer kit and the costs associated (kit, clutch pack, tune and labour if not doing it yourself) with the conversion you would be better off with a 1200 straight up. It may be just me but I couldn’t really tell much difference between the performance of a stage one kitted 48 and my converted 1275. I never took the bike high enough in the rev range to notice but the Hammer kit was solid and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it 👍🏻

    Quoting skotte on 05 Dec 2020 07:27 AM

    Hi mate, thanks for the feedback. I have now done a complete backflip, pretty much taking your advice and thinking of just getting an Iron 883, and just getting it resprayed. The awful colours were the only thing pushing me away from the Iron 1200, and not a fan of the fat front tyre, rims and peanut tank on the 48.

    The Iron 1200 has larger heads, and apparently different gear ratios which I didn't know. I'm now thinking of an S&S Cycles 1250cc Hooligan kit which includes cams etc. or even potentially hammer performance, we'll see. 
    Thank you for you help.

    S&S are high quality parts. Unless there have been recent changes in the last twelve months their cylinders are smaller and the same size as the 03 models. Hammer make the larger cylinders which keep the same aesthestics as your stock engine. Also, S&S only offer an 883 to 1200 kit or a 1200 to 1250 kit (Hooligan kit) as the 883 stock heads can’t be used with the Hooligan 1250 kit. Either way, the Evolution platform is bulletproof whether it’s an 883 or a 1200 and you can’t go wrong. Snap one up while you can cause if there is any truth about the Sportster being discontinued or being re-released with the Revolution engine it might be the end of a good thing that has lasted several decades.
  • Desiree
    Desiree
    3 years ago
    Hi Skotte, 

    I recently purchased a 2010 Iron with a stage 4 SE conversion done 400km ago. 
    While this is my first HD, I have briefly test ridden a few bikes belonging to friends. 
    My knowledge of technical specs is also limited but my personal experience is that the torque is much better with the kit. 
    The bike also came with a USB tuner but I have yet to use it. 
    I'm pretty happy with my bike so far but also bear in mind that I am very limited to options due to size. 
    Prolly going to get grilled on this but I bought the bike cause it ticked majority of my 'looks' boxes and price, of course!
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  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    3 years ago
    I think the 1200 worth the extra, the heads they use same chamber & ports & same size valves as the 103 cubic inch big twin get only difference is Sporsters get an engine mount threaded into front head casting. so they have more than enough head as they come stock, stock cams good enough.  
    the barrels on 2003 up not larger, they just have larger cooling fin's. I have an old 03 that has EFI 1200 heads with the larger fins motor looks stock.
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