So I have been looking to turn my 2005 xl883 into a 1200. I have been looking at the NRHS and hammer kits cause that's what people seem to say is the best. I am hoping to read up enough and do the work my self but I also called around to local shops to see what they get for the labor. One shop owner told me he will only put in S&S 1200 kit cause the others are inferior and there comp is to hi so i would have to start changing all types of other things. The S&S has 9.1:1 comp I think and he said that I wouldn't have to do any thing else at all!! Other than retune the bike. I havent looked into the NRHS kit much yet but I've been looking at the 1250 hammer kit a lot with 10.1:1 comp. I figured I would get an ignition and have also been looking into clutch packs. Don't really have the money for head work so am looking to stay stock. I also don't want to take away from reliability of the bike.
So what do you think? Should I go with the hammer? If so is there any thing else I'm over looking? Or is the shop owner right about going with the 1200 S&S kit? I couldn't fined many people talking about the s&s, does it make that much less power cause of the lower comp and the 50cc less?

 

I also would like to talk about the SE 1200 kits. I was looking online and they have a decent deal on a 1200 kit with air cleaner and heads but I could only fined them for 2007 883 and up. I have the 2005 xl883l. If I could fined the SE kit for my model land year bike would this be a good choice? If I could fined a way to afford heads with out it breaking the bank I would like to do so that way I have room for more upgrades down the road if I want. If I go with stock heads I'm kinda stuck there because of the pistons am I right?

 

The multitude of 883-1200 conversions we've done over the years are set at 9.5 cr for the use with OE cams.
Scott

 

Can you tell me a little more? What kit do you guys like to use? You just use the stock head? If it was your bike would you put a clutch pack in?