I realize that this is a little "different" than most of the posts in the engine thread, but I'm thinking about picking up a used Sporty, for the sole purpose of making it a rocket ship. I'm thinking big power, since the power to weight ratio would be good. Does anyone have experience with this? Is there a shop that specializes in this? I noticed that NHRS has some 88" and 90" kits that require case boring, and a 1250cc kit that doesn't require boring. I'm thinking that 90" out of a Sporty would be fun, especially if you could get it to turn 1hp per cube.

I don't know a damn thing about hopping up a Sporty. All of my experience has been with the TC96. Thought, opinions, expertise is greatly appreciated.

 

Thought S+S made a 103 kit? high compression, redshift cams, set on kill!! 125 hp in a bare bones sporty would be lethal..

Go with a pre04 model. Non rubber mount and many more parts availible for them. I like the trans' better too.

 

Thanks Dan! That's one of the questions I left out- '03 and older, or '04 and newer. My 1st HD was a 2003 XL883C, but I never got around to engine work. I custom painted it, made a few "nick-nack" mods, and rode it.

I want/ need another project. It's either this, or pick up an older Road Glide, and add one of those cool G2 126" power plants, with the B2 heads. I think this one will cost less.....in the build, as well as in court appearances.

 

I am with ya. Been thinkin of one myself. Sporty or fxr. I was looking for a good donor bike, but everyone thinks they are selling gold around here. Had a 99 883 in the shop with a blown trans amongst other things wrong with it. I offered the dude $2000 bucks for it. He got insulted. So i fixed it for $1600.

The biggest thing with the sporties is the power to weight like you said. Hell 90hp/90tq 1200's fell fast as hell and will pull the wheell in 3rd with 883 gearing. My plan was drop it, extend it, and run it..one the cheap..

Keep us posted if you do a project like that!

 

Right now I got an 01 Custom with NRHS 1250 kit and the old SE heads that has Stage II work done on them. Running 536 cams and the old Supertrapp 2-1 pipe and the Sportgear.

One of the best mods I did was install the SportGear from Johnson Engineering. Any bike with a trapdoor and a few tools and pullers can be done in an afternoon. It drop my gearing ratio by 13% in gears 1 through 4 but leaves 5 alone for freeway flying. All by it's self it drop my ET by 2 tenths. Best ET is 12.31 in the 1/4 and that's with my 250 pound butt onboard and forward controls.

It's real easy to spin the tire in 1st and 2nd gear now and my tire is bald in less than a year. It's alot of fun flat tracking around the corners but the tire won't last long. Can't imagine when the 90" kit is done ??

The NRHS 90" kit is for a late winter project next year and should be 100/100 bike with the right tuning.

 

Beau,
Been down the 88" XL road many times.
Have had them at 100/100 for street use, and 2 years ago we set one up for a local guy, that went 120 hp/100 torque, for 10.30 index racing.
The cylinder heads are VERY important to establish that power.
Several cams will work.
Scott

 

Scott-
Thanks. I think that 100/100 would rip, especially from a bike that weighs in at 550-575, plus my 190lbs.

 

Selling gold, Dan? That's funny.....check out this link!
http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/2018589416.html

 

With the 883 belt sprocket, not too many Harley's(or some imports) would have a snowballs chance in hell, up against that.
Scott

 

Beau sounds like a good project i have always heard that a lot of guys got real good power out of the ironhead sportsters. I know a few old timers who used to do good motor work to those and rip those like guys do on crotch rockets now. Consequently im restoring an old 73 1000 cc sporty that i was hoping to build some good power out of. Now im just trying to finish it or get rid of it because i recently have had a different more appealing project fall into my lap.