Hi y'all.

I am looking at a 02 Sportster that might be for sale.

The owner claims it was a 883 converted to a 1200, but does not have paperwork.

What can I check for to tell if he is stating the truth or not?

Thx

 

On my 1200 converson it says 1200 on the cylinders.. maybe take a look at them?

 

You can't tell from the outside if he had the cylinders bored.
If you haven't riden an 883 and a basic 1200 conversionyou wouldn't know what to compare it to just from riding it.
The 1200's have way more get up and go but if you're inexperianced they both could feel that way to you.

 

Where?

 

just look around the cyclinder/head area i forgot exactly where mine said it but its on the motor

 

As far as I know the cylinders are not marked. The heads on the other hand will have 883 or 1200 cast into them, But the stamp doesn't really prove much anyways. There could always be headwork done, and the original cylinders could have been bored out..... The only way to know for sure is to pop the heads off. Otherwise if in doubt, and the bike is a good price, ask if you can take it for a short ride, and if you like it, buy it.

 

Check with your dealer or local indy. There is a volume gage that can be screwed into a spark plug hole that will give you the displacement.

I would be skeptical of such significant paperwork being missing. Does he remember where the work was done?