Just some food for thought: If you are planning on buying a used Sportster regardless it to be an 883 or 1200, keep in mind all the upgrades that have been applied to the bike... for example, a bike that has had exhaust changes (esp to drag pipes) has probably been run hard and fast sometime during it's life time and could mean burnt valves etc. Rear tire changes also indicate burn-outs on a low milage bike. Rear shock changes are mainly for cosmetic looks but could also indicate a previous owner was after the "mean-street" performance antics.

Extra chrome do-dads, seat changes, screaming eagle mufflers, sissy bars, turn signal relacations, grip changes are usaually just preference items and indicate the previous owner was personalizing for apperance.

A bike that is darn near stock is usually the ones owned by older people who just like to ride on week-ends and don't need or desire all the Harley bling for enjoyment of just a bike ride and usually indicates a well maintained bike or completely neglected bike.

Female riders and esp. female "owners".. and I don't mean the female riders who ride a Sportster, calling it their own but, the bike is actually titled in their husbands name... are extreemly good at keeping the bike in tip-top condition and don't care too much about pushing a bike to the brink of the pistons trying to change holes!

My latest venture for a Sportster was on ebay of which I paid 3500. for a 99-883, had to drive to NC to get it but it was all "stock" except for the windshild. Origial tires, garage kept and "owned" by a female.. Like a new bike!......

Just an opnion and observations of past and present...

 

Heres something to think about. The 2003 and earlier,solid mount Sportsters, have a couple of good points the later ones do not:
1.They have the "trap door" transmission. If you have a trans problem, you don't have to split the cases. You access the trans by a cover you remove and you can remove the trans that way.
2.The 2003 and earlier are way lighter in weight.For 2004 they made a bunch of engine changes, but also changed the frame and went to a rubber mounted engine.Fine. But in so doing, they added a gob of weight.Weight is your enemy just like horsepower is your friend.
So, you should research a bit and try to test ride both a pre-2004, and a post-2004, and see if the rubber mounted engine is important to you. For myself, I'd like a pre-2004, but everyones different.

Good luck and let us know what you get and how you like it.

Jon in Puyallup

 

For me, the best models are 1996 and 1997 models.
Same look as 1998 to 2003 models but still a separated ignition module which is relly more relaible than integrated sensor.
I personnaly have a 1997 and 1998 model.
The 1997 one has 120 000 miles without any problems.
My 1998 one has only 31250 miles and I have already burnt 2 ignition modules ( 1 HD, 1 screamin)...

 

+1 I agree. Way too much hype about rubber mounted EVO's.