You can do what I did today. Race a school bus from a light - if its an 883 you'll lose (sigh) if its a 1200 you'll win.

 

Thats true, the stroke will be unchanged but the distance from the piston at TDC to BDC will be different on an 883 and 1200..! Not really measuring stoke in as much as range

 

Huh? My 883 smokes just about everything off a light. While I am Jonesing for a 1200 conversion, it is just because I think it would be fun to do. Have never been in need of more speed or power. Then again, the guy I bought it from may have done the conversion and I wouldn't know. Mine is the only Sporty I have ever ridden.

 

The only diff is the BORE. Stroke and bottom end are identical.
IMFUO, too many pistons on the market to be able to tell from 'appearance'.
For your purposes, I'd do the dyno trick or simply ride/race a known stock 1200. If I were looking for a "drag" bike, then I'd be pullin' the lids off, and doin' some measurin', etc. But then again, I wouldn't be buying a drag bike, I'd build it.
I believe you are lookin' for a 'decent' ride, not a 'racer'. JMFUO, again

 

Any mods to your bike? How much throttle do you give it?

 

or the opposite, race a known 883, if you smoke it, you've been upgraded 8)

 

Not true in all cases. Refer to my thread lol.

 

SE Cleaner. SEII pipes. Re-Jet. I run it up to 4K unless I am really trying to go and then I shift at 5K or 5.5K. Don't get me wrong. I am not beating too many crotch rockets or 1200s, but the referance was to a school bus.

 

4k= 30mph
5k= 35mph

 

In first?