I posted this yesterday on the newbie board. I was wondering if there was a not so evasive way of finding out if your 883 has a 1200 conversion. I know you can measure the cylinders but that requires taking the heads off. I was wanting to know if there is another way. I am getting the bike sat. from relatives and it used to be my uncles and since he is not there anymore no one knows much about it. I was thinking one option would be taking the plugs out and looking for reverse domed pistons but I am not familiar with the engines and from what I read there are several different ways to do the conversion so I don't know if this would give me an accurate answer. Any ideas would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Chirs

 

You could ride it

If it goes, its a 1200

 

LOL! or you could have it dynoed. If its in the 40's it's an 883 and if its in the high 60's or 70's its a 1200. This also gives you a good baseline if you want to do future mods.

 

Both goodd ways to find out, you might get lucky with a vin number search also. Any work done at a dealer will be logged under that number.

 

I'm looking in my manual right now, there is a VIN number map.

The number should go like:

1 HD 1 CV 3 ...

The "3" in that sequence denotes which engine is present. 2 = 883cc, 3 = 1200cc. (In this case the 1200cc)

 

I agree with Eric.

 

Race a know 1200, if you keep up it's a 1200.

 

Remove the rear plug, use a dowel about 1/4 inch diameter, 3 or 4 inches long, First make sure the piston is bottomed out then measure the distance or mark the dowel at the top of the head with the dowel inserted into the plug hole, resting on the piston. Bump the starter till the poston tops out then measure or mark the dowel again. Hence stroke should be different measurement on a 1200 coversion then an 883 due to length of the piston from its connector pin to the top.

 

The stroke will still be 3.81" no matter where you start or finish the measurement.

 

ask a magic 8 ball.

really though, you should be able to tell by riding...