I would go with the 1200, but I am bias because I ended up with the 1200

The 1200 has much better heads than the 883. You don't have to do a conversion on the 883 to make it a 1200 and risk voiding your warranty. With the 1200 you get a factory warranty and the extra power. If you want your 1200 to be quicker as with a 883 convesion just put an 883 sprocket on the 1200. If you end up with the 1200R you get a few other functional benefits such as cast wheels, tach, and dual-disc brakes. Bottom line is that the 1200 shaves almost 2 seconds off the 1/4 mile from an 883 with only sacraficing something like 3 mpg.

 

I ordered the 883C Patriot Edition. Why not the 1200C?

1. I have not ridden in over 25 years. I want to get back into it and make sure that is what I want to do at this stage of life. I felt starting w/883 was the way to go.

2. I agree w/XL OCD. Converting to the 1250 will make a sweet sleeper.

3. I did not want to spend another $2000 for something that I could upgrade to myself.

4. When you upgrade the VIN still = 883. Savings on insurance.


BTW - Mine ships on 13 December. Thank you Santa!!!

 

Why, thank you. Thanks to all on here for keeping me company during the Ohio winters. Damn, I'm bummed that winter is almost here already. I'll be modding my car this winter since I've got the bike right where it needs to be. Any faster and I'm a dead man. Only thing in that bike's future may be mid controls and a sissy bar for when the wife starts riding again. At least that's the only thing I have planned until you guys convince me to get into more trouble.

 

I had a '98 883. Added two-up seat, tall padded sissy bar, detachable windsheild,etc. My wife and young son loved going for rides on the back of it. We live in a mostly urban area, but it's very easy to be on 3-4 major highways less than 2 miles in any direction. We mostly rode on backroads and we had a lot of fun on that bike. But one day during a 4th of July holiday, I had to get on the thruway and go out @ 70 miles and back. New York State 90 Thruway traffic on any holiday is freakin' nuts and if you're not doing at LEAST 75-80 mph, you're getting your doors blown off. That was NOT a fun ride that day. Long story short, I went down to the local dealer to inquire about the engine upgrade to 1200cc's. By the time everything was factored in, I thought that I might as well trade it on up. UNFORTUNATELY, they had a Buell demo right there and, oh mama, that thing seduced me after one ride. Got a great trade-in for the 883 and took the Buell. I liked the Buell, but I lost my riding partners because neither one of them would ride on the back of it. I was always speeding on the Buell instead of the easy mind-clearing rides I used to enjoy on the 883. They both missed that 883 and the way it was set up. Hindsight is 20/20 but if I knew then what I know now, I would've got the Sporty 1200 to begin with. Set up for 2-up riding with enough power for handling the occasional highway/thruway ride, good gas mileage, now with the larger tanks even longer cruising range,etc,etc. Sold the Buell a couple of years ago due to time constraints limiting my riding time to basically nothing. A little more time now and it was time for another bike. I ended up getting a great deal on an '06 E-Glide and we're having a blast on it. But I would've seriously considered a 1200 Sporty with the larger tank in a heartbeat. Nothing wrong with an 883. Depends on where you live, the roads, finances (obviuously), mileage, riding partners, etc. Now that I have the E-Glide, I might just pick up an 883 for some backroad solo runs and to also see if I can get the wife to get her permit and give being the one in control a try.