Going to look at an advertised 2003 100th Anniversary Sportster 1200 tomorrow. My question is, How do I know or where do I look to find out if it is in fact a 1200 cc engine. I am assuming that the title will give the size of the engine and the VIN number must have something in it that designates the engine as a 1200. The seller and second owner of the bike has advertised it as a 1200 but he doesn't know how he came to the conclusion when he listed the bike. Since a 1200 looks the same as an 883 on the outside, what should I be looking at. The air cleaner should say 1200. I have the owner checking the title now. He bought it off of craigslist out of Texas in April of this year. He says it is not a salvage bike (as far as he knows) Looks just like this one: http://www.knightsoffire3nj.com/mart...n/DSC00341.JPG

What threw me off was the fact that his bike had a black oil tank instead of chrome.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

883 and 1200 DO look different.



This is my 1200 I bought new, it has a black oil tank and black and chrome engine. Disregard the rear fender, I changed it to the bobtail when it was new.

883 has a silver engine and belt pulley.

 

That chrome oil tank is just a cover you can buy at the Harley Shop. Black is stock when you buy the bike.

 

If it's a "C" model it'll have a chrome oil tank cover.

But...in the VIN, the 7th character will designate engine size (stock, of course).

If the 7th character is P it started life as a 1200.

If the 7th character is M it started life as an 883.

I have 4 of them. Don't let the anniversary crap jack up the price. There's nothing special about them. Atleast not yet anyway. 2 I've left completely stock (XL883C and an XL1200C) and 2 I've chopped (both XL1200C's). The one in my sig pic used to look EXACTLY like the link you posted.

The 883C will not have the black stripe on the fenders and it has a natural colored engine with no extra chrome on the motor itself. Chrome everywhere else though. The rear wheel on the 883C is solid aluminum. Ther 1200C will have a slotted chrome one. Everything else is exactly the same.

Also, by the VIN on the motor, there will be the anniversary flag.

 

Simply not true.

My XL1200C did NOT come with a chrome oil tank cover, I bought it new completely stock off the sales floor.

 

Alot of things can happen during assembly at the dealership. Your 1200C should, in fact, have had the chrome oil tank cover. I have 7 or 8 of them in my attic off of C model bikes. I can ship you one if you'd like. You also have the 883C seat on yours...or, atleast, not the stock 1200 seat.

 

Here's a pic the factory used in advertising.



Did you buy the bikes new or used? The chrome oil tank cover was a very common upgrade.

 

You know what, I stand corrected. A supporting dealership itself has the option to add the chrome oil tank cover and chrome belt guard.

Everything else stands the same.

 

Yeah, you posted that as I was typing.

 

One of the C's I bought was new-left over at the dealership. It had TONS of paperwork with it about the anniversary mumbo-jumbo.

Listed which dealerships (in my area) could alter the appearance and not affect the anniversary propoganda.

I even have a box of other crap and their explanations...the cell phone, mugs, bike cover, windshield(S), boot straps...I can't remember all of the crap that came with it but besides splitting hairs, the VIN will indicate which motor the bike has.