I've been interested in upgrading my 883 for this exact reason, so I find this fact very interesting. I believe I will hold out to buy a 1200 instead of doing the upgrade if this is indeed true.

Durability? From posts that I've read about rides they've taken (on 883's and 1200's) they seem pretty darn durable to me! Now riding comfort is a different issue, but only when talking about longer rides.

 

There is a difference in the 'final drive ratio' between the 883 and 1200, but it isn't as great as many think.

Final ratio on the 1200 is 3.517, while the 883 is 4.071, and it's not that difficult to change things over to the 1200 ratio if you want.

Here is detail information on the 2004+ Sportsters;

Number Of Teeth;

883 (US Model)

Primary - Engine - 34
Primary - Clutch - 57
Final - Transmission - 28
Final - Rear Wheel - 68

883 (World Series)

Primary - Engine - 38
Primary - Clutch - 57
Final - Transmission - 28
Final - Rear Wheel - 68

1200 (US Models)

Primary - Engine - 38
Primary - Clutch - 57
Final - Transmission - 29
Final - Rear Wheel - 68

1200 (World Models)

Primary - Engine - 38
Primary - Clutch - 57
Final - Transmission - 30
Final - Rear Wheel - 68

Overall Gear Ratios;

883 (US Models)

1st - 10.994
2nd - 7.524
3rd - 5.834
4th - 4.806
5th - 4.071

883 (World Models)

1st - 9.792
2nd - 6.732
3rd - 5.220
4th - 4.301
5th - 3.643

1200 (US Models)

1st - 9.454
2nd - 6.500
3rd - 5.040
4th - 4.152
5th - 3.517

1200 (World Models)

1st - 9.139
2nd - 6.283
3rd - 4.872
4th - 4.014
5th - 3.400

 

You aren't riding too hard for a sportster. The sportster engine is very durable. The bike isn't the most comfortable for longer rides, but the engine should be able to take it. As for blowby, it has been a common issue on sportster for years. The rubbermounts should be much better than the solidmounts. Usually when you get that much blowby it indicates a problem. I have done 300 miles days at 80-90 mph without blowby problems.

 

Lol Oldfenderguy! I just read that in the manual not more that an hour ago. I too had questions reguarding gearing, found it there.

 

I should have let you post it....

Damn near took me an hour just to type all that!! LoL...

 

I agree with the others who have called BS! I own an 07 883R, picked it up in August and have 6600 miles on it, riding 120 miles a day to work, 90% freeway, 65-75 mph. NOT ONE problem. Some dayI am going to get a bigger H-Dbut keep the Sporty.

 

Surprised someone didn't jump on this one!

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only thing that makes the gearing different is the front sprocket, which is an easy swap (easier than the rest of the conversion). I wouldn't let that keep you from buying the 883.

 

My sister and her fiance bought a 1990 Ultra Classic Tour Glide last year that now has about 37,000 miles on it and it is so worn out that he dumps 75W oil in it so he can get oil pressure. He claims the original owner did not maintain it properly. Wasn't it in some other thread that someone said the Sporty engine liked to be revved up and run at higher R.P.M.s? I too agree that any reference to the 883 or 1200 being less durable than the big twin is BS. My Dad was a Mercedes mechanic for 30 years and he used to get so irritated when a customer would bring a car in that ran like crap just because the engine was babied. He'd always say the engine was designed to be run hard so run it that way. Diesels included. As long as they have good oil, Sporty engines should be as reliable and durable as any of the bigger twins. I love my 883. With as much competition as there is now among motorcycle manufacturers to get customer business, I'm sure H-D has found the Sporster engine to be a good engine.

 

The sporty engine lives for high RPM's. You can spin it at high rpm's all day and you are probably wearing it out less than at low rpm's. Although, the bikes have a rev limit of 6K rpm, they have the same valvetrain as buells and can rev to 7K rpm (rubbermounts only). There was some exaggerations there, but sportsters don't care about revving high.