Q: Does a few cubic inches really make that much difference?

A: A 36% increase in cubic inches is alot more than a few.

Also the 1200 has a higher gear ratio producing slightly lower rpm's at highway cruising speeds.

 

if your questioning which one you want the bigger. You can get the 883 make it a 1200 or 1250 and chrome it up to look like the 1200 and save some $$or avoid the process and just geta 1200

 

You and you only know what you can afford. My wife and I rode a 650cc bike for years 2up, and yes sometimes it struggled in certain situations, so we had to down shift big whoop. I finally got back to a better financial situation and moved back up to a HD. Do whats right for you, and you know what $99 gets you into a new HD, God bless America. Dave...

This is not to Hagar the Horrible it's to the original poster.

 

The special financing comes up every year: $99/mo for an 883, $125 for a 1200. I bought my 1200 on this deal, but then again, I am banking on my wife getting that $100,000 job by the time the payments jump to $300. Plus the baby will be out of daycare too.

 

At normal (near speed limit) speeds, the 883 will do pretty much anything the 1200 will. But, the 1200 will not be working as hard. Ride both and let your butt decide, they main reason they make the 883 is becuse a lot of people just don't need 74 cubic inches, and you're the only person who can know if you are one of them.

That being said, I am personally a bit partial to the 1200 because it is about the same displacement as the '57 Panhead I built years ago.

 

Tomorrow is the big day. Going to the2 dealers in my area to check out the customs. Thanks for all the good advice from everybody. I am leaning toward the 1200C but it will be a matter of price. I am going to see if they have any 06 leftovers that I can get down about $1000. If not I will probably get the 883C. Either way I am sure I will be happy with which ever one I get.

I'll post tomorrow with the one I buy. Again, thanks for all the good advice.

Mark

 

Good luck Mark!

 

I just got back from the Harley dealers. The first place I stop only had one 883C and they had it marked at $200 over MSRP. The only other Stortster's they had were one 883L and one 1200C. Both with extras already added in. As you can guess I left there very quickly.

The second dealer I stopped at hadno 883C's and very few 1200C's (crappy colors) anda couple two tones starting at over $10,000. He did have one 06 883C leftover that he said he would sell for $7,000 base and he would eat the deal prep and doc fees. I almost got that one but decided why get the old tech (carb) when the new EFI's are out. He also claimed he had his quota for Stortsters for the year and could not order anymore 07's. He wouldn't get any more till the 08's came out.

So, I am going to keep saving my money and by late fall or early next spring I should have enough to buy a 1200C with cash. I just won't be riding this summer.

 

Bummer. You don't have more than 2 dealers to choose from?

 

If you like chrome you'll be much happier with the 1200 C. If you're thinking about a cash purchase, and don't need the dealer for financing, consider a recent vintage used bike. I bought my 1200 C on ebay. It was one year old with 1300 miles on it. It was and is perfect. I figure the original owner lost between 3 and $4,000.00. To me there are too many recent vintage, perfect, low mileageused Harleys out there to consider buying a new one with all the added costs (tax, set-up, etc).

Good luck.