Hi everybody. I bought my 04 883 last spring - have put about 3700 miles on it. It's my first street bike and I love it. I've been reading everyone's posts about how great the conversion to a 1200 worked out - and I'm fired up to do it. I asked the dealership how much it would cost for them to do it. They quoted me $1150 - and that's with a 20% labor discount.

I'm not very mechanically inclined - certainly never tried anything like this before. Is there any kind of manual or anything that takes you step-by-step through how to do this?

Also, I live in Arlington, VA - anyone in the area know a good shop where I could get this done that wouldn't rob me like the dealership??

This is a pretty decent step by step. James Taylor did the conversion on his '03 hugger and documented everything along the way, including photos.
There are lots of these sorts of step by step how-to's floatin' around the web. A google search of '883 1200 conversion' will turn up a lot of info.
http://www.sportster.org/tech/883-1200/jamestaylor.pdf

That is very well done. Good info. I wish the pictures were a bit brighter, though.

By the way, Wildcardjd, welcome to the forum. You need to pop over to introductions and post to receive a proper welcome.


:welcome

I foud my conversion kit for $465.00, and did the work myself in 2 days. Its a great learning experiance, and if you follow evryons instructions and warnings - you cant fk up!

Welcome to the forum Wildcard! I live in the area and I am new to it but I asked a similar question on this thread http://www.xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1488&highlight=washington there are alot of guys in the area that should be able to help you out. Let me know how it goes I am considering doing the conversion myself.

AS PER 74Fehead: However THE best Indy in the norther VA area is Custom Cycle Acc. in springfield VA owned by R.C. the phone # 703 451-3360

You might want to check this thread out also since you are from VA http://www.xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1977

Hey everyone. Thanks for the info and for the welcome to the site. These forums are great! I've already learned a great deal just today.

It's amazing what a dummy like me can learn. I would prefer to get a kit and do the work myself, and get the learning experience of that. I'm just paranoid about hurting my bike. It's my first one.

Welcome to the forum, Wildcardjd! Like you've found out, this site is the best of them all! I'm sure you'll get some advice on a good shop nearby you...congrats on getting your bike, even though you've got a couple of miles on it now...addicting, huh? I took mine out last night and froze, but the frozen smile made it worthwhile! So pull up a seat and enjoy the show here!

The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites.

Wildcardjd,

I'm not mechanically challenged in any way, but I've never done major engine work on a bike or car. Using JT's notes, the service manual, and info I've gathered from this site and Sportster.org, I felt confident enough in my abilities that I jumped off the pier yesterday and tore my bike all the way down to just a crankcase. It's all really easy and fairly logical, provided you have a rudimentary understanding of how an engine works. I took my time, worked methodically, neatly organized everything that came off the engine, and took frequent breaks. Except for the aggravation of removing the intake, it was pretty straightforward.

You can see my progress here (http://www.xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2033).

As I get the bike back together, I'll be posting more pictures as well.

Also, I plan to do a similiar write up to JT's (JDT on this site) citing the differences between the '03 and older and the rubber mount bikes.

I'd say read the conversion forum on this board and the old XLforum board from beginning to end, read JDT's notes on his conversion as well as some of the others from Sportster.org, and if you have a service manual, read chapter 3 in that and then decide if you want to give it a shot.

Hey Wildcard, I was in the same boat as you. After several outrageous quotes from various shops, I finally broke down and ordered all the parts to do it myself. I printed out James Taylor's documentation and bought a factory service manual just in case. James did an excellent job and I followed it exactly as he documented. I only had to refer to the service manual for a couple occations. Right now it's all torn apart (see mt profile pic :yikes ). I'm just waiting for the local shop to finish my heads...Originally I was gonna leave the heads alone, but once I had them off I decided it was now or never. My advice is to familiarize yourself with James Talor's documentation/service manual, and take your time. It's pretty straight forward.

On a side note...Hey Russ, I thought I was nuts for tearing into a 2003! After seeing your pics, I dont feel as guilty now :D