Further mods for an 883/1200 conversion

[Russ]

I'm right at the 500 mile mark on my conversion. :clap


The bike is running great. I couldn't be happier with how it performs now. Passing at interstate speeds is just a matter of twisting the throttle. Fuel mileage is about 40 MPG, depending on how well behaved I am. And the bike starts when cold on the first hit of the starter button.

And best of all, no leaks whatsoever.

Now, I'm wondering what steps should I take to get the most out of the motor in it's current configuration. (10:1 pistons, SE bolt-in cams, SE ignition module) I'm not ready to pull the heads to have them worked over just yet. And besides, it's springtime. Can't have the bike down for more than a day until next winter.

I'm thinking I want a NRHS Hurricane Flow air cleaner. Will I see much of a difference going from an SE A/C to the Hurricane 2"?

Also, I want to upgrade the exhaust. I'm currently running Cycle Shack slip-ons on the stock pipes. Any suggestions? Noise isn't much of a factor, as Louisiana doesn't have issues with loud exhausts. But something that looks good and sounds good would be preferred over another system that'll give me .1 HP at 5800 RPMs.

[Desertfox]

Definately recomend heads and 1200 valves. Wait till you get that done. you think highway passing now is fun, with 1200 valves and 883 gearing it can get down right scarry. I move my right thumb to actuate turn signal and I'm going 85- 90 before I know what's happening. I'm getting low end cams put in in a couple of weeks to complete the conversion.

[stevo]

Refresh my memory Russ ...which cams did ya put in???? E's or the old SE .497" bolt ins..???

[Russ]

E's. .551" lift, 249 duration.

What some around here refer to as 'noisy'. :D

[barry1967]

I'd stick with the cycle shacks. I don't think to many other systems out there would give you a big enough improvement to waste the money.

Aaron said his 3 inch filter had no noticable drop in HP than no filter at all. I would take his word on that. If ya like the look of factory, that's the way to go.

I noticed a 5-7HP drop with the 04 SE ac kit verses noe ac and swapped to the round Big Twin kit and HP drop was about 1-2 so it just depends on what ya want for looks.

Either way is better than stock or the 04-05 SE ones for sure.

[stevo]

OK Russ ... with the E's I'd stick with the Cycle shacks as Bazza said..

You havn't got enuff overlap in those cams to really take the effect of a 2-1 and you'll lose around the 2500-3000 mark..

A decent air cleaner like the Hurrcane 2" will help give you a bit extra..

Have a look at Aarons thread on his '04 883....there's all the dyno info ya need in there..

[Russ]

So, Barry and Steve...

I won't be hurting anything by buying an exhaust system based on looks and sound? The people who live behind me have V&H pipes on a 1340 Fat Boy and it sounds incredible. Basically, avoid a 2-1 design? Would that limit future upgrades (headwork)?

I think I'll order the air cleaner next month. I've got some stuff coming up for work and I'm not gonna have time to fiddle with the bike for a few weeks, much less ride it for something other than just running around here.

[barry1967]

The vance and hines will not sound the same on your sportster. It will sound good but not the same. The 1340 has a longer stroke and a lumpier sound. Try to find a sporty with a set and listen. The V&H I don't think are that great for HP figures. At the point your at the CSs are your best bet. But, if you like the look of the V&H by all means go for it. It's your ride and you need to be happy with it.

[stevo]

Where do you want more power???????????

overtaking in top gear?????????? that's the 2500 - 3500 slot..

The best for that slot are stock headers with cross over and a good set of slip ons...Cycle Shack or S&S are about the best...we're havin good success with the S&S's and I'm impressed with them..

Next is a good quality 2-1 ... the Supertrap is good because of the tunability....
but 2-1's will tend to dip around the 2500 - 2700 and start to come good about 3000+

2-2 Drag pipes.....are useless under 4500 and then go VERY well

2-2 Supertrapps are quite OK thruout the range...

most of the 2-2 designs fall somewhere between the Drag pipes and Supertrapps...
Most 2-2 designs are for looks first, sound second........and real world performance a veery distant 3rd

As has been explained a few times before the exhaust works on waves...and the stronger the wave the more pronounced it's good or bad will be...

Drag pipes with no baffles have the strongest pulse and therefore the most power up top where the wave works for good and poor performance down low where that strong wave works for the bad man ;)
That's why they're called drag pipes 'cos they're built for the drags

The cross-over pipe dampens these pulses out to about the best compromise for street use.....

2-1 best range for racing or hard twisties