Will stock 1200 heads off a '02 fit on any of the conversion kits out there? I have a '94 883 I want to convert to a 1200 and have some 1200 heads my bub isn't using and was wonderin' if they'd fit. Any help would be awsome...
-Frebird

I would just have your 883 heads modified. They say that the ports are smaller and you will prob get more power out of those 883 heads than the 1200 heads. I guess it depends on how much $$ you have to spend or what not.

Stick with the 883 heads if you are just planning a basic conversion with reverse dome pistons...about $500 + your time will get you to a nice basic 1200...of course...if you want more than that then you can always pay more and get it :)

I third the motion to stick with the stockers! My bike has much more low end torque due to the smaller ports. And I do not feel the loss at top end simply due to self preservation. (Went once from 60 to 100 in jus two or three seconds(felt instant, but I know better) must be the lower gearing in the 883 drive train?)

I believe that the heads from 91 up are all interchangable, bolt pattern is the same and they have the same breather set up??? But I would double check the breather part. The answer to the rest of your question depends on how far you want to go. the cheaper way is to keep the 883 heads and use reverse dome pistons. but if you want to do headwork down the road that usually means new pistons again. the 1200 heads allow for flat tops, but then there's the argument of if your going in why scome out with a basicaly stock 1200. I strongly suggest that you take the time to talk with the folks at NRHS and HeadQuarters, They may seam pricey initially, but in the long run doing it right the first time is way cheaper than endless experamentation, they have both done all your homework and offer proven preformance packages, that really arn't that expensive with all things considered. My rule of thumb would be call HQ if you want to use 883 heads, and call Nallins if your gonna go with 1200 heads, but then why would you use anything but XBs and so on and so on, but at least give em a call and see what they have to say.

look HERE (http://www.xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5927)

But the $500 price tag only applies if you are an expert mechanic and can do most of the work yourself. You will pay more to have somebody else, who is an expert, do it for...and hopefully, with you. Geez, the wiseco pistons alone are almost $300.

I'm sure this subject has been covered numerous times, but... I was always under the impression that you just swapped the jugs and pistons... Do you have to modify anything else to make it work? (i.e. lifters or whatever). I've been considering buying an 883 and turning it into a 1200 sometime in the future. Seems cheaper anyway you cut it... Even if you spent 2 g's on it you'd be coming out even...

-derek

I'm sure this subject has been covered numerous times, but... I was always under the impression that you just swapped the jugs and pistons... Do you have to modify anything else to make it work? (i.e. lifters or whatever). I've been considering buying an 883 and turning it into a 1200 sometime in the future. Seems cheaper anyway you cut it... Even if you spent 2 g's on it you'd be coming out even...

-derek
The gearing is different. There is one more tooth on the front gear of the 1200's. Amazing the difference one tooth can make!

I have heard it said that a converted 883 will never match the power of a 1200 with the same configuration. I have never seen it dyno'd so I don't know if it's true, or just Harley envy.

CJ

The gearing is different. There is one more tooth on the front gear of the 1200's. Amazing the difference one tooth can make!

I have heard it said that a converted 883 will never match the power of a 1200 with the same configuration. I have never seen it dyno'd so I don't know if it's true, or just Harley envy.

CJ
the 883 has a 27 tooth pully on the front ( belt ) while the 1200 jas a 29 tooth pully. the converted 883 with the origional 883 heads may not make the upper end power of a factory 1200, but with the lower gearing it will take a stock 1200 of the line and in the lower rpms, where most people ride anyway. The smaller ports of the 883 will add velocity to the air fuel mixture at lower rpms and give the conversion moor torq than a stock 1200 at the low to mid rpms. The bigger 1200 valves only start to make a differance above 4000 and probably closer to the 4500 rpm range. So you may be right in the purist sense, but when it comes to real world applications I think you would be wrong to follow that line of thinking.

the 883 has a 27 tooth pully on the front ( belt ) while the 1200 jas a 29 tooth pully. the converted 883 with the origional 883 heads may not make the upper end power of a factory 1200, but with the lower gearing it will take a stock 1200 of the line and in the lower rpms, where most people ride anyway. The smaller ports of the 883 will add velocity to the air fuel mixture at lower rpms and give the conversion moor torq than a stock 1200 at the low to mid rpms. The bigger 1200 valves only start to make a differance above 4000 and probably closer to the 4500 rpm range. So you may be right in the purist sense, but when it comes to real world applications I think you would be wrong to follow that line of thinking.

I smoked an 883 coverted to 1200 from the start with my Factory 1200 (Taxes paid). Perhaps the 883 conversion you are talking about had some more money and parts thrown in there.

Loco
SoCal

I smoked an 883 coverted to 1200 from the start with my Factory 1200 (Taxes paid). Perhaps the 883 conversion you are talking about had some more money and parts thrown in there.

Loco
SoCal


I would believe if you have an 04' or 05'. Which you do. You would smoke a basic conversion bike, regardless of year. The cams are hotter in the rubber mounted 1200's and the heads are better and the rev limiter can go 500 rpms higher.

But on a pre 04', I think a basic converision smokes a stock 1200 (pre 04') due to gearing.

IMO, with an 04' and newer 883, you need head work, cams, and ignition, then you will smoke the stock 04' and newer 1200 (due to the 883's gearing).

Since the rubber mount came out the 883 needs more than the basic conversion to smoke the 1200.

all of this assumes every single bike mentioned will have high flow exhaust, air cleaner and a rejet.

All of this is my opinion and purely conjecture which is based on known facts and taking them to a logical conclusion. Is the conclusion correct? I don't know. After my conversion, I'll race ya :p

[QUOTE=wagoneer12] But on a pre 04', I think a basic converision smokes a stock 1200 (pre 04') due to gearing.

IMO, with an 04' and newer 883, you need head work, cams, and ignition, then you will smoke the stock 04' and newer 1200 (due to the 883's gearing).

Since the rubber mount came out the 883 needs more than the basic conversion to smoke the 1200.

I should have specified pre 04, but I'm not perfect either. :cry1
Thanks for clearing it up wagoneer12

I went through a similar thought process a couple of years ago (for an '02 883 XL). The fact is that if you are on a tight budget, the best thing to do is think about what you will want to do after this mod and plan ahead accordingly. For example, I wanted to bump up from an 883 to a 1200, but I also knew that I would someday do some headwork and possibly a 1250 kit. Therefore, I purchased a set of Buell Thunderstorm heads when I went to the 1200 kit. This past winter I finally built up a 1250 kit and I had the guys down at NRHS do a stage 2 port job on the heads. Since I had already purchased the correct heads 2 years ago, I wasn't throwing money at money for the next phase. BTW, I am now making 102 hp at the rear wheel.