Buying a new bike...but what is it? - Page 3

rejeanprimeau · #21 16th July 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1250IRON

Look real close at the bottom of each cylinder on the left side of bike if you were sitting on it.
most cylinder upgrades like hammer and NRHS put their mark here. i'm not sure if the screaming eagle has a mark here also.

to me they do look like replacement cylinders due to the fact that the heat fins do not line up with the head fins. i believe on my iron they did on the stock cylinders. could be wrong though.

Hammer Performance has the mark behind the lifter block, hard to see the hammer. Screaming eagle has just the HD, they are regular 1200 cylinder, the head are deck 50 mil.

Jules083 · #22 16th July 2012

I would wonder that the conversion hasn't been done. The air intake looks stock, and the ignition looks stock. I would imagine that most people spending the coin on a conversion would also upgrade those two items. Maybe I'm wrong, but normally you see something different done there.

Have you ridden a 1200 before? They run a bit better than most people think, and when I first rode my 883 it took me a few miles to realize it. The seller thought I knew it was an 883, I thought it was a 1200. Explained why the price was low.

Rogster · #23 16th July 2012

last oct. I bought a 95 883, from a mechanic who told me the previos owners did something to the heads to make it a 1200..I knew he was full of it , but bought the bike anyway,,not power crazy myself at 53, and it only has like 8k on it anyway, think it was bought and rode a year or 2 and then sat for 15 years as the tires were dry rotted, the paint is good but faded..I had to put forwards on it , to make it fit me,, I'm happy like it is for now..Rog

motorend · #24 16th July 2012

If you have to play a guessing game, just move on. There are plenty others out there. Just for the fact it has a different tank for an unknown reason would make me a skeptic. Was the first one damaged? The R model had the same size tank. Just my 2 cents.

Osco · #25 16th July 2012

The seller should produce paperwork for the 1200 conversion,,parts list n such.

and who and where did the work,,

If not you may be paying a 1200 price for an 883,,,,,

Hope the conversion was done right,,

Personally,,Me,,,I would only buy used if the engine was never opened...

He punched It out to a 1200 he says,,,that means he punches It hard

I'd pass

Osco · #26 16th July 2012

The seller should produce paperwork for the 1200 conversion,,parts list n such.

and who and where did the work,,

If not you may be paying a 1200 price for an 883,,,,,

Hope the conversion was done right,,

Personally,,Me,,,I would only buy used if the engine was never opened...

He punched It out to a 1200 he says,,,that means he punches It hard

I'd pass.

Unless your In love with the bike,,then Its too late.
Go on and buy yer hearts desire,,
Ya only live once...

tmack-1 · #27 17th July 2012

If I recall correctly, if they used OEM cylinders for the upgrade, a "1200" will be embossed into the front, lower right side corner with numbers running vertically. Sort of at the oil filter mount part of the cam cover and almost behind the pushrod. Hard to see.......

Although.... I'm not sure they are still doing that......

If it says 883, then it was either bored out to 1200 or is still a 883.

texbombboy · #28 17th July 2012

i have been trying to find this for a while check out this link...........
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...200+conversion

SomewhatLost · #29 17th July 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vrenlos

Does anyone else know any tell-tale signs of the conversion?

who cares if it is a 883 or 1200? regardless of what it is, it is a nice looking bike, and once you get it, call up Dan @ NRHS (or @ Hammer, your choice... apparently everyone is named Dan?) and get a 1250 kit, and laugh at all those silly people with their little 1200's...

Vrenlos · #30 18th July 2012

Once again guys, thanks for all of the input - that diagonal measurement idea is genius. However, after I started asking questions about the conversion and showed that I had done my homework, he miraculously went from trying to convince me to buy the bike to "keeping it for himself". I'm sure I'll see it listed back on craigslist in a day or two.

On the incredibly more positive end of things, I found an 04 1200R that's for sale right around the corner from someone I know for only a small amount of investment more. Oh and did I mention it's got the pipes I wanted, a few pairs of bars/seats/etc., and was tuned by another guy I know (and trust)? Woo!