Patmicg

So im going to check out this 87 HD sportster 883 loaded up with extras and goodies for 3k tomorrow. I don't really have any experience with harles but i know their reputation. So i was wondering if there was anything in particular you guys think i should look for in particular when i go to see it. Im really interested in getting a sportster and unfortunately i can only afford an older model. Plus this one has all the upgrades i was looking to do anyways. Heres some pics and a link to the CL ad:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/835010261.html

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StewPA

Hope your dental work is tight! I had a 2003 883 Sporty and it like to shake the fillings out of my head. Sold it after 6 months.
Lots of vibes - mirrors are useless due to shakin'
Wasn't my cup of tea.

gpzTurbo

Yes - ask him if he has any Japanese bikes for sale.

Bigdaa

Looks interesting if you get rid of the rigid rear. I think you could do some interesting stuff with that bike.

jd31goalie

that thing is gonna murder your back. you can find a much better one for about the same price if you look. personally i would leave that alone and i love harleys

royalchoppers

883 are so slow they are not even fun. I have ridden mopeds that accelerated better. But, they can be made into a 1200 farely cheap.

ratdog

yeah they can be made to go fast but don't hit any bumps at 60+mph or it's all over the place...plus no range w/ the peanut tank

but it is no doubt a low cost entry level harley that will get you down the road, it's just how it gets you down the road that might be the issue

sbeau1960

My one experience riding a Sportster 883 was disappointing. It was an '05 with the new "smoother" engine, still vibrated badly and had no power at all. Cool looking bike, but I agree there are other Harleys out there that will give you more bang for the buck.

2ohno

Real cheap, like 600 smackers ! Just make sure , if you do get this , to get the right carb when doing the big bore kit - if yo uuse the stock carb, your really limiting yourself -

nallac

i bought a 1200 kit(bored barrels,pistons and gaskets) off fleabay
for US$230. piece a piss to install ya self.

they are a heap of fun to ride.

FloridaMountaintop

the 1986-1990 models were the 4 speed bikes, and NOTHING wrong with the 4 speed over 5 speed, they just crammed another gear between the 1-4 and called it a 5 speed, the end gear is still 1 to 1.

The problem with the 4 speed sporties is the Alternator, they mounted it behind the clutch basket and they are known to throw the magnets off and trash the stator and to replace the rotor calls for a new clutch basket at the tunes of 350 bucks plus a rotor. I have glued the magnets back in if they were not broken to smitherines but that is about the ONLY difference in the sporties up until they went rubber mount.

If bought, do preventive maintence and remove the clutch basket and clean it REAL Good and use a putty type epoxy and fill the voids between the magnets to help them stay in place.

I put ALOT of miles on a 88 sporty I bought out of Korea while stationed in Okinawa back in the 90's, and that island was small!

Patmicg

FIgured i was due to update this thread and people might not mind reading about something other then a 919,

So i bought the sporty and i absolutely love it, I dumped about a grand into it cause the stator died out and needed a new clutch hub much like florida mountaintop predicted. But now i got it running like a top and it really puts out much more then i expected. As for the vibration it is not all that bad, i have a pretty good seat on mine and with the forward controls only my feet get some of the buzz. Even though the vibes arent extreme i still plan on getting a bar snake or something because i want to do the 1200 conversion on it over the winter.

Other plans include a possible olive drab green paint scheme and taping the exhaust for a old school possibly military inspired theme who knows

2000TJ

That sounds really cool. Keep us updated. Anything anti-chrome on a harley gets my attention and respect.

justintyme73

Awesome, glad to hear ya liking it. post some pics when ya get a chance. Get a good aftermarket 1200 kit with lightweight pistons that is well balanced and you will prob have less vibes than the stock 883, and put out more power than a stock 1200. Install good polyurethane Riser bushins can help too. The Kuryakyn Iso grips and pegs are pretty good too for transfering less vibration.

2ohno

For all thier faults, they can be a fun bike ! Enjoy and ride safe !

FloridaMountaintop

Dang, it is a common thing, but I did not mean to jinx it!

The best 1200 conversion is just do the weisco dish top piston kit, and leave the heads stock. It is just a simple bore and you are good to go. I have extra jugs if you want a set, then you can buy the pistons, get them bored the 1/2" and have all the gaskets ready and in 3 hours, you are up and running with a 1200. If you plan on cams, I recommend the V4 Andrews over the larger V8, but it is up to you, I have ran them all, and the V4 are the best all around I have ran.

I am glad you enjoy the Sporty, I enjoyed the crap outta mine. I just tired of the frame being so small, and I could not afford another bike at the time, so I sold it to go bigger. I have a old Ironhead engine in a box, and a friend gave me a frame with title, so it looks like I will be doing a bike in the near future along with the 42 Flathead WLA, and the 53 Servi-car, and doing another bottomend on my Springer.

If you need any tech info, just let me know, I can PM you my number and we can talk.