Is it a 883 or 1200

I'm looking at buying my first bike and need some help... I've been looking at a '00 sportster for sale locally at an independant motorsports dealer. The 'non harley' salesman isn't much help... It's being listed as a XL883/1200. He can't tell me if it's actually a 883 or 1200. He says 'it wouldn't have 1200 listed if that isn't what it is...' needless to say, I don't put much weight in that statement. Is there anyway to know if it's actully a 1200 with out tearing into the engine? Would the VIN tell what motor it was produced with? Would a Harley Dealer know what motor it was made with? Are there part numbers that I could look for? Any ideas?

Please don't say - 'just drive it, you'll know right away' - this is my first bike and first Harley experience, so I wouldn't 'just know' by feel...

Thanks.

I was a afraid a teardown would be the only way to know for sure... I've been looking around at other places too, but not too many used sportster for sale in the area. Thanks for the help.

I know this won't be much help but you could request to see the title to the bike. The title will tell you exactly how Harley sold the bike.

If the title says 883 then that is what it was orginally. However, there are a bunch of kits out there to convert the 883 to 1200 that really aren't that bad expensive. Them having it listed as 883/1200 could mean it is a conversion bike. Like Chuck said without knowing bore and stroke it is about impossible to tell otherwise. Atleast it would be for me, but then again I am about as green to them as you are. Wish I could be of some positive help, but good luck with it. Hope you get your answers.

You don't have to see the registration to figure out the "original" engine size on the bike. Look at the 4th number, if it is a 1 it is a 1200. If the number is a 4, it was an 883 when manufactured. There is no way to know if it has been bored without pulling off one of the heads and measuring the bore. If it is any consolation, a bike with the 4 in the serial number (1HD4 instead of 1HD1) is cheaper to insure no matter what it has been built up to.

883 or 1200

one thing you might try is ask the previous owner of the bike. The title should tell who that was. If the seller let you see the title.

Mystery solved... found a helpful salesman who called previous owner. Started a 883 and owner had a 1200 conversion done a couple years ago... Should it make me nervous that a bike with less than 10,000 miles has been torn down and rebuilt? Seems to run/drive good and no obvious leaks. Any reason to be concerned? Not sure if owner did work or had a shop do it.

Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it. I found a VIN decode in the tech section at sportster.org. VIN will tell the year, model, engine size, ect.

I don't think you have anything to worry about if you've put a few miles on her and see nothing wrong with it. Upping the 883 to a 1200 is very standard and has been done for years. Probably just wanted MORE POWER!

Isn't that what it's all about? Turn right wrist, make it fly, get used to the performance, make it go faster. Then do it all over again. Glad you're enjoying the pleasure of wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth. The performance thing is the only vice I haven't seemed to be able to overcome, but it's been safer that cigarettes, whiskey and women my wife don't approve of, although doesn't seem to be any cheaper.