Need More Power Captain!

As a new Harley owner I find myself learning so many new things from postings made in this forum! Everyone in here seems so knowledgeable and I enjoy reading about your rides and your experiences. So, that being said I need to pick your brains if I may? I have a 97 Sportster 1200 (origially a 1200) which is basically stock except for SEII pipes, a K&N air filter in the stock "ham can" and a V-Ductor from Ken. What I'm looking for are some suggestions on how to get more power without breaking the bank. I just recieved my Stage 1 carb kit from Ken and plan on doing that very soon. Are cams worth the effort? I've also read about single fire ignition...is it worth it? I'm just in need of some suggestions thoughts or opinions. As a first time Harley owner I would really appreciate any ideas from those with more experience that could help me in my quest for more HP! Thanks in advance everyone.

nothing is cheap on a sporty motor . my thoughts would be head work any stock motor would benefit from head work its the most power maker than any thing else you do . even with stock cams . the valve train geometry on the sportster motor is the best you can have . each cam has its on job and is not shared with any one else frees up lots of power that way . its a 1200 so your ahead of the game allready . have the heads done see , kirby at veetwin performance great work for little money . bump the compressin by going to thin head gaskets and ill bet you have less money in that motor with much more power than putting cams in it .

Thanks for the info BP! I've only had the bike a few months and I bought it from a guy who inherited the bike then just sold it so he knew very little about it. So aside from the pipes and air cleaner which I did I don't know what else the bike has in it or even how to find out! I was told by a fellow HOG Chapter member that judging by the sound of it the previous owner may have put cams in it already. It has a slow and very lopey idle. Is there any way to tell if the cams were changed out or not? Please excuse my lack of Harley knowledge. :witsend:

if and when you pull the heads a dial indacator and degree wheel would have to be installed and check how much lift is on the intake and exhaust . or pulling the cover but thats just not to smart . lopy idle on a sporty is very normal they have alot of duration even on stock cams , they have that race motor sound from the factory . i loved the sound of my sporty . Truth is most of us twin cam owners wish we had that sound just wont admit it .!!!! you will be very happy if you open up the heads on that sporty it will wake that motor up quite a bit . they are pretty quick from the factory but got alot left in them!!

When I first went Harley shopping I had to be budget conscious so I opted to shop for a Sporty and to be honest was a little skeptical at first about the displacement versus a big Harley but when I rode my first 1200 I was pleasantly surprised at the power and torque that little mill put out! Some of my friends who ride full size bikes took it too lightly and they underestimated my "little" bike as they called it until they got a good run outta her! I would like a big bike one day as I do like to go on road trips and I know with a big cruiser it would be much more enjoyable but for now I'm going to enjoy my first Harley and do what I can to get the most out of it I can. I'm going to do some research to find a place local to me in New Jersey that can do work like you described. Thanks again.

If it was a SB Chevy I'd have no problem as I've toyed with many of them but these Harleys require a certain finesse...you have to talk to them real nice like just like a woman. LOL If you got the right touch it's a sweet ride but if not....they'll be spittin and puttin up a big fuss! Yes, Chuck...JB has a sweet ride and I'm sure he's got lots of tricks up his sleeve to get the Sportys to run.

its a small block with two cylinders bro!!!! comon man . just got one lobe for each valve is all . your at 74 ci do the math its real close ! cam for each valve i should say brain fart!!!!

he gots a big boy bike now . gotta let him in the club now chuck comon man!:roflmao:

We all say were never getting a bagger but we all wake up and realize why you see so many on the road. I could have saved alot of money if I would've changed over sooner.

I love my Sportster!!!! I do not regret buying it or spending the money that I did on it. That bike gets a lot of compliments where ever it rides.

Sportsters are fun I take my sisters for a ride a couple times a year

:roflmao::roflmao: Cool.

Riding a sportster
It's like dating a fat chick you don't want anyone to see you.:roflmao:

But I like fat chicks!!

As does everyone else JB your not alone and remember it's getting cold at night.

Its like what Cowboy said in a different thread but only different. "Its a three cow night!":roflmao::roflmao:

I agree with BP about the head work....One other thing you can do is get a free flowing breather kit,replacing the stock air filter with a K&N doesn't really add much flow over stock...the stock backing plate is restrictive...a free flow breather kit( like the SE)along with pipes and rejetting is about the cheapest power boost you can buy( used to be called paying the Harley tax).
Head work, free flow breather kit, free flow pipes and dial in the carb and your Sporty will fly....

air cleaner,good pipes,a little headwork & cams.XL`s are pretty easy to hot rod,we`ve got a 1200 up in indy putting 119HP to the wheel