Sportster tuning

I've had a chance to look real close at the pickup sensor and it looks like it may have had some heat damage. The epoxy, if thats what it is, looks like it got hot and started to bubble. I've included a picture and wondered if this looks right?

After doin some homework I put a timing light on my bike and come to find out the timing is MAX advanced. I set the timing back to where the pointer lines up and WOOT... paydirt! The bike is now running sweet. Can't thank you guys enough for all the help and encouragement.

XLent !!! :cheers:

I own a 250 GTV Vespa and I can't say that it is faster than my 1200 Sporty. It does have great pick-up considering the "twist and go" technology. Maybe it was hopped up? The Vespa has about 11-12 HP and the Sporty has about 50 stock... Maybe he had a nitro set-up? LOL

:roflmao: :roflmao: he didn't see the NOS bottle strapped on the parcel carrier:roflmao: :roflmao:

thats right lucifer, NOS is a laughing matter:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Still not happy about the Vespa thing, but I have been getting slightly better pull when stopped if I take care to shift perfectly. It may be my drag pipes. I had BV&H baffles put in, but they may not be giving the best amount of back pressure since the dealer cut them down a bit to keep them loud. If I keep the Sporty for a while, I'll probably change out the pipes to get better grip in 1st and 2nd. 3rd, 4th and 5th are fine now.

A couple of chuckles at your expense HellBoy, no offence . I think the Vespa got ya with the power to weight ratio off the line, if you came on to it outta the blocks,without smokin the tire you would have dusted him

Centrifigual clutch, constantly variable transmission, lighter weight - them scooterboys will getcha Don't know where the backpressure is good idea came from, but backpressure in the exhaust is always bad. So are drag pipes & baffles are only a Band-Aid. You will never get good low-end, stoplight-to-stoplight power from an 883 (or 1200) with drag pipes. And even on the top end, stock pipes with crossover & SE I slip-ons with a baffle modification is faster than drag pipes - that's been proved in the measured mile several times.

Good to hear from you Art. I thought adding baffles to drag pipes helped with low gear pull. It seemed to help a little, just not as much as I'd hoped. As I spend more time with my Sport, I'm both lovin' it and realizing it's probably just a bit too small for my 6'5" frame. I know I can get custom forward controls and replace pipes and get 1200 bore kit, but if I can afford it, I'll look at a Dyna. Still, I may have to keep it for a year or two, since money has to be used toward other recent developments. It's all good though. It's not like my 03 100th Ann. Sporty is a shabby ride!

As I had posted earlier, I own an '07 Vespa GTV and there is no way I can get smoked on my 1200 by it...I know because I had a friend ride the Vespa and I rode the 1200..went to an abandoned strip of road and let 'er loose...I smoked the Vespa easily.

I just don't see how the Sporty can be called a shabby ride..:gah: there are many factors to be considered in the power/weight ratio. If you bought it at a dealership, then they did you a disservice...knowing your height, weight, etc..then selling you an 883...My salesman talked me out of an 883 and into the 1200 and I am 5'10" and 160#. He said I would never be happy with the 883..maybe for hte first month, then not.

I may have missed something, but I don't think anyone was saying it's a shabby ride, actually the oposite. I agree there are alot of factors to consider when picking a ride and alot comes to personal riding style and such. I have to say I really like mine and it has some advantages in being smaller. I would have to say if a person was bent on beating a vespa I'd think you could tac it to redline and dump the clutch but it tends to draw bad attention at a street light, lol. Try that on a vespa

No, it certainly ain't shabby & both my Sportsters started out being 883 Standards - bought used. But you can do a 1200 conversion for less than $1000 & actually about 1/2 that if you do the wrenching yourself. The cost/benefit ratio isn't as big on the '04-up bikes, but an '03-earlier 883>1200 will beat a stock 1200, especially stoplight-to-stoplight (lower overall gearing). And such things as the factory forward controls (don't buy aftermarket) bolt right up - you can turn any model Sportster into any other model if you want.

Just keep all the original parts if you're eventually going to sell the bike & get something else, as it'll be worth more. Especially if you change things like pegs, seat, handlebar, etc., the odds of a buyer liking the same setup you do are slim & none. And NEVER trade a bike in @ a dealer - you'll get a LOT more selling it individually & aftermarket parts separately. Then take that cash & apply it to the new bike - you'll come out way ahead.

There are a lot of big & tall guys who ride Sportsters 'cause that's what they like, but you may very well like a Dyna better. Nothing wrong with that, but until you've saved enough to get one, you can enjoy what you've got without spending a fortune. You can change exhaust, foot controls, etc. on the back porch with hand tools - I did. And I believe you mentioned an indy shop that a friend of yours goes to - it's a lot less expensive to have an indy shop do what you don't have the tools or experience for than go to a dealer, that's for sure.

No easier bike to customize than a Sportster, you can always put it back to stock & making it a 1200, but otherwise stock usually makes it worth a bit more. I don't view the Anniversary model bikes as an "investment" but were I looking for another used bike, I'd buy an '03 before another model. The drag pipes would be the 1st thing to go though .....

I was being tongue in cheek about the Sporty not being too shabby a ride
I'm going through a relationship breakup at the moment and that has to take priority, since we've been together over 13 years. When the dust settles and I take a look at my finances, I'll know in a month or two if I can afford to change bikes. I'd love to change pipes and do the 1200 bore on my 03 Sporty, just to see how good it could be, but I'm at that crossroads, where it's time for a tune-up, oil change, new tires, maybe break and clutch pads, etc. So selling now might be the best thing. I've seen a mint 06 Street Bob, with less than 3500 miles for 10G. That might be able to swing that if certain issues on the home front go my way.

Thanks for the support guys, it's really appreciated. It is helpful to white line on rare occasions. I only do it when I see it will save me a lot of time and the coast is very, very clear. I'm never casual about it. The Sporty is great for weaving through traffic when necessary and great for getting away from trouble when I need a burst of speed.

Sorry 'bout that man, 13yrs is a long time.