How powerful is an 883 Sportster?

Anonymous Poster · Sep 15, 2002

Wow! 12 seconds is movin' out! I used to go to a drag strip in Florida where they ran brackets. There was a guy that looked to be in his seventies that would drive his Regal to the strip, and run a 14 second ET almost every run. Street tires, right from the highway to the strip. That was in Ocala Florida (I think-it was 12 years ago). I wonder if they still have that drag strip down there. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Anyway, people hear so much about the 12 and 10 sec. cars that they tend to lose sight of the fact that even 14 seconds is scootin' along pretty well (especially on street tires and pump gas).

Anonymous Poster · Sep 15, 2002

You know, I probly ought to end this thread with a confession. The Yamaha numbers I posted were from Yamaha's most powerful motorcycle (YZFR1) with a full race exhaust. I don't think Yamaha V-twins achieve 1HP per cubic inch either. But how bout them inline motors huh? Man, if my Camaro had the output of that R1, it would produce close to 700 HP at the rear wheels!

Wingnut · Sep 16, 2002

now, now, Thomas .... we're no longer available, you and I .... so that's not a very good reason ..... at least I know my spouse would NOT be amused!
/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Wingnut · Sep 16, 2002

<font color=blue>But in the past if you paid sticker for them ...</font color=blue>

true .... but I hear that is no longer the case. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

RobertN · Sep 16, 2002

I just checked back in... I would have guessed the stock numbers were as high or a little more than what you got out of your machine. I would have been way off...

I wonder what mine is making. From all my reading, and talking with a mechanic who has done the same mods as I did, I'm guestimating an even 80hp. I don't think it's over that. It runs good for a stoke bore/stroke 80".

Anonymous Poster · Sep 16, 2002

If your bike is truly making 1 HP per cubic inch at the rear wheel, You should be proud of your mechanical prowess. There aren't many Harleys that do that. I bet there are dyno shops in Cali, why not run it and let me know. If I was a betting man I would guess around .8-.9 HP per cube (similar to the 883) or about 64-72 HP.
Remember, lots of published HP numbers are crankshaft readings. In the real world we have those pesky frictional losses to deal with in the drivetrain. Honestly I wish I could run more Harleys, so I could see a better sampling of what they will do. 1HP per CI at the wheels in the car world is HUGE! Don't be dissapointed if your bike only makes 65 HP, every engine is designed for a specific purpose. The R1 makes roughly the same HP as a Camaro with a choked up 305, but plop that R1 motor in your Camaro, and you won't even make it out of the driveway. Comparing a R1 to a Harley ain't apples to apples. "The Heartbreaker" is calling to you, will you answer it's call?

RobertN · Sep 16, 2002

I would like to put in on a dyno. I know I have suprised an import bike or two. A year ago, on the way to watch short track speedway bikes over in Auburn, I was riding with two buddies. One was one a cbr600(?). We came off a left turn light, and I knew he was going to nail it. I grabbed a handful of throttleas I finished the turn, ran it to shift point(6500rpm), and power shifted to second. My friend Kenny was behind me. He said he could see the front wheel coming off the ground, as the rear tire was coming loose and getting sideways. I continued up a couple of gears, watching the suprise on the look from Tran on that Honda. I knew I was getting loose; it felt like riding a dirt bike where the front end is up while the back is slipping, coming on hard.

I don't run it up like that very often, but it will go...

Anonymous Poster · Sep 17, 2002

I thought Sportsters would rev harder than big twins. That 883 hit the rev limiter at about 6200 rpm, and was done making usable power at around 5500. Maybe the 80 incher doesn't have a rev limiter? It's a pretty sight to see that fire shooting out the exhaust when the ignition starts losing half it's spark (rev limiter).

RobertN · Sep 17, 2002

I have the Crane HI-4 ignition, with the limiter set to a snitch over 6500. The cam and springs are made for 6500+. The factory ignition limits out at I think 5200 or 5500 rpm on the stock big twin. Some of the factory hi-po ignitions have no limiter; a friend thrashed his motor to 7000+, and wasted his bottom end.

Over 6500rpm on a big twin is asking for trouble. Mine pulls hard to that point, but I would guess that my peak power is well below that.

I don't run it that high very often. Things get expensive too fast when you run that hard too often.

Anonymous Poster · Sep 17, 2002

If you ever do run it, please post your results. I'm interested in what that big hog can do. I have seen claims of 100 HP big twins, with stock bore and stroke, and I am sure that is atainable with the right parts and cash flow. The thing that I hate most about Harley is how cheap the Screamin' Eagle parts are compared to Yamaha's GYT parts. And what COOL STUFF is available. Heads, cams, ignitions, intake parts, all with the Harley seal of approval. If a guy's Harley doesn't run well, it is because there is no money left after the bike purchase. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif