Yo!! I want to say thank you!!! I'm 6'0" and always felt that I had to go and get a dyna street bob or fat bob due to do what I want - long distance riding, carrying luggage bags, etc - or because they were frowned upon by other HD riders; but always had a big, soft spot for the Sportster and after seeing a couple of your videos, I am not second guessing myself of owning a Sportster Iron as my first bike. Thanks a bunch!!!
I'm 69 riding an 06 1200 Sporty with a stock seat, Screamin Eagle air filter with K&N element, Screamin Eagle slip on mufflers. Bike had forward controls and I changed to mids even being 5'11". Always rode CB Hondas and feel more in control with the mids and if I need to jump off the bike for some reason my feet are under me. I love my Sporty. Its light quick and sounds good! Oh I changed clutch to a 9 disk Barnett and it shifts smooth.
I love the way the wrap looks on certain bikes. I want to get an old Ironhead and just rat it out. My Biltwell chumps, which I'd consider buckhorn handlebars are pretty great and give it a similar look and comfort you're describing here. Oh, man! I couldn't ride the way I want without my Burley Sissybar!
The very first 3 things you should do is the air cleaner/exhaust/tune. Then get rid of those shitty Dunlop tires. Then replace the motor mounts with some Drag Specialties mounts. With make a world of improvement. Not much performance gain on an 883, but the handling and ride will be so much better. Good video!
BEACHBIKER don’t do a factory 1200 swap. Look up Hammer Performance and check out their kits. Cheaper and better then the factory set up. And you can call or Email Dan and/or Aaron and tell him what you got and what you want to achieve. Great people and a great company that stand behind what they do.
BEACHBIKER Dude, I live down in the RGV. Go with what Scott said, do a Hammer performance conversation. I put a 1250 conversion in my Son’s 95’ Sporty. Hammer is a awesome company to work with. Great customer support and will cost you less than screamin eagle with far superior parts. Look up their channel and their website. HammerPerformance.
The stock dunlops have the durometer of a glass bottle, and are dangerous. I upgraded to michelin commander 2 and it was more than a night and day difference.
I bought a new 2004 Harley sportster 1200 roadster. I put screaming eagles, forward pegs and a chrome engine kit & mini apes. Loved that bike I still had it. Your video was very good thanks for sharing
Hi Mr Beachbiker, just came across your channel as my iron arrives 1st March 19 and I’ve been doing a little research. I think you’ve done a splendid job of introducing the sportster to me and pontential owners, I’ve hit the subscribe button and look forward to other shows. Kind regards Beans.
I’ve owned 4 Harley’s. Love sportsters. I agreed with the 1st 2 mods. My 3rd mod would be bars that fit your stature. I’m 6 foot so I love 16” bars!!!!
Good advice for anyone who owns a Sportser, that's the beauty of them, so versatile! I love what you've done to yours. I go back & forth with mini apes & street tracker bars, takes me 15 minutes to swap bars. It's so much fun working on your own bike, nice vid!
Great vid. Very informative. My 2006 sportster vance hines short shots( great sound) kuryarkin hyper charger air intake. 12 inch z bar apes mustang solo seat kuryarkin sissy bar next mammoth spoke rims front and back.cut rear fender brake light in the middle turn signals also act as brake lights.daymaker headlight.
1. Mufflers Short shots, bigger... 2. Comfort forward controls for highway ride 3. Tanklift kit, wire tuck, electrical tape top of frame pinning wires in electrical tape for wether existence. Bonus parts 4. Wrapping pipes with exauhst heat tape. Pipes can breathe better.... 5. SwaP bats to MINI APES BARS jnp cycles Long distance 6. Adding Burley sissy bar for back rest luggage and storage trips. Longer rides. Coast to coast rides Thank you
you have good editing and even better content. you explained everything super well (im a beginner and even i followed along) and i was really shocked to see you had less than 1k subs. keep up the good content
Nice ride, I did all that to my 1200 custom and love the way it looks. DK Customs has all the kits for raising the tank and relocating the coil and ignition. The wrap you can get at any auto parts store and you do want to film it when you start the bike and dry out the wrap. My wife thought the garage was on fire from the steam coming off the pipes.Low Brow has a great bolt on sissy bar for under 200 bucks.Don't forget to change out the breather /intake DK has some real nice systems.
the best things i liked on my seventy two where getting it back after having a stage 1 remap hypercharger and shortshots the differance was amazing though i know it costs a lot and you cant do it yourself because the engine has to be remaped for them to work together but she flew up the road its like a diffrent bike
@@CHADAINSWORTH No, thank you! Just picked up a 2004 Sportster Roadster, in Dallas, TX. Working on making it my own now, and dealing with coming from 6 years of Japanese and British bikes :)
BEACHBIKER Bought my 72 recently and I LOVE IT. You coined it perfectly - newer Harley but still a Classic. Late model, higher tech Classic Harley Davidson. Raw, pure power and tech. Solid fun. Damn I love this Sportster. You get it. You do. Glad I came across this channel looking for Sportster 72 stuff. Keep it up!
On my 06 I've done, Short Shots *exhaust*, Big Sucker 2 *air cleaner* Tuned to this setup *tune*. Did all 3. Plus, seat, bars, controls, grips, pegs. Doing a Burly Slammer kit soon. Have the parts just need to put them on. I went for the lowrider/drag bike look. Black cherry paint with brown leather. She is pretty...and full of Demon Doggies hahaha
It’s all a matter of taste. But I couldn’t agree more on all six of these. I’m also 6’2 so the forward controls are a must. I never heard of the exhaust tape changing color like that before though
Jockey shift, foot clutch, ape hangers, and solo seat. And pipe wrap. Maybe even a springer. O hell yeah! Might seem silly on a Sportster, especially one with a stock frame, but I'm an old man, and I don't think my lower back will let me ride a rigid frame scoot for very long. I just want it to look, sound, and run like a bastard.
My first upgrade was the biltwell grenade slip ons and oh my god she sounds amazing and i've loved her so much since. Kinetic moto does a tank lift and coil relocation kit for 100 bucks and you get to choose the color of your spark plug wires.
I have a 2006 1200 Custom Sportster only things I upgraded were headlights (led) taillights (led) bright ass lights and screaming eagle carburetor kit...Vance and Hines straight shots pipes and -a windshield
This is just a suggestion. Some riders like them some don't. It is a simple add on just a few bolts. Crash bar with foot pegs. There are lots of choices of bars and pegs for that personal touch. Plus it gives you another foot and leg position on those long country roads. Just an idea for you and anyone else who reads this. Wishing you safe rides in the wind!
#1. S&S Super E Shorty carb kit for sportster #2. exhaust ( ditch stock exhaust pipes)! 2into 1 or 2 into 2 is best case scenario 3. bigger plug wires/ ditch the stock 8mm or the 8.8 mm plug wires and go with a 12 mm heavy duty plug wires and get a set of ngk iridium plugs make sure you gap the plugs to (.038-.043) gap don't listen to the auto parts storetheyre not pregapped!!!! and #4. ditch the belt and buy yourself a chain conversion kit from lowbrow customs and then you can get a seat handlebars or whatever but make sure you get a set of forward controls and go with floorboards and crashbar as well
nice the only things i add to you list is a air filter and tuner to complete the stage one and you will feel the power difference then anyway mate nice ride enjoy
Thank you, i will be buying a sportster and this helped me. I am somewhat of a mechanic and this helped me. Especially for a budget build. Edit: Subscribed!
i had a street 750 for the last 2 years just traded it in on a 2018 super low 883 sportster, i put a sissy bar, passenger seat and pegs on, gutted the slipons and put some inserts from bk in...it sounds pretty dam good right now, and put an led headlight in it, way better then the stock headlight, and crash bars, still need to get some pegs to put on them
I cut out the baffles put in bigger jets added a k&n high flow filter. I put in a dynatec ignition that gave it better ridability. A mustang seat gave me extra comfort for long rides
you ever think about taking the upper and lower belt guards off along with the front pully? then pop the cam cover off and trim it to fit just the bottom block of the engine.
Went with cobra speedster shortshots on my last sporty...I really like the cobra exhaust on my sporty!...I have Vance and Hines and screaming eagle on my other two bikes...the low loud cobra speedster shortshots sound bitchin on the sportster!...enjoyed the video good content...✌
Forward controls blow. Upgrade the exhaust , air cleaner, and rejet (or remap), then upgrade the suspension. The stock shocks are just dangerous when cornering.
Holesaw on a drill extension to cut the bulkhead in the mufflers out will save you hundreds of dollars and if done correctly you don't even have to take pipes off.
Man everything that you said on this video is to the point I took my Chrome heat shields hated it on that 48 special they come with chrome Muffler covers and chrome covers all the way up and it just took away from the Retro look the AMF error look and the forward controls are awesome I love them I'm fixing to build a crash bar so that I can put highway pegs on mine
Nice mods, my favorite one on my 883 was going up two teeth on my front pulley. I also added some Rush slip-one. As well as V&H FP3 and cold air intake.
Don't change the isolators for the drag specialties units. Been there, done that, they will only transmit more vibration to the rider. One thing to do is loosen the drive belt slightly. Spec is too tight and can make the bike act strange through mid corner bumps.
Sportsters are the most fun lightest bike Harley makes the still fit the cruiser look. There are other bikes lighter but they resemble sport bikes more than cruisers. Vance& Hines pipes are the best sound for Sportsters. Also do a ECM flash for a higher performance.
Generally depending on the sporty I’d say is pipes and carb tweaks to improve flow. Then pegs and bars. Then saddle bags that are heat resistant leather for flex packing. After that if ole lights go LED. Most of the rest is cosmetics. All the sporters I’ve had used Vance & Hines Pipes. Half used 2 into 1 Pro Pipe. Latest is Vance Hines Shorts
Remember to tell them mini apes cost a lot because you have to get the longer cables and wires not to mention gets you balls deep in other accessories like chrome housing switch covers and new mirrors as well as the chrome grips?
Great tips. Never even thought about exhaust pipes as a necessity for better performance. I'm short so I put a Burley Slammer kit on it. Noticeable difference in stability. I recently purchased a sissy bar from Fort Worth Harley with brackets sold separately that go in between fender and frame. Yours looks way easier to install. As far as center mounted pegs, I need them but were hell even for my short legs on a long trip. Some forward mounted pegs would have been nice. Love my bike!
Hey man Im 5'0 ft tall Im thinking of getting a iron 883. I just test rode one at the dealership but still tippy toeing. the salesman recommend a burly slammer kit but im wondering how the ride is like, is the lean angle reduced by a lot ?
Ride is fine. Burly slammer rear shocks might be better than stock. Lean angle has definitely changed since lower to the ground but I never lean far enough to scrape. Got to watch kickstand on uneven ground while turning left.
@@CHADAINSWORTH I've got a custom so its all chromed out, I just don't think wrapped pipes will look good. I would also say a set of saddle bags is a cheap and great addition, great for always keeping a few tools with you and water just in case you need to tighten something up or forget a drink.
I actually prefer relying mainly on a sissybar bag. For one, it helps to keep exposed the aesthetics of the bike. And two, for me personally it provides for a tremendous amount of lumbar support on long trips.
I have a 2003 Sportster with wrapped drag pipes and I think it looks really good. Check out this vid of my bike... czcams.com/video/VeAK2-kKZs8/video.html
Have forward controls, back shocks suck bc am 6.2 240lbs, can I put on 13inc progressive shocks without messing with front end? Like bars but can't see out of mirrors, lastly would like to raise tank will doing this also raise bars?
Hey Chad, thanks for a great video. Just picked up a 2008 XL1200 roadster with dual front brakes, rubber mounted, EFI, etc. I've been riding for more than 35 years. It's my first Harley and glad it's a Sportster!! I am looking to do a stage 1 kit and was wondering which after-market air filter you roll with? Any suggestions? Also I am not sure what to believe about the stock Dunlop tires vs the Michelin's. I know Michelin's have a great reputation for quality car tires but I've been running Dunlops on my Suzuki Intruders for years and there the best tire out there by far in terms of handling...at least for they were for my Intruder. Folks are saying that the stock Dunlops for the Sportsters are garbage. Is it true, what do you know? What are your thoughts?
I have a 2005 883 low with 2-1 Vance and Hines exhaust, the question I have is I’d like forward controls, at the moment I have genuine HD highway pegs, some websites have said you can’t have forward controls with the 2-1 exhaust as it won’t fit, wondering if this is true
Nice job hiding wires under tank. You are great. Not once did you mention tuning. You need to modify my bike, your the greatest. My three, exhaust, cam, tune, (properly) leave everything else stock or it'll look ..........yours.
Love your videos man. I'm gonna get my first bike ever and it is going to be the iron 883. I just wanted to know which mufflers you got. If you could send me the link to them that would be awesome. Thank you!
A Tank lift would not be in my first 3 items to replace on my sporty! My first 3 items were: 1. Better tires! 2. Better seat, an seat back rest, so do-Riders didn't feel like they were always sliding off seat! 3. Better exhaust allowing motor to breath better or better fitting bars! I bet we would almost all have different items to replace, but tank lift isn't one of them?
Rantz2040 are you interested in selling your forward controls? I’m looking into getting the kit for mine, but if I can get them used cheaper then ill go for that
I'm liking the idea of the tank being lifted so it can breath better but what if you have a larger tank, 3.5 and the 1250 upgrade on a 87 model sportster? I'm 6'3" but living in NYC forward controls seem to get in the way while cuting between cars and zipping through the city.
@@CHADAINSWORTH seems like a lose if I can't keep the fuel capacity. Is there anyway I could get the best of both lifting the tank to let the engine breath and capacity of the largest tank?
Bro great video.. what kind of tape did you use when you lifted the tank? I ask because this weekend I’m putting on HD mini-apes on my ‘08 and while I’m at it the tank lift also. Any advice I could get would be nice. Thank you.
First HAPPY NEW YEAR. Ok I have been out of the wind for way to long. I live over ten miles back off the closest HW off grid on dirt so do to that and I am not as young as I was when I had my last sportster (a 59 hardtail old school chopper) I pick up a 07 883 sportster with a trikè kit that the last owner had done by HD dealer. Just 5400 mikes on her. My last one just had a mag and kick start. Going take a vacation this sping as long as we get enough grass where I don't need to feed the big kids as last year had to feed all summer. Ok my question is what would be the best oil cooler to get. I be pulling a small camp trailer as it takes to long to up from the ground. Right now its park do to snow and mud when the sun is out. Still figuring what I can do and what I have to have done. A lot has already been done by the feel and sound along with the custom look. Have a fantastic New Year
@@CHADAINSWORTHThe,k for the fast reply. Till I can ride her more to see how she rides as only been able to ride and that's when I pick her up from getting the idel reset as she was running to fast and when it comes to computers on a bike I don't have the skills. So a little shop in town took care it. As the roads home was bad and hard to drive my truck and ride my bike at same time. So before I loaded her I rode around town. Then we got snow and it hasn't been over 29° for a week. Looks like it be a few weeks before the roads dry out. But need the moisture so I can wait I hope. Has a custom seat and short pipes already. I put a trunk on her do to having to lock somethings up when I go into get mail. Have a fantastic week. Only thing I see is the air filter. I be riding in all types of weather when I get out on my trip I need to much sure of what one will work the best for sand and rain that don't hurt the motor or drown out the fuel system.
I did pipes air cleaner and a fuel pack oh and changed out the pegs for soft tail passenger boards. You scoff at boards but far less vibration and feet feel solid on them. Oh yeah it’s a iron1200 2018 its awesome and of course very different to my Indian Chief Darkhorse lol............foot in each camp boys don’t be afraid to check out any bike you think looks cool. Cool with bars too man mine came stock with the mini apes. Sissy bar looks cool to. I’m a short arse 5”8’ so no forward controls on my sportster otherwise might have bought scout. Not a fan of the 48 small tank and forward controls, still a cool bike though cheers man
Hahahahahaha man I had a Vespa before my XG500 STREET which was before the Darkhorse. Yes mate I love them the old school charm of a Vespa. They are awesome to ride too. Just do it........
Question, I have 1200 2018 iron myself and wanted to do foot boards too, first thing is I heard if you have forward controls its harder to find boards that will fit, do you have forward controls and if so what exact brand of boards did you get, any pictures?
Randy Keffer I don’t have forward controls. One of the reasons I bought the iron for mid controls and no peanut e dealership Was really helpfully of all the risk was at my expense. No such thing as a free lunch with. A Harley dealership
Hey man. Did you install your forward controls yourself or is that somthing a shop would have to do? Wanna get some but would prefer to install myself to keep costs down. Thanks!
It’s not hard to install yourself self. Make sure your exhaust doesn’t get in the way of the mounts where they hook to the frame. I want forward controls but I would have to replace my straight drag pipes to do it
Instead of winding up your wires and since you did a tank lift, you could have just tucked all the wiring under the tank. Take the tank off. Disconnect all the connectors, zip tire the wires on top of the frame, and reconnect the wire connectors. It literally took me maybe 45 minutes to relocate the ignition/coil, tuck the wires, and lift the tank.
What it needs is front brakes that work. 2 Brembo P5s sorted the earlier `90s models. ! Dural plate, 2 spacers & a short link hose, goes fine with the original Master cyl.
Hey man, do you have any links where I can buy those brake upgrades? I have a '99 883 sportster converteed to a 1250 vis nrhs.. Cheers from the Philippines
Sadly, it`s not that easy! It is a thing I made up for some friends, about 30 years ago. Get 1 Lh &1 Rh P5, Brembo calipers. (from a V50 Moto Guzzi or similar) You need to make the plate (6mm) Dural` from a piece about 6" x 4" & 2 spacers, (approx 7mm thick; 25mm dia.) to go where the caliper fits; obvio getting all the holes in the right places is crucial:)) make a hardboard model if you want. Position calipers carefully, fore n aft of the fork leg, with 1.5mm clearance to disc rim. Drill & tap all holes 8mm x 1,25, and use HT bolts, shakeproof washers etc. (and lock nuts for the 2 fork leg bolts) You`ll probably need someone with a small engineering workshop to do most of this; and making the short brake hose to link it all up; But it is worth the effort. Good luck & thanks for asking.@@tonyt6172
Sir is it possible for you to send a picture of this upgrade, so me and my mechanic can have a clearer view of how it works? Thanks really wanting this upgrade for a while now. My bike stops yes, but brake now and it will stop tomorrow as we say here!
@@tonyt6172Sorry, no picture, but it`s pretty simple; the first one i made was done in about 2 hours; the hardest part is positiioning the calipers on the disc, to mark the bolt holes. Start by fixing the "anchor-plate" and a spacer, apt thickness to clear leg. Clamp to the original caliper top bolthole, with at least 18mm of plate showing behind the fork leg.and enough in front (a plate 6" x 4" is plenty) to repeat. Hang the rear (Lh) caliper on the disc & scribe the fixing holes and cutaway profile on plate.to fit caliper as close to back of leg as possible. Check centreline of caliper to disc...spacers shims etc as/if nec. use a piece of cardboard to give clearance between disc rim & caliper. get optimum pad alignment. Mark second forkleg bolt-hole and front caliper holes and profile. as close as practical to the 10mm bolts. Cut n shape. What you end up with should have 2 x10 mm holes, a bit >off centre, to fix to fork, and 4 semicircular lugs, 1 in each corner with 8mm tapped holes. a trapezoid! Top n bottom edges can be parrallel The top holes slightly further apart than the bottom ones! Pad alignment being the main consideration. All not quite square, not easy to describe accurately:)) I recomend Ferodo soft pads. When bleeding it up let the bubbles come up into the master cylinder.
Hey man can you send the link to what bars you got I want to order them
Great video!
That much closer to adding an Iron 883 to my garage 👍
Cheers
BB
🍻
Yo!! I want to say thank you!!! I'm 6'0" and always felt that I had to go and get a dyna street bob or fat bob due to do what I want - long distance riding, carrying luggage bags, etc - or because they were frowned upon by other HD riders; but always had a big, soft spot for the Sportster and after seeing a couple of your videos, I am not second guessing myself of owning a Sportster Iron as my first bike. Thanks a bunch!!!
Dude I freaking love my Sporty!!! Screw them peeps, my bike is my baby
Change bars and seat. Harley stock seats are upholstered bricks.
I'm 69 riding an 06 1200 Sporty with a stock seat, Screamin Eagle air filter with K&N element, Screamin Eagle slip on mufflers. Bike had forward controls and I changed to mids even being 5'11". Always rode CB Hondas and feel more in control with the mids and if I need to jump off the bike for some reason my feet are under me. I love my Sporty. Its light quick and sounds good! Oh I changed clutch to a 9 disk Barnett and it shifts smooth.
I love the way the wrap looks on certain bikes. I want to get an old Ironhead and just rat it out. My Biltwell chumps, which I'd consider buckhorn handlebars are pretty great and give it a similar look and comfort you're describing here. Oh, man! I couldn't ride the way I want without my Burley Sissybar!
Awesome advice, I'm 5'11 and about to buy my first harley 883. I like the forward control setup and the mini apes also.
The very first 3 things you should do is the air cleaner/exhaust/tune. Then get rid of those shitty Dunlop tires. Then replace the motor mounts with some Drag Specialties mounts. With make a world of improvement. Not much performance gain on an 883, but the handling and ride will be so much better.
Good video!
BEACHBIKER don’t do a factory 1200 swap. Look up Hammer Performance and check out their kits. Cheaper and better then the factory set up. And you can call or Email Dan and/or Aaron and tell him what you got and what you want to achieve. Great people and a great company that stand behind what they do.
mine came from the factory with michelins... is a recent change then or what am i missing ?
BEACHBIKER Dude, I live down in the RGV. Go with what Scott said, do a Hammer performance conversation. I put a 1250 conversion in my Son’s 95’ Sporty. Hammer is a awesome company to work with. Great customer support and will cost you less than screamin eagle with far superior parts. Look up their channel and their website. HammerPerformance.
nothing you are fine. those are great tires. I know the thread is old but …….
The stock dunlops have the durometer of a glass bottle, and are dangerous. I upgraded to michelin commander 2 and it was more than a night and day difference.
Great info and tips man, thank you. Thinking about getting a 1200 custom soon.
I bought a new 2004 Harley sportster 1200 roadster. I put screaming eagles, forward pegs and a chrome engine kit & mini apes. Loved that bike I still had it. Your video was very good thanks for sharing
I agree with your process. For me it was lighting. I upgraded my headlight and signals to LED. I use Ciro3D.
Hi Mr Beachbiker, just came across your channel as my iron arrives 1st March 19 and I’ve been doing a little research.
I think you’ve done a splendid job of introducing the sportster to me and pontential owners, I’ve hit the subscribe button and look forward to other shows.
Kind regards Beans.
I’ve owned 4 Harley’s. Love sportsters. I agreed with the 1st 2 mods. My 3rd mod would be bars that fit your stature. I’m 6 foot so I love 16” bars!!!!
Good advice for anyone who owns a Sportser, that's the beauty of them, so versatile! I love what you've done to yours. I go back & forth with mini apes & street tracker bars, takes me 15 minutes to swap bars. It's so much fun working on your own bike, nice vid!
Great vid. Very informative. My 2006 sportster vance hines short shots( great sound) kuryarkin hyper charger air intake. 12 inch z bar apes mustang solo seat kuryarkin sissy bar next mammoth spoke rims front and back.cut rear fender brake light in the middle turn signals also act as brake lights.daymaker headlight.
Thanks for the tip on the exhaust wrapping
Miguel Brown Yes! I woulda screwed that up by starting at the top and working down. Excellent tip for sure!
Great video, normal guy talking about bikes loved it!
1. Mufflers
Short shots, bigger...
2. Comfort forward controls for highway ride
3. Tanklift kit, wire tuck, electrical tape top of frame pinning wires in electrical tape for wether existence.
Bonus parts
4. Wrapping pipes with exauhst heat tape.
Pipes can breathe better....
5. SwaP bats to MINI APES BARS jnp cycles
Long distance
6. Adding Burley sissy bar for back rest luggage and storage trips. Longer rides. Coast to coast rides
Thank you
I ride out of state a lot. I live here in Memphis TN and my next trip I'm planning is to California in the Spring
Thank you for the ideas !!
you have good editing and even better content. you explained everything super well (im a beginner and even i followed along) and i was really shocked to see you had less than 1k subs. keep up the good content
This is my top 4 things to upgrade first.
Exhaust #1 #2 seat (if uncomfortable) #3 saddlebags #4 Led Headlight
Chad, I AGREE ! "GREAT JOB", I'am glad you made this video !
Mustang seat, Rush slipon slash cut mufflers and screaming eagle air filter , makes any Sporty very cool!
I'm 6' 0" 190 pounds and I've ridden Sportsters for 20 years & I agree with ALL of these suggestions!!!
Sissy bar looks good. Agreed with your tips.
Found you through John Maxwell I'm loving your content and sporty love. I hope I can get myself a sporty project this year
Nice ride, I did all that to my 1200 custom and love the way it looks. DK Customs has all the kits for raising the tank and relocating the coil and ignition. The wrap you can get at any auto parts store and you do want to film it when you start the bike and dry out the wrap. My wife thought the garage was on fire from the steam coming off the pipes.Low Brow has a great bolt on sissy bar for under 200 bucks.Don't forget to change out the breather /intake DK has some real nice systems.
the best things i liked on my seventy two where getting it back after having a stage 1 remap hypercharger and shortshots the differance was amazing though i know it costs a lot and you cant do it yourself because the engine has to be remaped for them to work together but she flew up the road its like a diffrent bike
Dude, solid content and production quality! Great tips!
@@CHADAINSWORTH No, thank you! Just picked up a 2004 Sportster Roadster, in Dallas, TX. Working on making it my own now, and dealing with coming from 6 years of Japanese and British bikes :)
top notch quality. subscribed
This whole vlog is straight up polished and legit. Well put together, lots of info and fun to watch. Legit man. Fuck
BEACHBIKER
Bought my 72 recently and I LOVE IT. You coined it perfectly - newer Harley but still a Classic. Late model, higher tech Classic Harley Davidson. Raw, pure power and tech. Solid fun. Damn I love this Sportster. You get it. You do.
Glad I came across this channel looking for Sportster 72 stuff. Keep it up!
On my 06 I've done, Short Shots *exhaust*, Big Sucker 2 *air cleaner* Tuned to this setup *tune*. Did all 3. Plus, seat, bars, controls, grips, pegs. Doing a Burly Slammer kit soon. Have the parts just need to put them on. I went for the lowrider/drag bike look. Black cherry paint with brown leather. She is pretty...and full of Demon Doggies hahaha
It’s all a matter of taste. But I couldn’t agree more on all six of these. I’m also 6’2 so the forward controls are a must. I never heard of the exhaust tape changing color like that before though
Born in Midland and raised in Amarillo. Love the channel man!
Great video man!
I have a sportster 48. swapped out the forward controls for mid controls 'coz I'm only 5' 6". Best decision ever.
@@CHADAINSWORTH any specific brands you would recommend?
Jockey shift, foot clutch, ape hangers, and solo seat. And pipe wrap. Maybe even a springer. O hell yeah! Might seem silly on a Sportster, especially one with a stock frame, but I'm an old man, and I don't think my lower back will let me ride a rigid frame scoot for very long. I just want it to look, sound, and run like a bastard.
Cobra exhaust sounds great! FYI
My first upgrade was the biltwell grenade slip ons and oh my god she sounds amazing and i've loved her so much since. Kinetic moto does a tank lift and coil relocation kit for 100 bucks and you get to choose the color of your spark plug wires.
I have a 2006 1200 Custom Sportster only things I upgraded were headlights (led) taillights (led) bright ass lights and screaming eagle carburetor kit...Vance and Hines straight shots pipes and -a windshield
This is just a suggestion. Some riders like them some don't. It is a simple add on just a few bolts. Crash bar with foot pegs. There are lots of choices of bars and pegs for that personal touch. Plus it gives you another foot and leg position on those long country roads. Just an idea for you and anyone else who reads this. Wishing you safe rides in the wind!
that was one of the first things i put on mine was the crash bars
#1. S&S Super E Shorty carb kit for sportster #2. exhaust ( ditch stock exhaust pipes)! 2into 1 or 2 into 2 is best case scenario 3. bigger plug wires/ ditch the stock 8mm or the 8.8 mm plug wires and go with a 12 mm heavy duty plug wires and get a set of ngk iridium plugs make sure you gap the plugs to (.038-.043) gap don't listen to the auto parts storetheyre not pregapped!!!! and #4. ditch the belt and buy yourself a chain conversion kit from lowbrow customs and then you can get a seat handlebars or whatever but make sure you get a set of forward controls and go with floorboards and crashbar as well
Nice descriptions. Its what I want to know without all the fuss.
nice the only things i add to you list is a air filter and tuner to complete the stage one and you will feel the power difference then anyway mate nice ride enjoy
Really like your content, I'm team Magna.
Great ideas thank you
I prefer raised rear suspension and lower handlebars. Cafe all the way for me. But, that's what's great about these bikes. Making it your own.
cool video man congrats!! do you have any video or picture that show how your motorcycle look?? thanks man
Good job Sportster boy. Great content!
Thank you, i will be buying a sportster and this helped me. I am somewhat of a mechanic and this helped me. Especially for a budget build.
Edit: Subscribed!
i had a street 750 for the last 2 years just traded it in on a 2018 super low 883 sportster, i put a sissy bar, passenger seat and pegs on, gutted the slipons and put some inserts from bk in...it sounds pretty dam good right now, and put an led headlight in it, way better then the stock headlight, and crash bars, still need to get some pegs to put on them
Very clean wire tuck!
@@CHADAINSWORTH Yes, give us a call or an email. Support@dkcustomproducts.com or 662-252-8828
I like your video bro very down-to-earth and a real God bless and thank you
Check out the 2016 Harley Davidson Roadster Willie G Style
I cut out the baffles put in bigger jets added a k&n high flow filter. I put in a dynatec ignition that gave it better ridability. A mustang seat gave me extra comfort for long rides
A really interesting video, and I own a Bonnaville😉. I am doing bits and bobs to that. The problem being when you start it gets very addicting!
Just watched my first John Maxwell video and subscribed. It led me here and ...yup I subscribed. Thanks dude!
@@CHADAINSWORTH and btw...I LOVE MY SPORTSTER 1200 TOO!!!
Awesome !!
You do great quality videos
you ever think about taking the upper and lower belt guards off along with the front pully? then pop the cam cover off and trim it to fit just the bottom block of the engine.
Went with cobra speedster shortshots on my last sporty...I really like the cobra exhaust on my sporty!...I have Vance and Hines and screaming eagle on my other two bikes...the low loud cobra speedster shortshots sound bitchin on the sportster!...enjoyed the video good content...✌
Excellent video. Thank you. you mentioned burly bars for the backrest bar. Can you please provide a link?
I did pipes, went for Shark road shorts, got a n S and S airintake and filter, and forward control extensions cause I'm 6'2 and like a long stirrup.
Forward controls blow. Upgrade the exhaust , air cleaner, and rejet (or remap), then upgrade the suspension. The stock shocks are just dangerous when cornering.
Holesaw on a drill extension to cut the bulkhead in the mufflers out will save you hundreds of dollars and if done correctly you don't even have to take pipes off.
a hug from Brazil
Hey man i also ride a sporty and i live in big spring thats cool man
Man everything that you said on this video is to the point I took my Chrome heat shields hated it on that 48 special they come with chrome Muffler covers and chrome covers all the way up and it just took away from the Retro look the AMF error look and the forward controls are awesome I love them I'm fixing to build a crash bar so that I can put highway pegs on mine
Error look lol
Nice mods, my favorite one on my 883 was going up two teeth on my front pulley. I also added some Rush slip-one. As well as V&H FP3 and cold air intake.
Where did you get the +2 front pulley? I'm in pa. An none of the shops say they can't get em?? I did a lot of upgrades an run out of gear.
BEACHBIKER
883sportster.com
This is where I purchased the pulley/sprocket front final drive.
Shane Fochtman 883sportster.com
@@jamesmenard5450 thanks bro
Hey thanks for the video ! Did you have to buy new brake and throttle cables for the mini apes?
never realized you could lift the tank... cool man...
i think the lifted tank looks bad but to each there own
Don't change the isolators for the drag specialties units. Been there, done that, they will only transmit more vibration to the rider. One thing to do is loosen the drive belt slightly. Spec is too tight and can make the bike act strange through mid corner bumps.
Sportsters are the most fun lightest bike Harley makes the still fit the cruiser look. There are other bikes lighter but they resemble sport bikes more than cruisers. Vance& Hines pipes are the best sound for Sportsters. Also do a ECM flash for a higher performance.
Generally depending on the sporty I’d say is pipes and carb tweaks to improve flow. Then pegs and bars. Then saddle bags that are heat resistant leather for flex packing. After that if ole lights go LED. Most of the rest is cosmetics. All the sporters I’ve had used Vance & Hines Pipes. Half used 2 into 1 Pro Pipe. Latest is Vance Hines Shorts
Remember to tell them mini apes cost a lot because you have to get the longer cables and wires not to mention gets you balls deep in other accessories like chrome housing switch covers and new mirrors as well as the chrome grips?
hey bud nice simple tips tks n ill be pickin up my 95 sportster on sunday lol dont even have a lic nor learner lolol
but i will get it soon later
Great tips. Never even thought about exhaust pipes as a necessity for better performance. I'm short so I put a Burley Slammer kit on it. Noticeable difference in stability. I recently purchased a sissy bar from Fort Worth Harley with brackets sold separately that go in between fender and frame. Yours looks way easier to install. As far as center mounted pegs, I need them but were hell even for my short legs on a long trip. Some forward mounted pegs would have been nice. Love my bike!
Hey man Im 5'0 ft tall Im thinking of getting a iron 883. I just test rode one at the dealership but still tippy toeing. the salesman recommend a burly slammer kit but im wondering how the ride is like, is the lean angle reduced by a lot ?
Ride is fine. Burly slammer rear shocks might be better than stock. Lean angle has definitely changed since lower to the ground but I never lean far enough to scrape. Got to watch kickstand on uneven ground while turning left.
I've leaned pretty far making normal turns at intersections and never had a problem.
@@gilliam923 thanks man!
Bars, sissybar, exhaust... definately. Never thought about wrapping my exhaust though. I wonder how that would work on drag pipes.
@@CHADAINSWORTH I've got a custom so its all chromed out, I just don't think wrapped pipes will look good. I would also say a set of saddle bags is a cheap and great addition, great for always keeping a few tools with you and water just in case you need to tighten something up or forget a drink.
I actually prefer relying mainly on a sissybar bag. For one, it helps to keep exposed the aesthetics of the bike. And two, for me personally it provides for a tremendous amount of lumbar support on long trips.
I have a 2003 Sportster with wrapped drag pipes and I think it looks really good. Check out this vid of my bike... czcams.com/video/VeAK2-kKZs8/video.html
Have forward controls, back shocks suck bc am 6.2 240lbs, can I put on 13inc progressive shocks without messing with front end? Like bars but can't see out of mirrors, lastly would like to raise tank will doing this also raise bars?
Where did you get your forward controls at
Hey Chad, thanks for a great video. Just picked up a 2008 XL1200 roadster with dual front brakes, rubber mounted, EFI, etc. I've been riding for more than 35 years. It's my first Harley and glad it's a Sportster!!
I am looking to do a stage 1 kit and was wondering which after-market air filter you roll with? Any suggestions? Also I am not sure what to believe about the stock Dunlop tires vs the Michelin's. I know Michelin's have a great reputation for quality car tires but I've been running Dunlops on my Suzuki Intruders for years and there the best tire out there by far in terms of handling...at least for they were for my Intruder. Folks are saying that the stock Dunlops for the Sportsters are garbage. Is it true, what do you know? What are your thoughts?
I have a 2005 883 low with 2-1 Vance and Hines exhaust, the question I have is I’d like forward controls, at the moment I have genuine HD highway pegs, some websites have said you can’t have forward controls with the 2-1 exhaust as it won’t fit, wondering if this is true
You seem very cool man
Nice job hiding wires under tank. You are great. Not once did you mention tuning. You need to modify my bike, your the greatest. My three, exhaust, cam, tune, (properly) leave everything else stock or it'll look ..........yours.
Love your videos man. I'm gonna get my first bike ever and it is going to be the iron 883. I just wanted to know which mufflers you got. If you could send me the link to them that would be awesome. Thank you!
@@CHADAINSWORTH Oh shit my bad for not reading properly lol. Thank you very much!
I put a hard tail and springer on my 1200 yeah man change what floats your boat man
A Tank lift would not be in my first 3 items to replace on my sporty! My first 3 items were: 1. Better tires! 2. Better seat, an seat back rest, so do-Riders didn't feel like they were always sliding off seat! 3. Better exhaust allowing motor to breath better or better fitting bars! I bet we would almost all have different items to replace, but tank lift isn't one of them?
6'4 I just swapped the forward controls out for a set of mids, but I'm an odd duck
Rantz2040 are you interested in selling your forward controls? I’m looking into getting the kit for mine, but if I can get them used cheaper then ill go for that
If you changed the exhaust, it used to be that you needed to re-jet the carb. What about today?
I'm liking the idea of the tank being lifted so it can breath better but what if you have a larger tank, 3.5 and the 1250 upgrade on a 87 model sportster? I'm 6'3" but living in NYC forward controls seem to get in the way while cuting between cars and zipping through the city.
@@CHADAINSWORTH seems like a lose if I can't keep the fuel capacity. Is there anyway I could get the best of both lifting the tank to let the engine breath and capacity of the largest tank?
Bro great video.. what kind of tape did you use when you lifted the tank? I ask because this weekend I’m putting on HD mini-apes on my ‘08 and while I’m at it the tank lift also. Any advice I could get would be nice. Thank you.
BEACHBIKER ok ok good deal man. Thanks for the reply and I’ll be watching your upcoming videos.
Good video !
I just want to mention for future knowledge, your shocks don’t change height when adjusting, only dampening.
Did you have to switch out anything else when you installed jnp apes ?
First HAPPY NEW YEAR. Ok I have been out of the wind for way to long. I live over ten miles back off the closest HW off grid on dirt so do to that and I am not as young as I was when I had my last sportster (a 59 hardtail old school chopper) I pick up a 07 883 sportster with a trikè kit that the last owner had done by HD dealer. Just 5400 mikes on her. My last one just had a mag and kick start. Going take a vacation this sping as long as we get enough grass where I don't need to feed the big kids as last year had to feed all summer. Ok my question is what would be the best oil cooler to get. I be pulling a small camp trailer as it takes to long to up from the ground. Right now its park do to snow and mud when the sun is out. Still figuring what I can do and what I have to have done. A lot has already been done by the feel and sound along with the custom look. Have a fantastic New Year
@@CHADAINSWORTHThe,k for the fast reply. Till I can ride her more to see how she rides as only been able to ride and that's when I pick her up from getting the idel reset as she was running to fast and when it comes to computers on a bike I don't have the skills. So a little shop in town took care it. As the roads home was bad and hard to drive my truck and ride my bike at same time. So before I loaded her I rode around town. Then we got snow and it hasn't been over 29° for a week. Looks like it be a few weeks before the roads dry out. But need the moisture so I can wait I hope. Has a custom seat and short pipes already. I put a trunk on her do to having to lock somethings up when I go into get mail. Have a fantastic week. Only thing I see is the air filter. I be riding in all types of weather when I get out on my trip I need to much sure of what one will work the best for sand and rain that don't hurt the motor or drown out the fuel system.
Nice video bro 👍
Bro can u make a vid iron 883 Vs 48? Plz
I did pipes air cleaner and a fuel pack oh and changed out the pegs for soft tail passenger boards. You scoff at boards but far less vibration and feet feel solid on them. Oh yeah it’s a iron1200 2018 its awesome and of course very different to my Indian Chief Darkhorse lol............foot in each camp boys don’t be afraid to check out any bike you think looks cool. Cool with bars too man mine came stock with the mini apes. Sissy bar looks cool to. I’m a short arse 5”8’ so no forward controls on my sportster otherwise might have bought scout. Not a fan of the 48 small tank and forward controls, still a cool bike though cheers man
Hahahahahaha man I had a Vespa before my XG500 STREET which was before the Darkhorse. Yes mate I love them the old school charm of a Vespa. They are awesome to ride too. Just do it........
Question, I have 1200 2018 iron myself and wanted to do foot boards too, first thing is I heard if you have forward controls its harder to find boards that will fit, do you have forward controls and if so what exact brand of boards did you get, any pictures?
Randy Keffer I don’t have forward controls. One of the reasons I bought the iron for mid controls and no peanut e dealership Was really helpfully of all the risk was at my expense. No such thing as a free lunch with. A Harley dealership
Exhaust, bars, shocks with more travel. be my first choices
One of the top 3 things should have suspension!
Agreed!!! #1 expense that makes a world of difference!!!
Hey man. Did you install your forward controls yourself or is that somthing a shop would have to do? Wanna get some but would prefer to install myself to keep costs down. Thanks!
It’s not hard to install yourself self. Make sure your exhaust doesn’t get in the way of the mounts where they hook to the frame. I want forward controls but I would have to replace my straight drag pipes to do it
Instead of winding up your wires and since you did a tank lift, you could have just tucked all the wiring under the tank. Take the tank off. Disconnect all the connectors, zip tire the wires on top of the frame, and reconnect the wire connectors. It literally took me maybe 45 minutes to relocate the ignition/coil, tuck the wires, and lift the tank.
Get it! We have all been there before!
What it needs is front brakes that work.
2 Brembo P5s sorted the earlier `90s models.
! Dural plate, 2 spacers & a short link hose,
goes fine with the original Master cyl.
Hey man, do you have any links where I can buy those brake upgrades? I have a '99 883 sportster converteed to a 1250 vis nrhs.. Cheers from the Philippines
Sadly, it`s not that easy!
It is a thing I made up for some friends, about 30 years ago.
Get 1 Lh &1 Rh P5, Brembo calipers.
(from a V50 Moto Guzzi or similar)
You need to make the plate (6mm) Dural`
from a piece about 6" x 4"
& 2 spacers, (approx 7mm thick; 25mm dia.)
to go where the caliper fits; obvio getting all the holes in the right places is crucial:))
make a hardboard model if you want.
Position calipers carefully, fore n aft of the fork leg, with 1.5mm clearance to disc rim. Drill & tap all holes 8mm x 1,25, and use HT bolts, shakeproof washers etc.
(and lock nuts for the 2 fork leg bolts)
You`ll probably need someone with a small engineering workshop to do most of this; and making the short brake hose to link it all up; But it is worth the effort. Good luck & thanks for asking.@@tonyt6172
thinking on; make the plate of the thickest size you can get in there!
Sir is it possible for you to send a picture of this upgrade, so me and my mechanic can have a clearer view of how it works? Thanks really wanting this upgrade for a while now. My bike stops yes, but brake now and it will stop tomorrow as we say here!
@@tonyt6172Sorry, no picture, but it`s pretty simple; the first one i made was done in about 2 hours;
the hardest part is positiioning the calipers on the disc, to mark the bolt holes.
Start by fixing the "anchor-plate" and a spacer, apt thickness to clear leg. Clamp to the original caliper top bolthole, with at least 18mm of plate showing behind the fork leg.and enough in front
(a plate 6" x 4" is plenty) to repeat.
Hang the rear (Lh) caliper on the disc & scribe the fixing holes and cutaway profile on plate.to fit caliper as close to back of leg as possible. Check centreline of caliper to disc...spacers shims etc as/if nec.
use a piece of cardboard to give clearance between disc rim & caliper. get optimum pad alignment.
Mark second forkleg bolt-hole and front caliper holes and profile. as close as practical to the 10mm bolts. Cut n shape.
What you end up with should have 2 x10 mm holes, a bit >off centre, to fix to fork, and 4 semicircular lugs, 1 in each corner with 8mm tapped holes. a trapezoid!
Top n bottom edges can be parrallel
The top holes slightly further apart than the bottom ones! Pad alignment being the main consideration.
All not quite square, not easy to describe accurately:)) I recomend Ferodo soft pads.
When bleeding it up let the bubbles come up into the master cylinder.