883-1200 upgrade

[Jordan883]

Hello,
I own a 1999 883 Hugger and I am considering doing a 1200 upgrade. I have been told many different things about what is best,what is good and bad. I need some guidance. Here is some of the options I have been suggested any help would be great.

1) Dished pistons, and installing 1200 conversion valves, releaving the valves behind the valves to allow more flow and use my existing guides and springs. I was also told that the valve seats on the 883 heads are able to be machined to install the new conversion valves. is this accurate?
2) Same as above with a porting job added.
3)Use a flat top piston and have the head chamber relieved to 55cc. I am not sure about the valves on this options what is advised. I want to have at least the same instake and exhaust flow of a stock 1200 if not more. I'm not sure if this will require new push rods.
4) Install a 1200 SE head or stock 1200 or Buel, Not sure what this option would involve.
Jordan

[BlueBob]

The Buell Thunderstorm heads are a good option. I can't really speak to the others, but this is the option I chose when I did my upgrade. My 2003 XL883C upgrade included the following.

- Buell Thunderstorm heads
- Buell jugs (ended up being cheaper than machining the stock cylinders), pistons, and cams.
- SE Starter
- SE Carb

I had already put on V&H straight shots and a SE high-flow air cleaner on it. In the end, she was around the mid eighties for HP and torque... which is more than my current TC96.

I still cry sometimes when I think about my Sporty... I really miss that ride. I can tell you that you won't be disappointed if you go with the above configuration. That bike really screamed.

[4cams]

I'm not sure what the specs are on your bike but the newer 883's have shorter primary gears so you might want to go with a 29 or 30 tooth drive pulley to keep the revs down now that you have more power and can run the ton with ease.