Is this a good deal?

[OCDeluxe]

Found this on CL. I've never bought used before but it's priced less than KBB Retail.

1998 Sportster XLS1200
Dual plug heads, harley stage 1 performance kit, dual front brakes w/ Jake Brake calipers! Like new tires. Near perfect condition, NO MAJOR defects. Bought it from Performance choppers 3 months ago and now I gotta sell it. This bike is a great beginners bike and it hauls! Hate to sell it but I have to. Title in hand. 33,000 miles

$4000
Besides giving it a thorough check for signs of frame damage, etc... anything to look for?
Any problems specific to this model/year?
Thanks!

[OCDeluxe]

Or this one


Selling a
YEAR : 2001
MODEL : XL 1200 Custom
COLOR : Black
MILES :30,312
TIRES : Both Fair
WHEELS : Good
LOWER LEGS :Good
FRONT FENDER :Good
TANKS :Good
REAR FENDER :Good
PAINT :Great
CHROME :Good
SEAT :Good
BATTERY : Good
OIL LEAKS : Slight Primary Gasket Leak
VIN # :1HD1CGP191K155461
OVER ALL CONDITION : Good

EXTRAS:

Screaming Eagle High Flow Kit
Screaming Eagle Mufflers
Progressive Shocks
Stainless Steel Cables + Brake Line
Buck Horn handle Bars
Kuryakyn Chrome & Rubber Passenger Pegs and Rider Pegs with Stirrups
Quick Release mounts Front & Rear
Long Mirrors

Price : $4,850

Is the primary gasket leak an easy fix?

[OCDeluxe]

One more... Thanks for our input and helping me get on a Harley!


This is a fabulously clean 2003 Centennial Edition Harley Davidson Sportster. This XL883 will make you smile at a great price of $3900. In full disclosure, the bike is not registered and therefore the low, low price on this beauty. It has been sitting in the garage unridden for a few years and I have contacted the DMV and confirmed that a clean title will be $500 to the State of California. Then you are ready to ride for summer fun. The body is clean and has no problems with only 6500 miles on it. It has recently been given a complete tune-up from Harley Davidson El Cajon and all the paperwork is here. Grab this bargain now, its a beautiful bike.

[Waerthog]

Alot depend on how big a chap you are. Maybe an 883 wont have enough ponies for you if you are over 180 lbs. Of course, you always fix that, but keep that in mind as you compare the 1200 and the 883. My 883 is great fun round town and on short trips. But for long trips its a bit under powered. Looking at doing the 1200 upgrade this winter.

[OCDeluxe]

I'm a bit on the smaller side... 155lbs- 5'5" So I don't think my weight is an issue, but I will be doing a lot of freeway riding and wouldn't want to feel under powered while riding in the carpool lane. How much is a 1200 upgrade?

[Waerthog]

Theres more than 1 way to go about it, but if you bought the kit from Harley its about $1200 for the parts. If you can do some of the work yourself and dont mind sending your cylinders and heads off for machine work you can beat that price. That is the way I'll be going this winter when I do it. There are some others here on the forum who have gone this route and maybe will chime in here ,to give better advise on doing this upgrade. If you do it right the bike is a real runner when done and is faster than the stock 1200 due to the difference in the native gear ratio that 883 has.

[OCDeluxe]

Great info. Thanks!

[route66paul]

S&S has big bore kits as well as stroker kits that can easily get 110 HP. Since you would have to tear the whole thing down anyway, a cheap 883 might be the way to go here. Buy it, ride it and go through it in the winter. Next year, you will have a real fast Harley.

[Waerthog]

What he said....

Another thing to consider is insurance is much cheaper on the 883. My dyna costs nearly twice as much to insure as my 883. Anything over 900 cc costs more. FYI