Table of Contents
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1998 Sportster
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Example: 1HD1CHP16WY201624 appears on steering head. Abbreviated VIN appears on engine crankcase - CHP16WY201624
| Motorcycle Origin | Manufacturer/ Make | Motorcycle Displacement Type | Model Designation | Engine Size | Introduction Date / Special Models | VIN Check Digit | Model Year | Assembly Plant | Serial Number |
| Made in USA | Harley Davidson | 1 = 901 cc & up 4 = 351-900 cc | CA = XLH 883 CE = XLH 883 Hugger CG = XL 1200C Custom CH = XL1200S Sport | M = 883 CC ENGINE P = 1200 CC ENGINE | 1 = Regular 2 = Mid Year Intro Date 3 = California Models | Can be 0 - 9 or X | w = 1998 | Y = YORK, PA K = Kansas City, MO | |
| 1 | HD | 1 | CH | P | 1 | 6 | W | Y | 201624 |
Engine, Drivetrain, Performance
Engine- 883
- Air Cooled, Overhead Valve, V-twin Evolution®
- Type: 4 Cycle, 45'V
- Bore: 3.000 in. / 76.20 mm
- Stroke: 3.812 in. / 96.82 mm
- Piston Displacement: 53.9 ci / 883 cc
- Compression Ratio: 9.0 to 1
- Horsepower: 57 @ 6,000 rpm
- Oil Tank Capacity w/Filter: 3 qt / 2.8 liters
Specifications
Drivetrain
- Primary Drive: Triple- Row Chain
- Primary Drive Front Gear: 35 Teeth
- Primary Drive Rear Gear: 56 Teeth
- Primary Drive Ratio: 1.60:1
- Final Drive: 128 Tooth Secondary Drive Belt
- Final Drive Transmission Sprocket: 27 Teeth
- Final Drive Rear Wheel Sprocket: 61 Teeth
- Final Drive Ratio: 2.26 : 1
- Transmission- Trap Door Style, Constant Mesh Type 5-speed
- Gear Ratios (overall)- Domestic and HDI
- 1st: 9.71
- 2nd: 7.12
- 3rd: 5.18
- 4th: 4.26
- 5th: 3.61
Performance
- Engine Torque Testing Method:
- Engine Torque:Torque: 53 ft-lb @ 4,000 rpm
- Lean Angle, Right (deg.):
- Lean Angle, Left (deg.):
- Fuel Economy, Combined City/Highway:
Engine- 1200
- Air Cooled,Overhead Valve, V-twin Evolution®
- Type: 4 Cycle, 45'V
- Bore: 3.498 in. / 88.85 mm
- Stroke: 3.812 in. / 96.82 mm
- Piston Displacement: 73.3 ci / 1201 cc
- Compression Ratio: 9.0 to 1
- Horsepower: 66 @ 5,200 rpm
- Oil Tank Capacity w/Filter: 3 qt / 2.8 liters
Specifications
Drivetrain
- Primary Drive: Triple- Row Chain
- Primary Drive Front Gear: 35 Teeth
- Primary Drive Rear Gear: 56 Teeth
- Primary Drive Ratio: 1.60:1
- Final Drive: 128 Tooth Secondary Drive Belt
- Final Drive Transmission Sprocket: 29 Teeth
- Final Drive Rear Wheel Sprocket: 61 Teeth
- Final Drive Ratio: 2.10:1
- Transmission- Trap Door Style, Constant Mesh Type 5-speed
- Gear Ratios (overall)
- 1st: 9.04
- 2nd: 6.62
- 3rd: 4.82
- 4th: 3.97
- 5th: 3.36
Performance
- Engine Torque Testing Method:
- Engine Torque:Torque: 72 ft-lb @ 4,000 rpm
- Lean Angle, Right (deg.):
- Lean Angle, Left (deg.):
- Fuel Economy, Combined City/Highway:
Engine- 1200S
- Air Cooled,Overhead Valve, V-twin Evolution®
- Type: 4 Cycle, 45'V
- Bore: 3.498 in. / 88.85 mm
- Stroke: 3.812 in. / 96.82 mm
- Piston Displacement: 73.3 ci / 1201 cc
- Torque: 76 ft-lb @ 4,000 rpm
- Compression Ratio: 10.0 to 1
- Horsepower: 69 @ 5,500 rpm
- Oil Tank Capacity w/Filter: 3 qt / 2.8 liters
- Ignition: Single Fire Twin Plug Ignition System
Specifications
Drivetrain
- Primary Drive: Triple- Row Chain
- Primary Drive Front Gear: 35 Teeth
- Primary Drive Rear Gear: 56 Teeth
- Primary Drive Ratio: 1.60:1
- Final Drive: 128 Tooth Secondary Drive Belt
- Final Drive Transmission Sprocket: 29 Teeth
- Final Drive Rear Wheel Sprocket: 61 Teeth
- Final Drive Ratio: 2.10:1
- Transmission- Trap Door Style, Constant Mesh Type 5-speed
- Gear Ratios (overall)
- 1st: 9.04
- 2nd: 6.62
- 3rd: 4.82
- 4th: 3.97
- 5th: 3.36
Performance
- Engine Torque Testing Method:
- Engine Torque:
- Engine Torque (rpm):
- Lean Angle, Right (deg.):
- Lean Angle, Left (deg.):
- Fuel Economy, Combined City/Highway:
Specifications
Engine
- Top End
- Bottom End
- Oiling- Lubrication
- Engine is force fed by a dual purpose, gerotor style, oil/ scavenger pump.
- Oil Cycle: Oil is gravity fed from the oil tank to the oil pump which sends oil up through a cavity in the filter housing to the oil filter. Filtered oil dumps into the filter adapter opening a check ball between 4-6 psi. (28-41 kN/m²) into the crankcase feed galley to the tappet blocks and lifters. Cross drilled passages intersect the main feed galley and carry oil to each lifter. Oil also enters an intersecting passage in the gearcase cover to the crankshaft area via a hole through the pinion gear shaft . Oil then travels to the right flywheel and routed through the crankpin thus lubricating the rod bearings. Oil flows up the holes in the pushrods to the rocker arms and shafts. Oil is supplied to the valve stems via drilled holes in the rocker arms. The oil then flows off the pushrod side of the heads through the pushrod covers into the gearcase, lubing the cams and is collected by the scavenge (return) side of the pump. Oil flows from the rocker area of the heads into the crankcase by way of passages in the heads and cylinders. Oil in the sump area of the crankcase is splashed onto the pistons, cylinder walls and flywheel components. Oil collected in the crankcase sump are passage-routed back to the scavenger side of the pump which is fed by the scavenging effect of the pump and pressure generated by the downward stroke of the pistons. Return oil fills a cavity above the pump's return gears which pump the oil back into the oil tank. A small amount of oil flows from the feed galley in the right crankcase half through a restricted orifice which sprays oil onto the rear intake cam gear. 1)
Transmission
All Models
- Clutch:
- Wet multi-disk clutch pack
- 6 steel plates, 8 friction fiber plates, 1 spring plate
- Plate Order: F-ST-F-ST-F-ST-F-SP-F-ST-F-ST-F-ST-F
- Max Warpage: Friction Plate or Steel Plate- 0.0059 in. / 0.150 mm
Troubleshooting
Wheel Options/ Accompanying Tires
- Front- Cast- Tubeless:
- XL883, XL883 Hugger, XL1200 and XL1200S: 2)
- 19in.(T19 x 2.15 MT)-(Silver)- 13 Spoke
- XL1200:
- 19in. (T19 x 2.15 MT)-(Black)- 13 Spoke
- All Wheels
- Rim Valve Hole Dia.: 0.45in
- Tire/Size: Dunlop D401 Elite S/T- 100/90-19
- Tire/Size: Dunlop K591 S&FR ELITE- 100/90-V19
- Front- Laced:
- XL883, XL883 Hugger, XL1200 and XL1200S: 3)
- 19in. (T19 x 2.50 TLA)-(Chrome)- 20 Spoke
- Tire/ Size: Dunlop D401 Elite S/T- 100/90-19
- Tube Size: MJ90-19
- XL1200C:
- 21in. (T21 x 215 TLA)-(Chrome) 20 Spoke
- Tire/ Size: Dunlop Touring Elite II- MH90-21 56H
- Tube Size: 3.00 x 21
- Rear- Cast- Tubeless:
- XL883, XL883 Hugger, XL1200S: 4)
- 16in. (T16 X 3.00 D)-(Silver) 13 Spoke
- XL1200:
- 16in. (T16 X 3.00 D)-(Black) 13 Spoke
- XL1200C:
- Solid w/ Slots
- All Wheels:
- Rim Valve Hole Dia.: 0.35in
- Tire/Size: Dunlop D401 Elite S/T- 130/90-16
- Tire/Size: Dunlop K591 S&FR ELITE- 130/90-V16
- Rear- Laced:
- All Models: 5)
- 16in. (T16 X 3.00 D)-(Chrome) 40 Spoke
- Tire/ Size: Dunlop D401 Elite S/T- 130/90- 16 (except XL1200C)
- Tire/ Size: Dunlop Touring Elite II- MT-90-B16 (XL1200C only)
- Tube Size: MT90-16 (all Models)
Models
XLH 883
Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 60.2 in. / 1,529 mm
- Overall Length: 87.6 in. / 2,225 mm
- Overall Width: 33 in. / 838 mm
- Overall Height: 47.5 in. / 1,207 mm
- Road Clearance: 6.70 in. / 170.2 mm
- Weight: 488 lb. / 221 kg (as shipped from factory)
- GVWR is printed on a label on the frame steering head
- Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings;
- GVWR: 948 lb. / 430 kg
- GVWR-Front: 353 lb. / 160 kg
- GVWR-Rear: 595 lb. / 270 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 3.30 US gal. / 12.5 liters
- Oil Tank capacity with filter: 3 US qt.
XLH 883 Hugger
Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 59.0 in. / 1,499 mm
- Overall Length: 87.25 in. / 2,216 mm
- Overall Width: 35 in. / 889 mm
- Overall Height: 49.75 in / 1,264 mm
- Road Clearance: 4.50 in. / 114.3 mm
- Weight: 485 lb. / 220 kg (as shipped from factory)
- GVWR is printed on a label on the frame steering head
- Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings;
- GVWR: 948 lb. / 430 kg
- GVWR-Front: 353 lb. / 160 kg
- GVWR-Rear: 595 lb. / 270 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 3.30 US gal. / 12.5 liters
- Oil Tank capacity with filter: 3 US qt.
XLH 1200
Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 60.2 in. / 1,529 mm
- Overall Length: 87.6 in. / 2,225 mm
- Overall Width: 35 in. / 889 mm
- Overall Height: 47.5 in. / 1,207 mm
- Road Clearance: 6.70 in. / 170.2 mm
- Weight: 494 lb. / 224 kg (as shipped from factory)
- GVWR is printed on a label on the frame steering head
- Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings;
- GVWR: 948 lb. / 430 kg
- GVWR-Front: 353 lb. / 160 kg
- GVWR-Rear: 595 lb. / 270 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 3.30 US gal. / 12.5 liters
- Oil Tank capacity with filter: 3 US qt.
XLH 1200C
Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 59.0 in. / 1,499 mm
- Overall Length: 87.25 in. / 2,216 mm
- Overall Width: 35 in. / 889 mm
- Overall Height: 49.75 in. / 1,264 mm
- Road Clearance: 6.70 in. / 170.2 mm
- Weight: 483 lb. / 219 kg (as shipped from factory)
- GVWR is printed on a label on the frame steering head
- Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings;
- GVWR: 948 lb. / 430 kg
- GVWR-Front: 353 lb. / 160 kg
- GVWR-Rear: 595 lb. / 270 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 3.30 US gal. / 12.5 liters
- Oil Tank capacity with filter: 3 US qt.
XLH 1200S
Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 60.2 in. / 1,529 mm
- Overall Length: 87.6 in. / 2,225 mm
- Overall Width: 35 in. / 889 mm
- Overall Height: 49.75 in. / 1,264 mm
- Road Clearance: 6.70 in. / 170.2 mm
- Weight: 497 lb. / 225.6 kg (as shipped from factory)
- GVWR is printed on a label on the frame steering head
- Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings;
- GVWR: 948 lb. / 430 kg
- GVWR-Front: 353 lb. / 160 kg
- GVWR-Rear: 595 lb. / 270 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 3.30 US gal. / 12.5 liters
- Oil Tank capacity with filter: 3 US qt.
Back to Sportster History Index
1)
1998 Harley Davidson Service Manual
2)
Harley Davidson Parts Manual, pg 53, Item 8,13
3)
Harley Davidson Parts Manual, pg 55, Item 10
4)
Harley Davidson Parts Manual, pg 57, Item 8
5)
Harley Davidson Parts Manual, pg 59, Item 10
