How can I tell if a odometer has rolled over on a Harley Davidson Sportster ?

Question

I've been looking to buy a sportster on different websites when I found a 1988 883xlh with 1000 miles listed on it. I don't understand how a bike could be out for that long and keep the miles so low. If the mileage posted is true then it is a great buy but I'm just leary of getting cyber burned.

Answer 1

i bought an '88 sporty 883 in 2000 that had 3900 original miles on it. there are a few out there.

indian joe has a very good point. the speedo could have been changed. especially if the bike has been modified. condition of the bike should tell you a lot. if it looks like a new bike with all original paint and parts, it might be that low mileage.

Answer 2

let me get this before the haters do: dont worry dude, a harley would never run long enough or well enough to go 100k miles. lol! seriously though, lotsa people buy a bike and never ride it. look for other signs of never being ridden... original tires (lots of tread but lots of dry rot, cracked sidewalls), lotsa varnish in the carb, icky gas in the tank, etc. side note: if you're gonna ride a lot i'd look for something post-1991. five-speed sportsters are way more rideable than 4-speed models.

Answer 3

go to the state you live in department of transportation and request a title search and include the state inspection and insurance records that list the mileage if the bike changed hands, or when it was inspected, or when the insurance was renewed.

and if you see a discrepancy, file a claim of fraud

Answer 4

I was tempted to say that the only way to tell if the odometer has been rolled over on a Sportster is to look for dents on the tank and fenders.  I had an 88 - 883 that I sold to one of my kids.  He still has it.  That year Sportster has the Evolution motor and it's a good one.  

Regarding the bike you might buy, ask the owner why it only has 1000 miles.  It could be that he just didn't like to ride it, or he just needed garage jewelry.  

Take a careful look at the rubber on the foot pegs and shifter.  There shouldn't be much wear at all.  I have a new bike with low miles and live in flat land, the little whiskers are still on the outside edges of the tires because there just aren't that many curves where I live and I haven't gotten away.  

With only 1000 miles the tires should have lots of tread and tires don't need to be changed every thousand miles.  The tires might be new because the old ones rotted.  Rotted tires are better in this case since they may be original.  

Look at the tank and fenders carefully.  Do they look like they have only been on the road for 1000 miles.  look for stone chips on the front fender edges and inside and look at the lower frame for stone chips.  The fewer the better.  

Look at the number tags.  Do they look like they have been repainted or painted over.  

Look at the engine carefully and see if the numbers on the engine case look original or tampered with.

Ask if the owner has any documentation on the bike like original sales orders, service records like the 500 mile oil change.  

I bought my Sportster with a broken Speedometer and changed it.  WOW, back to 0 miles on the odometer!  It became an instant low mileage bike.   Look at the other sighs of miles on the road.

Even with only 1000 miles, the bike is just an old bike and not worth a whole lot of money.   Make sure it runs.

If you are going to pay a lot of money for it, take it to a dealer for an inspection.

This bike will never be a collector's item but you can ride it and have fun.  

Good luck.

Answer 5

Look for wear on the rest of it. After that many miles(rollover), use would show.

It is entirely possible to find a 20 year old bike with low miles, I've bought a few. Those were mostly Hondas.

An old Harley with low miles is easier to find. There are some that are ridden, and some that aren't. A Sportster has been considered an "entry" bike for a long time. A number of people buy motorcycles and then find they don't really like to ride. It happens.

Answer 6

I would look real close at it  Or maybe the speedo doesnt even work or not the orig for the bike

50 miles a year ???