California 1100 or a Used Sportster for Daily Ride/Tourer?

[s1120]

   Oh, one more thing Bill. I now realize my mistake. I chose the wrong roads to ride. I should have led you on faster, straighter roads. I doubt you ever used 4th gear much. Probably mostly 3rd gear. Where the EV really shines is in 5th gear at an indicated 80mph.

I always enjoy 4th gear, 50-60 mph back roads!!  Just feels like your flying

[Castorp]

Oh I think they were perfect roads. They let me take it slow and get a feel for things.  And there really was a lot to absorb all at once.  Towards the end of the ride I was beginning to get a feel for the toe/heel shifter. I can see growing to like that with time. The brake I was still struggling with a little--in part because I had worn clunky boots.  I believe on a faster road the windscreen might have become more of an issue for me. This is partly because I have never ridden a bike with a large windscreen. And then, as I have a long torso (but short legs) my head was above the screen in the most turbulant zone. I was ducking behind the screen sometimes and it was really quiet and calm when I did that. Alll I could hear was the engine and exhaust at those moments. (Nice sounds!). I'm glad the screen was on it because I have always wondered what it was like, riding behind a screen like that. But just the fully faired or nearly so experience was a lot for me to take in all at once. 

[MMRanch]

Castorp ask :   MMRanch, what sort of 883? I have been wondering about those (I have riddenly only the 1200). I see lots of the XL "c" or "custom" for sale. Why did you think it even better than the other sporty you had? 

As short as I can make the story:

I've been ridding with a bunch of Suzuki Savage/S-40 riders for 10+ years now in the Tail of the Dragon area 3 or 4 times a year.    Those little bikes are GREAT to play on in the twisties .   In 06 I was ridding my 2004 1200 Sportster Roadster , instead of my S-40.
The Harley is so much heavier it doesn't corner as quick as the little Savages .   To compensate I had to run 2nd + 3rd gear up and down the rpm range.   Yea , I could out power them anytime ... but ... in the twisty' s all the extra power don't mean nothing.   
Harley built the 883 with 3" pistons then later added the 3.5" pistons to make it a 1200.  The crank shaft is not a tapered fit to the drive sprocket of the primary either.  It seems perfect for the  3" pistons , but the 3.5" pistons and running it like a Jap Bike made the splines on the crank shaft - sprocket connection start slipping.   
It didn't take long for the splines to "Disappear" .   
So , I say : Harley got the 883 perfect , but Screwed-up by putting the 3.5" pistons in it (going from personal experience) . 

I think the conversation at Harley might have gone like :
Hay that's a nice little bike --- But --- Why don't you put these MAN-SIZE pistons in it and make it a MAN'S BIKE !      The primaries are inter-changeable between the 1200 and the 883 , its the same bike .  Some folks use the 1200 jugs and the 883 primary and have a low geared , DRAG BIKE/STUNT BIKE.

Don't run your 1200 Sportster like a REAL BIKE and there won't be a problem , It ain't nothing but a bored out 883  ya know.!