OLD THREAD - Water cooled harleys??
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 2
RE: Water cooled harleys??
Not too worried about it. By the time I buy another bike all the bugs will be worked out on water-cooling and fuel injection etc. and the other early adapters will have us all conditioned to it.
Then I'll have a Harley with a wider power and torque band that starts up like a charm when cold.
Then I'll have a Harley with a wider power and torque band that starts up like a charm when cold.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 9,763
From: Montana & Arkansas
RE: Water cooled harleys??
When it happens, just think how cool it'll be to have an old "Air-Thumper" in the garage instead of or in addition to your new hi-tech "Water-Pumper" ??
ORIGINAL: TXSwede
Just keep repeating...Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing.
There! Believe it yet? If not, please refer to the previous paragraph.
Just keep repeating...Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing,Progress is a good thing.
There! Believe it yet? If not, please refer to the previous paragraph.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 297
Likes: 25
From:
RE: Water cooled harleys??
I wouldn't worry about it too much. Granted the styling and motor setup will change, but I think it will be for the better. The water cooling will keep the heads cooler allowing higher compression, different timing, and ultimately more power and better realibility.
A lot of us here (myself included) don't remember those days, but from listening to guys I've been told that there was nothing that could touch a Harley up untill the early 70's. I wouldn't mind that being the case now, even if some of the styling does change some.
it may put them back on top like they were back in the late 50s and 60s for bragging rights at the bar
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Water cooled harleys??
I would love to see at least one of the touring models go water-cooled. More power, less heat, probably better mileage and reliability. Cops would probably be very happy with them.
Would also like to see ABS offered.
Would also like to see ABS offered.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Water cooled harleys??
I understand by 2009 all new bikes will have to be California compliant. I think that Harley will push the air cooled engines well past that time because of the extensive redesign that they have done on the Twin Cams. But sooner or later HD will have to bite the bullet and go to liquid cooling. Like or not the EPA is slowly but surely reeling Harley and all of the others in. I just hope that the all powerful EPA in its infinite wisdom will grandfather all of those air cooled bikes, or there’s going to be a lot more rebels out there than there are now.
Zyklon
Zyklon
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside, CA
RE: Water cooled harleys??
I have had metric bikes that are water cooled and never had to worry about riding around Palm Springs in 110 plus degrees. no overheating problems then- I do worry about my Sporty getting overheated thu. besides, think of it- your car is water cooled and highly effecieint. I think the liquid cooled bikes are the only and best way to go if youhave to ride through heavy traffic etc. I will welcome liquid cooled HD's and say Congrats for finally coming up to snuff with most other bike makers. By the way- Hydraulic clutches would be nice too.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: NC
RE: Water cooled harleys??
one good thing about it if it does happen, the value on the air cooled ones should go up as most of the buddies i ride with say they will start buying used air cooled hd's.
its to early in the game yet for me to say exactally how i stand even though i dont like the sound of it. kinda reminds me of the move to fuel injection and the mixed reactions it got.
the one thing that gets me though is how when the imported bikes started building bikes that looked and sounded like a harley. now its going the other way around.
its to early in the game yet for me to say exactally how i stand even though i dont like the sound of it. kinda reminds me of the move to fuel injection and the mixed reactions it got.
the one thing that gets me though is how when the imported bikes started building bikes that looked and sounded like a harley. now its going the other way around.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
From: the Vegas
RE: Water cooled harleys??
ORIGINAL: fatboylust
................To HD’s credit they have nearly exhausted the limits of the air-cooled designs ability to meet the EPAs requirements having done some hard work to carry it this far. The rest of the industry has already made the move. You can bet the custom air-cooled bike builders will be scrambling, as it is only a matter of time before they too will have to comply. If any builder is to continue to produce and sell bike in this market they will have to comply with the Feds.
jmo,
FBL
................To HD’s credit they have nearly exhausted the limits of the air-cooled designs ability to meet the EPAs requirements having done some hard work to carry it this far. The rest of the industry has already made the move. You can bet the custom air-cooled bike builders will be scrambling, as it is only a matter of time before they too will have to comply. If any builder is to continue to produce and sell bike in this market they will have to comply with the Feds.
jmo,
FBL
although, the revo motor is a hell of a piece of machinery!! i too think it would be right at home in a bagger!! tuned up, it would really concern all the big metric builders. lets just hope they don't put in the GW airbags, then all is lost!!
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
RE: Water cooled harleys??
Flippin' through a magazine a couple days ago while waiting for the wife to finish picking up a couple things at the store, and there they were: pictures of watercooled Harleys. Unfortunately, I can't remember which mag it was, but the bikes were Sportsters. Will be out possibly in '08 if I remember right. One of those things I'd have to see in person as the pictures didn't exactly get my heart a-pumpin".