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Jul 18, 2011 | 06:38 AM

#21

32vld

Road Master

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 1,210

Likes: 1

From: LI, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsbfxdwg

Do you think Harley is going through what all the car companies went through in the late 70's early 80's? Back then you ended up with a 350 chevy that made like 160 HP and 220 ft lb of torque because of all the emissions stuff, instead of the much higher horsepower they had just a few years earlier before the emission regulations kicked in. Is Harley just making the motors bigger to try and maintain the same level of performance as the pre-emission engines?

All this emission talk makes me love my 02 WG with carb

Cars loss power because no new technology was used. Early to mid 70's still had points and carburetor technoloy that had not changed since 1935. Electronic ignition and computer control carbs started getting the power back. Then Distributorless ignition and EFI have given performance and cleaner engines back. So Harley does not have to go bigger.

Technology being used on Harley's is the same technology being used on today's small blocks and they are better then anything from the good old days.

Jul 18, 2011 | 10:44 AM

#22

skratch

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 20,616

Likes: 4,440

From: anacoco, la

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnT

Unfortunately, this means they will jack up the prices on all the bikes by a grand or more.

msrp went up $500. on the '11s if you wanted the 103 you had to get the powerpak which upped the msrp by $2,000. so if you wanted just the 103, the '12 could actually save you $1500.

Jul 18, 2011 | 11:28 AM

#23

traveler

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 12,946

Likes: 32

From: Colorado Springs, CO

ABS SHOULD be standard. Once you have it save your bacon, you'll be a believer.

~Joe

Jul 18, 2011 | 11:39 AM

#24

schumacher

Club Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 30,914

Likes: 16

From: Springfield, Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveler

ABS SHOULD be standard. Once you have it save your bacon, you'll be a believer.

~Joe

"I love bacon"

Jul 18, 2011 | 12:08 PM

#25

jamesroadking

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 1,328

Likes: 154

From: Lake City, Florida

I've had 74 cubic inch Pan, a 80 cubic inch Evo, an TC88, and now a 103.
And yes I to really liked the the older bikes and they had enough power for me, but they had **** poor brakes!
In my opinion, the Evo's and the TC88's needed a 6 speed gear box and Brembo brakes.
The Panhead's stock front drum brake wouldn't even hold the bike on a steep hill. Once I missed a second to first gear down shift coming to a stop sign on steep hill, the front brake wouldn't hold the bike and I (with a chick on the back) ended up rolling backwards down the hill, and no ****! Did a u-turn rolling backwards and recovered without stopping (or dumping) the bike. I pretended like it was no big deal, do it all the time.

Last edited by jamesroadking; Jul 18, 2011 at 12:20 PM.

Jul 18, 2011 | 12:51 PM

#26

Tony P

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 5,763

Likes: 371

From: North of Hell, South of Heaven

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowpokey

Previous thread on the subject said all big twins get the 103", except the Super Glide and Street Bob.

This is what my dealer tells me as well.

Jul 18, 2011 | 03:12 PM

#27

Harley_Dude

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 5,716

Likes: 103

From:

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnum629c

Great more heat !! ill take back my old school 80 inch EVO anyday......they can keep there 96 there 103 and there 110!! Been on them all and feel the EVO was the best and the 88s not too bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQ0DibXdHU

Jul 18, 2011 | 04:00 PM

#28

faber

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 8,831

Likes: 15

From: Nomad

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnum629c

I think the epa has just about killed harleys v twin.......

I love that myth

My Ducati Monster 1100 has an air-cooled L-twin that is EPA-compliant and, at only 1100cc's, will blow any TC96 bike away.

What holds Harleys back is the antiquated engine design that we, the customers, insist they keep.

Look at what happened when HD tried to modernize. Would you call the V-Rods a big seller?

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