Or a V-6 or anything other than a V-twin. The recent threads bashing the 2018 M8 as "Harleysakis" that "sound like Hondas" got me thinking. What will HD do when they reach the end of their ability to make a V-twin smoother, quieter and more powerful? They're pretty much stuck with the V-twin platform because we Harley riders demand it, unlike metric riders who will accept pretty much any platform the Japanese companies offer as long as it's cool. The more innovative the better.

For my part, I have not opinion on the new platform or the M8 motor. I just bought a brand new 2017 Heritage not because I hate the new bikes (I don't) but because I loved my old 103 TC so much I wanted to buy a brand new one with a warranty before they were all gone.

So, back to my original question? If HD decided they had to move away from the V-twin (a liquid cooled V-4 for example) in order to satisfy the desire for more smoothness and power would you buy one?

 

They just dropped a water cooled V-Twin because the "Harley" buying public didn't like it or buy it. So I'm gonna say most will say, No.,,,

 

They still offer the "Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight" in the big baggers.

 

Are you aware of the Nova project?

 

But they dropped the V-rod.,,,

 

I would, I would also buy a single piston bike if they still made those

 

I'm 53 and I would absolutely buy a V-4 Harley.
I have said for years that it's ridiculous that they keep making bigger and bigger v-twins. This tells me that they can't come up with a better way to get more power out of a 45 degree v-twin. The displacement game has to end at some point.

 

Yep, as long as the bike looked good and the value was there for the price tag. I didn't buy a Harley because it's a "Harley" I bought it because I wanted a touring bike that I liked the look of and I enjoyed riding. If the Limited was a bike made by Indian and the Harley had the look of the Indian. I wouldn't still by the Harley. I'd buy the bike I liked... The Indian in that case. I'm not loyal to a brand, I'm going to give my cash to the company I like the product of. Same with auto and any other thing...

 

I remember reading up on that, and pictures of it in some chassis that looked like it was based off of an FXRT.

I think a lot of Harleys market appeal is for those that love "old school big cubes"..and all that goes with it (mostly the sound). Kinda like muscle cars of the late 60's. Old school, lumpy sound at idle, simple to work on.

Granted..that type of market is dwindling as us old guys are getting older and dropping out.

But I tell ya, if those any of those Nova projects did make it to production back in the late 70's...and I found one for sale...and it was carb'd....I'd get it!

 

Not only would I buy a V-whatever Harley, I'd buy an inline-whatever if Harley made one.