So! Why Harley?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 944
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I would rather own a true water cooled biked than one of the half-assed ones they make now. Kawasaki made a a nice looking engine that had a full radiator and they didn't try to hide it. I don't know what's worse the half-assed approach or the H-D way of trying to conceal it. Throw a radiator in between the lower fairings that goes all the way across and leave a small slit for an air vent on each side and be done with it...
I'm just glad my Harley doesn't suck as bad as some of the guys that post here.
I've ridden the supposed "comfortable" bikes. Didn't like them.
And when you compare apples to, well... there is no comparison. But when you compare similar bikes with similar features, Harley isn't any more expensive than the rest.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 88
Likes: 2
From: Short Gap, W V
Enjoy it while it lasts. If the left gets their way there will be NO internal combustion engines in the future. Technology can only reduce emissions so far. In my opinion that is why Harley is developing their electric motorcycle. Do you think the day will come when the government says "Ok - we've reduced emissions enough." All of us on our Harleys are destroying the planet. We must be stopped. Ride on.
Ok, let's look at electric...
How is electricity generated?
And what is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to boost the electric consumption that would come from electric vehicles?
Yup, coal, natural gas and oil...
Coal is being squeezed out, big time, Wasn't that long ago that 75% of this country's electricity was generated from coal.
What is the cheapest and safest way to generate electricity? Nuclear. But this country suffers from N.I.M.B.Y., so that won't happen.
Hydro works, but you are limited. Wind also works, but again, there isn't enough land space. Solar... ever seen a solar field? I'll get a pic of one if I get over that way. IMHO, way worse than a natural gas wellhead, which is often just a couple of 2" pipes sticking out of the ground.
How is electricity generated?
And what is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to boost the electric consumption that would come from electric vehicles?
Yup, coal, natural gas and oil...
Coal is being squeezed out, big time, Wasn't that long ago that 75% of this country's electricity was generated from coal.
What is the cheapest and safest way to generate electricity? Nuclear. But this country suffers from N.I.M.B.Y., so that won't happen.
Hydro works, but you are limited. Wind also works, but again, there isn't enough land space. Solar... ever seen a solar field? I'll get a pic of one if I get over that way. IMHO, way worse than a natural gas wellhead, which is often just a couple of 2" pipes sticking out of the ground.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 189
Likes: 7
From: Phoenix
Its like ordering tofu or steak; Ill take mine rare please
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
I wouldn't mind seeing Harley switch to a water cooled motor if it meant they could get some more power out of their motors. I've pretty much given up on considering a the purchase of a new Harley until they do something to add a significant amount of power.
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Stage III
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
This is why I switched from a Honda VTX 1300R with aftermarket batwing faring, hard saddlebags, and tourpack. I stuck with the liquid cooled Honda until HD came out with their own, because I've gotten stuck in summertime, stop& go highway traffic with strictly air cooled bikes that began to shut down due to over heating.
I now have a 2015 Ultra Limited. The ride is incomparable. The center of gravity on the HD is much lower which makes cornering an absolute pleasure compared to the Honda. I can't wait to go back to The Dragon's tail on this bike. The overall feel of the Harley is much more solid and well put together, and all of this plus the nostalgia of HD make this one of the better choices IMHO.
I now have a 2015 Ultra Limited. The ride is incomparable. The center of gravity on the HD is much lower which makes cornering an absolute pleasure compared to the Honda. I can't wait to go back to The Dragon's tail on this bike. The overall feel of the Harley is much more solid and well put together, and all of this plus the nostalgia of HD make this one of the better choices IMHO.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 67
Most of the internal combustion engines powering motorized vehicles today are water cooled. If you want to drive yourself nuts with questioning "why" water cooling is preferred over being air cooled then begin by asking why current vehicle manufacturers are not switching from water cooled engines to air cooled models. Somewhere in your search for the facts you will encounter the three words- Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. Harley Davidson has always been way, way behind the curve to modernize anything. Has that trait served them particularly well over the recent past? Well no. In 2009 and 2010 they damn near filed for bankruptcy as a result of their business model. Were it not for their massive restructuring and a couple of bridge loans they would be history today.