Originally Posted by grbrown

Seems we all need a history lesson! EPA had a radical affect on cars long before it got it's grip on bikes. Take the Porsche 911 for example. It had a 2 litre air-cooled flat-6 when the first regulations were introduced. Over the following years it was increased in size to 2.2 litres, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, etc, as successive waves of more stringent regulations were introduced. With each of those changes performance was enhanced and look at 911s today!

Why should the bike industry or Harleys be any different?

Originally Posted by klc997

I didn't read every post in this ten page thread, but one I did read makes a lot of sense. Do you really think it's a coincidence that the EPA dropped the hammer and not even a week later Harley introduces the M8? That engine has been in the works for years, and when Harley was ready to introduce it, they called in a FAVOR from the EPA. Think about it, Harley has been losing the aftermarket performance battle for along time. There is NOTHING Screamin Eagle sells the is better or cheaper than other aftermarket parts companies. What the recent EPA ruling did was allow Harley to mandate EPA compliant parts or your warranty would be voided. This effectively puts them back in the game on "high performance" parts. Harley knows a hand full of their customers will give them the finger and do what they want to the new bikes and screw the warranty. Harley also knows that the vast majority will fall in line and comply because they're afraid of the threat of voiding the warranty, Even though most of their customers don't ride enough to make the warranty worthwhile I the first place. I think Harley has been planning this for awhile, and the timing of the EPA settlement was all Harley's call, not the EPA's. As I've watched what's gone on since the settlement, I'm more convinced that ever that all this was Harley's idea, and so far it's working to perfection.

Originally Posted by '05Train

There wasn't a single muscle car from the '60s or early '70s making 500 horsepower (the way it's measured now). And those cars were ridiculously uncomfortable and unreliable. And God forbid you had to turn or stop.

The baddest of the bad was the '70 Buick GS455. That sucker was running in the low 13s at about 105mph. The new Accord runs in the low 14s at a little over 100mph. The new Mustang runs in the high 12s at well over 110mph.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have the Buick in my garage, but I'd rather drive the better vehicle(s).

Originally Posted by ROCKOUT Rocker Products

Ah, but there's a difference between 500 rough, loping, fender shaking, mirror blurring 5,000 RPM Detroit HP, and 500 sewing machine sounding, rheostat feeling, 8,000 RPM Japanese HP.

Kinda like a Harley and...



__________________________________________________ ____
For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click the LINKS below...

Originally Posted by SBates08

Finally somebody gets it. It's like a magic show and everybody is mesmerized by what the MOCO and the EPA are doing with their left hand, and judging by the posts in this thread it's working, that your not paying attention to the real trick going on with the right hand. The right hand is quietly gathering it's sheep and capturing its share of the aftermarket world. Kinda sneaky how they've pulled the wool over your eyes isn't it. Think about it folks, 12 million bucks and what boils down to community service is a mere slap on the wrist for a company like HD. As far as the EPA making claims that they'll be going after the aftermarket next is all hogwash. Wake up folks.

Originally Posted by klc997

I didn't read every post in this ten page thread, but one I did read makes a lot of sense. Do you really think it's a coincidence that the EPA dropped the hammer and not even a week later Harley introduces the M8? That engine has been in the works for years, and when Harley was ready to introduce it, they called in a FAVOR from the EPA. Think about it, Harley has been losing the aftermarket performance battle for along time. There is NOTHING Screamin Eagle sells the is better or cheaper than other aftermarket parts companies. What the recent EPA ruling did was allow Harley to mandate EPA compliant parts or your warranty would be voided. This effectively puts them back in the game on "high performance" parts. Harley knows a hand full of their customers will give them the finger and do what they want to the new bikes and screw the warranty. Harley also knows that the vast majority will fall in line and comply because they're afraid of the threat of voiding the warranty, Even though most of their customers don't ride enough to make the warranty worthwhile I the first place. I think Harley has been planning this for awhile, and the timing of the EPA settlement was all Harley's call, not the EPA's. As I've watched what's gone on since the settlement, I'm more convinced that ever that all this was Harley's idea, and so far it's working to perfection.

Originally Posted by Tedwilliams09

Said it before and I will say it again. Harleys success and the aftermarket success are vital to alot of us.

I just hope the EPA isn't taking that fun away from some of us...

And yes I do know I am breaking laws by putting non EPA compliant parts on my bike.

If that's the biggest crimes I commit in my life I can live with that.

Hopefully this new M8 works out well.... looks like a good platform to work with if the builders can do it.