New engine, when??
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 460
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Harley will do it when they have to financial, not a minute sooner. Volkswagan finally had to quit selling the Air Cooled Beatle here because they could not make it pass EPA standards and still run and make money.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
Harley will stay with the current air cooled v twin until they are convinced they have a viable replacement or until the EPA regs force them to change. A "viable replacement" refers to a motor that won't negatively impact sales/profits.
Harley has marketed themselves into a corner. They have built their brand around the legend of the vtwin. Not just any vtwin but a 45 degree, air cooled vtwin; a motor configuration that may not pass the test of time/EPA. Will it be a Harley if it doesn't have a 45 degree, air cooled, v twin? Will bikers buy a Harley without a 45 degree, air cooled vtwin? We'll see.
Harley has marketed themselves into a corner. They have built their brand around the legend of the vtwin. Not just any vtwin but a 45 degree, air cooled vtwin; a motor configuration that may not pass the test of time/EPA. Will it be a Harley if it doesn't have a 45 degree, air cooled, v twin? Will bikers buy a Harley without a 45 degree, air cooled vtwin? We'll see.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 1
From: Nebraska
HD actually built a liquid cooled touring bike back in the early 80s (?). It was a V4 designed by Porsche I believe. I remember seeing it on a TV show when they were walking through the museum. There was only a couple prototypes built and then they scrapped the project. Too bad cause it was a really cool looking bike.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
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Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
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From: Here
Who knows what Harley will do. They built the Fugly. Maybe next is a water cooled Fugly...lol
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
I meant goldwing power (as in 120+ HP & 120+ tq) not a boring v6 that's bigger then many car engine's.
I do not see the big deal with going to water cooled. Make it more reliable, run cooler, allow a lot more power to be made etc. It would have to remain veetwin, several vtwin motors pumping out serious power. I do not think radiators make a bike any less reliable considering it allows the engine to stay in a more controlled temp range.
This reminds me of when HD went to Fuel Injection...... man the HD owners were pissed.... not a real harley..... then they added cat's.... again going to kill the sound etc not a real HD.
But for me every improvement they have made over the 14yrs I have owned a street bike has been huge & made my touring experiences much much better with the newer bike vs the older ones. I would think that a company like HD with the clientel they have made for themself would not release a new engine w/o meeting as many of the old criteria as they can with sound probably being the #1 priority.
At least for me when I am riding downtown to work or doing one of my many parades every year I can't go any faster thus it's HOT. That being said my Buell just gets really hot in another area...... it's a hot calf or hot thigh depending on what I ride
I do not see the big deal with going to water cooled. Make it more reliable, run cooler, allow a lot more power to be made etc. It would have to remain veetwin, several vtwin motors pumping out serious power. I do not think radiators make a bike any less reliable considering it allows the engine to stay in a more controlled temp range.
This reminds me of when HD went to Fuel Injection...... man the HD owners were pissed.... not a real harley..... then they added cat's.... again going to kill the sound etc not a real HD.
But for me every improvement they have made over the 14yrs I have owned a street bike has been huge & made my touring experiences much much better with the newer bike vs the older ones. I would think that a company like HD with the clientel they have made for themself would not release a new engine w/o meeting as many of the old criteria as they can with sound probably being the #1 priority.
At least for me when I am riding downtown to work or doing one of my many parades every year I can't go any faster thus it's HOT. That being said my Buell just gets really hot in another area...... it's a hot calf or hot thigh depending on what I ride