New engine, when??
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 77
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HOG (NYSE ticker symbol) is a business. Many factors dictate changes to thier product. These factors may include (among others) EPA, costs, trends, competition and marketing. Harley's big twin moved from an 88ci to a 96ci. This created "demand" for the 96ci. Now, Harely is making limited versions of 103ci and so on. Would't you know it, 103's are not discounted (many times on the contrary). When you have declining ridership and products that last, you must reinvent yourself so that folks that currently have your product will want to switch to a newer version (HOG does not directly make any money on sales of used bikes).
Best
Greg
Best
Greg
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,580
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From: The Internet (& Dyer, Indiana)
Tractor troque? Some of you guys need to ride a few other bikes. Thats the single biggist problem I have with my Limited, no low end torque. But, it is what it is, and I love it for other things it does well and I can live with no bottom end, just keep shifting them gears.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Either way, anyone that has a problem looking at either one is no buddy of mine. Cams will help, I intend to put a set of 255s to get a little more bottom end, but only time will tell if even that will be enough. The problem is that if you ride roads like the BRP when you get into the really mountainous twisty portions you are forces to slow to 40 mph or so on a lot of uphill tight curves. That puts you well under 2000 rpm and the Limited just doesn't have any grunt under 2000. I'm used to the Wing have gobs of torque all the way down to 1500 rpm and not having to shift under those conditions. With the Ultra, it's hit a curve, downshift to third, hit the next straight, upshift to fifth, over and over again. Drove me crazy at first but it also let my know why my friend with his Ultra was constantly dropping back on uphill curves and then catching back up. After 10k I've gotten more used to it but it would be nice to pick the torque up to at least 90 lbs.ft. in the 1800 rpm range. Hopefully the 255s will do that.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
Goldwings are not crotch rockets, they are used for touring/crusing. I would love to have power of my Wing in my Limited, not for going fast but for touring in the mountains, my favorite place. A Wing has the low end power to pull up hill at 1500 rpm (95 lbs.ft. at 1500 rpm at the rear wheel) with authority, loaded to the gills. If my wife and I ride the Limited from Ashville down the BRP to Cherokee with nothing in the bags or tourpak, I have to constantly shift between third and fifth. It we are on the Wing loaded with everything you can get in the trunk and bags on the same stretch of the BRP, I stay in high gear all the way. I love my Limited, figure I'll have it the rest of my days, but it Harley came out with a new Ultra, watercooled so that my butt and right let would stay cool and with th low end torque of a GL1800, I would be first in line. I've talked to quite a few other Harley riders, some long time Harley riders, with the same opinionl.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
I may be misinterpreting your post, but to me and most people I know it takes more than just the brand of bike one rides to be cool. There are actually some cool people that don't ride a Harley. Some people that consider themselves cool are not cool at all. I have my Harley because I love to ride it.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
If you are 100% satisfied with your current bike, I'm happy for you. I've never owned any machine that I couldn't change something on it and make it better. My Limited doesn't really have enough power for two up touring in the mountains, my Wing could really use a sixth gear for more relaxed running on the superslab. Niether is a make or break problem, I can downshift on the Limited and the higher rpm doesn't hurt the Wing, bunchs of them have over 200k with nothing touched in the engine. BUT, more low end power and a sixth gear would make the Limited and the Wing more efficient touring bikes, the sole reason I own both. Considering that I can't change either bike then I have no real problems with either one but those things are on my wish list.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 779
Likes: 4
From: Upstate New York
Who cares??? Everyone here already has a 45 degree air cooled V twin. It's not a right that future generations have the opportunity to purchase one. I'd like to buy a real hemi powered 'Cuda but that ship has sailed too. Enjoy what you have while you still have it. Just sayin . . .
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Here
If you are 100% satisfied with your current bike, I'm happy for you. I've never owned any machine that I couldn't change something on it and make it better. My Limited doesn't really have enough power for two up touring in the mountains, my Wing could really use a sixth gear for more relaxed running on the superslab. Niether is a make or break problem, I can downshift on the Limited and the higher rpm doesn't hurt the Wing, bunchs of them have over 200k with nothing touched in the engine. BUT, more low end power and a sixth gear would make the Limited and the Wing more efficient touring bikes, the sole reason I own both. Considering that I can't change either bike then I have no real problems with either one but those things are on my wish list.
A Harley is a Motorcycle! A Goldwing is a two wheeled sports car!!!
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
When I read a post like this one, the first thing I think is, this guy doesn't know how to ride a motorcycle. The Limited has plenty of power for two up anywhere in the mtn's. Just keep the RPM's up. I only change back and forth between two gears. Only then when I have to slow below 30 MPH. Keep the R's up between 2500 and 3500 and you'll have all the power you need. You can't ride in the mtn's and expect to have torque at 2000 RPM's. You are lugging your engine if you do. Take a course and learn to ride. I also hate it when people compare Harley to a goldwing.
A Harley is a Motorcycle! A Goldwing is a two wheeled sports car!!!
A Harley is a Motorcycle! A Goldwing is a two wheeled sports car!!!
All I said was that compared to several other bikes stock Harleys don't have any low end torque, certainly not tractor like torque. Any engine that has to kept over 2500 rpm to produce good usable power is not a torque monster. I said my Limited can be down shifted and get the job done, it's just a shame you have to. Luckily it has many other endearing traits.
BTW, in fifth gear my Limited and my Wing are geared almost identically, only big difference is that a Wing is not lugging at 1500 because it does have tractor like torque.