Im an ol school builder and rider but am glad that Harley is finally modernizing your thoughts?

Question

they have finally gotten a liquid cooled,overhead cam motor and its not just in the V rod.Change comes very slowly at the motor company which banks very heavily on tradition.I for one welcome the new stuff.I ride a 62 pan most of the time and have some big inch aftermarket chops that I built.Havent seen a chopper with a V rod motor yet but am thinking about going there.So what do ya think about this stuff? I hope you realise that the pushrod actuated twincam is slated to end in 2010. Liquid cooling,overhead cam is here ta stay fellas.

Answer 1

Good comment. My opinion is that the motor company has been slow in updating their bikes beyond cosmetics.

Answer 2

I'll give up my 96"TCB when they pry my cold, dead fingers off the throttle.

I would like to see a chop with a V-Rod mill.

Answer 3

I ride shovels, but it is good to see Harley has finally gotten into the twentieth century.

Answer 4

I was working for a Harley dealer as a mechanic when the V-Rod came out in 2002. Yes, it is a great motor but it has its down side. Try doing a valve lash adjustment on it every 10,000 miles. I think it's something like 7 to 8 hours to do as you're supposed to drop the motor to access those "modern" overheard cams. That adds over $500 in labor on every 10,000 mile service. Talk about making the service bills expensive.

I agree that while high tech engines are cool it eventually gets to the point where your average Joe won't be able to work on their own bike anymore and is forced to pay big bucks at a repair shop. I would rather have an old school style engine that I can work on with basic hand tools then own a bike I have to rely on someone else to fix for me.

On another note do you even know why Harley is switching to water cooled engines? It's not because they want to. It's because of the Feds and the upcoming tougher emission regulates on motorcycles, mainly in the mechanical noise area. Air cooled bikes make more mechanical noise and will not pass the new mandates in 2010. The water jackets on a water cooled motorcycle engine absorb sound and is a lot easier to meet the new standards with.

What really pisses me off is how people will put down Harleys for having "old school" engines yet I don't hear the same being said about BMW's and their opposed piston engine design that goes back to the 30's.

Answer 5

read "the horse, back street choppers", they had a chopped v-rod in an issue.

Answer 6

Seems all the bikes are going to be water cooled soon. I remember thinking that GS750 Suzuki was going to blow a radiator and die one day but I never saw a problem other than mild overheat on extended idle after long miles.

Answer 7

It's nice to see HD finally adopting 1980s technology.

Answer 8

WHAT?????

is this a joke?

HD isn't modernizing!

the basic engine design hasn't changed since 1909

V Twin motors don't work

V Twins are NOT an efficient design

Answer 9

Ruppster is right and Joe B is wrong as usual. Harley must address the new emission standards of 2010... the 96 efi almost didn't clear '06 regs (mapped lean in mid range to pass). As far as V twins not working... tell that to Yamaha, Victory, Kawasaki and Honda... PLUS the new Xwedge from S&S is air cooled and STILL passes the 2010 emission standards- and very close to passing CARB.