What engineering upgrades have Harley Davidson made the last 20 years to make them more dependable?

Question

This is a serious technical question, I have heard they last much longer, please no dumb bashing. I just want to know what the improvment were engineering wise that improved them so much, what changed with the newer engines? Thanks

Answer 1

the real improvement is that Joe B wont buy a harley,he'll just constantly bash on them.  maybe he can go to the plant and spit and kick on the Twin Cam 88 and toss a few Evo's out the window too.  JoeB, keep on keeping on, you make us all laugh!

Answer 2

The HD V Twin design is basically unchanged since 1909

the only improvements made are the valve designs

in 1983 the Evolution engine used square blocks that housed the valves and it was trouble

in 1999 the Twin Cam engine used 2 overhead cams that was a copy from the Japanese that increased reliability

Now HD must redesign their engines for lower emissions, better fuel economy and the only way they can do this is to scrap the outdated V Twin design

Answer 3

Engineering upgrades at the HD factories have been huge.  Quality control and CAD/CAM manufacturing is the name of the game for HD as well as the auto companies.  Article below is just one aspect of quality improvements at Harley.

Answer 4

the other consideration, is that people are willing to be meticulous with them and keep them up and repair them because they still have a value to do so, any other make wouldn't be feasible to do so and are pretty well just disposable when something expensive breaks

Answer 5

Just one correction to Chopperchopster's answer. The Sportsters have been rubber mounted since 2004. They also went fuel injected around 2006.

Answer 6

Just to add to chopper... the Evolution Motor saved HD from going belly up. The steel sleeved aluminum jugs dissapated heat (an engines greatest enemy) much better. The rubber mount was OK  but the big advancement was the Twin Cam B motor (counter weighted flywheel) which gives a virtually vibration free bike. Alternators instead of generators.... wet clutch systems... all make an HD motor that you break in and maintain properly, a 150,000 mile motor. (Put an oil cooler on it).

Answer 7

The VROD motor

Answer 8

It would be easyier to show you than try and explain. Simply take a tour at the Harley plant in York Pa. You will be impressed.

Answer 9

You are being stupid again Moe B. Over head cam engine?  HDs last long because they use high end parts, strict quality control, plus they can get their peak Torque and HP at about 3K rpms, most imports don't reach this peak till  a much higher RPM. A bike running 2-3 times faster to get the same torque and HP as the low revving bike , ain't gonna last as long. Actually, the 1979 shovelhead had aluminum jugs with steel liners , the Twin Cam B is only used in Softails, because of the rigid mount engine. The Evo didn't come out in 1983.

Answer 10

well the old knuckles,pans, and shovels, used splash oiling which has been replaced with spot on oiling.also electronic ignition instead of points, electronic fuel injection instead of carbs,rubber mounting the engines got rid of much of the vibration which would make them rattle apart.unfortunately the sportster still has a solid mount motor so they have vibration problems still. quality control issues have been solved which had a lot to do with things,and the training provided by M.M.I. has created top level technitions.