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Visionary
Posts: 4278
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From: Fastbikesinc@aol.com
Subject: (no subject)
To: jay.mulholland@yahoo.com, codder42@aol.com
Cc: MajorRides@aol.com
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011, 4:31 AM
2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON LINEUP TO BREAK TRADITION WITH WATER-COOLED ENGINES-- Harley-Davidson's notoriously nostalgic, 108 year practice of building only air-cooled engines (with the exception, of course, of the V-Rod Night Rod Special and V-Rod Muscle) is about to come to a screeching halt. Thanks to certification documents leaked by the EPA and California Air Resources Board, all engines in the 2012 Harley-Davidson lineup will feature a radiator discreetly wedged between each model's downtubes.
A Harley-Davidson representative reluctantly admitted that the change was coming when confronted with the allegation. "For over a century, our bikes have exuded a singular feel and an unmistakable exhaust note," the spokesperson said during a phone interview, "but toughening emissions regulations and practical considerations have forced us to modernize our powerplants."
The rep suggested that the benefits were not limited to clean air; the new liquid-cooled engines produce up to 35 percent more horsepower, and run considerably cooler than their predecessors-- with a reduction in the signature potato-potato exhaust volume. The radiators, manufactured in Japan by Denso, are purpose built for the H-D application, and feature a similar design to the slim units found on Honda's Fury chopper. All models will feature traditional placement except the XR1200X, which will incorporate a side-mounted radiator. Rumors that the V-Rod will be discontinued due to "redundancy" have not yet been confirmed.
"The time has come," the rep told me, "and our valued customers will soon see that Harley-Davidson is committed to embracing a cleaner and greener future."
By Basem Wasef, About.com Guide
--from CarlR |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | too funny... they'd use the victory oil-cooled method before watercooled was ever put on a harley, (with the exception of the V-rod of course) ---- will never happen... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 29
| I don't know if this really would be all that out of line. They could go the oil cooled route like Vic but EPA rules over everything else and it takes TONS of money for R & D as well as certifications of compliance. They would not want to put all that investment in oil cooled designs if those days may be numbered anyway and they've already got good experience with the V-Rod. I've always said if they ever put a modified version of the V-Rod engine in all their other models they might actually have a product worth looking at. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | I'm waiting with bated breath for this change. To play along with the idea is fine, but the bottom-line is that if Harley introduced one of their retro machines with water-cooled V-Twin engines they'll pack up and go home. JMHO,OC |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 29
| Oh IDK. Harley's a BIG complex corporation and they have to survive. I don't see something like this causing them to close their doors, take their toys and go home. I do see a lot of screaming, crying and kicking from the Harley purists but what are they really going to do if it's Uncle Sam forcing the change. They could play this a couple of different ways. Try to keep the changes as suttle as possible to maintain the image their so proud of or they could use this as an opportunity to break away from that image and go new directions in the manner of Victory. Wouldn't that be ironic?
Edited by 40vegas 2011-04-11 11:44 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Cabot Arkansas | Just think of the power a 110" v-rod motor would make ......... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | hmmm, I'm told for Harley it's not about power.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 68
LONDONDERRY NH | f you believed this story, check the date-- yep, it was published on April Fools day! Harley-Davidson has not released any plans to add water-cooled engines to their lineup.<< |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Harley will put this change off as long as possible. There will be a day when they will have to produce WC engines but I believe it's a few years off. Harley Davidson Motor Co could have done this years ago, ( they have alot of money and resources ) but they walk a really fine tight rope between the EPA and their customer base. Most "old school" Harley guys say they will balk at a WC engine, but I remember when the Shovel Head guys hated Evos and now the Evo guys talk shit about fuel injection and the TwinCam motor. I can imagine what it was like in 1936 when the flathead guys saw the first Knuclehead. All things eventually change............ |
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Harley Radiator/Maybe BS
