| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
Some semi-interesting stuff on the touring bikes, apparently including the patented water-cooled heads. Oddly, Harley is both drawing attention to this (new "twin cooled" engines) but not mentioning the word "water" anywhere on their site. I guess you have to walk a fine line to avoid disturbing the faithful. Here's an article about them: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes /water-cooling-on-2014-harleys/23263.html | ||
| Strokizator |
The new bat-wing fairing is an improvement. An "infotainment" screen? Harley guys are getting softer. | ||
| Trojan |
patented water-cooled heads Phew! just as well they patented this brilliant idea...wouldn't want the pesky japanese to steal this groundbreaking 21st century technology would we.....Hold on....haven't the Japs been building water cooled bikes for a while now? Drat..back to the drawing board Muttley | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The brits have been making water cooled bikes for some time as well.  | ||
| Sifo |
Pods!   | ||
| Teeps |
I wonder if the fans will be as loud as the Ulysses? It appears, to me, that the alternative cooling scheme will not work on naked bikes... no place to hide the plumbing! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Someone posted this pic showing the coolant reservoir on ADVrider:  | ||
| Hughlysses |
They've gone so far out of their way to avoid saying "water cooled" that at least some of the press is missing it: "No, they're not getting liquid cooled, but the 2014 Harley lineup should appease many who complain that H-D model evolution usually doesn't stray beyond snazzy new paint and clever new ways to apply chrome. " http://motorcycles.about.com/b/2013/08/19/2014-har ley-davidson-motorcycles-project-rushmore-updates- 8-new-bikes.htm | ||
| Cataract2 |
Wake me up when they actually get serious about making a motorcycle... | ||
| Cityxslicker |
they killed the XR1200 - at least domestically. honestly - I am surprised it took them so long to do - I am betting there are a few first year versions to be had as new. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The XR1200 almost makes you feel sorry for the motor company. They put out a spy photo, anyone and everyone howls that they will buy it and please build it, Harley does, and... "plonk". There it sits for sale, can't hardly give them away. I kinda liked the styling relative to any other Sportster built after 1970 or so. But then I looked harder, and asked why on earth anyone would ever buy an XR1200 over a nice M2. | ||
| Preybird1 |
They can soft shoe dance all they want. But the emissions standards have changed and the have to comply with EPA! They will not pass being air cooled and they know it!! So HD has to play ball or leave the game! | ||
| S2t_bama |
I don't understand. BMW began oil-cooling for their boxer engines about 20 years ago. There was very little uproar. There is plenty of precedent for oil-cooling Harleys. Why don't they go that way, and satisfy both EPA and the traditionalists? Bama | ||
| Cityxslicker |
the XR1200 almost got there..... it is too HEAVY to be 'sport' they would have done better to make it more in lines of a sport touring model ala S3 - but it was still so plundering heavy compared to the Buell. There have been a couple of nice customs from it namely RSD - but he dropped over 70lbs off the lil porker And in surprises.... they killed the Road Glide - (and the Roadking Classic) I thought touring was their 'bread and butter' ..... their 'core' market. | ||
| Roderick |
Why not just get a convertible? Anyway...I have been looking for a long distance cruiser and have narrowed it down to a large gas tank Sportster or a Victory Judge. I just prefer the lack of bling on both. Roderick | ||
| Hughlysses |
I don't understand. BMW began oil-cooling for their boxer engines about 20 years ago. There was very little uproar. There is plenty of precedent for oil-cooling Harleys. Why don't they go that way, and satisfy both EPA and the traditionalists? Bama HD's have been about as oil-cooled as they could make them for some time now. Even BMW went to water cooled heads on their latest boxer engines. I'm pretty sure HD only went to water cooling because they absolutely HAD to. Of course, it's interesting that Polaris/Indian just came out with a brand new engine that's air/oil cooled. I'm guessing that the wedge combustion chamber used in the Indian engines compared to the hemi/bathtub chambers used on the Harleys is why one required water cooling and the other didn't. | ||
| 86129squids |
"surprises.... they killed the Road Glide - (and the Roadking Classic"  OK, cue the wait for 3 years, they'll be back. I AM surprised that the FLHRCI was axed. That's the best looking RK model, IMHO. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
 | ||
| Cityxslicker |
nor did they pop the 500cc ride for this year.... maybe it will be a half year release .... or an Indian only model still looking for that 450 Classic Scrambler with modern engine and metal bits ..... grrrr | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
What is it with those tools and pods? Why do they think pods are what everyone wants hanging off the side of the bike? The Vrod looks like an old tube radio. Why don't they take the Vrod engine and put it in a bagger? Are they simple? They ALREADY HAVE the damn engine. Why invent half-ass colling systems for the old engines? | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Harley-Disableson The high watermark.....  | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
"What is it with those tools and pods? Why do they think pods are what everyone wants hanging off the side of the bike? " those pods have been on the bikes for years, its nothing new for this model. | ||
| Ratbuell |
True...but folks are going to bitch that they can't get the quick-release kit to pull them off for hot weather riding. I suspect this is a baby-step towards a Revolution-motored bagger. See what reaction is to a "dual-cooled" engine...while developing a completely new platform that will combine the VRSC motor with the bagger family. FLTR gone. Big aftermarket VRSC conversion is the "Road-Rod", basically bracketry that allows installation of OEM FLTR fairings and bags on a VRSC. Coincidence? Or a sign that in a year or two we'll have a "wet" FLTR? | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Did they come out with any new chrome colors this year? | ||
| Deanh8 |
So the shovel head was made from 1966 to 1984 evo was from 1984-2000... I was really hoping to see an all new engine design, not the same old twin cam with cooling passage ways in the EXHAUST side of the head. Why not cool off the intake and get cooler air for better performance? They had to cool the exhaust for emissions... How long before we see S&S and like companies make heads with better passages for performance rather then smog. Well there goes my wishes for a new engine, something different to bring performance up. Ratbuell, hard to sell a roadglide with a vrod powertrain. The VROD doesnt have the torque/powerband like a typical harley buyer is used to. I always liked the vrod from a performance side of things, seriously looked into a Streetrod, then I rode one... torqueless soulless bike, really wasnt happy with the power. | ||
| Ratbuell |
"The Faithful" have been clamoring for a wet bagger for years. "My legs get too hot"..."the engine pings"..."that engine cooks my ass"....(of course, these are the shorts-and-sandals "riders", and the old-fart "I sit in parades" riders). I think we'll see the Revolution in more bikes in the future, or at least a variant of it. Yes, it's a different engine. But when I did a trackday on a VRSCR...I was very impressed. Of course, you have to ride it like a sportbike to get the most out of it, but that is actually a very capable package. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Doing some digging. It appears that the 2014 makes less torque than the 2013. Even with the "water cooling". Sad. Least when BMW put out the water cooled head on the R1200GS it put out more hp AND torque. I really want to take that BMW for a spin. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I was just scanning some of the HD forums this morning. These bikes are getting the complete range of comments from "Harley sold us out" to "Harley now has the most advanced bikes on the market".  In all fairness, there are quite a few rational comments as well. It'll be interesting to see where HD goes with their engines from here. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
So we've got Pan heads, & shovel heads & knuckle heads, & evos. Say hello to "The Wet Head". It's just another way to sell the same old same old. "Have YOU got the (nearly) ALL NEW, Wet Head Harley? No? Well you must be a pussy then!" | ||
| Patches |
No cup holders? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jver8fmzeKI |
