Motorcycles

Harley-Davidson's all-new V-Twin: More power, more torque, less vibration, all American

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Harley-Davidson's new Milwaukee Eight engine will need to pass the test of the Harley faithful
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: rocker arms
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: right front
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: left side
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: camshaft gear cutaway
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: piston and cylinder head cutaway
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight engine in a touring motorcycle
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: still looks like a harley motor
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: plenty of chrome
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Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee Eight is claimed to deliver 10 percent more torque
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: cylinder heads may be oil and liquid cooled, but the engine's not losing those fins
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: 107 and 114 cubic inch versions are available
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: enhanced charging systems for touring bikes
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: air cleaner removed
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: designed primarily for touring bikes
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Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: vibration at idle has been reduced by as much as 75 percent
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Harley-Davidson's new Milwaukee Eight engine will need to pass the test of the Harley faithful
Harley-Davidson
View gallery - 17 images

Harley-Davidson has announced its ninth generation American V-Twin engine. Featuring more power, more torque, less vibration, better heat dispersion and an enhanced exhaust note. Meet the Milwaukee Eight.

New Harley engines are a bit of a big deal. The Milwaukee company doesn't splash out on a totally new motor very often, and when it does, it's got a legion of incredibly picky fans to get past. And they're not shy when they decide they like your old stuff better than your new stuff.

Extra power, torque, efficiency and reduced vibration are all welcome developments for most manufacturers, but for Harley riders, feel and character trump the lot. If an engine doesn't deliver the right kind of Harley sound and feel, they're more than happy to just go buy an old one.

So it'll be very interesting to see how the market reacts to this new American V-Twin, the Milwaukee Eight.

Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight: right front
Harley-Davidson

On paper, it's well and truly superior to the Twin Cam engine before it. With two 4-valve heads (hence the name) and higher compression ratios, it puts out 10 percent more torque than the Twin Cam.

It deals with heat better, it's got a lighter clutch pull, 50 percent better gas flow through the intake and exhaust, and its rubber engine mounts and internal counterbalancer help reduce vibration as it idles.

Harley claims it's also managed to make the exhaust note richer by eliminating a bunch of other mechanical noise.

Harley-Davidson Milwaukee Eight engine in a touring motorcycle
Harley-Davidson

The Milwaukee Eight is pitched at touring bikes first and foremost. Harley engineers have therefore beefed up the charging systems on the engine to support lots of device charging, driving lights, heated grips, heated seats, audio systems and other accessories.

It'll come in three variants:

  • A 107 ci (1750cc) oil-cooled version in the Street Glide, Road Glide, Electra Glide, Road King and Freewheeler;
  • a 107 ci (1750cc) liquid-cooled version for the Ultra Limited, Road Glide Ultra and Tri Glide Ultra;
  • and a 114 ci (1870cc) liquid cooled version for the CVO Limited and CVO Street Glide.

Noticeably absent from Harley's press release is anything to do with emissions, especially given the recent EPA trouble the company has landed in by directly selling tools to customers that circumvent its own emissions control gear.

But the Milwaukee Eight will surely be designed to meet upcoming Euro IV emissions standards for sale in Europe, and quite probably Euro V and VI, given how long Harley waits between engine releases.

Source: Harley Davidson

View gallery - 17 images
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7 comments
bfearn
Harley Davidson recently paid a $15 million fine for doing what VW did. http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/291838-feds-accuse-harley-davidson-of-pollution-violations
Karl Dulle
Yeah I get "it" but.. air cooled still? I mean seriously,, hardcore is hardcore, but longevity and performance are important as well.. Sitting on a big pig, at a stoplight in Carolina when it's 102 degrees, I can assure you it's taxing the machine as much as the rider....
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is beautiful.
Martin Hone
Where is all the tech detail ! I can see that the cams are driven by a chain instead of gears, so quieter, and the 4 valves/cylinder are operated by traditional pushrods, and there is some sort of external plumbing around the heads, presumably for oil feed, but no pics that I can see are of the liquid-cooled engine mentioned I can look up H-D's website too, so I expect a bit more than a basic regurgitated PR from you guys ....
T N Args
So it's an update. I don't care if they update every single component: if it is the same capacity, same configuration, and goes in the same bikes, it's an update.
Jameslazybones
God, just what the world needs, more loud engines that sound as if they're pumping water out of a farmers dam. Fat mid life crisis types will be girding their flaccid loins.
WilliamPorciello
Didn't bow design this engine for Harley?