CVO to Sport Reverse Gear on a Non-Trike Harley Davidson?
CVO may get a radical feature soon; also, will VTT prolong air-cooled motorcycles?
I’m sure you’ve seen them, the older fellas driving around on their Harley Davidson Tri Glides and Freewheelers, backing up their mammoth machines into tight parking spaces with the ease of a 22-year-old daredevil.
Then you remember: Oh yeah, they have reverse gears on those geezer glides. Don’t be smug though, reverse gears may be coming to CVOs and it may be this year.
And if I’m going to be completely honest here, I wouldn’t squawk if someone stuck a reverse gear on my Heritage.
Intriguing Clues for the CVO
Due to some savvy sleuthing by a Harley Davidson blogger named Dr. Dan Morel and online publication Motorcycle.com, we now have some very intriguing clues about what HD has planned for its forthcoming 121ci CVO engine.
They noticed some interesting changes on photos taken from the factory floor of the “alleged” new Road Glide CVO, specifically a change to the transmission cover.
“That cover, which typically hides the transmission bearings, differs quite a bit from the cover on the 117ci engine above that says “Six Speed,” Motorcycle.com says in its story. “On the 117ci engine, the mounting bolts are flush with the casing behind the cover whereas on the 121ci engine, the mounting bolts are recessed. The different transmission casing suggests a significant change to the gearbox, such as the addition of a reverse gear, perhaps.”
Big Discovery
That would make a lot of sense. What would also make a lot of sense is the addition of Variable Valve Timing (VVT), which the sleuths also found possible evidence of.
One of the photos they examined was of the right side of the alleged new CVO Road Glide showing the intake with the number 121 on it. That matches the derby cover on the other side of the bike. The 121 is a new motor for the Motor Company.
Then there is the camshaft cover over the floorboard. After examining the photo closely, they discovered the letters “VVT.”
Boosts Performance and Reduces Emissions
Variable Valve Timing is often used to boost performance and fuel mileage in engine systems, but it also can be used to improve emissions.
And as we all know, Harley Davidson and the Environmental Protection Agency have not exactly been the best buddies over the years. The EPA has demanded the Motor Company clean up its act, and has imposed serious fines against the company for violating emission standards.
One of the great things about VVT is that it can control the timing of the exhaust valve openings and thus better control the amount and temperatures of combustion gases. You can read more about VVT here.
Trickle Down Technology?
The Motor Company has been trying to clean up its emissions act. It has introduced electric motorcycles, for example, and the company’s new Revolution Max engine systems already use VVT.
None of the relatively new Milwaukee 8 models use VVT.
So if the all-new 121ci CVO motor uses VVT successfully, it may be an indication that technology could trickle down into other models.
And of course that might mean those old, tried-and-true, air-cooled dinosaurs we all love to ride and listen to might not be destined for the trash heap of history so soon.
Photos: Harley Davidson
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