Enjoy the aircooled 45 degree v in the big twins. Will always have one. But would also mention the V-4 is a killer engine... possible my favorite engine. Have a Honda and Ducati V-4 and they come with the soul stirring soul of a V-2 and deliver a performance also zapping the spine. If H-D were to deliver a V-4 powered bike I'd be very interested.

 

Same here. When I'm riding along, enjoying the breeze, and smell antifreeze, I like knowing it's not me.

 

Didnt Harley make a Hydro Glide...

 

How in the hell is a 72 degree water-cooled V-4 going to fit in a frame designed for a 45 degree air-cooled V-twin? And why would anyone want a 12,000rpm engine in ANY motorcycle, much less a touring bike?
As for Harley totally ruining the bikes and the company, stranger things have happened. Twenty years ago, who would've thought that GM's management could totally bury the company? Or look at how NASCAR has pissed away much of their fan support.
Harley almost went the way of water-cooled V-fours with the Nova project thirty years ago. But they stuck with what they knew and what Harley is, and made the company one of the biggest corporate success stories in history. However, what with the Twin Cam and the V-Rod, it doesn't look like they have learned from previous successes.

 

This is actually pretty funny. My friends and I were discussing the possibility of a V-4/water cooled/Porsche powered/automatic/belt driven, shaft driven, etc.... Harley while I was in High School almost 40 years ago!! Some of the stuff that was just in our imaginations has happened, some hasn't. It's nice to see we are still imagining things.

 

Nova was 1980 and sucked...

 

Well, in answer to your questions, H-D would supplement exisiting lines/models with a bike having a different chassis. It would be another branch of the family tree. Just because one can rev to 12K doesn't mean one does so all the time. I have bikes that go to that realm but don't think I've been further north of 9K.

Milwaukee knows the baby boomer demographic is fading. Milwaukee also knows overseas is where the growth is. Saturation is the situation in NA. Perhaps the Revolution engine isn't the answer. Perhaps a narrow, high performance V-4 is. Who knows. While the air cooled v-2 will always be the heart and soul of a Harley (No prob meeting EPA restrictions), and will continue to be the bread and butter of their business, it will be a declining business unless H-D can offer something to demographics and overseas potential buyers who have less interest/commitment to the air cooled legacy. It is among the reasons why the V-Rod remains at the top of the sales charts at many international dealers.

I don't know if the V-4 is true, but I do know if Milwaukee has a strategic bone in the executive suite, they are certainly not gonna let their business fade away with the aging boomers. The MV Agusta acquisition is a piece of this strategic strategy.

 

You mean there was another besides what became the VROD?

 

I wouldn't have bought 2 Harleys if they weren't reliable. My Dad, Uncle and I have had to do nothing but routine maitenance on our bikes.
I personally don't think I'd buy a water cooled bike. I donno why I prefer air cooled, less stuff to worry about.

 

Last summer I worked in Rome. The two most common Harleys I saw were Night Rods and XR1200s, then a lot of 883s--very few BTs.