Not sure if this question has been asked before so here goes. The biggest reason i bought my Harley was the stonking v twin engine. I,ve had many bikes over the 38 years of road riding and my overiding favourites have all had v twin engines ie Guzzi,s, Ducati,s ( mind there was that little RD350 YPVS). Harley has, as we know a great heritage and that certain something i/we define as soul in bucketfuls..... but for me at least, if it was running say a 4 cylinder or, whatever, i honestly don,t think i would have made the connection.
So to the question has to be would you have bought a Harley if it did,nt have that stump pulling v twin engine?

 

A piece of America IMO tho if not a V Twin probably not

 

[quote=cornishman;7586794
So to the question has to be would you have bought a Harley if it did,nt have that stump pulling v twin engine?[/quote]

Hmmm, that's like asking, would I have bought a Harley if it wasn't a Harley?

 

Ask the V-Rod owners.

 

Sure, I'd buy a Harley if it wasn't a v-twin. Harley's original motor was a 1 cylinder, and most of the board track racers preferred the 1 cyclinder as opposed to a v early on.
Harley also made an opposed twin ala BMW, and has put it's name on quite a few other motors as well.

But I hear ya on the v-twin. When Indian invented it, it became the essence of american motorcycle soul.

 

Saw a brand new 57 Harley-Davidson when I was 8 years old and said that's what I want.. 12 years later made it reality .. 40 years after that still riding them ..

 

I would have bought a Harley if they were configured as an in-line twin and sounded as menacing as a Singer sewing machine.

After all, the REAL reason we ride Harleys is because they are American made, right?

 

V-Rod is still a v twin

 

I'd buy a Harley if it wasn't a V-twin. There's lots more to a Harley than the motor.

 

I bought my first Harley, an '86 FLHTC Classic, because it fit me like an old pair of boots. So yes, I would have bought it anyway. The V-Twin has just been a BIG plus!