I have seen some talk of this on this forum, but thought I would add this.

Whilst on hols in Germany this week I saw a mag on a shop shelf with a headline connecting Porsche and Harley. As I can't read German I didn't bother looking in to it any further.

Coincidentally that evening I had dinner with a young engineer who works in Porsche R&D. He confirmed that it is common knowledge that they are developing an engine with HD. He couldn't give any more detail as he was not involved in that project at all.

Knowing that Porsche also had to cross over from air cooled to water cooled, and also enjoy a cult following maybe HD is drawing on this experience?

Anyway, it seems as though something is imminent!

 

porsche worked on the nova project in the late 70's which was a 4 cyl water cooled motor--- the only thing that survived that was the FXRP/FXRT fairing.

early motors were hemi headed, porsche design worked on the flat top piston/ D shaped heads for the evos.

all kind of old news--- or a continuing story

here's the nova story:
http://www.bikerenews.com/AntiqueBikes/CodeNameNova.htm

it's long been a point of humour that the Chevrolet Nova ( very popular for many years) was derided in Latin markets as "nova" can also means "doesn't go".... in the case of the H-D Nova, the name was appropriate

mike

 

Correct me if i'm wrong,(i'm sure someone will). but didn't Porshe design the liquid cooled V-rod motor? I'm about 100% certain they did.

 

Yep Porsche designed the V-Rod engine, and a good one it is.

 

It seems to me this was a very "current" development or something that is not yet in production - but imminent

 

iGlide 5 ?


mike

 

if Porsche designs harleys new engine,lets hope whoever designed the v-rod body retires and lets someone else do it..

 

For that to happen, you'd have to persuade Harley to get
rid of WillyG.

 

Porsche worked with HD on the Nova project, the V-Rod project and it would not be out of line to suspect that they would be working on a big water cooled cruiser motor.

Porsche has the machine tools to do research. HD doesn't. But, HD engineers work with Porsche on the design. It never has been Porsche does it and HD accepts it.

 

I am fascinated by the strong, light V-Rod package. Especially the 12 Night Rod Special.



Want to race me with your wallowing lead sled jimmy ?