Anyone else heard of this, Harley selling their motors to another mfg company?

http://www.gizmag.com/go/7126/

 

Interesting, but if they are serious about the $40k for a bike that will be out-performed by many other sub $12k bikes, I doubt it will sell well.
I'm not into sport bikes, but you would think he could source the other main components in the US as well.

 

Harley has sold its motors and still does, Buell used them way before harley invested in the company and several chopper companies use their motors now. The 1000 v-rod motor was born in a superbike, when harley took a run at sportbike racing so not a big deal as I see it. If its a Ducati it will sell and it will be expensive.

 

That bike will never sell and it has nothing to do with power or weight or price. The typical sportbike buyer wants nothing to do with anything Harley related. To most of those guys a Harley is an old mans bike and regardless of the wrapper it comes in a Harley powered bike is just another Harley. Sad but true. The other thing that will hold it back is the fact that sportbike buyers tend to have a "win on Sunday, Buy on Monday" mentality, a fact that keeps Suzuki's GSXR series bikes at the forefront of bike sales every year.

 

I agree with you that any pro road racers are going to look down on Harley as long as Harley isnt really serious abouttheir effort. HD did stick their toes in the water a decade ago but quit when they just werent competitive. I believe that is also why they have "all Harley drags" too. Its really too bad, I thing Harley has the capabilityand the $$$ required to do it. Look at some of the other players, hell some of them are owned byholding companies (like Ducati)but they still manage. If its only going to be a half-assed effort, Id rather they stay out.