Rumors of some popular models being discontinued for 2014

[harleyjt]

If HD permantly attaches the lowers on a Ultra and slaps radiators in them, they will lose me as a customer, unless they really have something creative figured out. If it is like the drawings that were floating around a few years ago they lost me.



jt

[04 SE Deuce]

Due to America's rising obesity rate Harley is announcing their new line-up. They will continue the Fat Boy and Fat Bob  To these strong sellers they will add the Fat Glide, the Fat Tail the Fat King and to expand their sales the Fat girl. 

Fat Girl is what I nicknamed my buddies Vulcan 2000, for a few years now he and his wife both refer to the bike as "The Fat Girl."     Rick

[Dennis The Menace]

Due to America's rising obesity rate Harley is announcing their new line-up. They will continue the Fat Boy and Fat Bob  To these strong sellers they will add the Fat Glide, the Fat Tail the Fat King and to expand their sales the Fat girl. 

Fat Girl is what I nicknamed my buddies Vulcan 2000, for a few years now he and his wife both refer to the bike as "The Fat Girl."     Rick

Well, then MoCo will have to go with Fat Chick.

[longrider1951]

Read into it what you want, but I see  bikes WITHOUT lowers (FLT/FLH series) on the chopping block.  Now, why would you get rid of all the bikes without lowers in the touring class?  Could it be you keep all the bikes WITH lowers to hide something..... like a radiator.   

If my memory is correct, when the TC was introduced, it showed up in the first year in the FLH/FLT line first.  Could a water cooled head or water cooled motor be in our future?

They really have to. In order to have a bike that runs decently AND meets emission standards they need to go to water cooling.

[Princess Butt]

They're probably redesigning the fairing on the Road Glide not so much for looks, but for ease of assembly on the production line. Given HD's history of non-radical redesign, I would bet the Road Glide will look very similar to the current Road Glide, but with few interchangable parts.

I saw the picture of what might be a non-CVO breakout. Nice looking bike from what I can tell. Imagine the Breakout in black with machined aluminum wheels. Good thing my wife is willing to wait a few years before we buy a new minivan. I might need one of these.

[Bruno-Katz Fokkerpilot]

Due to America's rising obesity rate Harley is announcing their new line-up. They will continue the Fat Boy and Fat Bob  To these strong sellers they will add the Fat Glide, the Fat Tail the Fat King and to expand their sales the Fat girl. 

For the UK market, they`ll have to introduce the Fat, Drunken, Shaven Headed  Bastard. 

[tomcat64]

water heads,, yupp,, probably someday,, and then, as said previously those "water screamers" will finally be right..

120 in CVO and trike,, impossible,, at least the current 120R,, there is a little gov agency called the EPA that might have a problem with that!

FLHRC, FLHTC, FXS, being dropped,, not suprised as they simply don't sell, we sell about 70 FLHX and 70 ultras a year,, 2-3 flhtc's and 5-8 roadking classsics, when the price of the king got close to 20k that buyer started buying HX's.. seems like simple math to me,,

softails,, we still sell the "Potty mouth" outa heritages but not much of the others,, and when HD trys something , like a springer, blackline, rocker,, the people come it to see the "cool new scooter" then after looking, walk over to the baggers and buy. 

[hd06myway]

water heads,, yupp,, probably someday,, and then, as said previously those "water screamers" will finally be right..

120 in CVO and trike,, impossible,, at least the current 120R,, there is a little gov agency called the EPA that might have a problem with that!

FLHRC, FLHTC, FXS, being dropped,, not suprised as they simply don't sell, we sell about 70 FLHX and 70 ultras a year,, 2-3 flhtc's and 5-8 roadking classsics, when the price of the king got close to 20k that buyer started buying HX's.. seems like simple math to me,,

softails,, we still sell the "Potty mouth" outa heritages but not much of the others,, and when HD trys something , like a springer, blackline, rocker,, the people come it to see the "cool new scooter" then after looking, walk over to the baggers and buy. 

You don't sell a bunch of Fatboys?!  How about the FXSTC and it's brother the FXST..when they were in the lineup?  I think Softail sales may be down for 2 reasons, age factor, older riders going for the Furniture Baggers... and model choices, the Softail line right now is the boringest and littlest it's ever been... but it still spanks sales of FXR's....

All will change with 2014 models, a revised and badly needed injection to the Softail lineup, Harley traditionally comes out with new stuff right after Anniversary years... we've all seen the water head drawings, a pretty slick eng. trick if you ask me, to maintain the look of the air cooled TC version but adding the coolant ... to be introduced in the FLH line first where it's really needed... the TC design can meet EPA standards but the motors are getting warmer and warmer... like I said, if they maintain push rod activated cams, and the motor maintains heritage looks, I have no problem with a small radiator like the drawings depict in HD's water head patent...

[rbabos]

I personally don't see a huge EPA gain with cooling the heads only. Do the cyls too, then yes.
Concept has always been a half baked idea IMHO.
Ron

[q1svt]

 

I'll take my water with 4 valve heads...

a little redesign of that other motor, add some cooling fins (not needed, just for looks) and a lot of cubic inches 

I could live on the dark side... heard they have chocolate but is it dark?   

[hd06myway]

I'll take my water with 4 valve heads...

a little redesign of that other motor, add some cooling fins (not needed, just for looks) and a lot of cubic inches 

I could live on the dark side... heard they have chocolate but is it dark?   

Of course you'll have cooling fins, even the metric water cooled engines have them, it's ugly city without them.. when you say 4 valve heads... I've been a proponent for years most other V-Twin motors run 4 valve heads, but your not saying you want overhead cams are you?  I think if they lose the push rod look, they lose their unique identity... as for more cubic inches.. 103c.i. isn't big enough?!!!  The bike with hte changes we just mentioned will be faster than ever... how fast does a Harley have to go out of the box..?  I think some people won't be satisfied until they can run with a sport bike, or a Gold Wing for heaven's sake... 

[q1svt]

 
I guess I was being to discrete for ya

Roush Racing VR 1000 motor (w/redesigns)
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/vr1000_obit.htm

Race(WIN) them on Sunday...
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Racing/drag_racing_newsarticle.jsp?locale=en_US&articleLink=News%2F1553_press_release.hdnews&newsYear=2012&history=news

Sell them (performance baggers) on Monday... 

[Dennis The Menace]

Would be easy for me to say bye to the TC and go with a Revo powerplant, but thats just me.  Its a solid design and has plenty of areas of performance gain potential for those who want it.  I also dont care a lot about the looks of the radiators, but dont want to have a lot of heat on my legs/feet.  I live in the desert, so there is one reason.

I like the Vrod, but its not a furniture bagger, which is more practical for me.  While I like the Breakout, and would seriously consider a non-CVO version of it, I also like my saddlebags.  Did a lot of running around town this weekend to get stuff at the paint store and Home Depot, and realized a backpack or small saddlebags wouldnt work for me.

So, maybe the 2015 RG will have a Revo...if so, my '10 will most likely get traded/sold.  I have no room for two bikes in the garage, so I need a one-size-fits-all bike.  Much rather go  furniture bagger, dark side of course.

[q1svt]

All of the HD FLH models are really the same plus or minus chrome, fairings, bags

That should be one of the redesigns...
put a different power plant in one of them with more cubic inches than the current VR** and a different look (i.e. more fins)
move the coolers (water) to a redesigned rear bags (bottom couple of inches, or between the bags and wheel, etc).  no added heat for rider or passenger 

but we know left to their (demise) track record... it is not going to happen

[rbabos]

Would be easy for me to say bye to the TC and go with a Revo powerplant, but thats just me.  Its a solid design and has plenty of areas of performance gain potential for those who want it.  I also dont care a lot about the looks of the radiators, but dont want to have a lot of heat on my legs/feet.  I live in the desert, so there is one reason.

I like the Vrod, but its not a furniture bagger, which is more practical for me.  While I like the Breakout, and would seriously consider a non-CVO version of it, I also like my saddlebags.  Did a lot of running around town this weekend to get stuff at the paint store and Home Depot, and realized a backpack or small saddlebags wouldnt work for me.

So, maybe the 2015 RG will have a Revo...if so, my '10 will most likely get traded/sold.  I have no room for two bikes in the garage, so I need a one-size-fits-all bike.  Much rather go  furniture bagger, dark side of course.

Present Revo is best suited for a lighter bike. Torque would need to come up and the rpms down to better resemble the present BT for any acceptance with the present crowd. Besides, baggers don't need to hit 60mph in first gear tearing your arms off the whole way.
Ron

[falconbrother]

There have been rumors of a water cooler tourer for years, since right after the VRODs hit the road.  I like the older bikes but, I do think a water cooled tourer is a good idea.  I won't get one but, I think a lot of people would.  It just makes sense especially considering the ever tightening emmissions regulations.  It's tough to get good horsepower from an air cooled V-twin and still meet emmissions, fuel economy, noise constraints and power demands.  It's much easier to do it with a water cooled engine. 

I suppose at my age I'll stick with used FLH or FLT baggers.  Heck, as long as she or I hold up I'll keep my electraglide.  It ain't like there's a blue million of them floating around,   

[04 SE Deuce]

But there's about a million black ones.  Rick

[HV]

Any one who has riddin a V Rod knows Ron is correct ...... The V Rod engine as it is would not work well in a heavy Bagger ...it would need gearing and or Cam changes at Least ....you need more then a 2 speed bagger or one that will not wobble at 165 MPH 

[joe_lyons]

I wonder if it will be an oil cooled setup just like the xr? 

[hd06myway]

Read into it what you want, but I see  bikes WITHOUT lowers (FLT/FLH series) on the chopping block.  Now, why would you get rid of all the bikes without lowers in the touring class?  Could it be you keep all the bikes WITH lowers to hide something..... like a radiator.   

If my memory is correct, when the TC was introduced, it showed up in the first year in the FLH/FLT line first.  Could a water cooled head or water cooled motor be in our future?

That's what I was suspecting... we've seen the drawings of that water system, it maintains the same look as the TC... so we don't have ot worry about it looking like a metro motor or Victory... at least.

So, when you suddenly plop down your money for a new bike that comes with 100+ HP and 100+ tq runs cool AND is as reliable as any other water cooled motor, what the hell do we complain about then???  Oh wait, never mind, I forgot all about the compensator.  Whew, I thought HTT may have to shut down cause everyone was out riding.   

Why would you think that 100hp/100tq..?  Name one V-Twin metric or otherwise that gets 100/100 out of the box???  The metric water cooled cruisers don't put those numbers out, in fact some are even slower in the 0-60 and Qtr mi. times than HD... though I don't think the equivilent of a 300-350hp auto (that's what a stock Harley does in 0-60 / qtr miles time...) is "slow" ... performance in a water cooled motor won't determine the power numbers alone...

As for HD going with the Revo motor as their "main" engine..?  R U kidding me???!!! LOL!    Never happen folks... first off it's not even a HD designed motor or an American motor... 2nd, it looks nothing like the traditional Harley V-Twin... if HD is about anything, it's Heritage and looks... the TC isn't necessarily going anywhere, other then maybe a water cooling head system, for the bagger lounger crowd so your butts don't catch fire!    Don't get your little hearts set on a Gold Wing Harley, ain't gonna happen, EVER! 
Thank God! 

[Rags722]

Color me wrong, but I figure with the 103 motor AND water cooled AND with a decent cam and tune in a water cooled package, they can meet EPA requirements and put out better TQ and HP numbers that their air cooled forefathers.  In fact, when the V-Rod first hit the streets, I thought one of the early ad campaigns was a burn out patch ( right inside the dealership door ) and something that said numbers close to 100 / 100.  That was when the 88 was the "big" motor, and all the talk was how much money one could save rather than building an 88 up if they could just plop a V-Rod motor in instead.

Maybe 100 / 100 is unrealistic, for sure traditionalists will decry a water cooled motor just as they did EFI, but in reality once everything gets worked out, a water cooled motor should give better performance year round than the current product.  And all that with an ability to meet EPA standards.  We may actually drift away from the occasional oil spot on the garage floor to an antifreeze drip now and then.

[q1svt]

... first off it's not even a HD designed motor or an American motor...

I guess if people keep repeating the same nonsense it will become fact.

need to do a little research on the VR 1000 motor and a simple comparisons to that so called non american motor...  building a few VR race motors is a lot different than mass production of a new drive line.

[chopper]

The twin cam will pass away just as surely as the Evo, Shovel, Pan, Knuckle, Flattie, and even single cylinder.

There are PLENTY of Vtwin's in the 100/100 club. Zuk has one that makes 135 hp, 98 ftlb.

Ducati's Diavel power cruiser makes 162/ 94. would be  easy to cam it for less HP and more TQ

Yamaha makes 89/ 114

Kaw's 2000 V twin makes a tad under 100 hp, but over 122 TQ.

I'm not advocating any of these engines.  Just saying that the technology IS there to makes serious power out of a V twin, and still meet all noise and emission standards

[Dennis The Menace]

I agree with Ron and Brian (rbabos and HV), the Revo motor in its current state wouldnt work in a bagger.  But, I am confident MoCo can rework the innards to make it a viable TC replacement, be it stroke/bore changes, cam changes, and even tranny regearing.  Maybe I give MoCo too much credit, but I really do beleive they could make that motor work very well in a bagger.  If they cant, then the aftermarket definitely can.

[hd06myway]

Agree the Revo motor if regearded for low end TQ less HP would be an acceptable alternative to the TC powered HDs, as a niche model anyway, not the main power plant...

As for 100hp/100tq, there aren't many OEM V-Twins (if any) FACTORY STOCK people.... that make 100/100hp/tq... OUT OF THE BOX...!     Of course many bikes do with some tweeking, cams, etc... I'm talking Factory STOCK!

The MoCo. has done a great job of meeting and EXCEEDING E.P.A. regs... with the TC motor... but agree, it's time is nearing for an update to a possible water head design, or a new motor entirely but I don't really see where another version of the tried and true air cooled only is realistic, why would it be any easier to meet the EPA regs than the TC does now?  Unless it's a water head cooled version, or a Water cooled motor entirely, which isn't really where HD and most of it's customers want to go... because in that case, it probably would be so foreign looking it would deter more buyers than it would attract.