I'd like to see a beginner's series, for example : What to look for a first bike or a mechanical series about different engines and what to look for with maintenance (Harley vs. Victory vs. Indian). I'd like to see a more in depth mod series about how to use and install a power commander 5 with all of the options. I'd like to see even a series about how one bike can have various different styles with different mods for different situations.
Thanks for the ideas! In the meantime, take a look at a couple articles we wrote about choosing your first motorcycle. As for Power Commanders, installation is different for different bikes, but Dynojet has excellent tutorial videos for many models as well as for using the software. -DrewZilla *www.revzilla.com/common-tread/how-to-choose-your-first-motorcycle *www.revzilla.com/common-tread/how-to-buy-your-first-vintage-motorcycle *www.powercommander.com/powercommander/support/powercommander_video_install_guides.aspx
Great review as always. It's good to hear someone in the know saying what I've been saying for the last couple of years. For a motorcycle that expensive the only parts a buyer should need to replace is stuff that makes the bike fit them better. A buyer shouldn't have to replace the suspension for one that doesn't hurt them on a motorcycle that costs over $20k or even a motorcycle that costs $15k.
I'm a Harley fan, own an 06 Road King, but I also just bought a Sport Tourer and love the ride. I just wonder if Harley did a better job this tiime and had more research and development so they don't have any more serious recalls. Transmission problems years back,(which never was recalled if memory serves) saddle bags and ABS just to name a few, time will tell.
if the Rushmore versions were so thought out and even missed a yr for the RG, why did they come out so quick with a reworked bike? Did they find the Rushmore's didn't meet expectations or what?
I was talking with Lemmy about your question, and here's what he had to say: _"Rushmore bikes got a fairing redesign, a new Tour-Pak, redesigned saddlebags, and a new infotainment system. The bike isn't re-worked, they simply addressed things the Rushmore redesign did not. Rushmore updates plus a new motor and suspension makes for a pretty damn good bike... the only major piece that didn't get overhauled was the frame, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that change shortly, either. Think of it as Milwaukee-Eight _*_plus_*_ Rushmore, not instead of. If you consider the length of time the FL has been in service (since '41), you can see each year has its own improvements and progressions, and this sort of follows suit."_ Hope this helps! -DrewZilla
An honest review from a man who knows his stuff. I love watching videos like this, actually on the bike. I'll stick with my old Sporty but maybe one day I'll take their new engine for a spin. Great video!!
Up in my neck of the woods Lemmy! Sorry I missed you, I'd buy you a beer for your review of the Harley Street 750. It sealed the deal for me when considering one and I soooo love the bike. I owe you. Keep up the great reviews. :)
What are your thoughts on using small diameter hi collar split lock washers under the cap screws on Harley Davidson Motorcycles to stop the fasteners from coming loose?
I test rode a new 2012 back in that same year and hated it. It rode so harsh I couldn't wait to get off of it. I actually took my 05' Heritage back down the same roads I took the test ride on just to see if those roads were really that rough. They weren't. Broke my heart. Then I did some reading on how the rear shock is pretty much chopped and the ass end sits lower for a better look, etc. Then, a year ago, a guy hired in at work that had the same year of bike and rode it to work. Told him the same story and he laughed and said after work, take mine for a spin. I did and couldn't believe it. Ohlins can do wonders for how a bike rides. Plus I hate the stock bars on a Street Glide. He had 12" bars that the grips were slightly angled down towards the ground and the bars were pulled slightly back towards you. I couldn't believe how awesome this bike is. He lucked out, he said all those aftermarket things were on the bike when he bought it used.
thanks for the review. i have a 2013 flhtk and have contemplated getting a rushmore. i appreciate the time giving some opinions about the M8. looking to see how it handles the heat aspect of the air cooled engine.
Best review so far! Other reviews almost seem to be a commercial for HD. I ride a RK 2016 and because of your details I can see that even more "refinements" are on the way. Are we headed toward a GoldWing-Lite down the road? If this was 2020 I would definitely consider a trade. Thanks.
"A very well sorted Twin Cam." When I heard this, I thought the same thing I think everytime I ride a Harley. They are like acoustic guitars. No two seem the same. Test riding the one you want is really a must. Some are fairly smooth even at idle, others shake like hell, some rattle over bumps, others seem solid, some shift nicely, others won't shift into neutral and so on. Hopefully, as their technology improves, their products will become a little more consistent.
You know what I'd love to see you guys do? A mix between Motorcyclist Magazine's MC Commute series, and Regular Car Reviews (Who does do MC's occasionally and they're always my favorite). Just quick synopses of the bikes y'all ride every day. The work you've done to them, pros/cons, and tips for perspective buyers on bikes that are 3, 5, or 10+ years old. Not a ton of quality content around used bikes, I feel like (Please point me to it if it exists). Anyway, keep up the great work! You guys rock.
Dragan M I very highly doubt that they'll do anything like that because now that I think about it the amount of power in a frame like that is a recipe for disaster... That and they would still make you pay the "harley tax" for buying one
Brandon Stone time will tell but HD'S is price properly compared to the competition. the Victory Hammer S is more than the V ROD but is less bike. it's nice but it's no VROD.
Dragan M The only thing that bothers me about the Harley brand is the resale price on a very well used bike... I fully understand that they hold there value pretty well.. But my problem is that they can have an ass load of miles and still cost about the same as a brand new bike... So I don't know if that is just around my area or not but one dealership will be losing a customer because of the outrageous price they have on a bike that I want
After taking a 2017 Road King, I bought it, because it's a great motorcycle. It's just a joy for me to ride. The extra power this motor delivers, the incredible suspension, and the beauty of the bike swayed me from other companies. The motor doesn't shake you to death, but it still sounds great. The handling is surprisingly nimble and forgiving. I love my new ride.
Hey Revzilla, you guys do awesome bike reviews. Based on Lemmy's evaluaiton of the Milwaukee 8, I thinking about making my next bike a Harley. I wouldn't have said that even yesterday.
Do these new engines 107" an d 114" cool better in traffic? I read they have oil cooled heads and the 117" has water cooled heads Overheating in traffic city or highways is a problem for the longevity of the engine and the stress of worrying about the engine taking that abuse.Thanks!
Waiting for bigger frames, not powerful engines to even consider brand new HD. As 6ft any HD feels smallish to sit on. Comparing to japan cuctoms and new Indian, HD is small. I have had half dozen HDs (sportsters, dyna, softail, shovel) and each time had to customize with extensions for feet and hands to get comfy... Ended to another end. Bought Shovel and hardtailed and minimalized it. Mids and forward pushed ape. It has been the most fun to ride ever. So will continue with this till bigger framed HD arrives to market
Nice review! I have a 2016 Road King and have had ZERO defects. I think HD has really come a long way over the past several years, and the new engine is exciting - can't wait to buy a 2017 Road King!
I also have a Suzuki GSX1250FA ... for "non-tractor" riding fun! But, I love the big V twins, too. They sound like a tractor, and say "potato - potato - potato" as you drive them. And I love potatoes! LOL.
Tony Vasconcelos Is your comment referring to me? Because I am not comparing the two, I am simply stating that my Road Glide can keep up with sport bikes, but at the same time go 500+ miles on it without needing a kidney replacement. Also, you damn well believe you can get a sport bike like a Hayabusa and convert it into a cruising bike by simply putting risers on it and replacing the seat and adding removable tour pack and saddle bags. Just google it. Plus I know people that did it and they are fucking bad ass.
I think it's pathetic that this is the best they could give us after 15 years. 10% increase in torque, and a couple pony's WOW blow me away. As always great job revzilla.
heffe40 Listen there has been nothing but great things to say from this new engines... It's better than the new Indians and the new victory... Put it this way ... These companies have no made a comparison videos with the new Harley ... Do you know why? because the new engine is better than theirs .... And wait till this new engine start coming with the softails... It will be game over
Tony Vasconcelos So this motor according to you is better than a Victory 106 that has been in production for 8 year & Indian's 111 motor that they only had 2 years to develop before a release. The way I see it all this motor did was stay current with the competition and if that satisfies you then so be it that's your choice. But for me I expected more from Harley. I'm by no means a Harley hater my current bike is a 15 Road Glide great bike for what it is. But I have zero interest in upgrading too a new one.
heffe40 Now if next year they start moving the new engine into the Softail models and Dyna .... You imagine ???? Oh man they it's gonna be awesome .... Truly awesome .
You get some additional adjustment, but you don't get the full adjustment (preload, compression, and rebound) found on good aftermarket suspension. -DrewZilla
Brother........please take advice from a 31 yr motor officer currently assigned to a Harley. Stop talking with your hands while riding!!! Your jerking your clutch hand around like John Travolta on Saturday Night fever. Even with forward shot your hand is all over and should be on the bars near the clutch. Great video..just chill on the hand disco shake.
mathew mann You are right, motorcycles are much lighter than cars and thrive from having over square motors, yet harley motors can't even make the power of a SMALLER car engine, which by the way cars almost always make less hp per cc than bikes except for harley.
The new milwaukee 8 is a great and new engine from top to bottom addressing cooling, 4 valves per cylinder, one hand suspension adjustment, single cam, single cam, single chain tentioner thats easy to get to. But the chain primary on the left side is not needed and frankly out dated, there is no need for that big chain when a gear drive system is smoother, less maintenance, and less shifting noise. Why harley is still using a chain primary is beyond me in 2018 which i think will be aanother engine change/upgrade real soon even when they make it work.
Lemmy is wearing the Biltwell Lanesplitter Helmet. We do not have an ETA yet though. -TeamZilla AJ *www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/biltwell-lanesplitter-helmet
Len, it is more like an old EVO with 4 valves..... HD said that they went to the Twin Cam to solve the high angle of the push rods on the EVO. Well, the Twin Cams had cam chain tensioner problems and now HD went back to the EVO high angle single cam, BUT they kept the cam chain with tensioner for the dealers to make money swapping out the chain with a gear drive system Andrews knew that on the Twin Cam and HD probably patented the "new" gear drive system to beat Andrews to the punch! HD is now too corporate for me. I will not buy anything HD past the 1998 model EVO motor!!!!
This is just an hypothesis but I think they went back to a single cam in order to fit the balancer in the front. I'm guessing that there just wasn't room for two cams without making the engine longer. Two cams, mounted as high as possible (read: short pushrods), is always a better solution but at the expense of drive complexity.
Tony Vasconcelos Why else would they NOT have a gear driven single cam like the EVO motor had??? If the cam chain issues for the "TWIN CAM" gave HD so many problems (which it did and will continue to give problems), why would they not go back to the EVO or all preceding models that had gear driven cams? It is all about keeping the HD service centers busy and making the higher mileage bikes (over 50,000 miles) trade-in material. One can not say, "No one likes the gear whine of a gear driven cam." Why? Listen to the EVO and earlier model engines (shovels, pans, knuckles) and you do not hear a whine like you do on a Honda VFR750 or 800.... Like the Victory's that have a gear driven primary as compared to the HD chain driven primary, gear whine is not an issue - service at the dealerships is why HD has not changed it like all other manufactures have gone to.... Where do I find a link to my thoughts? In my mind, I know corporation thoughts and actions, it is all about the bottom line! With the Twin Cam, HD DID NOT put in their service recommendation to service the cam chain tensioner!!! Why? Failure lead to repairs and the tensioner was a "serviceable item" just like tires so when it failed, YOU the customer were responsible to know that it was a serviceable item even though it was not in your service recommendations. So, the new cam chain tensioner IS a serviceable item. I don't know the recommended (if it is recommended) interval, but you bet it will need to be "inspected" every 20,000 miles or less. Thus, a HD dealer will get your business. You can also bet that HD has a gear driven replacement for that tensioner or Andrews will have one, if HD does not patent the gear drive already!!! Bottom line, failure items make for trade-in material and keeps the new bikes rolling off the corporate assembly line with your wallet targeted.
A Babbit I hear what you are saying but trust me you need to find me the link or else is just your opinion ... I heard the same thing from another RUclips user but when I ask him about the the proof he said he was just expressing what he felt made sense but if you cant show me is just like your opinion is like an ass ... Everyone has one!!!!! And you might be right but this is a brand new engine .... We should ask these people from S&S or these after market companies that make the big bore kit they could give us a real answer since they are the one opening these brand new engines
First rule of making a video review of a 2017 Harley with the Milwaukee Eight engine: Use some form of the word "refine". It's okay if you have never used that word before in your life, it's a must during your commentary.
Harley is about 40 years behind everyone else, on the other hand you have to hand it to Harley for keeping the tradition that is so closely loved by Harley riders. ON another note I loved it when Indian and Victory ( polaris ) dropped the price of their entire line about 3 years ago. It spiked sales and forced Harley to either lower their price to keep up with sales or come up with something new. Surprisingly Harley did something they have NEVER done b4, they did both. Obviously the jury is still out weather or not the new line will be road worthy.
My comment was from experience. I ride with allot of people that own Harley's. The only ones that still have one are the Die hard fans. More times than not it's in the shop or they are working on it them self while we are out riding. When Polaris came out with the Victory and then Indian. The last thing they wanted to do was make them Like Harley's
greenmarine8888 you think you it all, so why not be home estate and tell everyone that those Harley had over 100,000 miles on them instead of making it sound like brand new ones. you are NOT as smart as you think you are. I have ridden with guys with older Harleys and besides regular maintenance they aren't always in the shop. Stop generalizing. anyway the grown ups here don't buy your trash talk. c ya.
Here's Lemmy's written review of the Moto Guzzi. -DrewZilla *www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2017-moto-guzzi-mgx-21-flying-fortress-first-ride-motorcycle-review
This sounds good and all but my hope is HD will give the sportster a new engine (while I'm still young). HD has some of the best looking bikes on the market but I feel they are greatly under powered. This looks like a move in the right direction.
I know it's a little off-topic, but I'd like to ask wether you need a guy that does German subtitles for every video you upload on this RUclips channel? I am willing to do it, because I not only want to help out your great company, but also improve my translation skills in the process of doing so. It would certainly be an honor and taken seriously by me, as I want the Revzilla community to get even bigger as it already is! Thanks a lot in advance!
Right now, we aren't looking to add subtitles. If you're interested in doing that in general, there are companies that specialize in it. You should get in touch with one of them to find out more. -DrewZilla
If you've been refining something for decades why isn't it darn near perfect, why isn't it polishing the dust off of a diamond. HD made a big deal of project Rushmore, NOT THAT LONG AGO, and here you are essentially telling us they knew their rear suspension was bad and didn't fix it until the M8 bikes came out. You are so right. These are not 16k Japanese bikes and they have almost no electronic do-dads, and they are down on power and torque to many of their high-end competitors, but the bikes cost the same or more. This bike may never have the features of a luxury tourer, but for the outrageous price they ask on Street Glides, if they are ONLY selling you an engine, transmission and suspension, those need to be world class market leaders, and they are not. If it wasn't for Indian and Victory, I suspect we would not have seen these for years. The only way you win this game is by buying a much cheaper Road King. Can't wait to see how they respond to Indian's new color infotainment system with the MUCH larger screen. LOL.
mgelliott1 AND .... The "Flaws" That you said that's he is talking about Are suspension .... He is not talking about nothing but suspension ... And we all know this ... And what he is saying NOW is that they fixed all those issues ... So what's your problem now? He saying nothing but good things about the bike ... But of course haters will be haters ...
mgelliott1 try one and you will change your opinion, But I get the feeling that you wouldn't admit it. it's not cool to talk trash. Ride whatever you ride but a true motorcycle enthusiast doesn't bad mouth other brands only jealous people do."ride what you like and like what you ride but just ride man just ride" and ride safe.
This has gotten WAY out of hand. So, I AGREE and comment on what this video says and somehow I hate Harley and I love "Jap" bikes and Indians/Victory? I made factual statements. It is a fact that Harley has jacked up the price of Street Glides, I know this because I actually have been wanting one and they are ridiculously priced vs. what you get, even among their own line (Road King). It is a fact that VRods sell for the same, or even a bit less than when they were introduced some FIFTEEN years ago even cheaper if you adjust for inflation. Harley, like Ford with their F150s is trying to find a price ceiling on Street Glides and certain other bikes. I do not hate on any bikes. One of the best rides I ever had was a Sportster rental on Martha's Vineyard with my girl on the back. Geez. I had no idea people were so touchy here.
mgelliott1 the prices I quoted are current prices, why even bring up pricing from 15 years ago. you didn't even bother to check yet you disagree. don't take this the wrong way but I was trying to give you the facts but you aren't interested in facts so it's fine by me. I was just trying to help but you aren't interested in facts because it only upset you. No problem then if you don't want facts. i have no idea why you think I was touchy as you put it because my reply was calm and factual.
Am I in the Twilight zone here? What prices did you quote. Your only other post on this thread has no prices in it. Did you even read my post? I said I like Harley's and had been looking to buy one. No one is hating here.
There’s no reason why we should have to spend this much money on a Harley and then spend more money to make it comfortable!! Better seats, suspension especially! And speakers!!
Some of these RevZilla reviews are so annoying. On one hand they praise the new suspension, but simultaneously insert the idea that you should buy an upgraded suspension from... guess who... RevZilla. And, of course, instead of just telling us more, RevZilla wants us to read an 'article' that, of course, is littered with ad links to buy their crap.
Weird that people still buy these, huh? I mean if the Fiesta is the new gold standard of automotive engineering, I guess the Goldwing should be the number one tourer.
Sorry Harley not buying your BS no more for the price you can get way more motorcycle in almost any brand and they will perform so good you will wonder why you ride it's not about fad. This is a great time for motorcyclist don't get fooled by the brand thing try the other great bikes out there you will never look back I haven't
I can't hear the engine. And I heard that they don't vibrate like they should. If that is the case, then there is no reason to buy one. I'll stick with my EVO. I love the Shovel, but they are not very reliable. The EVO is the first reliable engine Harley ever built, and it still has plenty of character. You don't buy a Harley if you want it to sound and feel like an electric bike. Harleys are very visceral machines, very basic, very primitive. They fulfill a need to escape to high tech over refined world we live in. But instead, they seem to be becoming a part of it. Every time Harley makes an "improvement", their bikes become more and more boring. Pretty soon you won't be able to tell if you are on a Harley or a Goldwing. Harleys and Goldwings are ridden by two VERY different types of riders. I'm the Harley type.
25 - 30 Grand for, "very basic, very primitive" Yikes! My "16" Indian Chief Classic is like the old saying, "Rides Like A Cadillac" With, 111c.i. - 1850+cc. See Ya.
Thanks for the video, Howver, the M8m, is not as "sophisticated" a motor as the EVO, single cam engine of yesterday........here's why. The EVO, had a METAL GEAR drive to operate the cam. The M8, has a single, roller chain drive, with a pesky, PLASTIC, cam chain tensioner, that wears out and has to be changed out or crater the engine. The EVO, motor had a bolted together crankshaft, to stay in true. The M8, has a pressed together crankshaft, which can shift out of true and crater the engine. The EVO, was a true air cooled engine The M8, is a hybrid, partially air cooled and partially liquid, cooled, It's neither, "fish or fowl. " First time the bike is laid down and you will have a haz mat, hazard, as one or both radiators, which are outboard, are cracked open and you have coolant all over the highway., and the raidator(s) , have to be replaced. The four valves per cylinder are a plus on this engine, though.
"Harley needs to make their bikes better, but they also need to keep them firmly rooted in tradition with the stuff that came before. So it's very difficult I imagine, from an engineering perspective to sort of make the bike better without changing the essential thing that made people want to buy these for so long." And that's the problem. Keeping a motorcycle product firmly rooted in tradition and not changing the essential things that made people want to buy them for so long is going to end Harley Davidson within a decade or less, because the sort of customers that value tradition and the thing that they liked for so long are dying off. The younger generation DOES NOT WANT THAT STUFF, and does not value that stuff. Especially when there are such a HUGE selection of brands and genres of motorcycles doing just about everything BETTER than Harley. Harley Davidson is hurting right now. They've laid off hundreds of workers. In spite this new engine, in spite spending millions on marketing recently, they are not doing better but worse. I suspect they may quit making motorcycles before long, but the brand itself will live on, selling leather gear, mugs, fringe, do-rags, branding ventures with F150, or what-else. They haven't sold a superior product at any time in history except maybe the 1950's when practically everything in motorcycling was crappy. They just haven't evolved. NEITHER HAVE THEIR ASININE PRICES COME DOWN. It's beyond me however, how they've successfully deceived mass amounts of buyers into convincing them they are buying a superior, premium product for twice as much as some Japanese touring bike. Then going on to perpetuate this deception in their customers by their bragging about the "real bike" they just bought when scientifically, mechanically, physically, and statistically that machine is the worst thing in motorcycling. The millineal customers aren't interested, Harley. Your customer base is getting old and dying off. What you going to do? Short of firing a lot of management and corporate big wigs and reinventing the brand, you're going to die off. Cigarettes, scantily-clad women, classic rock, chrome, dressing like a pirate, and making the annual pilgrimage to Sturgis just ain't going to last forever, Harley. You need to change or you will find money does not grow on trees.
Lemmy is wearing the Biltwell Lane Splitter in this video. We do not have a concrete ETA yet, though. -TeamZilla AJ *www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/biltwell-lanesplitter-helmet
I'm being followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow,moonshadow, man I sure need to pickle me some eggs n have a few sassperillas right about now, sometimes I make a crisp sandwich n cut the crusts off.
ronleon62 dont knock it till you try it, yes over priced but feels like no other machine on the road..the only motorcycle company to last over 100 consecutive years...
The interest in the V-twin has never waned from day one, when Indian introduced them to the American market. Just who do you think put the V-twin on the map? It certainly wasn't Harley, it was Indian, although Harley almost single handedly destroyed the reputation of the configuration. Tractor motor is a term I am sure you are more than a little familiar with. You're right there wouldn't be a market for dependable V-twins had not Harley been producing crap for 50 years. Thanks Harley. Harley was first in only one thing. They were the first mass produced Japanese motorcycle, the Rickuo. Victory and Indian has set the bar a little higher and that is good for all three companies when competition drives the market, and not accountants. Indian now has built in GPS, just a little bigger, faster, and better than Harley's because H-D came out with it first in the Rushmore bikes. H-D's M8 now has 4 valves per cylinder just like Victory's Freedom motor has always had, because it develops more power, runs a little cooler. Victory Freedom 106, Harley M8 107, Indian Thunder stroke 111, H-D M8 CVO 114. See how that works.? Bigger, better, faster. That's what we all want. Polaris owns a company in Switzerland, Swiss Auto, that does nothing but produce racing engines for motorcycles, mostly V-4's. That was were the new Indian Scout FTR750 was designed and refined. Stay tuned for more innovations and power from Victory power plants. Here is what you need to be hoping. You need to pray that the M8 is really all about re-sourcing parts from American manufacturers. Trump has proposed a 35% tariff on China for all imports to the US. That would price H-D right out of the market being that H-D is a actually very much a Chinese motorcycle, "assembled," not manufactured, in America. I hope so myself, the M8 seems to be a very nice and much refined motor for HD. Lets hope that it is built with American parts. You see that Kool-Aid that you have been drinking all of these years has never actually been Kool-Aid. You were tricked. It is really Green tea. Chinese Green Tea. Now, don't that just beat all? Hell I don't care what you ride, or even that you ride, but if you do, ride what makes you feel good. It's your money and feeling good is what riding is all about. On rainy days when you can't ride, read. Read a few books on the history of Harley and Indian. It is a fascinating story and It is not like there is a shortage of them. Might start with, At The Creation; Herbert Wagner or The Harley-Davidson and Indian Wars; Alan Girdler. You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. By the way, I own both Victory and Harley. Next bike, probably Indian, but who knows, maybe M8 if it turns out to be an American motor? Time will tell.
As the absurdity of your statement clearly suggest otherwise, I am beginning to wonder if you even realize what a v-twin motor is? I clearly see now that you demonstrably have no knowledge, whatsoever, in transportation history in general, motorcycles in particular, and that your ability to learn is severely and patently impeded by what you think you know. Also, your reading comprehension is off the charts (that's the belly of the curve, not the apex). You know, when you buy a Harley there is always the unspoken stigma attached as far as being perceived, justly or otherwise, as being stupid. In your case you have managed to transform supposition to reality. I must say that you are far to obtuse to continue this conversation, any further. So, with that in mind, I must bid you adieu. Bye, bye.
Did your mommy do your homework for you? Now you want strangers on the internet to do your homework? Entitled little piss-ant aren't you? I suppose that would partially explain your ineptitude. I realize that you are hardly the sagacious thinker that you would like to think yourself to be, but give reading a try you fallacious fool, it may help. If you cannot afford books they are available to you, free of charge, at your local library. Bye, bye.
i will not pay that price tag for a harley im sorry they are not worth the money the vmaxx is better faster smoother and it was 20 years ahead of harley so was the honda vtx 1800 the kawasaki also and the suzuki m109 so please my stratoliner is a great bike 1900 cc nice torque fully dressed saddle bags batwing with the works half the price of the new harley
Glad you are happy with your bike but as an owner of Yamaha's, Honda's and Harley's, there is no comparison to the experience you get on a Harley. Japanese bikes are stale, boring and without character. Plus, who cares about performance on a cruiser?
Daniel Galli Why? Don't believe me? I used to own one Honda, and still own one Yamaha and two Harley's and rode a bunch of my friends bikes. Its not that big of a deal, just stating my experience. Have a nice day.
I'll STAY with older Harleys! Harley needs to stay away from all of this new tech (if someone wants that great but Harley should make it ALL optional)!
interesting changes by Mfg. obviously new management new engineering has claimed the right to bring the old cement mixer motor and farmall frame into present day space age tech. It will also put the old iron out to pasture (which I did in 1969) , after riding a real fast scooter. Anyway street corners will be in short supply after the old crowd tastes the new scooter. Here's a toast to HD.
I like the ride review. I cannot stand that you talk with your hand gestures while you ride. Thumbs Down. You can do better than using the whole video portion just to prove that you actually rode the bike. It adds no value to me as it is. I would not want to see you riding down the road, distracted by talking to yourself, recording a video.
Green Green Oh gosh !!! If you hate them soooooooo much why do you waste your time watching the video? Because if you have not ridding the new bikes how can you even say such thing? You are a clear hatter dude ....keep n watching Harley bro I know you like them.
Tony Vasconcelos The world has an insatiable appetite for Harleys and do these greedy fu@kers do? They build 2 huge factories in India. These guys sell "Made in America" with everything product. They put their name on every piece of crap coming out of China. HD charges a premium on everything bike because you know "American made", but has the weakest R&D with little to no innovation. It's all marketing. They are riding on the backs of hard working Americans and when they have opportunity to create jobs, they do it in India. Are you enlightened?
I love Revzilla. No bullcrap. Everything is totally honest and straightforward. Lemmy for the win.
Lemmy is new Jesus
I'd like to see a beginner's series, for example : What to look for a first bike or a mechanical series about different engines and what to look for with maintenance (Harley vs. Victory vs. Indian). I'd like to see a more in depth mod series about how to use and install a power commander 5 with all of the options. I'd like to see even a series about how one bike can have various different styles with different mods for different situations.
Kawasaki vulcan group are awesome.
Thanks for the ideas! In the meantime, take a look at a couple articles we wrote about choosing your first motorcycle. As for Power Commanders, installation is different for different bikes, but Dynojet has excellent tutorial videos for many models as well as for using the software. -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/common-tread/how-to-choose-your-first-motorcycle
*www.revzilla.com/common-tread/how-to-buy-your-first-vintage-motorcycle
*www.powercommander.com/powercommander/support/powercommander_video_install_guides.aspx
Great review as always. It's good to hear someone in the know saying what I've been saying for the last couple of years. For a motorcycle that expensive the only parts a buyer should need to replace is stuff that makes the bike fit them better. A buyer shouldn't have to replace the suspension for one that doesn't hurt them on a motorcycle that costs over $20k or even a motorcycle that costs $15k.
I'm a Harley fan, own an 06 Road King, but I also just bought a Sport Tourer and love the ride. I just wonder if Harley did a better job this tiime and had more research and development so they don't have any more serious recalls. Transmission problems years back,(which never was recalled if memory serves) saddle bags and ABS just to name a few, time will tell.
Typical revzilla review... the way a review should be. Opened minded from pros to cons.
Thanks a lot Rommie now I want to jam one of those Milwaukee eights in my Dyna
Love the new Harley model reviews. Keep them coming please
if the Rushmore versions were so thought out and even missed a yr for the RG, why did they come out so quick with a reworked bike? Did they find the Rushmore's didn't meet expectations or what?
I was talking with Lemmy about your question, and here's what he had to say: _"Rushmore bikes got a fairing redesign, a new Tour-Pak, redesigned saddlebags, and a new infotainment system. The bike isn't re-worked, they simply addressed things the Rushmore redesign did not. Rushmore updates plus a new motor and suspension makes for a pretty damn good bike... the only major piece that didn't get overhauled was the frame, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that change shortly, either. Think of it as Milwaukee-Eight _*_plus_*_ Rushmore, not instead of. If you consider the length of time the FL has been in service (since '41), you can see each year has its own improvements and progressions, and this sort of follows suit."_ Hope this helps! -DrewZilla
An honest review from a man who knows his stuff. I love watching videos like this, actually on the bike. I'll stick with my old Sporty but maybe one day I'll take their new engine for a spin. Great video!!
Up in my neck of the woods Lemmy! Sorry I missed you, I'd buy you a beer for your review of the Harley Street 750. It sealed the deal for me when considering one and I soooo love the bike. I owe you. Keep up the great reviews. :)
What are your thoughts on using small diameter hi collar split lock washers under the cap screws on Harley Davidson Motorcycles to stop the fasteners from coming loose?
your comments are spot on on the suspension on the older harley's i have a 2012 street glide and the suspension sucks on it
I test rode a new 2012 back in that same year and hated it. It rode so harsh I couldn't wait to get off of it. I actually took my 05' Heritage back down the same roads I took the test ride on just to see if those roads were really that rough. They weren't. Broke my heart. Then I did some reading on how the rear shock is pretty much chopped and the ass end sits lower for a better look, etc. Then, a year ago, a guy hired in at work that had the same year of bike and rode it to work. Told him the same story and he laughed and said after work, take mine for a spin. I did and couldn't believe it. Ohlins can do wonders for how a bike rides. Plus I hate the stock bars on a Street Glide. He had 12" bars that the grips were slightly angled down towards the ground and the bars were pulled slightly back towards you. I couldn't believe how awesome this bike is. He lucked out, he said all those aftermarket things were on the bike when he bought it used.
thanks for the review. i have a 2013 flhtk and have contemplated getting a rushmore. i appreciate the time giving some opinions about the M8. looking to see how it handles the heat aspect of the air cooled engine.
Best review so far! Other reviews almost seem to be a commercial for HD. I ride a RK 2016 and because of your details I can see that even more "refinements" are on the way. Are we headed toward a GoldWing-Lite down the road? If this was 2020 I would definitely consider a trade. Thanks.
I'd also want to see a full installation of a dr. jekill and mr. hyde exhaust or something in the same category.
"A very well sorted Twin Cam." When I heard this, I thought the same thing I think everytime I ride a Harley. They are like acoustic guitars. No two seem the same. Test riding the one you want is really a must. Some are fairly smooth even at idle, others shake like hell, some rattle over bumps, others seem solid, some shift nicely, others won't shift into neutral and so on.
Hopefully, as their technology improves, their products will become a little more consistent.
You know what I'd love to see you guys do? A mix between Motorcyclist Magazine's MC Commute series, and Regular Car Reviews (Who does do MC's occasionally and they're always my favorite). Just quick synopses of the bikes y'all ride every day. The work you've done to them, pros/cons, and tips for perspective buyers on bikes that are 3, 5, or 10+ years old. Not a ton of quality content around used bikes, I feel like (Please point me to it if it exists).
Anyway, keep up the great work! You guys rock.
Indian scout or scout 60 mod series!! Please!
They already did the Scout 60 (:
Indians aren't real bikes
How? Ha!
Lemme I'd love to hear what you think of the Honda Valkyrie
Paul Boyle take one for a ride if you get the chance, it's like a Rolls-Royce on two wheels.
I wanna hear the new motor with an aftermarket exhaust
Just imagine this motor in a sporty, would be RETARDED fast
Brandon Stone good point. Maybe HD will do something since they are discontinuing the VRod.
Dragan M I very highly doubt that they'll do anything like that because now that I think about it the amount of power in a frame like that is a recipe for disaster... That and they would still make you pay the "harley tax" for buying one
Brandon Stone time will tell but HD'S is price properly compared to the competition. the Victory Hammer S is more than the V ROD but is less bike. it's nice but it's no VROD.
Dragan M The only thing that bothers me about the Harley brand is the resale price on a very well used bike... I fully understand that they hold there value pretty well.. But my problem is that they can have an ass load of miles and still cost about the same as a brand new bike... So I don't know if that is just around my area or not but one dealership will be losing a customer because of the outrageous price they have on a bike that I want
After taking a 2017 Road King, I bought it, because it's a great motorcycle. It's just a joy for me to ride. The extra power this motor delivers, the incredible suspension, and the beauty of the bike swayed me from other companies. The motor doesn't shake you to death, but it still sounds great. The handling is surprisingly nimble and forgiving. I love my new ride.
aytes44 yep, I was lucky to pick up a 17 Streetglide for 18 grand from a guy that won it...love this bike. Still feels like Harley but refined.
that was a steal.
Hey Revzilla, you guys do awesome bike reviews. Based on Lemmy's evaluaiton of the Milwaukee 8, I thinking about making my next bike a Harley. I wouldn't have said that even yesterday.
Do these new engines 107" an d 114" cool better in traffic? I read they have oil cooled heads and the 117" has water cooled heads Overheating in traffic city or highways is a problem for the longevity of the engine and the stress of worrying about the engine taking that abuse.Thanks!
Yes, these new engines are designed to run cooler, especially in traffic. -DrewZilla
Nice to see you guys up in my neck of the woods. How did you like riding along Hood Canal?
I'm from Shelton, but there are tweeky weirdos everywhere around here.
I'd like to see you ride the BMW K1600, or the new k1600 bagger and give us your thoughts on those bikes.
It surprises me that they didn't convert to led lights with all the changes and cost of this bike making these changes would make it seem more modern
Waiting for bigger frames, not powerful engines to even consider brand new HD. As 6ft any HD feels smallish to sit on. Comparing to japan cuctoms and new Indian, HD is small. I have had half dozen HDs (sportsters, dyna, softail, shovel) and each time had to customize with extensions for feet and hands to get comfy... Ended to another end. Bought Shovel and hardtailed and minimalized it. Mids and forward pushed ape. It has been the most fun to ride ever. So will continue with this till bigger framed HD arrives to market
I want to see more mod series!!
But they are not planning to put the 103 on any other bikes but tours are they?
Not sure about the 103, but it's likely the new Milwaukee-Eight 107 and 114 will make their way into Softails and Dynas eventually. -DrewZilla
Sorry I meant the Milwaukee-eight.
Nice summary, Lemmy. Five and a half minutes of facts. I like that.
When is HD going to put Milwaukee Eight into Dyna - what are your predictions RevZilla?
Perhaps in 1-2 years. -DrewZilla
Nice review! I have a 2016 Road King and have had ZERO defects. I think HD has really come a long way over the past several years, and the new engine is exciting - can't wait to buy a 2017 Road King!
Love their new motor that belongs on a farm tractor. 80hp. Hahaha!
I also have a Suzuki GSX1250FA ... for "non-tractor" riding fun! But, I love the big V twins, too. They sound like a tractor, and say "potato - potato - potato" as you drive them. And I love potatoes! LOL.
Tony Vasconcelos Is your comment referring to me? Because I am not comparing the two, I am simply stating that my Road Glide can keep up with sport bikes, but at the same time go 500+ miles on it without needing a kidney replacement. Also, you damn well believe you can get a sport bike like a Hayabusa and convert it into a cruising bike by simply putting risers on it and replacing the seat and adding removable tour pack and saddle bags. Just google it. Plus I know people that did it and they are fucking bad ass.
Neo Smith
Not you ... Jack
I think it's pathetic that this is the best they could give us after 15 years. 10% increase in torque, and a couple pony's WOW blow me away. As always great job revzilla.
Go ride it and see how you like it. Take out a twin cam first. It's a world of difference
heffe40
Listen there has been nothing but great things to say from this new engines... It's better than the new Indians and the new victory... Put it this way ... These companies have no made a comparison videos with the new Harley ... Do you know why?
because the new engine is better than theirs .... And wait till this new engine start coming with the softails... It will be game over
Tony Vasconcelos
So this motor according to you is better than a Victory 106 that has been in production for 8 year & Indian's 111 motor that they only had 2 years to develop before a release. The way I see it all this motor did was stay current with the competition and if that satisfies you then so be it that's your choice. But for me I expected more from Harley. I'm by no means a Harley hater my current bike is a 15 Road Glide great bike for what it is. But I have zero interest in upgrading too a new one.
heffe40
Now if next year they start moving the new engine into the Softail models and Dyna .... You imagine ????
Oh man they it's gonna be awesome .... Truly awesome .
heffe40 no different than any other manufacturer, improvement in increments is a part of marketing.
Well done... I'm considering the 17 Road King, and this review really helped...
In what way is this suspension still lacking? You didn't say why?
You get some additional adjustment, but you don't get the full adjustment (preload, compression, and rebound) found on good aftermarket suspension. -DrewZilla
Is Lemme still doing reviews? Have not seen anything new it some time now from him.
Strange, we just put out the new Gold Wing Review with Lemmy. -DrewZilla
*ruclips.net/video/ebW5FX6tjHc/видео.html
hydrolic clutch? do the roadglide have that too now?
Yes, the Road Glide has a hydraulic clutch as well. -DrewZilla
klr 650 review??
Brother........please take advice from a 31 yr motor officer currently assigned to a Harley. Stop talking with your hands while riding!!! Your jerking your clutch hand around like John Travolta on Saturday Night fever. Even with forward shot your hand is all over and should be on the bars near the clutch. Great video..just chill on the hand disco shake.
Scott Wall mind your own business
love your review on the Harley, so can I get a review on the Victory line? Cross Country, Vision please? :)
Chris Damon they no longer exist...there's your review
Fun Fact: A 2017 ford fiesta 1 liter has more hp AND tq than the 1.8 liter milwaukee eight.
puytrsertyuiop[
Funfact, a car and a motorcycle are completely different beasts, and require different power needs
mathew mann You are right, motorcycles are much lighter than cars and thrive from having over square motors, yet harley motors can't even make the power of a SMALLER car engine, which by the way cars almost always make less hp per cc than bikes except for harley.
Lemmie, that jacket looks like a Rukka. Which specific one is it. Looks good on you by the way.
Good eye! Lemmy is wearing the Rukka AiRider jacket in this review. -TeamZilla AJ
*www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/rukka-airider-jacket
have seen a few 107 reviews and this is by far the better of the vids
The new milwaukee 8 is a great and new engine from top to bottom addressing cooling, 4 valves per cylinder, one hand suspension adjustment, single cam, single cam, single chain tentioner thats easy to get to. But the chain primary on the left side is not needed and frankly out dated, there is no need for that big chain when a gear drive system is smoother, less maintenance, and less shifting noise.
Why harley is still using a chain primary is beyond me in 2018 which i think will be aanother engine change/upgrade real soon even when they make it work.
an honest review from revzilla as usual. thank you.
I bought a 2018 road king its best bike i ever had, i couldnt be happier...
i love your reviews but i think one area for improvement in just this one video would be a walk around. other than that great review
Are you Italian?
What helmet brand are you wearing?
He's wearing the Biltwell Lanesplitter. -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/biltwell-lanesplitter-helmet
what helmet are you wearing?
Lemmy is wearing the Biltwell Lanesplitter Helmet. We do not have an ETA yet though. -TeamZilla AJ
*www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/biltwell-lanesplitter-helmet
very exciting, can't wait to test one now, thankyou for real experience opinions
Len, it is more like an old EVO with 4 valves..... HD said that they went to the Twin Cam to solve the high angle of the push rods on the EVO. Well, the Twin Cams had cam chain tensioner problems and now HD went back to the EVO high angle single cam, BUT they kept the cam chain with tensioner for the dealers to make money swapping out the chain with a gear drive system Andrews knew that on the Twin Cam and HD probably patented the "new" gear drive system to beat Andrews to the punch! HD is now too corporate for me. I will not buy anything HD past the 1998 model EVO motor!!!!
This is just an hypothesis but I think they went back to a single cam in order to fit the balancer in the front. I'm guessing that there just wasn't room for two cams without making the engine longer. Two cams, mounted as high as possible (read: short pushrods), is always a better solution but at the expense of drive complexity.
mchristr
Thanks for the clarity.
A Babbit
Where did you hear that they kept cam chain the same way for dealers to make money? Please send me the link.!!!
Tony Vasconcelos
Why else would they NOT have a gear driven single cam like the EVO motor had??? If the cam chain issues for the "TWIN CAM" gave HD so many problems (which it did and will continue to give problems), why would they not go back to the EVO or all preceding models that had gear driven cams? It is all about keeping the HD service centers busy and making the higher mileage bikes (over 50,000 miles) trade-in material. One can not say, "No one likes the gear whine of a gear driven cam." Why? Listen to the EVO and earlier model engines (shovels, pans, knuckles) and you do not hear a whine like you do on a Honda VFR750 or 800.... Like the Victory's that have a gear driven primary as compared to the HD chain driven primary, gear whine is not an issue - service at the dealerships is why HD has not changed it like all other manufactures have gone to.... Where do I find a link to my thoughts? In my mind, I know corporation thoughts and actions, it is all about the bottom line! With the Twin Cam, HD DID NOT put in their service recommendation to service the cam chain tensioner!!! Why? Failure lead to repairs and the tensioner was a "serviceable item" just like tires so when it failed, YOU the customer were responsible to know that it was a serviceable item even though it was not in your service recommendations. So, the new cam chain tensioner IS a serviceable item. I don't know the recommended (if it is recommended) interval, but you bet it will need to be "inspected" every 20,000 miles or less. Thus, a HD dealer will get your business. You can also bet that HD has a gear driven replacement for that tensioner or Andrews will have one, if HD does not patent the gear drive already!!! Bottom line, failure items make for trade-in material and keeps the new bikes rolling off the corporate assembly line with your wallet targeted.
A Babbit
I hear what you are saying but trust me you need to find me the link or else is just your opinion ... I heard the same thing from another RUclips user but when I ask him about the the proof he said he was just expressing what he felt made sense but if you cant show me is just like your opinion is like an ass ... Everyone has one!!!!!
And you might be right but this is a brand new engine .... We should ask these people from S&S or these after market companies that make the big bore kit they could give us a real answer since they are the one opening these brand new engines
First rule of making a video review of a 2017 Harley with the Milwaukee Eight engine: Use some form of the word "refine". It's okay if you have never used that word before in your life, it's a must during your commentary.
Harley is about 40 years behind everyone else, on the other hand you have to hand it to Harley for keeping the tradition that is so closely loved by Harley riders. ON another note I loved it when Indian and Victory ( polaris ) dropped the price of their entire line about 3 years ago. It spiked sales and forced Harley to either lower their price to keep up with sales or come up with something new. Surprisingly Harley did something they have NEVER done b4, they did both. Obviously the jury is still out weather or not the new line will be road worthy.
greenmarine8888 everyone is chasing HD so if they are 40 years behind then everyone else is even further behind?
My comment was from experience. I ride with allot of people that own Harley's. The only ones that still have one are the Die hard fans. More times than not it's in the shop or they are working on it them self while we are out riding. When Polaris came out with the Victory and then Indian. The last thing they wanted to do was make them Like Harley's
greenmarine8888 you think you it all, so why not be home estate and tell everyone that those Harley had over 100,000 miles on them instead of making it sound like brand new ones. you are NOT as smart as you think you are. I have ridden with guys with older Harleys and besides regular maintenance they aren't always in the shop. Stop generalizing. anyway the grown ups here don't buy your trash talk. c ya.
greenmarine8888 What is a Victory? oh, that's the motorcycle Polaris use to make...rip
Loved the video, Lemmy ftw as always. Really looking forward to the MGX-21 review from him!
Here's Lemmy's written review of the Moto Guzzi. -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2017-moto-guzzi-mgx-21-flying-fortress-first-ride-motorcycle-review
Cool, thanks! Straight-up honest talk from y'all as always.
Just bought one. Love it!
This sounds good and all but my hope is HD will give the sportster a new engine (while I'm still young). HD has some of the best looking bikes on the market but I feel they are greatly under powered. This looks like a move in the right direction.
Dardier Lazar get the VROD as production stops this month.
I know it's a little off-topic, but I'd like to ask wether you need a guy that does German subtitles for every video you upload on this RUclips channel? I am willing to do it, because I not only want to help out your great company, but also improve my translation skills in the process of doing so. It would certainly be an honor and taken seriously by me, as I want the Revzilla community to get even bigger as it already is!
Thanks a lot in advance!
Right now, we aren't looking to add subtitles. If you're interested in doing that in general, there are companies that specialize in it. You should get in touch with one of them to find out more. -DrewZilla
Okay, thanks for letting me know though!
Man who knew there would never be a M8 powered Dyna when this video was made 😞
Another great vid from RZ - thanks! Ps Lemmy for Prez!
If you've been refining something for decades why isn't it darn near perfect, why isn't it polishing the dust off of a diamond. HD made a big deal of project Rushmore, NOT THAT LONG AGO, and here you are essentially telling us they knew their rear suspension was bad and didn't fix it until the M8 bikes came out. You are so right. These are not 16k Japanese bikes and they have almost no electronic do-dads, and they are down on power and torque to many of their high-end competitors, but the bikes cost the same or more. This bike may never have the features of a luxury tourer, but for the outrageous price they ask on Street Glides, if they are ONLY selling you an engine, transmission and suspension, those need to be world class market leaders, and they are not. If it wasn't for Indian and Victory, I suspect we would not have seen these for years. The only way you win this game is by buying a much cheaper Road King. Can't wait to see how they respond to Indian's new color infotainment system with the MUCH larger screen. LOL.
mgelliott1
AND .... The "Flaws" That you said that's he is talking about Are suspension .... He is not talking about nothing but suspension ... And we all know this ... And what he is saying NOW is that they fixed all those issues ... So what's your problem now?
He saying nothing but good things about the bike ... But of course haters will be haters ...
mgelliott1 try one and you will change your opinion, But I get the feeling that you wouldn't admit it. it's not cool to talk trash. Ride whatever you ride but a true motorcycle enthusiast doesn't bad mouth other brands only jealous people do."ride what you like and like what you ride but just ride man just ride" and ride safe.
This has gotten WAY out of hand. So, I AGREE and comment on what this video says and somehow I hate Harley and I love "Jap" bikes and Indians/Victory? I made factual statements. It is a fact that Harley has jacked up the price of Street Glides, I know this because I actually have been wanting one and they are ridiculously priced vs. what you get, even among their own line (Road King). It is a fact that VRods sell for the same, or even a bit less than when they were introduced some FIFTEEN years ago even cheaper if you adjust for inflation. Harley, like Ford with their F150s is trying to find a price ceiling on Street Glides and certain other bikes. I do not hate on any bikes. One of the best rides I ever had was a Sportster rental on Martha's Vineyard with my girl on the back. Geez. I had no idea people were so touchy here.
mgelliott1 the prices I quoted are current prices, why even bring up pricing from 15 years ago. you didn't even bother to check yet you disagree. don't take this the wrong way but I was trying to give you the facts but you aren't interested in facts so it's fine by me. I was just trying to help but you aren't interested in facts because it only upset you. No problem then if you don't want facts. i have no idea why you think I was touchy as you put it because my reply was calm and factual.
Am I in the Twilight zone here? What prices did you quote. Your only other post on this thread has no prices in it. Did you even read my post? I said I like Harley's and had been looking to buy one. No one is hating here.
shit, if you guys are still in town come ride with me lol
There’s no reason why we should have to spend this much money on a Harley and then spend more money to make it comfortable!! Better seats, suspension especially! And speakers!!
They should consider merging with Polaris, maybe then they'd build a product worth a damn! Now the damn valve seats are coming loose!!
The m8 is awesome.
Dyna low s?!?!?
When the come out with the fat boy lo Milwaukee engine I am jumping on it
Some of these RevZilla reviews are so annoying. On one hand they praise the new suspension, but simultaneously insert the idea that you should buy an upgraded suspension from... guess who... RevZilla. And, of course, instead of just telling us more, RevZilla wants us to read an 'article' that, of course, is littered with ad links to buy their crap.
Weird that people still buy these, huh? I mean if the Fiesta is the new gold standard of automotive engineering, I guess the Goldwing should be the number one tourer.
I'll stick with my 1100 Honda shadow
Bricklinsv1970 I'm sure a Honda fits you well!
Sorry Harley not buying your BS no more for the price you can get way more motorcycle in almost any brand and they will perform so good you will wonder why you ride it's not about fad. This is a great time for motorcyclist don't get fooled by the brand thing try the other great bikes out there you will never look back I haven't
Nice.
Lenny c`mon man. A Simpson helmet?? Get rid of that old technology and get a quiet, leak proof lid like Schuberth or Arai, or Shoei.
I think it's the new Biltwell lane splitter helmet, not a Simpson
I can't hear the engine. And I heard that they don't vibrate like they should. If that is the case, then there is no reason to buy one. I'll stick with my EVO. I love the Shovel, but they are not very reliable. The EVO is the first reliable engine Harley ever built, and it still has plenty of character. You don't buy a Harley if you want it to sound and feel like an electric bike. Harleys are very visceral machines, very basic, very primitive. They fulfill a need to escape to high tech over refined world we live in. But instead, they seem to be becoming a part of it. Every time Harley makes an "improvement", their bikes become more and more boring. Pretty soon you won't be able to tell if you are on a Harley or a Goldwing. Harleys and Goldwings are ridden by two VERY different types of riders. I'm the Harley type.
Gerald Scott my 2017 with the stock pipes sounds way better than my stock evo did..you need to hear it in person..
25 - 30 Grand for, "very basic, very primitive" Yikes! My "16" Indian Chief Classic is like the old saying, "Rides Like A Cadillac" With,
111c.i. - 1850+cc. See Ya.
Thanks for the video, Howver, the M8m, is not as "sophisticated" a motor as the EVO, single cam engine of yesterday........here's why.
The EVO, had a METAL GEAR drive to operate the cam. The M8, has a single, roller chain drive, with a pesky, PLASTIC, cam chain tensioner, that wears out and has to be changed out or crater the engine.
The EVO, motor had a bolted together crankshaft, to stay in true. The M8, has a pressed together crankshaft, which can shift out of true and crater the engine.
The EVO, was a true air cooled engine The M8, is a hybrid, partially air cooled and partially liquid, cooled, It's neither, "fish or fowl. " First time the bike is laid down and you will have a haz mat, hazard, as one or both radiators, which are outboard, are cracked open and you have coolant all over the highway., and the raidator(s) , have to be replaced.
The four valves per cylinder are a plus on this engine, though.
"Harley needs to make their bikes better, but they also need to keep them firmly rooted in tradition with the stuff that came before. So it's very difficult I imagine, from an engineering perspective to sort of make the bike better without changing the essential thing that made people want to buy these for so long."
And that's the problem. Keeping a motorcycle product firmly rooted in tradition and not changing the essential things that made people want to buy them for so long is going to end Harley Davidson within a decade or less, because the sort of customers that value tradition and the thing that they liked for so long are dying off. The younger generation DOES NOT WANT THAT STUFF, and does not value that stuff. Especially when there are such a HUGE selection of brands and genres of motorcycles doing just about everything BETTER than Harley.
Harley Davidson is hurting right now. They've laid off hundreds of workers. In spite this new engine, in spite spending millions on marketing recently, they are not doing better but worse.
I suspect they may quit making motorcycles before long, but the brand itself will live on, selling leather gear, mugs, fringe, do-rags, branding ventures with F150, or what-else. They haven't sold a superior product at any time in history except maybe the 1950's when practically everything in motorcycling was crappy. They just haven't evolved. NEITHER HAVE THEIR ASININE PRICES COME DOWN.
It's beyond me however, how they've successfully deceived mass amounts of buyers into convincing them they are buying a superior, premium product for twice as much as some Japanese touring bike. Then going on to perpetuate this deception in their customers by their bragging about the "real bike" they just bought when scientifically, mechanically, physically, and statistically that machine is the worst thing in motorcycling.
The millineal customers aren't interested, Harley. Your customer base is getting old and dying off. What you going to do? Short of firing a lot of management and corporate big wigs and reinventing the brand, you're going to die off. Cigarettes, scantily-clad women, classic rock, chrome, dressing like a pirate, and making the annual pilgrimage to Sturgis just ain't going to last forever, Harley. You need to change or you will find money does not grow on trees.
what helmet u wearin?? a simpson??
Lemmy is wearing the Biltwell Lane Splitter in this video. We do not have a concrete ETA yet, though. -TeamZilla AJ
*www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/biltwell-lanesplitter-helmet
I'm being followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow,moonshadow, man I sure need to pickle me some eggs n have a few sassperillas right about now, sometimes I make a crisp sandwich n cut the crusts off.
Wow, four valves per cylinder and two spark plugs. Welcome to 1980, HD!
ronleon62 idiot
The "idiots" are the ones who pay good money for these crappy, out-dated, 75hp, 1000-pound sofa-cycles. Pieces of SHIT!
ronleon62 dont knock it till you try it, yes over priced but feels like no other machine on the road..the only motorcycle company to last over 100 consecutive years...
Can you hold still for a second please.
Harley is alright,if you like minibikes
Homerun harley!
Kool-Aid drinkers don't forget to thank Victory and Indian in your prayers tonight.
The interest in the V-twin has never waned from day one, when Indian introduced them to the American market. Just who do you think put the V-twin on the map? It certainly wasn't Harley, it was Indian, although Harley almost single handedly destroyed the reputation of the configuration. Tractor motor is a term I am sure you are more than a little familiar with. You're right there wouldn't be a market for dependable V-twins had not Harley been producing crap for 50 years. Thanks Harley. Harley was first in only one thing. They were the first mass produced Japanese motorcycle, the Rickuo. Victory and Indian has set the bar a little higher and that is good for all three companies when competition drives the market, and not accountants. Indian now has built in GPS, just a little bigger, faster, and better than Harley's because H-D came out with it first in the Rushmore bikes. H-D's M8 now has 4 valves per cylinder just like Victory's Freedom motor has always had, because it develops more power, runs a little cooler. Victory Freedom 106, Harley M8 107, Indian Thunder stroke 111, H-D M8 CVO 114. See how that works.? Bigger, better, faster. That's what we all want. Polaris owns a company in Switzerland, Swiss Auto, that does nothing but produce racing engines for motorcycles, mostly V-4's. That was were the new Indian Scout FTR750 was designed and refined. Stay tuned for more innovations and power from Victory power plants. Here is what you need to be hoping. You need to pray that the M8 is really all about re-sourcing parts from American manufacturers. Trump has proposed a 35% tariff on China for all imports to the US. That would price H-D right out of the market being that H-D is a actually very much a Chinese motorcycle, "assembled," not manufactured, in America. I hope so myself, the M8 seems to be a very nice and much refined motor for HD. Lets hope that it is built with American parts. You see that Kool-Aid that you have been drinking all of these years has never actually been Kool-Aid. You were tricked. It is really Green tea. Chinese Green Tea. Now, don't that just beat all? Hell I don't care what you ride, or even that you ride, but if you do, ride what makes you feel good. It's your money and feeling good is what riding is all about. On rainy days when you can't ride, read. Read a few books on the history of Harley and Indian. It is a fascinating story and It is not like there is a shortage of them. Might start with, At The Creation; Herbert Wagner or The Harley-Davidson and Indian Wars; Alan Girdler. You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. By the way, I own both Victory and Harley. Next bike, probably Indian, but who knows, maybe M8 if it turns out to be an American motor? Time will tell.
As the absurdity of your statement clearly suggest otherwise, I am beginning to wonder if you even realize what a v-twin motor is? I clearly see now that you demonstrably have no knowledge, whatsoever, in transportation history in general, motorcycles in particular, and that your ability to learn is severely and patently impeded by what you think you know. Also, your reading comprehension is off the charts (that's the belly of the curve, not the apex). You know, when you buy a Harley there is always the unspoken stigma attached as far as being perceived, justly or otherwise, as being stupid. In your case you have managed to transform supposition to reality. I must say that you are far to obtuse to continue this conversation, any further. So, with that in mind, I must bid you adieu. Bye, bye.
Obtuse. I've always liked that word since I saw "The Shawshank Redemption".
Did your mommy do your homework for you? Now you want strangers on the internet to do your homework? Entitled little piss-ant aren't you? I suppose that would partially explain your ineptitude. I realize that you are hardly the sagacious thinker that you would like to think yourself to be, but give reading a try you fallacious fool, it may help. If you cannot afford books they are available to you, free of charge, at your local library. Bye, bye.
You left out the Yamaha Stratoliner engine. 4 valves per cylinder, 2 plugs each too. Push rod's, ceramic lined jugs. All this in '06... :-)
Swell
i will not pay that price tag for a harley im sorry they are not worth the money
the vmaxx is better faster smoother and it was 20 years ahead of harley so was the honda vtx 1800 the kawasaki also and the suzuki m109 so please my stratoliner is a great bike 1900 cc nice torque fully dressed saddle bags batwing with the works half the price of the new harley
Harley is 80% name 20% functional performance except the V rod. I have a 1900cc Japanese motor that cripples any Harley for half the price...
Stratoliner?
Glad you are happy with your bike but as an owner of Yamaha's, Honda's and Harley's, there is no comparison to the experience you get on a Harley. Japanese bikes are stale, boring and without character. Plus, who cares about performance on a cruiser?
@ Daniel Vieau... Says the dude who has ZERO content on his channel. Throw up some videos of all them bikes!
Daniel Galli
Why? Don't believe me? I used to own one Honda, and still own one Yamaha and two Harley's and rode a bunch of my friends bikes. Its not that big of a deal, just stating my experience. Have a nice day.
Enough of this gibberish back and forth; ride what you like and enjoy it! Peace out and ride safe...
Performance on cruiser? Who wants a hot women without "performance"?
Yamaha xv1900 and Kawasaki vn2000 are better thanks Harley nice try
I'll STAY with older Harleys! Harley needs to stay away from all of this new tech (if someone wants that great but Harley should make it ALL optional)!
interesting changes by Mfg. obviously new management new engineering has claimed the right to bring the old cement mixer motor and farmall frame into present day space age tech. It will also put the old iron out to pasture (which I did in 1969) , after riding a real fast scooter. Anyway street corners will be in short supply after the old crowd tastes the new scooter. Here's a toast to HD.
yall review to many Harleys
I like the ride review. I cannot stand that you talk with your hand gestures while you ride. Thumbs Down. You can do better than using the whole video portion just to prove that you actually rode the bike. It adds no value to me as it is. I would not want to see you riding down the road, distracted by talking to yourself, recording a video.
Enjoy your brand new piece of crap
Thanks for making me laugh. I like Harleys, but still.
Green Green
Oh gosh !!!
If you hate them soooooooo much why do you waste your time watching the video?
Because if you have not ridding the new bikes how can you even say such thing? You are a clear hatter dude ....keep n watching Harley bro I know you like them.
HD is everything wrong with American manufacturing. They are all about marketing. Enjoy your brand new piece of crap.
Green Green
What's wrong with hd? Dude
Enlighten us
Tony Vasconcelos The world has an insatiable appetite for Harleys and do these greedy fu@kers do? They build 2 huge factories in India. These guys sell "Made in America" with everything product. They put their name on every piece of crap coming out of China. HD charges a premium on everything bike because you know "American made", but has the weakest R&D with little to no innovation. It's all marketing. They are riding on the backs of hard working Americans and when they have opportunity to create jobs, they do it in India. Are you enlightened?