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[Hoist!]

Wasn't nothing like an Evo w/the idle set really low and a decent exhaust. You'd really get that nice potato potato sound.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

The sounds are different with the changes you've mentioned, true. But the reason for the basic sound of these motors is the 45deg V-Twin design with the single crankpin/flywheel assembly. That alone causes the motor to fire the way it does. And those offset cylinders due to the use of a crankshaft bug the chit outta me!

Hoist!

[naitram]

you could still have the same connecting rod setup on single lobe cracnksaft

[Hoist!]

you could still have the same connecting rod setup on single lobe cracnksaft

Normally a crankshaft is setup for a counterbalaced design. And the cylinders will always be offset on the cases.

Hoist!

[naitram]

normally they are offset because each lobe is its own cylinder. i'd bet a decent engineer could design a single lobe crank shaft thats properly ballenced. but i doubt that guy works for H-D

[vagabond6542]

you could still have the same connecting rod setup on single lobe cracnksaft

I agree, the V-Star 1300 is a WC single pin crank engine. And it balances out beautifully.

[RedDevil]

Haven't heard anything new on this. Tried to dig deeper, but the vault has gotten closed even tighter now. It's as if word has gotten out and the leaks have been sealed.

I'm waiting just as everyone is, but have had too many confirmations from totally unrelated sources, having NOTHING to do with this site, to think this is not going to happen.

Parts first, then letter. No idea of timing on the letter.

If you purchased your scoot used, make sure you have sent in the Change of Ownership card in the back of the Owner's Manual so the letter comes to you and not the original owner.

Hopefully they'll let us know what's going on before the dealer's show, but the timing is looking very closely coordinated with the 2009 model year. Since these parts are supposed to be going into production before being sent to dealers, putting them on our bikes before the new models are out may let the cat out of the bag if there's something really different about them.

I'm just wondering where they're going to mount my radiator?

Just Joking

Right on those beautifully red powder-coated down tubes.     Think I'd tell them to pound sand if that's the fix.   

     

[Dan_Lockwood]

normally they are offset because each lobe is its own cylinder. i'd bet a decent engineer could design a single lobe crank shaft thats properly ballenced. but i doubt that guy works for H-D

There is a difference between static and dynamic balance.  Every crank can be balanced, but it may only be balanced at one rpm range.  With the "B" motors and the counterbalance shafts, they pretty much stay with the crank throughout the rpm range to provide an over all better balance.

Back in '86 GM went with counterbalance shafts on their 3.8 motor and I think the 4.3 went to them in the late '90s.  There are extra moving parts, but I think they do a better job over all.

When I had my '76 Shovelhead crank rebuilt last winter, they did a general balance which they call a 60% balance.  This seems to be the most used figure I've seen.  It is smoother in the rpm range I ride at, but if I get over that then the motor starts to get my wife smiling again...   

When we went riding Sunday on the old '76 FLH the old seat vibrator was working great.  She said she missed that on the new SERK, but very happy with the smoothness of the new bike.

Did I say that I rode the old '76 FLH Sunday???  Yes I did because my new SERK let me down on the freeway when the PCM III took a dump.  So without a tuner to control the fuel etc, I was not going to ride it.  I just finished up with the rebuild and new cylinders/pistons etc on the old bike and now that it's broken in, it's really a very slow tank to ride on... 

Anyway, back to the V-twin balance.  I don't believe that with the "V" nature of the twin cylinder motor that any crank could be made that would be IN balance throughout the rpm range.

Didn't Harley sue one of the Metric bike companies back in the '80s or '90s about the sound that the Metric bike made?  I thought Harley was claiming a copywrite on the way their bike sounds.  Is that a Urban Ledgend or did it happen?

 

[naitram]

i think that was urban legened, but i wouldnt put it past them

[iski]

Not aware of Harley suing anybody, but their  patent app. process got a lot of press.

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/law/st_org/iptf/articles/content/1998101101.html

[Hoist!]

i think that was urban legened, but i wouldnt put it past them

Not quite legend. They tried to patent the sound, including even patenting the "tinging" sound you get after you shut it down as it's cooling off. They lost that battle. But they did try to patent the "HD" sound!

Hoist!

[CVOJOE]

They are caused by poor design and poor manufacturing quality, both of which are the result of cost cutting carried to extremes

Well said, and oh so true but a sad situation for the purist. 

[gremlush]

H-Ds have whats called  'knife-fork' rods , one rod sits inside the other. You have 2 cyl.  so , 360 degree times 2 = 720 . One cyl. fires at 315 degree and the other fires at 405 degrees ,there is your sound ! Put your hand  {with a glove} on the end of the front exhaust pipe ,and notice how many times it fires ,now do it on the back pipe , ALOT LESS , YES ?   Each motor ,has its own sound {knucks ,pans,shovel,EVO ,TC } do to there heads and cams ,pipes ,etc.  In my opion , the shovels had the sweetest sound ,just don't be in a closed garage with one running ,because you will die from the gas fumes ! Only 1/2 of the gas in the combustion chamber burns ,unless you 'dual plug' them !

[RioGlide]

I have never paid much attention to V Rods....but have there been any significant quality issues with this motor?      

Absolutely no issues reported with the V-Rod plant, aka Revolution.

Check out the V-rod forums, very very active.  That's one excellent powerplant.  But it lacks potato-potato.  Think big block Chevy or Nascar when at speed with decent exhaust (I have a Thunderheader on mine)

[SPIDERMAN]

Absolutely no issues reported with the V-Rod plant, aka Revolution.

Check out the V-rod forums, very very active.  That's one excellent powerplant.  But it lacks potato-potato.  Think big block Chevy or Nascar when at speed with decent exhaust (I have a Thunderheader on mine)

I thought my 05 SE V-Rod sounded like a nasty Ferarri.

B B

[RioGlide]

I thought my 05 SE V-Rod sounded like a nasty Ferarri.

B B

When I had only pulled off the airbox, I think I would agree with that assessment.  To me it seems that the choice of exhaust on Revo's makes a lot of difference on the sound of these bikes.

But they're all pure joy to me, an awesome ride in so many ways.  But hold the "potato".