Small displacement Harley coming?
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- k1dude
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Small displacement Harley coming?
Harley has been working with a partner in India to release a small displacement (250 to 400) model. This concept was recently leaked.
- wheelbender6
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- wheelbender6
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- babblefish
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In case any of you have forgotten, Harley did sell small displacement bikes in the 60's and 70's. They were called the Sprint and were available in 250cc and 350cc. Made in Italy by Aermacchi. Harley owned 50% of Aermacchi at the time. The engines were quite good and the bikes where used for various off-road racing and road racing.
Your typical Harley rider at the time didn't like them because there was no where to put their feet near the front wheel and the handlebars were about two to three feet too low.
Your typical Harley rider at the time didn't like them because there was no where to put their feet near the front wheel and the handlebars were about two to three feet too low.
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- "Slightly" modified Sprint SX350
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- 1971 Harley Sprint SX350
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Some people can break a crowbar in a sandbox.
- wheelbender6
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I think Harley's venture with Aeromacchi was a good move at the time. Dual sport motorcycles were selling like hotcakes during that period. Motocross tracks were opening all over the place.
I will always consider that period to be the pre-plastic golden age of dual sport bikes, though they were crude by today's standards.
I will always consider that period to be the pre-plastic golden age of dual sport bikes, though they were crude by today's standards.
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- Stanza
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And let's not forget everyone's favorite, the Harley Davidson M-65!babblefish wrote:In case any of you have forgotten, Harley did sell small displacement bikes in the 60's and 70's. They were called the Sprint and were available in 250cc and 350cc. Made in Italy by Aermacchi. Harley owned 50% of Aermacchi at the time. The engines were quite good and the bikes where used for various off-road racing and road racing.
Your typical Harley rider at the time didn't like them because there was no where to put their feet near the front wheel and the handlebars were about two to three feet too low.
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Yep, I remember the Harley Sprint. Always thought they were kinda neat.
Anyone else remember the Harley Topper scooter? I was riding a Cushman Eagle then though
fried okra
http://harleytopperclub.com/sitemap.htm
Anyone else remember the Harley Topper scooter? I was riding a Cushman Eagle then though
fried okra
http://harleytopperclub.com/sitemap.htm
- babblefish
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I like the looks of that but apparently Harley hasn't quite figured out that a lot (most?) riders don't like riding with their feet so far forward. I personally can't because 1) it's uncomfortable, 2) I can't get up off the seat when I can't avoid riding over a pot hole, and 3) makes maneuvering around sharp corners or going fast around turns more difficult and less safe. Too bad because those small Harleys are affordable.Dooglas wrote:Harley makes the Street 500 and Street 750 bikes now. They don't sell well.
I rode a friends Harley once where my legs were stretched out in front of me and it was one of the worst riding experiences I've ever had. I think I may have left about two pounds of chrome and bits of the bike on the ground trying to go around corners the way I normally do.
Some people can break a crowbar in a sandbox.
- wheelbender6
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- JettaKnight
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Harvey Danielson's brand identity is a double edged sword.
On one hand, there's really no substitution. On the other hand, anything that doesn't fit that mold will be looked upon with disdain.
People buy HD to fit in into a crowd, (it sure ain't for the design or quality) and buying a "mini-Harley" ain't gonna get you in the cool kids gang.
The cost of a HD bike is not so bad - but then you have the buy the HD helmet (don't actually wear it unless req. by law), the vest, the jacket, the T shirt, the HD boots, jeans, underwear, decals, shot glasses, pickup truck accessory package, the HD sunglasses, stainless steel travel straw...
It's all the required accoutrements that kills you.
On one hand, there's really no substitution. On the other hand, anything that doesn't fit that mold will be looked upon with disdain.
People buy HD to fit in into a crowd, (it sure ain't for the design or quality) and buying a "mini-Harley" ain't gonna get you in the cool kids gang.
The cost of a HD bike is not so bad - but then you have the buy the HD helmet (don't actually wear it unless req. by law), the vest, the jacket, the T shirt, the HD boots, jeans, underwear, decals, shot glasses, pickup truck accessory package, the HD sunglasses, stainless steel travel straw...
It's all the required accoutrements that kills you.
- wheelbender6
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"Harvey Danielson's brand identity is a double edged sword. "
True. Us old guys love the traditional lopey, pushrod engines.
We don't really know what the next generation wants. Today's young people are not as homogeneous as young baby boomers were.
-While the current crop of Sportsters are very versatile, Harley will need to make the new sub-500cc models even more versatile and customizable to appeal to younger riders.
-Harley will need to just keep trying new stuff until they discover what the new generation wants. I think they can do it.
True. Us old guys love the traditional lopey, pushrod engines.
We don't really know what the next generation wants. Today's young people are not as homogeneous as young baby boomers were.
-While the current crop of Sportsters are very versatile, Harley will need to make the new sub-500cc models even more versatile and customizable to appeal to younger riders.
-Harley will need to just keep trying new stuff until they discover what the new generation wants. I think they can do it.
2013 Buddy 125, Prima Pipe, #95 main jet, Orange CDI
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Exactly my experience. I tried a budget cruiser (Suzuki S40) & it felt ok in the showroom but riding it felt awkward & uncomfortable. Cornering was weird. Back hurt, butt hurt & legs hurt. 4,000 miles later I still wasn't used to it & sold it. I like my feet right under me. I ride my buddy feet on the passenger rests.babblefish wrote:I like the looks of that but apparently Harley hasn't quite figured out that a lot (most?) riders don't like riding with their feet so far forward. I personally can't because 1) it's uncomfortable, 2) I can't get up off the seat when I can't avoid riding over a pot hole, and 3) makes maneuvering around sharp corners or going fast around turns more difficult and less safe. Too bad because those small Harleys are affordable.Dooglas wrote:Harley makes the Street 500 and Street 750 bikes now. They don't sell well.
I rode a friends Harley once where my legs were stretched out in front of me and it was one of the worst riding experiences I've ever had. I think I may have left about two pounds of chrome and bits of the bike on the ground trying to go around corners the way I normally do.
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- wheelbender6
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A lot of scooters spoil us when it comes to riding position. The floor boards allow me to place my feet under me when negotiating sand and mud and allows me to stretch the legs out forward on smooth surfaces.
-That makes it tough to decide where we prefer to have the pegs on a motorcycle. We do not want be limited to one riding position.
-Maybe Harley needs to add riding position adjustments, Similar to recent Kawasaki Vulcans.
-That makes it tough to decide where we prefer to have the pegs on a motorcycle. We do not want be limited to one riding position.
-Maybe Harley needs to add riding position adjustments, Similar to recent Kawasaki Vulcans.
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- JettaKnight
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wheelbender6 wrote:A lot of scooters spoil us when it comes to riding position. The floor boards allow me to place my feet under me when negotiating sand and mud and allows me to stretch the legs out forward on smooth surfaces.
Except when you want to raise your butt off the seat to shift the your weight. Without your feet on pegs underneath you, it's damn hard.
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- wheelbender6
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On another note, Harley has released drawings of their new middle weight engine. The 60 degree, OHC water cooled engine looks really tall.
https://www.motorcycle.com/mini-feature ... lings.html
https://www.motorcycle.com/mini-feature ... lings.html
Last edited by wheelbender6 on Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Dooglas
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The article indicates this is for a range of possible new engines from 500cc to 1250 cc. The Custom 1250 cruiser, for instance, is presumably a 1250. In other words, a redesigned engine, but not displacements below those that are currently available from Harley.wheelbender6 wrote:Harley has released drawings of their new middle weight engine. The 60 degree, OHC water cooled engine looks really tall.
https://www.motorcycle.com/mini-feature ... lings.html
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the Street models don't sell well in the US because Harley's marketing & face-to-face sales interactions don't help to promote the Street lineup; you have grizzled folks who are traditional Harley model purists and hold biases against their bastardized cousins (anything that is liquid cooled/common sump lubrication based)
did anyone get the license plate number of the bus that just hit me?!?