Motorcycle: Harley’s German heart

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MOTORCYCLE

Harley‘s German heart

  • Bettina Mayer

The engine of the new Harley-Davidson emerged in Porsches Development Center in Weissach

His philosophy has worked for four decades: Willie G. Davidson, founder chalk and design director composed from "Look, Sound and Feeling" the motorcycle myth from Milwaukee. His latest and bravest creation is called V-Rod (say: "Wirott") and is a cultural revolution for the more traditionally innovative house Harley-Davidson. "When I saw the finished machine for the first time, she parked between many others," says the 66-year-old with Verve, "and I thought: Wow, this motorcycle looks like no other."
Bikes for the third millennium. In addition to a powerful Electra Glide, the V-Rod acts like a future motor. The power cruiser with extra long wheelbase, anodized aluminum cladding, an impressive 2-in-1-in-2 exhaust and massive aluminum wheels is a mixture of drag and sports biking and acts as if he were artfully milled out of a piece of metal. The futuristic powerful look is likely to fascinate traditional Harley fans alike and shock.
The newly developed V2 engine is called and is also a "revolution". With the 115-hp benzeneirect injector, Harley offers his fans not only almost twice as many horsepower, but also mutates a water instead of air-cooled engine – with 1.1 liter displacement and a cylinder angle of 60 instead of traditional 45 degrees.
A quantum leap in the 98-year history, which made the legendary motorcycle manufacturer from Milwaukee only with German help. Porsches engineers, already experienced in their own company history on the preservation of the growling sound, also knew the character of the two-wheeled bicycles have always. The world’s ever-constant noise and exhaust regulations are only available with a water cooling.
Since the 1970s, the Weissacher works for Harley-Davidson. "Porsche is known as a specialist for vibration, exhaust gas, volume and push developments," explains development leader Bill Davidson, "and for his secrecy."The Americans are afraid of the trust of the UR clientele, if public will affect a German development company a descendant of Harley’s racing motor VR-1000 strength and breeding, and mostly served in German parts. Crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and gearboxes come from Hatz, Mahle or Getung.
Fashion instead of technology-oriented city cruisers all over the world should not care. For a long time, fearly exciting motorcycle rockers are no longer the majority among the Harley drivers. Especially between Flensburg and Garmisch, doctors, architects or well situated enthusiasts are on the heavyweight bikes. The Cruiser fans gathered German retailers a sales increase of 16 percent last year; For generally shrinking registration numbers.
In the motherland USA, the orange-black label even leads the market with more than 50 percent. "Harley is not a motorcycle. Harley is a way of life ", believe V2 driver. And that still goes with the slope to the club life. As soon as the Harley engineers were traveling with the base engine from Milwaukee in the luggage in Weissach, the infected Porsche colleagues already founded the Porsche Harley Motorcycle Club.
Also officially, the family synastics grew together: a joint venture of Harley-Davidson and Porsche now produces the new machine in Kansas City. The management, of course, secured Harley with 51: 49 voting rights and may lease white-along staff.
15,000 machines should run from the band every year. At least 800 of them, so the calculation, then park in this country in financing lovers.
Normally Harley-Davidson presents only engine or frame; Only once, 1952, had it also given an "all-new model" (K model). So the V-Rod now complements Harley’s thick ships Softail, Sportster, Dyna Glide and Touring as the Fifth Series. "We make the V-Rod also a model family in the next few years," announces Willie G. Davidson to reveal without concrete plans.
Sample for the Power Cruiser. None of the previous models wants to set Harley, because the V-Rod should first test the enthusiasm of the Harley buyers for more modern lines and contemporary technology. The sample is likely to be fine: the V-ROD brings Sunday bikers such as speeds through plenty of torque powerful in all gears and all speed ranges. Your secret recipe remains "Look, Sound and Feeling".
Harley-Davidson V-Rod
Water-cooled V2, direct injector
Motor V2, 1130 CCM
Power 85 kW (115 hp)
Torque 100 Nm at 6000 / min.
Weight 280 kg
High speed 220 km / h
Price approx. 39 700 marks
+ Elastic engine; Very good brakes, good-natured handling, simple turn signal function, alarm system as standard
Understeer by long handlebar fork, wind-sensitive, scratch-sensitive paint, no warning tone "stand below"

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