Harley-Davidson pulled the wraps off of its new high-capacity V-twin engine, marking the beginning of a new era in its history - adopting four valves per cylinder on its big-displacement engines. Finally! A round of applause for the modern Milwaukee-Eight that will equip the 2017 Touring models.
The new V-twin is the ninth big engine in H-D’s history, and its name comes from the total number of valves it has. The unit still retains the classic 45-degree configuration, iconic look, sound and feel of its predecessors not to upset diehard fans.
However, the Milwaukee-Eight gets more displacement, higher compression, and four-valve cylinder heads, increasing intake and exhaust flow by 50 percent. Dual spark plugs for each cylinder are included to make the combustion more efficient, and a single chain-driven camshaft got adopted to offer lightness and less friction.
Moreover, the design of the rocker arms enables the valve lash to be set at the factory and won’t require adjustment for the whole life of the engine in case you wondered the new setup will require more maintenance.
Rider and passenger comfort are to be improved too, thanks to an improved fitment of the engine using a slimmer primary drive cover and low-profile air cleaner. Increased heat rejection, reduced heat absorption, and a redesigned exhaust will spare passengers of thermal discomfort while a counterbalancing system will cancel 75 percent of primary vibration at idle speed.
The new engine will be available in two displacements - 107 cui (1750 cc) and 114 cui (1868 cc) - offering up to 11 percent quicker 0 to 60 accelerations than the models they replace.
The Milwaukee-Eight 107 features precision oil-cooled cylinder heads and will equip the Street Glide/Street Glide Special, Road Glide/Road Glide Special, Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Road King and Freewheeler models.
The Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight 107 is quipped with liquid-cooled cylinder heads and can be had on the Ultra Limited/Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide Ultra, and Tri Glide Ultra models.
Finally, the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 gets the same liquid-cooled cylinder heads and will power the CVO™ Limited, and CVO™ Street Glide® models.
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