Difference between revisions of "Harley-Davidson history"

Harley-Davidson history (edit)

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 It must have seemed so to loyal riders and dealers when the new [[Harley-Davidson VL|VL]] was unveiled in 1929. This replacement for the long-lived [[Harley-Davidson FL|FL]] models was almost all-new, the bore, stroke and capacity being all that remained the same on this side-valve V-twin for which the factory claimed a 15 to 20 per cent power improvement. Unfortunately, the real increase was just one horsepower, and to make matters worse the VL weighed a whole 120lb (54kg) more than the FL. In a bid to overcome this lethargic performance, the engine had been given relatively small flywheels which did allow good acceleration up to 50mph (80km/h) or so, but that was about it. Top speed and hill-climbing ability were sorely lacking on this big twin, and the light flywheels also caused finger-numbing vibration. Some customers wanted the FL and Two Cam reinstated; others wanted their money back.
-As with the 45, Milwaukee had to come up with answers, and fast. After much burning of the midnight oil, the solution came in bigger, heavier flywheels and modified cams. This did the trick, but the bigger flywheels needed bigger crankcases which in turn demanded a larger frame. In other words, every VL made up to that point (there were 1,300 of them) had to be completely rebuilt. It cost Harley-Davidson $100,000 in new parts, caused much heartache to the dealers (who were expected to do the rebuilding at their own expense), and did much damage to the hard-won reputation for reliability. Better was to come, but there were more hard times to get through first.
+As with the 45, Milwaukee had to come up with answers, and fast. After much burning of the midnight oil, the solution came in bigger, heavier flywheels and modified cams. This did the trick, but the bigger flywheels needed bigger [[crankcase]]s which in turn demanded a larger frame. In other words, every VL made up to that point (there were 1,300 of them) had to be completely rebuilt. It cost Harley-Davidson $100,000 in new parts, caused much heartache to the dealers (who were expected to do the rebuilding at their own expense), and did much damage to the hard-won reputation for reliability. Better was to come, but there were more hard times to get through first.
 ==1930s: Slump to Recovery==
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 But it was the final year of the century that saw Harley's biggest news for a long lime. The new Win Cam 88 motor was unveiled, at first for certain models only, but clearly intended to replace the
 Evolution in time. At 88 cubic inches (1450cc), hence the name) it was the largest production Harley engine yet, though the company had evidently decided it wasn't going to get into a cubic-inch war. [[Victory]] (92ci/1507cc [[Yamaha]] (98ci/1(t02cc) and [[Honda]] ( 110ci/1800cc) all announced even bigger V-twins soon afterwards.
-Despite its name, the Twin Cam didn't have twin overhead cams, but two cams on the shaft: in fact, it was still air-cooled and certainly contained no radical changes. But although it looked similar to the Evo, the Twin Cam was very different inside, with a bigger bore/shorter stroke, reshaped [[combustion chamber]], new ignition and lubrication systems, oil-cooled pistons, redesigned breathing and die-cast crankcases, It was claimed to be stiffer, stronger, more powerful and more oil-tight than the old engine. Harley-Davidson also claimed that only 21 parts had been carried over from the Evolution, 'most of them screws', according to the brochure. The Twin Cam was still rubber-mounted, but for 2000 the 8813 was launched, with twin contra-rotating balance shafts for what must be the smoothest Harleys yet.
+Despite its name, the Twin Cam didn't have twin overhead cams, but two cams on the shaft: in fact, it was still air-cooled and certainly contained no radical changes. But although it looked similar to the Evo, the Twin Cam was very different inside, with a bigger bore/shorter stroke, reshaped [[combustion chamber]], new ignition and lubrication systems, oil-cooled pistons, redesigned breathing and die-cast [[crankcase]]s, It was claimed to be stiffer, stronger, more powerful and more oil-tight than the old engine. Harley-Davidson also claimed that only 21 parts had been carried over from the Evolution, 'most of them screws', according to the brochure. The Twin Cam was still rubber-mounted, but for 2000 the 8813 was launched, with twin contra-rotating balance shafts for what must be the smoothest Harleys yet.
 So as the 21st century got underway, Harley-Davidson was facing it with a new confidence after 15 years of almost uninterrupted growth. There was record production, record sales and record profits and it seems a fair bet that it will reach the 100th anniversary of Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson's first prototype in good shape.
 [[Category:Harley-Davidson]]