Why doesn't Harley use the XB engine?

[GregoXB]

The tech is all there, why doesn't Harley use the XB engine in any of their applications?

 

[BambamXB12r]

I have always wondered the same thing just never got around to asking.

 

[GregoXB]

I went on Harley's website and saw that they offer stage kits for their engines at like $2-3k a pop (not counting labor). So maybe it would be counter to their business strategy to sell a high power engine from the factory?

 

[Gloomshadow]

friend of mine was a salesman at Harley for a while, he said most of the buyers that he sold to were first time riders in their 40s and 50s, they knew very little about motorcycles and power wasn't something they were actually looking for, they were buying 'status" and passage into a group.

I think the main reason they don't use it is that the gearbox is harder to access.

 

[buell248]

If Harley would start using a XB motor they would have to admit they made a mistake getting rid of Buell... that will never happen, Management never makes mistakes!!! HA HA!

 

[Disturbed1]

they were buying 'status" and passage into a group

This, in my opinion, is the the main reason for not exploiting the XB engine. Sporters have always been considered "girls" bikes, and you had to be a man to step-up to the bigger v-twins.
All other manufactures push for lighter, higher horse power, more compact designs for engines. That combined with centralized mass, not low slung, gives you a better performing and handling motorcycle.
Allot of egos would be bruised, and wallets clamped shut, if the smaller cheaper bikes were better than the larger ones.

 

[user_deleted]

The tech is all there, why doesn't Harley use the XB engine in any of their applications?

greg: economically and logistically it would make no sense. 2016 emissions requirements....DOT "fly-by" noise control requirements....heat management.......potential for liquid-cooling. think about the H-D north american product line and the majority of it now features liquid cooling if not only in the cylinder heads then the entire motor. Street series...V-rod series...many big-twins...and by the end of this decade all big-twins will feature it. H-D offers 5 distinct motor platforms which IMO is a broad-based choice for a company only manufacturing approx 325,000 units per year. there is no need for a sixth.

 

[Gloomshadow]

when the street 750 came out , I went to Seminole Harley up the street from me to take a look at it... its a simple motor, not making much power the way they got it set up now but it wouldn't surprise me if that motor will be putting out 100hp in a few years.

 

[GregoXB]

Sporters have always been considered "girls" bikes, and you had to be a man to step-up to the bigger v-twins.

lol that's so true....