What makes a Harley different?

[Maico Shark]

Years ago I studied motorcycles like some students study philosophers. I've tried to understand the nuances that made one brand differ from the next. The Harley Davidson difference is mainly caused by the crankshaft and connecting rods.

Most all other two cylinder engines will have the pistons fire 180 degrees apart. It makes for smoother power to do that. You've seen the crankshafts that raise one piston to the top while the other is piston is at the bottom. The shafts are offset like bicycle pedals.

Not so with Harley. Both connecting rods on a Harley are on the same journal (thanks to Hogrider). They both go up and down together. But not exactly....one will reach the top a bit ahead of the other. That's what gives the heartbeating throb of the Harley engine. Instead of the steady bing..bing..bing..bing of the more efficient twin designs you get the boom boom....boom boom....boom boom, the unmistakable sound of a Harley which happens to match the sound of a living, beating, heart.

Of course there are other unique things about the HD design but it is the staggered beat of it's heart that seems to make it a thing alive to many of the enthusiasts that love the brand.

[hollywood1959]

Nothing, And I do mean nothing, sounds like a harley. All the japs have try'd
to imitate it, but none have come close! Bar none. I live on a main road through my town and hear bikes rip up and down the road all day long. I can tell witch ones are HD's, and the one's that are not., so can my pit bulls.
They only bark when it's an HD. Go figure? If you know anything about aircraft
engines, you will see where the motor came from. It's a slice of a 9 cl. radial aircraft motor. All the pistons run on the same crankshaft, just two or three
degrees off (TDC). As do harleys. I wonder why? It works. Thats why. Nothing else. At the time it was the best thing going, so they went with it.
They needed to make money, to put a product on the market, to feed the
family. and sell a product, and, make a name for themself. They did all of that, and then some. Now we all can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Thank
you HARLEY/DAVIDSON.

ALWAYS, KEEP IT IN THE WIND<

HOLLYWOOD

[LowRiderGhost]

I think they’ll probably always be an ongoing argument out there between those that love Harley-Davidsons more then life itself, and those who consider it to be the worst thing out there since the Black Plague. I think the only thing the two main factions might ever agree on is you either hate em’ or love em’, one or the other… no in-between. I admit it…. I’m a friggin’ Harley Junkie! I love em’ more then life itself yet to this day I just still don’t know why. I always did and always will love ALL motorcycles, and I don’t care where they came from or what they’re designated niche is out there. I never ever cared to live in a vacuum and go out in the world with blinders on. In many ways being a ‘loyal’ Harley rider demands that you do just that. But despite having I like to think (or delude myself?) risen above such dictates over the years the end equation is that if given a choice (i.e. finances and situation allowing) I’ll always want to have a Harley in my life…. right up to the time comes for me to be pushing up the daisies. Nuff’ said.

LRG :cool:

[RED RIDER]

I explain it like this.

I don't watch baseball, I watch Johnny Bench
I don't watch stock car racing, I watch Rusty Wallace
I don't watch pro football, I watch Roger Staubach
I don't watch hockey, I watch the goalie
I don't ride a motorcycle, I ride a Harley

[Xianleather]

Its an American Icon...with Tremendous support .....

[SportoKing]

For me, the actual motorcycle is just a small part of what makes a Harley different. Sure you pay more for them, but your not just buying a bike, your paying dues to enter a culture. Harley owners for the most part are a group of really great people enjoying a wonderful tradition of riding American made motors.

[BH121869]

The same thing that makes a diamond different from a glass copy of one. They are an original not a copy. Glass is cheaper but will last just as long, but???

[LowRiderGhost]

Yikes?! I'm gonna' say (what I hear a LOT in here) is "how much more H-D's cost then other brands" and my response is: At least here in the Black Hills I just don't see it! Harley or otherwise, it's ALL overpriced!!! :rolleyes: Before I bought my last new (first new one in 25+ years) H-D I sure as heck was looking at other machines, including 2000cc Kawi Vulcan’s and 100ci Victories. After push came to shove did I pay a bit more (or that is to say Overpay) for a Harley?! Dang straight... WHY?! Because (at least at the time) I figured I wasn't gettin' any younger so why the frig' am I waiting?! Pennies (or preferably GOLD Doubloons) from Heaven weren’t anytime likely to be falling soon, so it was now or never. But compared to say the (yikes?) early 70’s when you could get a brand new Honda CB750 Four down in Los Angeles for (choke!) $1,295 OTD or later a 1977 H-D FXS-74 (1200cc) for about $4,000, anything now (bigger bikes) which are well into the $15,000-$20,000 range (though I swear my ‘free and clear’ pay is almost non-existent now) seems so ridiculous I honest to gawd can’t even fathom it anymore (so why try?!).

All I’m saying is DON’T sweat it – it’s only friggin’ money! And believe you me I was NOT raised to believe that! But I’ve since learned after being married for almost 20 years and have gotten somewhat older, that to live ONLY to have to deal with the nasty miserable business of money day in and day out isn’t ‘living’ at all, but a slow horrid death. IF you’re able to get that Harley (or Gold-Wing, or Duke, or whatever) then dog gone it DO it, and be happy. And if you’re not able yet, you will be someday…. I friggin’ guarantee it. Provided you’re not instead playin’ the horses, or sniffing the schitt down your nose the money will come into play eventually. Called working yer’ arse off and finally earning your dues. Nuff’ said.

Meanwhile, back to work.... :rolleyes:
LRG :cool:

[Hogrider]

They (the pistons) are on the same journal. The reason the Harley sound is so different is because the firing sequence is so irregular. Try this for a mix-up, front Bang, rotate 315 degrees then Rear Bang, rotate 405 degrees then front Bang, rotate 315 degrees and so on. Standing on the left of the bike the engine rotates counter clockwise. The Harley engine (not V-Rod) just lopes along as it has since 1903. It is a sound the rest of the industry has been trying to mimic for years and try as they will it won't happen until they too get that irregular firing of the 45 degree V-twin. As to price, I just don't see it as being more expensive except to say that if the other manufacturers built there bikes in the US they would have a much harder time holding their current price point.