For one the sound. Harley people, or those who have been S&S engine buyers in the past, love the noise a 45 degree V-Twin makes. A 56 degree engine should sound very much like a generic Honda or Suzuki. Might look good parked, but fire it up for a potential buyer and watch them disappear. The appearance of “BAD” just got muted down to “Universal Japanese”. Made in USA or not, it won’t project the image their targeted customers want.

Also the issue of requiring manufacturers to tool up special chassis layouts just to use this engine? S&S is asking for a new redesign. Did they help pay the chassis R&D expenses required by the companies who will purchase this engine? Manufacturers who buy this engine should have told S&S that they hold the cash and that they are S&S’s customers and not the other way around.

Next, the potential market for replacement engines that could bolt directly into existing frame designs has been abandoned by the S&S people.

Overall, S&S is not Harley. They don’t have the clout or reputation Harley does. (Can you imagine Harley ditching their “trademark” sound?) Also I feel S&S have not taken into account the needs of their customers, the individuals and the companies that buy their product. Emissions issues could easily have been addressed by using existing 45 degree engine layout designs. Harley will sort the emissions problems out, S&S would have been better served by using their R&D cash to build along existing lines, not pushing it’s own agenda.

The engine looks great in the Big Dog…very purpose-built looking with the performance to match. Looking forward to seeing it in person

good job & nice article by Kevin Cameron in CW.

TCS