Comments on: Harley Davidson Buying MV Agusta?

By: OnApaleHorse

OnApaleHorse — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:18:52 +0000

loomis-”…cheap imported american harleys…”

lol! Oh it hurts, buts those words are funny! I kinda choked on my beer when I read that… OW! shot outta my nose and even my eyes a little. Still funny… but OWWW!..

By: todd

todd — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:47:53 +0000

Not many engines run cam bearings. In a low RPM motor like a HD that doesn’t have cam chain tensioners (or cam chains) I see it as an effective cost saving move.

Removing cam bearings lowers friction, allows for lighter valve springs and less wear on the cam lobes. If the engines run 10 degrees hotter as you state that would most likely be due to a leaner mixture, higher compression, and retarded ignition timing to help with emissions compliance. I’d be more concerned with head gasket leaks than cam journal failure.

-todd

By: justpete

justpete — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:53:58 +0000

Harley should be worrying about what they just did to their own Motors. I’ve read a few articles and talked to some mechanics about the new 96″ motor. Apperantly they removed the inner cam bearings and are running it off the a sleeve on the case itself. They run 10 degrees hotter and as we all know. Hot is not the way to go with an air cooled engine. Some company has already come out with a kit to put the bearing back in. But who wants to buy a new bike and immediatly fix it. Dont get me wrong, I own an H-D and would like to buy another one. Just not a new one anymore!

By: atom

atom — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:42:30 +0000

I didn’t see this coming. HDMV is an interesting idea. I see Buell and MV Agusta getting along better in the same dealership than HD and Buell.
I really doubt there will ever be an MV engine in a Buell chassis. Erik Buell’s marketing places Buell as “real world” bike while MV’s live in a romantic (language) fantasy world so there would be little competition between them.
MV is probably running out of money developing the rumored triple and may be a relative bargain. If the dollar will be continuing to decline relative to the Euro, buying a Euro company is better sooner than later.
Over the last 25 years, Harley has done a good job of nurturing and growing a boutique sportbike brand into a distinct, prestigious, and cost-competitive brand. Hopefully, they can do the same with MV.

By: Nicolas

Nicolas — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:35:56 +0000

Agree with Loomis, HD is probably not a model in the motorcycle industry in terms of “what you have vs. what you pay” but they certainly are in terms of commercial success and management.
There are certainly people who know wat they do at the HD’s HQ, but the overall operation probably doesn’t aim to benefit to the final customer (you) but to the stockholders …

Now, back to sarcasm, the midlife crisis guys who buy Harley are also seen on Ducatis … So if you’re HD, instead of losing the customers who finally prefer the italian stallion to the american horse, why not proposing them an alternative that you also own ?