In 2007, we wrote about the Harley Davidson Nova V4 engine project from way back in the mid 1970s. AMF owned Harley in those years and decided a V4 wasn’t a profitable venture so they killed it. Then, in 2009, there were rumors of a new Harley V4 project. This one was supposedly around 1600cc, with a 72 degree V angle and output around 170 horsepower. Cycle World in May of 2009 wrote a short piece referring to the rumors, but had few details to add. Those were some lean years at the Motor Company with the economy crashing around it and the V4 seemed to disappear as did talk of the project.
Project Overlord?
In our last article on the Motus Lone Star 2, Bob left a comment about “Project Overlord,” a name I had not heard before, but according to a post on Australian website Netrider, that was name of this most recent V4 and that’s where these photos come from.
You can examine the engine castings and glean whatever information that might reveal, but what I found interesting was the plastic concept. It looks like a 3D print of a possible model powered by the V4 and it’s definitely outside the usual Harley Davidson mold and it could have been a direct competitor for, well …, for a lot of motorcycles. Was this a Harley design?
Why not a V4?
The Motus custom Brian Case put together and the printed concept you see here make it clear you can put a V4 in a naked bike without the overdone styling of the new VMax. Just let the engine show and let the sound and performance speak for itself. Unfortunately, if this was the ill fated V4 the Motor Company was considering, I doubt it will ever see the light of day, but it sure would have been a breath of fresh air and tire smoke.
Be sure to read our update!
Link: Netrider
JP Kalishek says
iirc there was an early 4 that was a Porche developed unit paid for , in part, by Honda.
The later one might have been a Buel unit with H-D possibilities. Seeing as they euthanized Buel, I’d bet on never seeing it come to life.
Joneez says
But it’s a hopeful possibility. Watching Harley get dragged kicking and screaming out of the 1950’s entertains me to no end. I’m hoping that the new 500/750, the electric bike and their half-assed water cooled big twins are just the beginning.
The Truth says
You must be a boring person if that’s your idea of entertainment.
Slowtire says
As usual, the HD haters beg Harley to do something new and different, and when they do, they all still bitch. Grow up.
Joneez says
No pictures of the crankshaft? Wondering if it’s a 180deg or a 360deg. I’m just trying to get an idea of what kind of music it would play. 360deg cranks always sound buzzy. Think Honda Magna or ST1100 and ST1300. A 180deg makes a great sounding more V-8 type note like Aprilia’s RSV4, the Motus or the Honda VFR engines do.
v4racer says
If it is indeed a 72 degree V4, then you just need to listen to a VFR1200F… which, sadly, doesn’t have the most exciting exhaust note around, especially compared to its smaller VFR brethren.
Bob says
Wow – that could have been Brutale, er, um, I meant brutal.
I wonder what happened to those behind that project.
A 270 degree crank in a V4 could sound interesting. Oh, wait…
Rashomon says
This was definitely not a Buell project — and I can’t say more.
Agitprop says
Oh yes you can!
What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like H-D or any of its, uh, business affiliates are into organized crime! Or even if they take the low road and resort to organized law, hey, just think how effective a Kneeslider promoted Kickstarter legal fund or Gofundme bail bond could be!
I hope I live long enough to read a good book about H-D’s internal war against high performance by low performance minds that has gone on since, um, well, which decade does one pick?
Paul Crowe says
I’m fascinated by the plastic model, that is so unlike what you see in the Harley showrooms, they would be in real danger of bringing in new customers. I think the economy at the time influenced whatever happened to it, but still, …
Paulinator says
With Harley’s loyal following it seems natural the company should branch into scooters to match its aging demographic (think Rascal…not Piaggio).
Joe says
Paul,
Maybe someone realized the appeal and saw the potential of the Buell.
Buell and Roeher revealed an unaddressed, untapped market right in front of them that could be born right out of their own house which the right machine(s) could have netted without significant harm to their staid, image.
But alas, the curmudgeons of tradition triumphed, keeping what would probably have been a real hit from disturbing the status quo.
Sad. The patriotic American sportbike enthusiast still waits.
Joe
Yeti2bikes says
I don’t know if it was just pure conjecture but I recently read somewhere that H-D was considering a foray into the sport bike realm again. They were talking about a possible 1200cc variant of a V-Rod motor design, but wouldn’t it be a hoot to see a V4.
Bob says
Those articles were released 01 April…
Britman says
April 4th.
https://netrider.net.au/threads/harley-davidson-overlord-v-4.209464/
Eagle says
Looking at the 3D plastic prototype, I see what looks to be belt final drive. No belt final drive is reliable with a bike that has anywhere near 170HP. That’s one of the reasons why you don’t see belt drive on sport bikes and racing bikes.
I do like that their frame design is such that it shows off the engine. I’ve often thought that it was disappointing that the Aprilia RSV4’s frame partially hides that beautiful engine.
Billy says
It looks like a Rotax design , cast by Harley.