IGNITION

Harley-Davidson have introduced their new big V-twin engine line, MilwaukeeEight, in the 2017 Touring line-up. It’s only their third new engine line in 80 years

AFTER NAMES LIKE ‘SHOVELHEAD’, ‘PANHEAD’, and ‘Flathead’, the new ‘Milwaukee-Eight’ V-twin engines actually derive their name from H-D’s home city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States of America. The ‘Eight’ signifies the eightvalve layout. There are two displacements available: 107 cubic inches (~1,750 cc) and 114 cubic inches (~1,860 cc). These two replace the 103-inch (1,670-cc) big twin and 110-inch (1,802cc) Screamin’ Eagle units.

In its standard guise — air-cooled with an oil-cooler — the 107 will initially be offered in the 2017 Touring models: Street Glide, Road King, Road Glide and the Ultra Classic Electra Glide, while the ‘Twin-Cooled’ unit, with liquid-cooled heads and radiators, will feature in high-end models such as the Ultra Limited and Road Glide Ultra as well as the TriGlide trike. The 114 is being offered in the top-end CVO models such as the Limited and the Street Glide.

While the old 103 delivered between 74 and 86 PS, and 124 and 138 Nm, depending on tune, the new 107 betters those figures by between eight and 11 per cent. The Road King and Street Glide put out about 90 PS and a hefty 151 Nm, while the Twin-Cooled 107 surely betters 90 PS and puts out a bit more torque, rated at 154 Nm. The old 110 was close to 100 PS and made 156 Nm. The new 114 should put out 100+ PS, making 168 Nm across a more relaxed rev spread. When the 107 moves to the Softail and, eventually, the Dyna line, we may still expect 80+ PS and 145+ Nm. The 2017 Touring models also cut acceleration times by over 10 per cent. Initially, only the Touring line-up will get these engines but these will eventually be available across the range.