Patents Reveal Superchargers!
Harley-Davidson just had the worst sales quarter in a very long time (Q4 2020). The company is sinking faster than it can remove the water that is holding them down, and they seem to be in a position where they are willing to try anything to keep afloat. EV motorcycles, sportbikes, and now we the H-D improvement train has stopped at supercharger station. That’s right, patents filed by Harley reveal what looks to be the blueprints for a supercharger.
Currently, the Kawasaki H2 line has seen great sales thanks to the inclusion of a supercharger and the performance benefits that are found as a result. The patent that was filed by H-D yesterday shows the layout of the supercharger and how it will perhaps integrate into their Big Twin lineup of motorcycles.
The patent doesn’t state whether or not the current motors available will see this system at any point soon, but we can hope to see them at some point regardless.
The next big question is whether this new addition will be for the sake of power or emissions. Harley-Davidson seems to be at a crossroads currently, and unsure if they want to pursue power or have motorcycles with better emissions standards. The company has been held to some high scrutiny in regards to how inefficient their motorcycles are (hence LiveWire), but the current demographic of H-D riders do enjoy their torque and power numbers.
Only time can tell if we will see supercharged Harley-Davidson at any point in the near future.
This just may be the one thing that attracts younger buyers. The main reason they do not buy is sloa bikes compared to others on the market. If Harley can take this crown they will survive. Otherwise it looks like the fall of a historically well loved giant. Like no other in history. The Harley following is iconic to say the least. It is a last attempt for survival that just may work.
This just may be the one thing that attracts younger buyers. The main reason they do not buy is sloa bikes compared to others on the market. If Harley can take this crown they will survive. Otherwise it looks like the fall of a historically well loved giant. Like no other in history. The Harley following is iconic to say the least. It is a last attempt for survival that just may work. After researching Indian bikes and finding the Scout comes with 100 hp while least expensive bagger comes with 122 hp. I don’t know if a supercharger is going to affect the mentality of Harley. They have been so far behind on power for so long and content with that spot it is no wonder they are losing this battle. Harley has it’s money bet on aftermarket or improvement upgrades that should already be there. They prefer to add them with a CVO logo or Screaming Eagle sticker with a price inflation that scares off potential buyers. Greed will not prevail here and Harley is paying the price now. Harley has marketed themselves right out of the market. If they do add superchargers they will charge so much more than the thrill is worth that it will be their own destruction. Maybe it’s just time to say goodbye. Audios amigos, it has been a long and winding road but you have to go with what is going. Harley was once a king but that is now history. Bon Voyage old friend, sorry you could not or would not learn from your mistakes.
I’ve owned ten harleys over a 30 year period. I really enjoyed the ownership of the evo, which was like owning a early royal enfield bullet, and early TC’ powered bikes. As the quest to have the biggest dick on the block progressed, the motors became hotter, vibrated more, and one could see the trimming of previous components on new bikes, to the stage where they started to seem a rip off for what they were asking. The current softail line up is, in itself a good manufacturing exercise in component sharing to reduce overheads, however the pricing between a softail standard and , say , a heritage softail is some $10K over here., for what would be a manufacturing cost difference of maybe a grand if that. That’s when one feel ripped off. The “dealer experience”, relying on you spending a further expense on what should be fitted as standard, is simply not worth the extra coin, no matter how good the bike may be. Would I buy another one, maybe…..
While Harley has been “challenged” since before the AMF days, this latest situation is not all Harley’s fault. The “make roads safe for autonomous vehicles” safetycrats have taken over most planning departments in North America. Zero Vision, look for yourself… https://visionzeronetwork.org/about/what-is-vision-zero/ The claims are to make roads safe for pedestirans and bicyclists, but all it amounts to is drastically slowing all vehicles, while formalizing pedestrian and bicycle road crossings to make them visible to autonomous vehicles. Unfortunately motorcycles are to small, agile and operate best at speeds above what the ZV/AV planners want.
The incredibly over-prices insurance premiums may not be the norm in the US (yet), but it is a major disincentive for prospective young riders on Canada (esp. Ontario and Quebec).
By nature, motorcyclists tend to be individualistic, and that is not acceptable to the power-minority who wish to exert their agenda on the rest of us.
A recent video from the World Economic Forum (Davos) says “you will rent everything, own nothing and be happy.” Really.
So Harley may merely be the 500-lb canary in the US motorcycling coalmine.
Diversify.
Yes, keep the traditional engine layout.
Introduce the electric motocycles once they refine the technology. BUT should they big twins get the superchagers? Or should they be experimented on the smaller 500cc to 750cc to 883cc bikes? If they capture the young segment with the extra power going to the smaller bikes, that is where you want the growth, then the big twins should have the opportunity next.
AND start introducing a portion of bike with inline 3s or inline 4s, like Triumph.
It’s quite refreshing to see Harley-Davidson motorcycles be a lot more modern nowadays with attempts at developing superchargers. I’m interested in owning one someday so I will be looking out for new releases in the coming years. I also would better look out for dealerships around my area so that I can purchase one easily someday.