What is Harley going to do with the Rotax engine?

[nanbil]

I'm sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but does anybody know what is Harley going to do with the Buell designed Rotax engine?

[st ryder]

I'm sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but does anybody know what is Harley going to do with the Buell designed Rotax engine?

Stop ordering it.

[falconati]

 

[Ves]

Hmmmm... I wonder if Rotax has inventory they need to get rid of... cheap...

[Bueller]

Can-Am was interested in the motor even before the Buell shutdown

[nanbil]

Stop ordering it.

I have to believe that Rotax costs have not yet been met—it costs a lot of money to set up a production run... my guess is that Harley has some requirement to buy a certain number of these engines or pay some of the set-up costs.

[chornbe]

... which is why they're selling them to Erik Buell Racing and licensing the rights to the machines to him.

[thatguy]

Hmmmm... I wonder if Rotax has inventory they need to get rid of... cheap...

Click me to order.

[Roadscum]

Hopefully  H-D will utilize that motor in a new model line to be introduced in their recovery plan.  H-D is a very well managed company, it's hard to imagine they will not take advantage of that motor in a modern motorcycle as they work their wat out of the ditch..

[Connierider]

I'm sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but does anybody know what is Harley going to do with the Buell designed Rotax engine?

Just like before, not much.

[chornbe]

Hopefully  H-D will utilize that motor in a new model line to be introduced in their recovery plan.  H-D is a very well managed company, it's hard to imagine they will not take advantage of that motor in a modern motorcycle as they work their wat out of the ditch..

 

Why would Harley - who already makes a fairly kickass water-cooled twin - use that engine for their standard lineup?

They wouldn't buy an outsourced engine for their core lineup.

[thatguy]

Over the past 3-4 years there's been continued rumors about an all new touring bike.Water cooled V-Twin but NOT the VRod engine in a E-Glide looking chassis.At the dealer show in '05 I asked one of the "guys" about it.He smiled and said something to the effect of "sure but it'll be awhile".That would be a new Harley I'd buy.

[chornbe]

Over the past 3-4 years there's been continued rumors about an all new touring bike.Water cooled V-Twin but NOT the VRod engine in a E-Glide looking chassis.At the dealer show in '05 I asked one of the "guys" about it.He smiled and said something to the effect of "sure but it'll be awhile".That would be a new Harley I'd buy.

Having ridden the toaster-oven big twin in my eglide frame, I agree. I loved the way it delivered power. I hated the shake and I hated the heat.  

[naustin]

 H-D is a very well managed company, it's hard to imagine they will not take advantage of that motor in a modern motorcycle as they work their wat out of the ditch..

They are a well marketed brand.  That is different than being a well managed company.  The general handling of Buell over the years, and other decisions such as, for example, their buyout of MV Augusta, show that the management is actually fairly inept.

If it isn't a Softtail or a UltraGlide, they can't sell it.  They have no idea what to do with it, and they are so afraid to screw up their "Brand" - which has been and will continue to be a goldmine - that they would rather bury things they don't understand than try to evolve.  This is the internal struggle that Buell fought for 20 years, and eventually succumb to.  Its amazing it didnt' happen sooner.

[nanbil]

They are a well marketed brand.  That is different than being a well managed company.  The general handling of Buell over the years, and other decisions such as, for example, their buyout of MV Augusta, show that the management is actually fairly inept.

100% agreed.   Harley seems rudderless at the moment.