Actually Harley has probably sold more fuel injected bikes than any of the large Japanese manufacturers. Fuel injection has been available on Harley touring models since '95 -- well before it appeared on the Gold Wing. The injection introduced last year on softtails and adapted to the touring bikes this year is probably one of the most advanced injection systems out there. Having owned two injected Harleys with no problems, I can attest that it works. Harley doesn't build sport bikes. The bikes they build make a lot of people happy, however.
The racing has been a failure. This does not mean that Harley is technologically inept. It means that they have tried to develop advanced solutions to make a design based on their heritage continue to work. Ducati does the same thing with Desmo heads -- most agree that desmodronic valvetrains are not the most efficient solution any more.
When Harley had the V-4 water cooled engine in the early '80s, the decision was made that they could be far more successful building their traditional product. This has seemed to work well for them. Take a look at the recent article in Cycleworld (August I think) on the difficutly of developing an effective air-cooled large displacement twin. Those that claim that this is only a marketing gimmick -- all I can say is that without marketing you don't get sales. Harley has marketed an image. They build a product that makes a lot of people happy. They have a plan for the future. Thank God they realized it's not in AMA superbike.
The racing has been a failure. This does not mean that Harley is technologically inept. It means that they have tried to develop advanced solutions to make a design based on their heritage continue to work. Ducati does the same thing with Desmo heads -- most agree that desmodronic valvetrains are not the most efficient solution any more.
When Harley had the V-4 water cooled engine in the early '80s, the decision was made that they could be far more successful building their traditional product. This has seemed to work well for them. Take a look at the recent article in Cycleworld (August I think) on the difficutly of developing an effective air-cooled large displacement twin. Those that claim that this is only a marketing gimmick -- all I can say is that without marketing you don't get sales. Harley has marketed an image. They build a product that makes a lot of people happy. They have a plan for the future. Thank God they realized it's not in AMA superbike.
