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Oh Wow. They have one there already to do R & D on! Thank heavens. Maybe they'll rid of us that boat anchor of an engine by copying a Victory or some Japanese engine. Things are looking up.

When did they build a factory in China to improve the bike? This is the first I've heard of it. Made in Shanghai, I like the ring of it.

One important difference. Victory is 15 years old and has moved from the original 92C to the Vegas, Kingpin and Vision. I would bet that before I pass they'll introduce a modern sportbike and an entry level machine. Harley has dumped Buell "To concentrate on our core business". Eric Buell was building bikes with modern features and engine in the 1125R, not to mention surrounding Harley engines with modern frames and features in the XB-9 and Ulysses.

Core business at Harley has meant more of same old/same old. What did you say
"if you're planning for the future you need to leave the past behind, Harley is doing a good job" Not dumping Buell they didn't

Guess what? Eric Buell didn't do the decent thing and drop dead when Harley shut him down. He formed Eric Buell Racing (EBR) and produced the 1190S.

Buell also was the original mover to develop and build the V-Rod engine, the only thing modern about Harley. That engine appeared in 2001. Twelve years later and not one new engine. Not exactly "planning for the future".

Want real, stark contrast? Harley sells $30,000 CVO bikes that are nothing more than modified standard Hogs. Honda builds a 1800cc six cylinder Gold Wing for $27,000. BMW also builds a 1600cc six for about the same money. Explain the logic of that to me.

I could go on. I spend way too much time reading and studying bikes. I sat in High School History with a Cycle Guide stuck inside my text book so the teacher wouldn't see it.

Oh, and in 1960 I was eight years old. I did start riding on my own in 1962 when I turned ten. Before that I was passengering with my Dad on Triumphs that are Classics today.

I know you're a scooter guy JR, but for those of us who study these things there's a slight difference between a Harley and a Victory. Now the Harley is using a separate crankcase and transmission just like the British stopped using in 1960 (53 years ago, just saying). Also Harley continues to use pushrods which the Japanese made look positively old fashioned with the mid 60s Dreams, Benley and CB engines. Of course there's the venerable use of only two valves per cylinder and the densely packed 45 degree angle just begging to overheat and cause rebuilds at regular intervals (usually 40,000 miles).

Now the Victory engine is unit construction, has overhead cams and runs four valves per cylinder. It also uses internal jets to spray the interior of the engine's hot spots with oil, unlike Harley who just lets their engines cook. Also the Victory has a 50 degree angle between cylinders to give the engine room to cool. Some of the many reasons that Victory engines go well over 100,000 miles between rebuilds, something very few Harleys will ever attain.

As you will read here Victory spent several years researching the best ideas for an engine. They had fuel injection long before Harley was forced to do it.

.victorymotorcycles.com/en-us/2012/Experience/Pages/Top15No3.aspx?WT.mc_id=70527D2C-6271-E211-9E51-0050569A00BC&WT.mc_ev=email&WT.mc_id=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.victorymotorcycles.com/en-us/2012/Experience/Pages/Top15No3.aspx?WT.mc_id=70527D2C-6271-E211-9E51-0050569A00BC&WT.mc_ev=email&WT.mc_id=

I'm betting the new Indian engine will be head and shoulders better than anything out of Milwaukee.

I don't care if you write in red. It's one of my favorite colors on a......uh......person.

Right now it's sunny and slightly chilly. My thermometer says a balmy 2 degrees up from zero this morning. It's supposed to climb to a scorching 13 later today so I'll get out and mow. All this warm weather is making my grass grow. That white stuff is grass, right?

Sorry to hear about your ailment Lance. My wife dragged me to Rite Aid for a flu shot a few months ago and so far it seems to be working.

.cycleworld.com/2013/01/10/iomtt-chinese-manufacture-debut-campaign-in-2013/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.cycleworld.com/2013/01/10/iomtt-chinese-manufacture-debut-campaign-in-2013/

This is how Honda and Yamaha first made a name for themselves.