NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON MILWAUKEE-EIGHT ENGINE FOR A TOURING EXPERIENCE ON AN UNFILLED LEVEL
The latest Harley Big Twin offers more power and comfort with lower fuel consumption
MILWAUKEE (August 23, 2016) – With the ground-up new Milwaukee-Eight™, Harley-Davidson® introduces the ninth generation of Big Twin engines in the company's history.
With increased performance and an exciting motorcycle experience for rider and passenger in every respect, with the new Milwaukee-Eight, Harley-Davidson has managed to fully retain the characteristic look, the distinctive sound and the typical power delivery of its legendary predecessors .
The newly designed engine is more revving and elastic and has an even more pleasant sound. It also consumes less fuel, runs more smoothly and offers the unmistakable driving experience of a real Harley-Davidson touring engine in an unprecedented form.
“When designing the Milwaukee-Eight, we were guided by customer surveys around the world,” said Scott Miller, Harley-Davidson vice-president of styling and product development strategy. “Many drivers wanted a new engine that would further enhance the driving experience in every respect.
But the same voices also demanded that we stay true to our tradition and retain all the positive qualities that our fans and customers associate with a real Harley-Davidson V-Twin.
This presented our engineers with real challenges – but we overcame them. With the Milwaukee-Eight, Harley-Davidson is entering a new era characterized by performance and innovation.”
The new Milwaukee-Eight engine will be used in all Harley-Davidson Touring models and trikes in 2017. It is produced in two displacement categories and in three variants.
In all variants, the exhaust valves are liquid-cooled. Depending on the version, engine oil or coolant is used as the medium.
Milwaukee-Eight 107 (107 cubic inches, 1,745 cm³, engine oil as cooling medium) for the Street Glide® Special, Road Glide Special®, Road King®, Road King® Classic and Freewheeler® models.
Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight 107 (107 cubic inches, 1,745 cc, liquid coolant) with Ultra Limited, Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide® Ultra and Tri Glide® Ultra models.
Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 (114 cubic inches, 1,868 cc, liquid coolant) for CVO™ Limited and CVO™ Street Glide® models.
More power
Depending on the model, the Milwaukee-Eight engine releases up to eleven percent more torque than its predecessor. In addition to the increased displacement, the Milwaukee-Eight features a higher compression ratio and four-valve cylinder heads with a 50 percent higher gas flow.
Thanks to the hydraulic valve clearance compensation, there is no need for valve service. Double ignition increases combustion efficiency. The chain-driven single camshaft is lighter, less mechanically complex and produces less friction and noise than the two camshafts previously used.
“The Milwaukee-Eight is again a classic Harley-Davidson V-Twin with a 45 degree cylinder angle,” explains Alex Bozmoski, Harley-Davidson Chief Powertrain Engineer and head of the development team.
“As customers want, it still has the typical power delivery: powerful torque even at low speeds and a broad, flat power curve in the middle speed range – ideal for relaxed touring.”
Better acceleration
The weight of the new Milwaukee-Eight is roughly identical to its predecessor. Accordingly, its additional power directly benefits driving performance.
• The models with Milwaukee-Eight 107 accelerate eleven percent faster from 0 to 100 km/h, which corresponds to two to three motorcycle lengths in a direct comparison.
At the same time, in top gear they also have eleven percent more power from 100 to 130 km/h, which is one to two motorcycle lengths compared to the High Output Twin Cam 103. • The Milwaukee-Eight 114 gives CVO models equipped with it eight percent better acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h and twelve percent more pulling power from 100 to 130 km/h than the previously used Twin Cam 110™.
Lower consumption
Thanks to the increased efficiency of gas throughput and combustion - not least as a result of the new double ignition - the new Milwaukee-Eight achieves lower consumption values, which are accompanied by correspondingly higher ranges.
Waste heat management
The Milwaukee-Eight offers the driver and front passenger extra thermal comfort thanks to reduced heat radiation, improved heat rejection and a newly designed exhaust system.
The different versions of the Milwaukee-Eight rely on the optimal cooling strategy for the respective models: The cylinder heads are cooled either by oil or coolant.
New knock sensors for each cylinder also allow for more precise control of the ignition timing. The changed routing of the rear manifold, together with the repositioned catalytic converter, helps protect the front passenger even more efficiently from waste heat.
At the same time, the idle speed was reduced from around 1000 rpm to 850 rpm.
Slimmer shape
A slimmer primary drive cover and a flatter air filter cover give the driver more legroom near the engine and at the same time ensure improved ground contact.
All models with the new Milwaukee-Eight are equipped with a hydraulically supported slipper clutch, which reduces the manual force on the clutch lever by a further seven percent.
Reduced vibrations
The Milwaukee-Eight is mounted in rubber and has a balancer shaft that reduces first-order vibrations by 75 percent when idling. This means that the new engine also conveys the classic pulsation of a real Harley® V-Twin when stationary, while the driver and passenger benefit from smooth running at higher speeds.
Even more pleasant sound
Lighter valves, a single camshaft and optimized engine covers and drive components help the Milwaukee-Eight to further reduce the mechanical noise of the drive train.
The new intake tract and the air filter are also characterized by an even further reduced intake noise level with a high air flow. As a result, the new engine runs mechanically even quieter, so that the typical exhaust sound of a real Harley-Davidson Big Twin comes into its own better than ever.
Optimized charging system
The electric charging system of the Milwaukee-Eight is designed to increase idle performance by a further 50 percent in view of the ever increasing demands of modern touring riders.
This means that the new Harley-Davidson Touring models are ideally equipped to supply additional lighting devices, powerful audio systems as well as heated accessories and other electrical equipment of all kinds.
New Engine Design
The Milwaukee-Eight's sleek, modern design is in the spirit of traditional Harley-Davidson Big Twins.
“The new engine is characterized by its powerful charisma,” comments Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Director of Styling. “I like to compare it to the back of a fit swimmer with a narrow waist but broad, strong shoulders.
“The rocker arm covers stretch muscularly over the cylinder heads,” continues Richards. “For the first time since the classic Knucklehead, the design of the rocker arm covers brings back a connection to the mechanical processes that take place underneath. At the same time, they are large and massive. When you look down from the driver’s seat you can simply see more of this attractively designed engine.”
If you want to experience the new 2017 Harley-Davidson® Touring models for yourself, simply visit www.hd.com/discovermore and take a free, non-binding test drive.
| Milwaukee Eight 107 | Milwaukee Eight 114 | |
| Engine concept | 45 degrees V2 | 45 degrees V2 |
| displacement | 1745 cm3 | 1868 cm3 |
| Bore x stroke | 100.0 x 111.1mm | 102.0 x 114.3mm |
| Valves per cylinder | four | four |
| Valve clearance compensation | hydraulic | hydraulic |
| Exhaust valves liquid cooled | with engine oil or coolant* | with coolant |
| Valve control | ohv, a camshaft | ohv, a camshaft |
| Max. power* kW (HP)/rpm | 67 (91)/5450 | 75 (102)/5250 |
| Max. torque* rpm | 153/3250 | 166/3250 |
* depending on version
