Harley Davidson will unveil a brand new massive 1753cc V-twin engine next month.
According to the EPA’s data, Harley-Davidson will introduce a new 1746cc (107ci) engine with a larger 1868cc (114ci) engine for CVO models. The new engine will be used on the: CVO Street Glide, CVO Ultra Limited, Electra Glide Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide Ultra, Ultra Limited, Ultra Limited Shrine Edition and the Tri Glide Ultra and Free Wheeler trikes.
The EPA data has the 1746cc engine producing 92.5 hp at 5000 rpm, compared to the previous 1688cc Twin Cam’s EPA-rated 80.5 hp at 4000 rpm. Meanwhile the CVO models’ 1868cc engine is EPA-rated at 100.6 hp at 5000 rpm, a significant increase over the current 1802cc engine’s 87.2 hp at 4000 rpm.
Early speculation about the “Milwaukee Eight” name assumed the number refers to the number of valves (as in four per cylinder). The EPA data however rubbishes this theory, confirming that the new engines will continue to use two valves per cylinder.
Assuming the EPA data is correct, we have a different theory for the name. Tracing Harley-Davidson’s big twin engine history back to the 1914 F-Head, the Milwaukee Eight will be the eighth in the succession:
- F-Head (1914-1929)
- Flathead (1930-1948)
- Knucklehead (1936-1947)
- Panhead (1948-1965)
- Shovelhead (1966-1984)
- Evolution (1984-1999)
- Twin Cam (1999-2016)
- Milwaukee Eight (2017 onwards)
Harley-Davidson typically reveals its model updates in late August so we expect to hear official announcement in the next few weeks.
The Milwaukee Eight 107 name was actually first trademarked by Harley back in 2014, and promises to be the power plant behind a number of new models for 2017. Some reckon the huge V-twin engine will power a new touring model that’s rumored to be unveiled next month, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
