Harley Davidson Revolution Max Engine: A New Era of Innovation

The Harley Davidson brand is one of the most recognizable in the world, synonymous with iconic style and a distinguished sound. However, despite their 118 years of research and development (R&D), Harleys are often perceived as heavy, unreliable, and old-fashioned.

Fortunately, Harley has been working on a game-changer: the Revolution Max engine, also known as the Rev Max for short. This new engine is unlike anything that came before it, with totally new designs and unparalleled power output. The bikes featuring this engine have made more power than any Harley to date, but some of the brand's most loyal fans may be concerned about losing the fundamental characteristics that make Harleys so unique.

But what exactly does the Rev Max engine bring to the table? First and foremost, it aims to make Harleys lighter, more refined, more reliable, and, of course, more powerful than ever. The new engine is packed with the latest technology, designed to give riders a more comfortable and efficient ride.

As we explore the capabilities of the Rev Max engine, it's clear that Harley has been working tirelessly to innovate and improve their products. From the sleek designs of the bikes featuring this engine to the advanced technology that powers them, there's no doubt that Harley is committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

But before we dive into the details of the Rev Max engine, let's take a look at what else makes Harley Davidson tick. With its rich history and iconic style, it's no surprise that Harleys have remained a staple in the motorcycle world for generations.

One thing that sets Harleys apart is their V-twin engine. First introduced back in 1911, the V-twin design has become an integral part of the Harley brand identity. However, with the introduction of the Rev Max engine, Harley has taken this iconic characteristic and turned it on its head.

The latest iteration of the V-twin design is truly remarkable. With its totally new designs and unparalleled power output, the Rev Max engine is sure to turn heads on the road. But what about the fundamental characteristics that make Harleys so beloved? Do these bikes still have that unique "Harley-ness" that fans love?

To answer this question, let's take a closer look at the features of the Rev Max engine and see if it can deliver on its promises.

A Big Thanks to Skillshare

But before we get into the nitty-gritty details of the Rev Max engine, we need to give a big shoutout to our sponsor for today's episode: Skillshare. This amazing online learning community offers thousands of inspiring classes for creators, covering everything from photography to writing and animation.

One class that caught my eye is "Knife Skills" by professional head chef Elana Karp. In under 20 minutes, Elana gives you a full tutorial on the best forms of slicing, dicing, and knife safety, so you can chop like a pro without getting any fingertips in your steak Julienne. With Skillshare's no-ads policy, you can stay focused and keep learning.

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Now, Back to the Show

As we continue our journey into the world of Harley Davidson, let's take a closer look at the features that make the Rev Max engine so special.

Part of What Makes Harley Recognizably a Harley is Its Big V-Twin Engine

One thing that sets Harleys apart from other motorcycles on the road is its big V-twin engine. First introduced all the way back in 1911, this iconic characteristic has become synonymous with the Harley brand identity.

The latest iteration of the V-twin design is truly remarkable. With its totally new designs and unparalleled power output, the Rev Max engine is sure to turn heads on the road. But what about the fundamental characteristics that make Harleys so beloved? Do these bikes still have that unique "Harley-ness" that fans love?

The Answer Lies in the Details

As we explore the capabilities of the Rev Max engine, it becomes clear that Harley has been working tirelessly to innovate and improve their products. From the sleek designs of the bikes featuring this engine to the advanced technology that powers them, there's no doubt that Harley is committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

The New Generation of Motorcycles

With the introduction of the Rev Max engine, Harley is ushering in a new generation of motorcycles that are sure to impress. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just starting out, these bikes are designed to deliver on their promises and leave you wanting more.

So there you have it - the latest news from Harley Davidson about their innovative new engine. With its sleek designs, unparalleled power output, and commitment to innovation, the Rev Max engine is set to take the motorcycle world by storm. Stay tuned for more updates and reviews!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Japanese inlines go vroom,Italian V4s go vrr-vrr-vrr-vrr,and Harley Davidsons gopotato, potato, potato, potato.Harley Davidson is one ofthe most recognizable brandsin the world.They make motorcycleswith an iconic style,but they're heavy.They got a distinguishedsound, but they're unreliable.They have 118 years ofR and D under the belt,but they're still pretty old fashioned.But the thing about Harley Davidsonis they know how to survivein a changing world,and their Revolution Maxis a brand new engine,packed with the latest technology.It's aimed to make Harleyslighter, more refined,more reliable, and baby, oh, baby,more powerful than ever.So today we're going tolook at Harley's new engine,get our potato, potato, potato, potato on,and see if the Rev Max stillhas that iconic Harley-ness,but with some new tech to boot.Let's go.(relaxed hip hop music)- A big thanks to Skillsharefor sponsoring today's episode.Skillshare is an online learning communitywith thousands of inspiringclasses for creators.Explore new skills in photography,deepen existing passions with writing,or get lost in the art of animation.Today, I really want to highlight a skillthat we all take for granted,using a knife in the kitchen.This is knife skills, a miniclass to chop like a chefby professional head chef Elana Karp.In under 20 minutes, Elanagives you a full tutorialon the best forms of slicing, dicing,and of course, knife safety,so you don't get any fingertipsin your steak Julienne.Because Skillshare wantsyou to continue learning,there are no ads so you can stay focused.They're always launchingnew premium classesand now Skillshare's entirecatalog offers subtitlesin Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Dutch.That's fantàstico.Right now, the first 1000of you donut boys and girlsto click on the link in the descriptionwill get a free one monthtrial to Skillshare.So don't wait, start exploringyour creativity today.And now, back to the show.(euphoric keyboard music)- Part of what makes Harleyrecognizably a Harleyis its big V-twin engine.It first debuted all the way back in 1911,and the latest is onlytheir 10th V-twin design,but the new 2021 Revolution Max engine,or Rev Max for short, is unlike anythingthat came before it.The bikes featuring thisengine have totally new designsand make more powerthan any Harley to date.But that new engine alsolacks a fundamental Harley characteristic,and that could have some ofthe brands faithfuls saying,"It doesn't shake yourbelly when you get on it?"It doesn't make your handsnumb after five minutes"of riding?"What a (beep)!" (laughs)We all know it's what'sinside that counts,like a turducken.So to understand what's sorevolutionary about the Rev Max,we need to start on the outside,because the Rev Maxrequires a frame designthat's a bit unusual for Harley Davidson.The Revolution Max hasappeared in two bikes so far:The Sportster S, which looksa bit like you'd expect,and the Pan America, which doesn't.That's because the Pan Americais something totally new.It's a heavyweight adventure bike,jam packed with the latest technologyto take on the reigningADV champion, the BMW GS.It's got electronic traction control,touchscreen, even active suspension,pretty sick for an adventure bike.Oh, this is me on an adventure,Ah, I'm on an adventure, oh, adventuring.While the Sportster Sis a bit more low tech,what it has in common with the Pan Americais that the whole bike istied together by its motor.Literally, unlike mostHarley engines of the past,the Rev Max is designed tobe a stress frame member.The motorcycle's frame, or or chassis,is the structuralload-bearing part of the bike,which everything else attaches to.Most Harley Davidsons use a cradle frame.That's roughly atrapezoidal box constructedby welding together metal tubes.And the engine is supportedinside that structure.Cradle frames have been aroundsince the first motorizedbicycles appearedall way back in the 1860s.And they're the most commontype of motorcycle frame.That's because they'restrong, they're inexpensive,and they're easy to produce.And the same basic frame can be adaptedfor lots of different engines and models.Which also helps it makeit be cheaper. (laughs)Freakin' manufacturing 101.But cradle frames do have some drawbacks,especially when pairedwith a large heavy engine,like the ones found in most Harleys.The engine is bolted inside the frame,but uses rubber mountingpoints to isolate the riderfrom the engine's vibration.Those rubber mounts meanthe engine and framecan move aroundindependently of each other,disturbing the bike's handling.It's even been arguedthat this contributesto an uncontrollable condition,nicknamed death wobble,which can lead to something like this.Unlike every otherHarley currently on sale,bikes featuring the Rev Max use the engineas a stress frame member.The front frame, midframe, and the tail sectionall bolt directly to theengine at different points.So instead of it beingsupported by a separate frame,the engine is a structuralload bearing part of the frame.Using the engine this way makesfor an overall lighter motorcycle,and eliminates flecks thatcan lead to poor handling.A stiffer chassis means more precise feeland less weight means betteracceleration, braking,and fuel economy.That's why many sportand sport touring bikesuse this frame design.Someone might saythat this is a very un-Harleyway of building a bike,since all modern Harleysuse the cradle frame,but they actually usedstress member enginesas far back as 1919 with their Model W.So it's been done before,and if Harley did it before,then it's not un-Harley like.Because they already did it.That defeats the un-Harley like position,if you're claiming to take that position.You know what position I like to take?(bell dings)Yeah. (laughs)Unlike most Harley engines,the Rev Max features liquid cooling,dual overhead cams, andfour valves per cylinder.I say most Harley engine, because in 2001,they debuted the first Revolution motor,which had all of those,braking it was sick.It was in the V-Rod.I wanted a V-Rod becauseI had a 2003 Harley F150and they had a 2003 Harley Davidson V-Rod,which had a similar paint scheme.And I was like, dude, Ican have my Harley F150,with a sick supercharged motor in it,and I can have my sickHarley V-Rod in the back.Just gobble up the ladies.Because if I know one thing,it's younger women loveV-Rod motorcycles. (laughs)The original Revolution wasco-developed with Porschefor an all new V-Rod,a bike designed to attractnew customers to the brand.Sound familiar?Here's a little turn in the story.The V-Rod was well receivedby journalists in magazines,but the reaction fromfans wasn't so positive.Although I think it's sick.It was simply too different.And many diehard fans didn'tconsider it a real Harley.There were even reports of V-Rod ownersbeing denied admissionto Harley owner clubsand Harley dealers refusingto work on their bikes.What, that's insane!The bike is sick.They built it with Porsche,the engine was, like, insane.They stress tested that enginefor, like, a hundred hoursnonstop or something.If you want to know more,click at it up here.I rode it up to speed aboutit way back in the day.That engine's sick.It's really, really awesome.So maybe Harley should beworried about a repeat of that,because the Rev Max is even lesslike a typical Harley motorthan the Revolution was.It's easy to see howdifferent the Rev Max iswith a simple spec for spec comparison.For that, we picked theking of Harley engines,the Screamin' Eagle. (screams)131.Okay, that's a street legal crate motorbased on their mostadvanced air cool design,the Milwaukee-Eight.There's a lot of numbers,there's a lot of animals.There's a lot of towns.All you got to know is thatwe're going to pick that one.We're going to compare itagainst our beautiful Rev Max.The Milwaukee-Eight, so-calledbecause of its eight valves.That's four valves per cylinder.'Cause there's two cylinders.And that's exactly what the Rev Max has.But the similarities, theypretty much end right there.The air cooled Screamin' Eagle is hugewith a total displacement of 2,147 CCs,much larger than the liquidcooled Rev Max at 1250 CC.That displacement differenceexplains their differencein torque, 131 foot poundsin the Screamin' Eagle,94 foot pounds in the Rev Max.But horsepower is wherethings get interesting.The Rev Max is the most powerfulroad legal Harley Davidsonengine ever built,making 150 horse powersin the Pan America.That Screamin' Eagle withnearly an extra literof displacement makes just 121 horsepower.The reason the Rev Maxmakes so much more power,because like its namesuggests, it can rev.Vroom!That's something Harleyshave never, ever, everreally been known for,unless we're talking Buells,but that's different.Don't hit me up with the Buells, okay?About to buy a Buell,about to buy 1190 RX.You guys are going to be like,"Yo, Jerry's got anAmerican made Superbike?"Yes, yes I did.Now, Screamin' Eagle achieves peak poweraround 5,600 RPM shortlybefore its red line.But the Rev Max spins up to 9,500 RPM,faster than any previous Harley.The reason it can rev so highis because nearlyeverything about the enginewas designed to do that.We made an entire episodeabout what limits engine speed.And I'm pretty sure Harleyengineers watched thatbefore designing the Rev Max.I don't want to say they 100% did,but maybe, maybe one of them have seen it.Unlike previous Harleys,it's got a short stroke,just 2.83 inches.And that reduces the inertiathe engine has to overcometo make the pistons change direction.Combined with the largeboard, 4.13 inches,and you've got an aggressive13 to one compression ratio,much higher than theScreamin' Eagle's 10.7 to one.High compression lets an engineextract the maximum energy from its fuel,but it can also lead to detonation or not.Hey, hey, it's me.I'm Harley engine, I'm about to blow up.(mimics explosion)If you hear knock in a Harley engine,just get your pocketbook out,and then just go to your dealer and say,"Just take my money, take my money."But a byproduct ofbuilding an engine rev highis that you incorporate featuresthat can also increaselongevity, reliability,and even fuel economy.So to avoid knock, the RevMax is the first Harley engineto use a variable valve timing.That's right, it's verysimilar to your Vtech Honda.Now all the Honda boys watching perked up,did you perk up a bit, Harley and Honda?Variable valve timing retards ignition,if detonation is detected, butit can also advance ignitionto optimize combustionfor higher engine speeds.The Rev Max uses twospark plugs per cylinderto maximize the power of its combustion,but that also uses fuel more efficiently.And it's got forged, oil cooled pistonsto deal with the frictionand heat of higher RPMs.And those should also bemore durable under daily use.It's like manufacturersbeing able to build carsthat can go 200 miles an hour.Yeah, you're not goingto go 200 miles an hour.But when you're at 70,it's like, barely evena sweat for the car.Same thing's going on with this engine.And you can make it be realtough and big and strongwhen you're just cruising.It's like, frigging,just like one warm uplap 'cross the old track.Yeah, your boy was an athlete.I used to run the 400 yarddash in a minute too. (laughs)With all the differences in technology,someone could say the RevMax isn't a real Harleybecause it revs too high,makes too much power,and it's too durable,reliable and efficient.But when you put it thatway, it sounds really dumb.What's inside the Rev Maxis genuinely revolutionaryfor Harley.Yes, they've tried someof these things beforeand that wasn't wellreceived by some fans,but this time, it all seems to add upto an overall better engine.And the thing is, it'snot like this technologyis revolutionary for therest of the engine world.We've been doing this stuff for years.And the fact that it took Harley that longto implement this technologyis kind of surprising.What the heck were they doing?Just appeasing all oftheir Harley biker boys,just being like "Oh, no,we can't offend them."They buy pins and leathersand T-shirts apparently,that I can't buy,but there may still be goodreason to think the Rev Maxisn't a real Harley motor,and it's actually somethingmuch less tangible,but still uniquely Harley.And it all stems from whenthe engine makes power,not how it does.Nearly every HarleyV-twin before the Rev Maxhad a few features in common.The angle between thecylinders is 45 degreesand the connecting rodsshare a single crank pin.That shared crank pin meansthey're nearly impossibleto balance.The narrow angle means the crank shaftcan't be counter weightedagainst vertical vibrations,almost like a single cylinder engine,but that vertical balancingturns into four apt oscillationsas a rotating counterweightswings back and forth.That's the reason why Harleysare known for vibrations.That narrow 45 degree anglehas another consequence too.Four stroke engines take twofull rotations of the crankor 720 degrees to completethe combustion cycle.A 45 degree V-twin with a common crank pinhas an odd firing pattern.Cylinder one fires, thecrank rotates 315 degrees.Cylinder two fires.And then the crank hasto rotate 405 degreesbefore cylinder one can fire again.That offset pattern of power strokesis the key to the mostdistinctive Harley characteristicof all, the sound.The Harley sound is sotightly linked to the brandthat they even tried to trademark it.They tried to trademarkpotato, potato, potato,potato, potato, potato, potato.Didn't work.One reason why theprevious Revolution motorwasn't well received by Harley fansis because they claimed itdidn't sound like a Harley.That was partially dueto its cylinder bank angle, 60 degrees.The new Rev Max also hasa 60 degree bank angle,but unlike the previous Revolutionand its previous HarleyV-twins, it has two crank pins.Those offset the pistonsby a further 30 degreesfor a firing separationof just 90 degrees.This makes the Rev Maxmuch easier to balance,and they've claimed they'veeliminated almost all vibration.A vibration-less bike seemspretty un-Harley like.A little poem I just came up with.But because of the Rev Max's firing order,the effect on sound ismuch more pronounced.Cylinder one fires, thecrank rotates 270 degrees,cylinder two fires and then the crank hasto rotate 450 degrees beforecylinder one fires again.That's the same firing order you'd findin Ducati's 90 degree L-twin,and it makes for a distinctlyun-Harley like sound.Harley sounding like Ducatis?Oh, why don't you just putmarinara on my hot dog?I just invented a new dish.You can thank me later.You can bet when diehardfans hear the new Rev Max,the lack of a Harley rumblewill make some of them say,"That's not a real Harley."But you simply can't please everyone.And Harley knows thata company can't surviveby its heritage alone.If they want to attractnew buyers to the brand,they have to innovate and run the riskof alienating their longtime fans.All comes down to your fan base,Harley Davidson's fan base,whether you like it or not,is dying off.Also, cool kids on the blockare making Harley sick again,as well as wheelying Harleys.So maybe they don't have todo this Rev Max engine stuff.Maybe they can stick to their coreand get guys who race them.They're racing Harleysnow on road courses,which is sick, doing all sorts of stuff.Harley is coming back and maybethey don't need this stuffto survive, who knows?Only time will tell.- Hey dogs, stop wearingin layers upon layersof Yota's Tacos T-shirts this winter.Just buy the all new Yota'sTacos hoodie and sweat pants.They're exactly like the shirt,except thicker and with the hood,and a fun draw string, and pants.Get yours today at donutmedia.com.Don't be a chilly Billy, be a warm Norm.♪ Stay nice and warm ♪♪ At Yota's Tacos ♪- Let me know down in thecomments below what you think.You think this is a cool move for Harley?Do you not care?Do you not give a crap about Harley?I think it's pretty cool,I love when companies do new stuff,although it's not really, let's be honest.It's not that new.It's just new for them, but still cool.Thank you guys so much forwatching this episode of "B2B".Follow us here on Instagram @donutmedia.Follow me @JeremiahBurton.I got to do more posts on Instagram.I don't do a lot of stuffon there, but you know what?Tonight, I'm going to postsomething very special,just for you guys who watch this episode.If you like us, pleasehit that like button.If you don't like us,hit that dislike button,I know you can't see it,but it lets us know whether or notthe videos we'reproducing are good or bad.So that helps us out.Hit subscribe, subscribe please.Hit the bell, notify youwhen we put up new videos.Until next week, bye for now.