2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MILWAUKEE EIGHT
A
‘game changer’ is
what came to mind
after a test ride of the
new 2017 Street Glide from
Harley-Davidson of Folsom.
I was eager to see for myself what the first new motor
in 15 years - the Milwaukee
Eight was like with this all
new engine and drive train.
So when Matt Guidera from
Folsom Harley-Davidson
hooked me up with this bike
to demo I jumped at the opportunity to share it with all
of you.
Right away, you will notice the different appearance of the 107ci engine with oil cooled cylinders and four valve per cylinder head not only giving the
engine a stylish look but it greatly increases the intake
and exhaust flow capacity. Another thing I noticed upon
start up was the mechanical sound and idle vibration that
I was accustom to hearing with the Twin Cam was gone
with only a pleasant exhaust tone that was still all HarleyDavidson left, I suspect that the counterbalanced flywheel
has something to do with that and is a big improvement.
Come to find out the whole thing has been changed with
nothing the same as its Twin Cam predecessor. Once
I kicked it into 1st gear that big
clunking sound was gone and it
was just a smooth shift; as the ride
went on the same smooth quiet
feel through all the gears remained
even when downshifting - it was
noticeably smoother.
The moment that I really knew
that things had changed with this
engine is when I hit 2nd gear and
twisted the throttle on this 107ci
beast. The acceleration was instant as I felt like the bike just wanted to leap forward and get up to
speed quickly - thanks to that sizable increase in torque and horsepower. Make sure you are hang-
22 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
October 2016
www.thunderroadscolorado.com