Motorcyclists often wave to one another in camaraderie. Many bikers greet all others, but some hard-core Harley-Davidson riders won't acknowledge another brand. Harley itself confused traditionalists when it introduced the V-Rod in 2002. Some Harley riders didn't know whether to wave or offer a single-digit salute when they saw it with its futuristic styling and a water-cooled, high-revving engine instead of the traditional loping air-cooled mill.

With an aging customer base, Harley needs new appeal. Younger riders want high performance, and not all are interested in tradition. In 1995, Harley decided to build a performance cruiser around a derivative of the liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin VR1000 racing engine campaigned on the Superbike circuit, originally developed with Cosworth and Roush. Horsepower brings heat, so liquid cooling would be used, for more power per specific displacement than air cooling and easier control of emissions and noise.

Harley partnered with Porsche Engineering Services to develop the street engine and the Kansas City engine line, loosely based on the VR1000 engine.

The V-Rod Revolution engine was introduced in 2002 as a beefy metric V-twin with the VR1000's 60-degree, water-cooled, short-stroke architecture. (Harley Evolution engines are air-cooled, 45-degree long-strokers.) Of 1,130-cc capacity, with forged crankshaft and pistons, DOHC, four valves per cylinder and EFI, it produced 115 hp at 8,250 rpm and 74 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm, eagerly revving to 9,000 rpm.



In a sleek, drag-style cruiser with exposed hydroformed frame rails, the Revolution engine is a revving gem and easy to love. A former 1,250-cc Screamin' Eagle option now is the standard '08 engine, making up to 125 hp and 84 lb-ft.

Harley says that the V-Rod is achieving its goals: the youngest and most ethnically diverse ownership of any Harley platform, 20 percent female ownership and 50 percent sales that are conquests from other brands. And Europeans love it--60 percent of sales are to Europe.

Most traditional Harley owners have accepted the V-Rod, and it's speculated that the Revolution engine will appear in diverse future models. A Porsche representative said it is similar to when hard-core Porschephiles objected to the water-cooled 996, but now they love the performance. And to think, Harley fans can still choose between air and water.