Do Any Harleys Have a Porsche Engine?

Few people know that there is one Harley-Davidson that breaks the engine mold. But when a new company steps in to help with Porsche engineering, the outcome means more than a new engine. It also means a new design, making the Harley-Davidson V-Rod (VRSC) one more step in the history of this iconic motorcycle manufacturer.

German Porsche Engineering

Porsche has worked with several other automakers in the past. These collaborations have resulted in the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 sports sedan and the RS2 Avant with Audi. Not satisfied with exercising their engineering prowess with cars, Porsche approached Harley-Davidson. The startling outcome of this collaboration was the Harley-Davidson V-Rod.

Water-Cooled V-Rod

Porsche designed the V-Rod cruiser engine in Germany, making it the first Harley-Davidson water-cooled engine ever, replacing air-cooled versions. And while this model resembles several other cruisers, it still manages the distinction of not looking like any others. Despite its distinctive appearance and Porsche engine, the V-Rod also features several other unique properties.

Built At Speed, For Speed

Porsche’s water-cooled engine was built at speed in Germany and was the fastest product it has ever built. Besides this, the V-Rod was also the fastest model the company created at the time. Capable of achieving 96.56 km/h (60 m.p.h.) in just 3.5 seconds, the V-Rod could accelerate to 160.93 km/h (100 m.p.h.) in a little more than 8 seconds. This racing engine also had a top speed of 225.30 km/h (140 m.p.h.).

From Evolution Engine to The Revolution Engine

Harley-Davidson started manufacturing its V-twin, 45-degree, air-cooled twin Evolution engine in 1984 for its motorcycles with the camshafts in the block. After Porsche came along with its Revolution engine, this changed. The V-Rod design sports a 1,130cc 60-degree engine. Instead of camshafts in the block, it now has double overhead cams, with each cylinder featuring four valves (dual overhead camshafts or DOHC). Moreover, this engine generated 8,500 r.p.m. and 115 horsepower – the biggest Harley engine at the time.

Things changed. The company produced a 1250cc model in 2008 and the even more powerful V-Rod Destroyer drag racer. This superbike with a V-twin Revolution engine at 1300cc and more than 165 horsepower was so powerful that it was banned from drag racing.

More Innovations and Changes

Additional V-rod innovations included twin shock absorbers and a long swingarm at the back, which was excellent for cruising. Although the extra long wheelbase of 171.45 cm (67,5 inches) was great, the V-twin engine was unstable for speeds. Also, because the high-performance V-Rod was lighter than most Harleys, this had drawbacks.

Despite these seemingly favourable changes, the handling of the v-rod was disappointing. The design limited maneuverability, making this model slow and heavy to manage. Moreover, the V-Rod was a comfortable ride for medium cruises, and the triple-disc brakes were the best change on Harleys up to that time.

Harley-Davidson Dreams

Redline Harley is where nostalgia meets state-of-the-art, contemporary, high-performance cruisers and superbikes. Speak to us about making your Harley-Davidson dream a reality.