In 1986, Harley-Davidson upgraded the Sportster with the newly designed Evo engine, replacing the Ironhead that had become a staple of the Sportster since its inception. This improved durability not only helped reestablish Harley-Davidson as an authority in the motorcycle industry, but also cut down significantly on their warranty costs. The head gasket seals on the outdated Shovelhead engine were made of a combination of aluminum and cast iron, which caused unnecessary stress due to the different expansion rates and chemical properties of those two metals. Why is the Evo engine made from aluminum? Since aluminum is a much better thermal conductor than iron, using aluminum also resulted in less wear and tear on head gasket seals and thus helped to make the engine much more durable than ever. The newly designed Harley-Davidson Evo engine relied on aluminum heads and cylinders - as opposed to the heavy cast iron parts of the Shovelhead (their previous Big Twin bike V-Twin engine) and other predecessors, such as the Sportsters' Ironhead engine, led to a light weight engine with improved air-cooling efficiency. What little profit Harley-Davidson did manage to make at the time was wasted satisfying a growing number of warranty claims.Īlex Fields' 1998 Evo - Photo by Liam Kennedy The competition, particularly the Japanese companies, continued to innovate, creating motorcycles that lasted longer and cost lest to maintain than Harleys at the time. Harley's Japanese competition had 'evolved' and it was time to show their customers that they could, too. The name 'evolution' was likely strategically chosen to coincide with a rebranding process that redefined Harley's image and helped regain its dwindling market share. The engine design is often credited with saving Harley-Davidson from bankruptcy after the management buyout and subsequent reorganization that the company went through during the early 1980s. The Evolution (Evo) engine is a V-twin engine that has been manufactured and used by Harley-Davidson since 1984 for a variety of different Harley motorcycle models.

When did Harley introduce the Evolution? Harley Davidson has come a long way since their first motorcycle prototype built in 1903. The engine that saved Harley-Davidson from Bankruptcy They began designing the Evolution engine shortly afterwards, and the rest is history.

After 12 years of mismanagement, the company was sold back to a group of 13 investors (including Willie G. After purchasing Harley-Davidson in 1969, American Machine and Foundry (AMF) had severely damaged the brand's image and reputation.ĭecisions to cut the workforce and streamline production resulted in a lower quality product and disgruntled workforce that eventually resulted in a labor strike. It is hard to imagine a world without Harley-Davidson making motorcycles, but the truth is the company was very close to going bankrupt in the 1980s. VIDEO: Mama Tried Motorcycle Show 2021 & Flat Out Friday Builder Spotlights.

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