MotorcycleDaily.com – Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews

Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews

Harley Offers $8,000 Crate Motor With 2,212cc and 130 Rear-Wheel Horsepower for Touring Models

Is your late-model Harley tourer too slow for your liking? Just get your credit card out and fork over $8,000 to Harley-Davidson for their new 2,212cc crate motor. In addition to the 130 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, you can enjoy 143 pound/feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. Harley says both of those numbers are measured at the rear wheel.

Here is the press release:

MILWAUKEE (March 1, 2023) – Harley-Davidson® riders craving no-compromise performance have a thrilling new option with the introduction of the Screamin’ Eagle® 135ci Stage IV Performance Crate Engine. This complete Milwaukee-Eight® engine for 2021-later Touring models is the new benchmark for factory-engineered American V-Twin performance, offering the most displacement, and the most power, ever created by Harley-Davidson for a street-compliant crate engine. Its development was fueled in part by the efforts of the Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory racing team competing in the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers roadracing series. To simplify set up of high-performance engines Harley-Davidson offers the new wireless Screamin’ Eagle® Pro Street Performance Tuner, the only tuner available to maximize performance while being emissions and warranty compliant.

Engineered and tested as a complete collection of high-performance components and assembled from the bottom up at Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, this street-tuned 135-cubic-inch (2212cc) Screamin’ Eagle Crate Engine is designed to run with a wide-open throttle at high engine speeds and provide instant passing power from cruising speed. The engine delivers 143 lb.-ft. of rear-wheel torque at 3500 RPM and 130 rear-wheel horsepower at 5500 RPM – approximately 28 percent more torque and 41 percent more horsepower at the rear wheel than a production Milwaukee-Eight® 117 engine.

This street-ready performance engine features premium Screamin’ Eagle components:

  • New 68mm throttle body and matching CNC-machined intake manifold, originally developed for Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team engines, to maximize airflow to the engine.
  • Screamin’ Eagle Extreme CNC-ported cylinder heads provide significantly improved efficiency of cylinder filling, leading to more explosive power and increased rear-wheel torque when compared to stock. High-performance valve springs remain stable with the high-lift cam and in high-RPM operation.
  • Screamin’ Eagle Pro Billet Cam Plate and Oil Pump provides higher pressure when the oil is hot to keep pressure drops to a minimum.
  • New 10.7:1 high-compression forged pistons.
  • SE8-517 high-lift camshaft, high-performance cam bearing and high-performance tappets.
  • Patent-protected 4.31-inch steel sleeve cylinders and new 4 5/8-inch flywheel (bore x stroke is 4.31 x 4.625).
  • New high-capacity 6.8 gram/second fuel injectors.
  • Screamin’ Eagle Ventilator Extreme Air Cleaner and Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers (each sold separately) are not required but are highly recommended for peak performance.

The Screamin’ Eagle 135ci Stage IV Performance Crate Engine is intended for bolt-in installation in an original equipment-style 2021-later Harley-Davidson® Touring chassis. No special fabrication or engine-mount relocation is required. The engine is backed by up to two-year manufacturer’s warranty for unmatched confidence when dealer-installed through the Custom Coverage® program.

With an MSRP of $7,999.95 the Screamin’ Eagle 135ci Stage IV Performance Crate Engine is offered in Black or Chrome finish with 135 Stage IV badging on the cylinder heads and timer cover.

Two versions of the engine will be offered: For 2021-later Touring models equipped with Air/Oil-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight® engine, and for 2021-later Touring models equipped with a Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight engine. The engine does not fit Trike models. Installation requires the separate purchase of Head Pipe P/N 65600177. Air-Cooled models require Oil Cooler Fan Assist P/N 62700204 or Fan for Factory Oil Cooler P/N 26800195. All models require ECM recalibration with Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Tuner for proper installation. Does not fit California models.

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand® American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® apparel and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

62 Comments

  1. Don M. says:

    Hey Harley, make ’em better, not bigger!

  2. Mick says:

    On a lark, I looked up what Chevrolet sells in a crate engine for under $8000. You can get a good old 350 small block that is rated at 405hp and 406 foot pounds of torque.

    Then I was curious about the rear wheel power of the Ducati 1299 twin. 94.2 lb⋅ft and 174.8hp.

    I think street bikes with much more than 90hp are boring to ride on public roads. But then I don’t ride around on 800 pound baggers. I suppose I would bump that 90hp number up a bit if I did.

    But holy smokes! The money we are talking about here. Harley’s cheapest bagger on their website is $22K plus this engine and the other parts required to install it is over $30K if you did all the work yourself. Or of course you could be one of the 29 zealots who are going to pay $93K for the race baggers that Indian is going to sell.

    Funny. Someone was in my case the other day about how much a Kramer race bike costs. Ha! $34K for for their most expensive hand made 309 pound 130hp race bike is chump change by comparison. And they come all safety wired and ready to pass tech.

  3. RonH says:

    A bigger boat anchor, great.

  4. Richard varner says:

    Very cool. Many people criticize 130hp from 2.1 liters, but they don’t consider the packaging of a engine in a bike, and the fact this is a 2-cylinder powerplant. Each piston is over 1,000cc!! It’s actually remarkable, especially considering the enormous torque. These bikes will clock around 175mph at Daytona on the banks, and will post qualifying times on most road courses that would place them on the 5th row of a Superbike grid. These bikes are FAST.

    • joe b says:

      the torq of this is impressive, almost 200. but saying it would be on the 5th row at the superbike races, you didnt mention other other bikes are about 1/4 size engine capacity. so it would be almost 4X bigger, and still on the 5th row? 🙁 I do see this as something many with the cash, will eagerly buy, and smile all the time. its the torq! My little Hondacar has half size engine of this HD, its a CAR.

    • Mick says:

      The Superbike class is ten seconds a lap faster than the King of the Baggers class at Laguna Seca. They might make it onto the fifth row. If there are only five rows. And they would be lapped about every eight or nine laps in a race.

      They are remarkably fast for baggers. But they are not FAST.

      I don’t know the Superbike rules. So I don’t know if they are allowed to alter top speed limits on the Superbike. But off the rack open class bikes are limited to 186mph by their ECU. Europe gets a big pout lip if motorcycles can go over 300kph (186mph). So they end up saddling the rest of the world with their anti-motorcycle prejudice. They overlook that on some of the fancy cars that are produced over there.

  5. Falcodoug says:

    I wish Suzuki would sell crate motors for my DR650

  6. carl says:

    HAHHAHHAA 2.2 liters and 130 hp. For $8000 how many good complete bikes are out there for sale, don’t forget how much you will need to spend to beef up the rest of the drivetrain when crap starts breaking. Only for hardcore koolaid drinkers. The amount of money people spend to try to make a turd go fast never seizes to amaze me.

    • Anonymous says:

      Stfu

    • huls says:

      HAHHAHHAA, there is no relationship between capacity and power.
      HAHHAHHAA, HD is right and you are wrong

      Man what a laugh.

      It is a wonderful engine though. Another masterpiece from Milwaukee. I definitely want one.

  7. Johnnie says:

    Wait… they’re getting 130 hp from 2.2 litres? That’s not even good by entry-level car standards.

    • Artem says:

      What about acceleration? This thing has tremendous torque.

      • Scott says:

        That torque is also pretty average by car standards, but car engines that size have 4 cylinders and liquid cooling.

        • huls says:

          The article is about a motorcycle engine.
          Why are you comparing it to steamlocomotives?

      • Jon says:

        It has to have tremendous torque, because with such a low redline that’s the only way it can make decent power.

      • huls says:

        Bingo !!
        You show a good grasp of the basics, very different from most visitors on this site.
        It’s all about torque and nothing else. HP is marketing talk and has no meaning in day to day riding. Only in dragracing is max power output a factor.

    • huls says:

      Please show us the formula that relates capacity of an ICE to it’s power output.

  8. Brett says:

    Harley is just showing what they can do. Every year they come out with a bigger motor to get those guys to buy it. The 135ci top end will be a bolt on option just like the 131ci which also has the Harley Warranty. The 131ci kit cost me around $4500 installed by the dealer on my 114ci stock motor.

    These crate motors aren’t being bought that often, they’re just there. The kit is what Harley sells.

    Harleys aren’t about going from a to b the fastest. It’s about style with some power. Harley isn’t trying to compete with the crotch rockets or fast bikes. They don’t have to.

    • VLJ says:

      “Harley is just showing what they can do.”

      Which, evidently, isn’t much.

      “Harley isn’t trying to compete with the crotch rockets or fast bikes. They don’t have to.”

      That’s good, because they can’t.

  9. This all sounds great, but what are the stats on road performance for using this engine for touring and comfort. How hot will this engine get in traffic or on hot days 100 plus degrees. The Boldest Ryders Mc ground pound state to state 15-20k plus per year. What is the average gas mileage for this engine?…….etc

    Respectfully Submitted,
    BigDogg
    Boldest Ryders MC Road Captain
    #Boldestrydersmc

  10. ABQ says:

    Or, they could just use the Sportster 1250s engine. They could make a version of it for their other bikes. Indian did something like that based on the Scouts engine.

  11. GT08 says:

    I always tell my Harley friends that i have trouble with my Kawasaki Concours 1400.
    After all they paid big buck for the iron they sit on.
    That reassure them before i tell about my Kawasaki trouble.
    The trouble is about the mirror.
    As we take the road. The defect mirror make my Harley friends smaller and smaller as we go !

  12. Anonymous says:

    Buy a used M109r for 8k and you get the wheels and seat to go with 130hp

    • SpeedEasy says:

      I just picked up a beautiful 2008 M109r with fewer than 6000 miles for $5200. $2800 more for just an engine? After reading this article, I’m even happier than I was.

      • Motoman says:

        The used market seems ripe with deals like yours, regardless of preferences from what I can tell. Talk about bang for the buck. That bike will last as long as you want to own it without problems no doubt. Shiny side up.

  13. Jim says:

    Harley guys still think having a big engine makes up for being small in other places. It doesn’t.

    • Lee says:

      Another ignorant comment from a jap bike rider

      • Mick says:

        Do not put joke containing the phrase “Wee Lee” here.

        What happens if Jim rides a German, Austrian or Italian bike?

        And last I checked. The Japanese do a much better job of catering to riders who crave no-compromise performance. Credit where its due. Though Ducati seems to be giving the a heck of a drubbing of late in that area. Harley isn’t really at the table, or even in the house, yard, town, county, state…

        I mean what is King of the Baggers if not a sort of a Special Olympics for American motorcycle manufacturers.

        I have half a notion to look up winng lap times to see what sort of machines the baggers are competitive with. I’m kind of curious just now.

        • Motoman says:

          “I mean what is King of the Baggers if not a sort of a Special Olympics for American motorcycle manufacturers.”

          And we have a winner! (Fun as it is to watch once though, kinda like a tractor pull or monster truck)

        • Stickman says:

          If I remember correctly, last year the baggers were actually slightly faster than the 600 supersport bikes. They are bloody fast for what they are. Cycle News this week has an interesting first person account about what it’s like to ride these beasts.

          • Mick says:

            One of the reasons I never took up road racing, aside from how expensive it is, is that the tracks are so automotive based and favor top speed far more than a good racetrack should.

            I always plowed my ice race tracks so the riders on the 250 diesels wouldn’t get left for dead on the straights and the mini riders still liked riding my tracks as much as everyone else does.

            Basically I feel that any racing venue that requires you to wait around for your top gear to max out or requires you to leave it there for a while is boring.

            While I have entered many kinds of motorcycle racing events. I have done more Enduro and Observed Trials events than anything else. Events that pit riders against riders rather than bikes against bikes are more interesting to me. I have seen someone take the overall win at an Enduro event on a borrowed XR250. That’s racing at its finest.

            Just my option, you are in no way required to adopt it.

            I did poke around for a few minutes looking for lap times to compare the bagger series against other bikes. But it’s harder to find than you might think. It’s sad that Google has becomes so useless and the rest of the search industry has followed suit. Just like Apple and the headphone jack.

          • Jeremy says:

            Just a casual glance using Motoamerica for comparison, the baggers lapped similar times to the Twin Cup bikes. SuperSports and Stock 1000s were about 3.5 seconds faster, and Superbike was about 6 seconds faster per lap.

      • Bob says:

        Typical racist drivel from another idiot.

  14. todd says:

    The ej22 in your aunt’s 30 year old Subaru has the same numbers. This is hardly a powerful engine.

  15. mechanicus says:

    Like they say: “Speed’s just a question of money. How fast do you want to go?” If you got the $$ and the inclination, have at it. For me, the 74 cubic inch big twin was just the right size. I just enjoy putt-putting around the countryside. I don’t need a gigundo B29 bomber motor.

  16. joe b says:

    This is just an invitation to others to come and race the KOTB racing. Now that HD has brought it in house, its full tilt boogie, must beat Indian. Oh yeah, and lets offer something to the faithful. I’m sure many of these will be sold, across the US, honest. just not to any of those that frequent this page, I’m guessing.

  17. Greg says:

    I love my HD’s wouldn’t ride anything else, but HD is destroying itself by using cheaper materials, and acting as if they were woke. Buy American, stay American or fucking leave.
    HD price gouges all there shit, act like it’s the best thing going and at one time it was, however the management of HD have become sheeple.
    I had to put a new engine in my ‘09 Road Glide with 63k on it because several years before ‘09 HD switched to cheaper shit, in my case bottom end bearings. End result I bought an S&S

  18. Bob says:

    There’s Regular Harley Stupid… and then there’s this.

    It’s a good thing that some idiots somehow manage to acquire lots of money – it seems morons are the only thing keeping the U.S. economy afloat these days.

  19. Tony G says:

    Actually for the price and what you are actually getting, as compared to trying to build something on your own, it is a pretty good deal. What to go fast?, stuff more cubic inches into what you already have and enjoy the ride. Seen too many people blow $$ into something trying to make it into a race engine that could never be. Great engine swap for a bagger with a blown up factory installed engine. No replacement for displacement!! 🏁🏍🏁😊

  20. dt-175 says:

    looks like a factory motor for king-of-the-baggers privateers to take on indian/polaris. KOTB must sell more bikes ths the flattrack c’ship does, or the xgr 750 would be better and we would see h-d touting it on this here website.

  21. My2cents says:

    I like the fact Harley-Davidson has a program of crate engines, it best represents the hot rod culture. If the rear wheel hp and torque numbers are correct this will be a potent package. Although 8K is large if you already need a rebuild this is only double the price of that, and a wagon load of power you won’t get from your stocker no matter what you throw on it. Congratulations Harley-Davidson for actually having the balls few others have.

  22. Mrpokey says:

    $8k to start, plus all the other parts mentioned that are not included, plus labor and this will probably be closer to $15k. So for around $45,000 you too can own a 2.2 litre Harley bagger.

    • SpeedEasy says:

      And I’m pretty certain my “little” 1.8 litre M109 would stay with it, or maybe even show it some taillight.

      • Mrpokey says:

        The m109 is a great bike, I’ve owned one before. Currently riding a new Triumph Rocket3 GT, simply amazing torque pull. 0-60=2.8 seconds.

  23. CMD says:

    They had the 131 motor last year and in 2021. Nothing new.This is more nothing from a mfg that did nothing more than bring back a previously discontinued model, delete all non-Rev Max motor Sporsters, have only one CVO and nothing but bold new graphics. All the while increasing prices.
    The CEO just shows he doesn’t really get what HD is all about.

  24. Mick says:

    I wonder how they are going to get away with this. The EPA has been coming down hard on automotive race tuners even for selling parts that facilitate tearing open ECUs to solder components onto their boards. Harley is selling an engine that you can tune wirelessly.

    That and I get a kick out of the ad copy. “Harley-Davidson® riders craving no-compromise performance”

    Um, if you are craving no-compromise performance. Are you going to buy a Harley? Even if you are going to limit yourself to one brand. Are you going to buy a bagger? It seems to me that as a no-compromise performance craving individual, you are putting some really heavy duty limitations upon yourself.

    My read here is that Harley wants to win King of the Baggers, also in the fist paragraph, so they are homologating and ringer engine before the EPA gets wind, shuts down sales of the engine, and fines them. Harley seems willing to pay the fine. So if you want one, move now.

    I’d like to see some overpaid YouTube content creator buy the engine, plant it in a 2021 and up bagger and race it against the fastest off the rack street bike that you can buy for $8000 or less at Road America.

    The next bit of comedy gold is the mention of Menomonee Falls. The collage students there call the place Me No Money. If you go around buying Harley baggers and stuffing $8000 crate engines into them, you’re going to be You No Money.

    • Nathan says:

      Get away with what, did you even read it? The engine is EPA certified as long as you use HD parts and HD fuel calibrations. Will the aftermarket make parts for it? Of course, and it will dramatically improve performance beyond what HD can do with the EPA over its shoulder. But that’s not HD’s problem.

  25. ORT says:

    Anyone that buys this is fortunate indeed that heartbeat and breathing are involuntary actions.

    ORT

wordscape cheatgun mayhem 2 unblocked gameshttps://agar.chat/agariopaperio.network