Upcoming Harley-Davidson Engine Is Called The Milwaukee Eight. 107” Twin Cylinder.

Harley-Davidson-Milwaukee-EightIt will be Harley-Davidson’s 8th generation of engines. It’s a new 107” (1753 cc) engine Featuring 8 valves – 4 per cylinder – hence 2 reasons for naming it the “Milwaukee Eight” Other higher cubic inch versions may follow.

The surprise is that this new family of engines is air cooled with pushrod actuation. Which 2017 & 2018 models will it equip? Rumor is one cruiser in 2017 and the touring models for the 2018 model year.

Expect this brand new Milwaukee Eight  engine to be the big announcement during the reveal of the 2017 Harley lineup at the end of this month. Stay tuned…

47 Responses to “Upcoming Harley-Davidson Engine Is Called The Milwaukee Eight. 107” Twin Cylinder.”


  1. 1 Sharkey Aug 6th, 2016 at 8:18 am

    Interesting; but why 107″? Truly a survivor if it’s still air cooled…

  2. 2 D Franklin Welch Aug 6th, 2016 at 8:23 am

    Very nice. My 2011 Victory Vegas Jackpot with the 106 c.i. engine has eight valves and overhead cams, plus an oil cooler. I wonder if the Milwaukee Eight will have an oil cooler…stock or as an add-on. Hmmm.

  3. 3 Harrison Balze Aug 6th, 2016 at 8:41 am

    I have also read in other publications that the engine will offer a 114″ and 131″ version in addition to the 107″ version. Single cam and two spark plugs per cylinder is what I hear as well. New compensator is also in the offering. Still don’t know if it will be 45 degree crank or not. One individual who actually heard the engine described it as “not sounding like a Harley”.
    We will know at the end of August how much is speculation and how much is fact.

  4. 4 Chief Waldo Aug 6th, 2016 at 9:10 am

    A V twin called an eight? So how many beers come in a six pack in Milwaukee?

  5. 5 BobS Aug 6th, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Well shoot, if it doesn’t sound like a Harley sell your HOG stock now! I however will be very interested.

  6. 6 NoH2oh Aug 6th, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    HD can’t be too happy about the pictures being circulated on the net.

    Can an eight valve Sportster be far behind? With horsepower?

  7. 7 BadMonkeyMW Aug 6th, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Even though I haven’t been, nor will be, in the market to buy a new H-D anytime in the near geologic future, I can’t fault Harley for trying to advance their engines technologically. With the serious competition they’re getting from Victory and Indian at this point, they don’t really have a choice but to offer something new.

  8. 8 john lacey Aug 6th, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    I’m guessing 107 so it’s bigger than Victorys 106……a good name for it would be the V8…..it seems competition (Victory, Indian) is good for us all….interesting times ahead.

  9. 9 Zenaldo Aug 6th, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    Was wondering when Cyril would cut loose with the goods…

  10. 10 Adolph Oliver Muff Aug 6th, 2016 at 8:55 pm

    Does that mean I have to buy new chaps and doo rag?

  11. 11 charles barber Aug 6th, 2016 at 10:40 pm

    No doubt harley meets the competition eye to eye , when a woman asks for a ride she wont care as long as its a shovel

  12. 12 Mike Aug 7th, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    Call me when they solve the rear cylinder heat issue (and no, having one cylinder shut down at slow speeds/idle is not a solution. That’s a band-aid).

  13. 13 Drive The Wheels Off Aug 7th, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    @Harrison Balze – single cam with 8 valves?

  14. 14 James just another crazy kiwi Aug 7th, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    Well a simplified bottom end back to evolution/knuckle ……………..yes
    I imagine this will give a boost to Harlys sales at a time when they need them.
    The Dressers needed more useable power and really the finish and styling of the HD tourers is well ahead of the opposition so this will make a big difference.
    I held off on a Low Rider S and told the dealer that a new Engine was coming and I was poo pooed so I will be ringing said dealer today.
    Is that childish………………hope so ha ha

  15. 15 kent Aug 7th, 2016 at 2:33 pm

    At least we know that Yamaha’s , technology won’t be wasted, 8 valves, 4 per cylinder, well they did stop making mid range cruisers!!

  16. 16 Lyle Landstrom Aug 7th, 2016 at 8:20 pm

    Didn’t Cal Rayborn back in the HD racing days, discover that 3 valves per cylinder was actually better than 2? I hope HD does something about the heat. Hopefully they can lighten the bike too.

  17. 17 MotoLocoPat Aug 7th, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    The 4 valves per cylinders will no doubt help cylinder fill thus HP and it should also help efficiency/emissions. Perhaps they went to a larger bore shorter stroke to give more area to stuff those 4 valves into and that will also allow them to raise RPM limit.
    You can bet the farm that it will still be 45 degree V. Hopefully they stick a forged Crank and a better compensator.

    Mike the rear cylinder heat from EPA mandated regs is old news and was always easily resolved with a tune whenever you did intake/mufflers. Obviously you don’t ride them or you’d know that.

    Yes Adolph you need new chaps and a doo-rag, get you a rainbow doorag while your at it.

  18. 18 Richard Halter Aug 8th, 2016 at 3:12 am

    Gents,
    We would rather prefer Harley to work on offering bikes with a lighter and better frame with branded suspensions like Ohlins (front and back) and able to corner without touching the foot rest all the time, with only 31 degrees it is a joke, and it worsen when loaded.
    Torque is the key of success, and they must keep the distinctive Harley sound, that one makes the difference.
    I have tried the Indian and was really impressed with their cornering capabilities.
    I live in Europe, and we ride our bikes a lot in mountains and twisty roads, they could come here, and learn how to set up the touring bikes to offer a safer ride and match the competition.

  19. 19 Shanedrive Aug 8th, 2016 at 7:52 am

    Been expecting something new for a while now. Knuckle’s 9 years, pans 17 years, shovels 18 years, evo 15 years, twin cam 17 years and counting……(yeah, I know there were some 85 shovels and 2000’s evos but let’s not be picky eh?)

  20. 20 CGM Aug 8th, 2016 at 8:36 am

    Harley hasnt sounded like a Harley since they took the carbs off of evos. Harley needs to design an engine with overhead cams. The 1940 tech is played out.

  21. 21 Max Frisson Aug 8th, 2016 at 8:54 am

    Sometime this year BMW will re-enter the cruiser/bagger market and it is said to be a “mega-motor”. Not a current motor configuration.

    If you want a technologically advanced motor in a cruiser, Ducati nailed it with their X Diavel. Even when HD has a 114 CVO, the Duke would scream away

  22. 22 Blackmax Aug 8th, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Well, it is not what I expected, nor desired ….
    Even with multiple valves with its torque upgrade,
    it not enough to force Polaris to upgrade either Victory or Indian.
    I really just don’t understand ???
    they already started the process of putting 110’s into the regular line,
    just finish the damn job & put the 120 in the CVO’s !!!
    At least that would force some kind of change !!!
    This does nothing !!!
    Can’t wait to see next quarterly report !!!!

  23. 23 bernie Aug 8th, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    no matter what harley does many will buy them as they have been behind for some time + try to just bling their bikes for sales. dual plugs will help with the epa, coated rather than steel lined cylinders will dissipate heat better aka victory. as usual they will prolly cheap out + not spend enough to make it right until issues occur!! a good thing for everyone as competition improves the breed!!

  24. 24 Lurch Aug 8th, 2016 at 11:50 pm

    Flathead Knuclehead Panhead Shovelhead Blockhead Castlehead what will they call the Milwaukee 8 motor the Fourhead?

  25. 25 Pepper Aug 9th, 2016 at 4:17 am

    Indian Thunderstroke 111 = 1,811cc, 119 ft/lbs torque. With the cam kit, it jumps up to 127 HP & 127 ft/lbs of torque, air & oil cooled. Factory heated seats for driver & passenger, heated grips, GPS, big touch screen control module, REAL Leather seats, remote lock bags & trunk, key fob, push button start, adjustable windshield by the push of a button, chrome forks, chrome control buttons, true duel exhaust, adjustable passenger floorboards, Air Ride, quick detachable trunk & bags. This is all standard & stock on the 17′ Indian Roadmaster.
    HD is 57% American made, where Indian is 86% American made.
    It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know which is the better deal, especially if you don’t want to pay out of pocket on a HD, for what is stock on a Indian.

  26. 26 Nitschke Aug 9th, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Pepper, where did you get the Harley is 57% American made number from?

  27. 27 chicagojohn Aug 9th, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    Good I hope HD will lose the chain tensioner crap and go back to evo style gear drive

  28. 28 Gus Aug 9th, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    107 is a good size for air cooled, as the size increases, so does the heat generated. Ive been running a 107 el Bruto for 10 years now and was advised not to go any bigger due to this fact. Harley does manufacture parts internationally, their alloy wheels are made here in Australia apparently.

  29. 29 Pinhead Aug 10th, 2016 at 12:08 am

    Pepper, do you realize that you are commenting on a article with spy shots of a new HD engine (that you have no idea of price or performance) with some wack sales pitch for another manufacturers fully loaded touring model? What dose a new engine have to do with a heated seat/grips or a hideous windshield and a bunch of other meaningless doodads? I can only guess you go to car shows and tell everyone how sweet your fully loaded Kia is.

  30. 30 Broncobob Aug 10th, 2016 at 12:15 am

    Harley has over produced bikes and the price point is growing rapidly, dealers are forced to discount the bikes and this deminishes the resale value. It’s going to be like the car business, encentives, rebates, shame on the motor company for letting this happen. The key to success is supplying one less bike to each dealer than they can sell. If they cut production and allow the dealers to remain strong at the expense of the motor company.

  31. 31 Mdkuder Aug 10th, 2016 at 9:27 am

    HD still trying to get out of the ice age.

  32. 32 Sam Aug 14th, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Such comments. The 110 will most likely be used in some more special “bargain” models. The 103 will be used in the Dyna for awhile. The new engine will become the new base engine and there will be larger displacements offered as usual. The design sounds very much like the S&S Wedge in principal.
    The world isn’t coming to an end. People will stop talking to you if you buy one and then before you know it they’ll come riding up on one themselves. History.
    Indian and Victory and a host of Jap bikes have some great technology. This has never been Harley’s basic philosophy for design and you should know this.
    Some of the comments sound like the current political banter. Meaningless, without fact and without principle.

  33. 33 Tim Aug 15th, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    What Sam said…

  34. 34 rebel Aug 15th, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    right, comparing Harley to anything else is meaningless, it’s either a Harley or it’s everything else, always has been always will be so give it up, even that bastard v-rod can’t get any respect, it’s just a different animal.

  35. 35 J Aug 16th, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    Indian definetly has a higher performance motor, way better suspension and ride, better balance, a bigger bike overall, much better cornering angles. Harley definetly has much better fit and finish, there fuel injection is a thousand times better, they are much much more refined, and the biggy,,, Indians are ALL HEAVIER AND MORE EXPENSIVE! thats my number one bitch. I will still take a Ultra limited anyday of the week! By the way,,, I work for Indian ” I Know the difference”.

  36. 36 J Aug 16th, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Also, I dont know where you guys get some of youre info but,, Harley and Indian are neck and neck as far as how much of the bike is actually American made. About 69% for HD and about 60% for Indian, They both use tons of outsourced parts to build bike’s. Again I know the facts not what I read on the net!

  37. 37 TT Aug 20th, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    Pepper HD already has everything you talked about??????

  38. 38 Dave Aug 21st, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Sharkey
    Aug 6th, 2016 at 8:18 am

    Interesting; but why 107″? Truly a survivor if it’s still air cooled…

    Perhaps as a memorial to the crew of the space shuttle Columbia and STS-107?
    Please put one in a Low Rider and I’ll ride it to Arlington.

  39. 39 Dave Aug 21st, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    NoH2oh
    Aug 6th, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    HD can’t be too happy about the pictures being circulated on the net.

    Can an eight valve Sportster be far behind? With horsepower?

    There were rumors of a water-cooled Sportster for the 50 year anniversary floating around 10 years ago but they never materialized.

    As long as the MOCO views the Sportster as an “entry-level” machine and not a bike for riders not wanting to haul 700+ pounds around (my 2005 1200 Roadster has over 70K miles on it) incremental change is all the Sporty line will ever see. The goal is to get buyers to “move up” to a Dyna or Touring model.

    Truth is, 2004 and up Sportys are great all-around motorcycles, performing well in the Universal American Motorcycle role. I put 50K miles on mine in 3 years while performing my job as a field service engineer.

  40. 40 Dave Aug 21st, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    Richard Halter
    Aug 8th, 2016 at 3:12 am

    Gents,
    We would rather prefer Harley to work on offering bikes with a lighter and better frame with branded suspensions like Ohlins (front and back) and able to corner without touching the foot rest all the time, with only 31 degrees it is a joke, and it worsen when loaded.
    Torque is the key of success, and they must keep the distinctive Harley sound, that one makes the difference.
    I have tried the Indian and was really impressed with their cornering capabilities.
    I live in Europe, and we ride our bikes a lot in mountains and twisty roads, they could come here, and learn how to set up the touring bikes to offer a safer ride and match the competition.”

    European riding is not the same as Interstate cruising, and you need to add in an admission from HD that their suspensions are set up for 180 lb. riders.
    When I wanted to improve the suspension on my 2005 1200 Sportster Roadster the folks at Progressive were quite helpful. They asked the pointed questions and I bought fork springs and shocks set up for my typical riding weight, 250-260 lbs. The forks are now centered on the tubes and the suspension never bottoms.

  41. 41 HB Rip Aug 23rd, 2016 at 8:33 am

    Wonder if this will make the EPA happy or if the MoCo will end up screwing everyone who makes em run good and cool, out of their ESP and warranties like they have done all of us who already own SE 110’S ???

  42. 42 Sam Aug 23rd, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    What I had read about the eight was way off. Not a multi cam design at all and not gear driven either.
    Oh well. Really liked the approach S&S and Wood take to driving camshafts.

  43. 43 evoChico Sep 1st, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    Welcome to the new Harley 4 Head- ho hum

  44. 44 Edward Dieterich Sep 4th, 2016 at 7:22 am

    2005 Softail, cam bearing failure at 19k, luckily I caught it in time. Cam shoe failure at 40k, again luckily I caught it in time. No help from Harley. Now two valves driven with one pushrod. Not on my list.

  45. 45 john e smith Sep 8th, 2016 at 12:39 pm

    cannot wait for the 8 valve. like said before…its Harley and then theres everyone else! every new bike ,car ,truck , wheelchair gun, camera, bed,, air bag …ect has its problems. quit yer bitchen and stand brand LOYAL. They have brought you this far.

  46. 46 Yarddog Sep 18th, 2016 at 11:02 am

    Overheadcam and fully water cooled.

  47. 47 Deedub Sep 27th, 2016 at 6:27 am

    Jesus,HD has been producing 4valve per cylinder since 2002. It’s called a revolution engine.. And it’s bulletproof!!

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Cyril Huze