Millions of Harley-Davidson Sportsters?! How Did H-D Sell So Many?
Top Dead Center-Bottom Dead CenterShow Notes
Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get episodes commercial-free: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterFrom 2004 to 2022, Harley-Davidson sold more than 1 million air-cooled Sportsters. In its biggest single sales year, the sportster sold an unbelievable 72,000 units. All this on essentially no technical merit vs. its competitors. Great bike and fun to ride? YES. Lighter, faster, better handling? Not really, and yet it is one of the great motorcycles of all time. From its introduction in 1957 to the last air-cooled versions sold in 2022, Sportsters were burned into the American motorcycle rider's collective brain. And H-D is bringing it back in 2027! Kevin and Mark talk Sportster origins, history, and cultural impact.
More from Top Dead Center-Bottom Dead Center
Carburetor tuning is often referred to as one of the dark arts, but a little study and some methodical work can yield great results. Kevin and Mark explore the intricacies of carburetor tuning while tracing the carburetor's evolution from early days of surface carburetors to spray carburetors, round slides, flat-slides and on to modern electronic fuel injection systems, sharing practical tips for enthusiasts.
Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get episodes commercial-free: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterChassis evolutions and revolutions have taken us from early bicycle-based motorcycle frames to the wide variety of twin-loop steel and twin-spar aluminum frames today. Kevin and Mark talk about the major milestones and the other technologies and developments that forced chassis to change.
Piston aircraft engine development during World War II was vigorous (and goverment funded!) and the supercharged V-12 Two-Stroke V-12 Rolls-Royce Crecy was the next step. Single-cylinder and Twin test engines suggested as much as 5000 hp potential. Why didn't the Crecy ever power an aircraft? Join us!
Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get episodes commercial-free: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterTurbos and superchargers have a mixed history on motorcycles but Honda's new electric supercharger promises some amazing performance enhancement. Join Kevin Cameron and Mark Hoyer as they talk about turbos, conventional engine-driven superchargers and Honda's new electric supercharger. CAN YOU TAKE THE PRESSURE?!
Find Kevin and Mark on Patreon to support their work directly and get video and audie episodes commercial-free, plus member-exclusive content: https://patreon.com/TopDeadCenter_BottomDeadCenterHonda's vigorous technical exploration has resulted in magnificent designs and ideas that have become commonplace in motorcycling. But this experimental work has also resulted in some big misses. Join Kevin and Mark as they discuss some of Honda's big hits and misses.