Harley-Davidson introduces Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 V-twin engine, installed on CVO Street and Road Glide passenger cars
The Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 V-twin 2023 engine is fitted to Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles. New to the Milwaukee-Eight 121 1,977 cc is the variable valve timing system (VVT), which HD says produces 115 hp at 4,500 rpm and 189 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm.
In this iteration, the VVT increases or decreases the camshaft timing through a 40-degree crankshaft rotation. This results in a three to five percent improvement in fuel economy over the Milwaukee Eight 117.
Cylinders have also been redesigned with oval inlets for the combustion chamber with a higher compression ratio for increased intake air velocity and higher combustion efficiency. An innovative cooling system in the exhaust valve area improves thermal comfort, especially in low-speed driving and hot weather situations.
High-performance camshaft with higher lift and longer duration increases power and torque. The valve system is updated with a large capacity lifter and internal camshaft bearing, and the valve springs have more lift.
Shifting is improved with a new neutral pocket-shaped shift drum redesigned for the six-speed transmission, making it easier to find neutral. Completing the changes to the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 V-twin on HD’s CVO models is a larger airbox and a 12.5 mm larger exhaust pipe diameter compared to the previous 100 mm.
