We will have to wait a little bit more to get all details and see the full line-up of the 2012 Harley models. But the California Environmental Protection Agency/Air Resources Board is already listing online all the Harley models that the Agency approved. You can see the list of the 2012 Harley bikes with engine sizes by jumping HERE. 2 new models are going to be introduced: The Switchback, a model getting its name from its ability to be use as a touring role and back again (a semi touring bike?), and the Night Rod Special Anniversary, evidently a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Harley’s water-cooled V-Rod range (expect special paint & accessories). 3 motorcycles are discontinued: FLSTSB Softail® Cross Bones®, FXCWC Softail® Rocker™ C, FLHXXX Street Glide® Trike. And the big news is also the introduction of a new 103″ (TC 103B) engine on some models. Overall, it’s the full Softail & Dyna range getting the most important revamp. (to follow…)
Harley-Davidson 2012 Models. 2 New. 3 Discontinued. 103″ Engine.
Published by June 19th, 2011 in Builders, Editorial, Engines and Events.39 Responses to “Harley-Davidson 2012 Models. 2 New. 3 Discontinued. 103″ Engine.”
- 1 Pingback on Jun 20th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Comments are currently closed.
Let’s celebrate the end of the Rocker C and Cross Bones. 2 big failures.
103″? Playing the clock until 2013 water cooled?
Not much to be excited about. The Switchback, probably a convertible, a light city/touring bike.
The Rocker C could look good only if turned into a Fat Boy. Fat Boy Low seems a success. Switchback is only what I will be curious to know about. Afraid to be disappointed. A different assembly of the same old parts with a flat black paint job?
When the 103’s come out the 96’s will be a good buy for a savvy shopper no?
Agree with Brent. I’m afraid the same person responsible for those 2 is also responsible for Switchback, judging by the name/concept. Grow up HD!
Luis. Exactly the opposite. Nobody will want to buy 96″ 2011 models. Dealers are better off selling the 2011 very fast.
Seth that’s what I mean. If no one wants the 96″ the left over 96″ bikes will have to be sold cheap to people who don’t have to have the latest/greatest. I’m new to the model transitions on HD’s
All manufacturers that have complied with CARB should cease selling in California. They’ll do just fine with the electric vehicles and the rolling brown outs. Quit bowing down to the megamaniacal regulatory agencies.
Cross Bones AND the Rocker are going away ?………………….. SHOCKER ! The new – new – new better “out of the box” bike, for the new generation should be called the *** SHOCKER*** !!! what a concept ! LOL That might be 2025 by the time they figure it out…………
If you read attachment A you will see that they will be offering the 103″ as an option on the Softail models as they do on the touring bikes now. 2011 saw the first year for the fly by wire electric system on the softails. The engine(s) are probably not “new” but slightly remapped with maybe newer cams and updated software for heat issues. This seems more of just a logical progression and nothing significantly new.
This “Switchback” kind of interests me. I’ve been building “Bagger/Choppers” fer years now, that’s my style of bike I prefer. Radical choppers with saddlebags ‘an floorboards, with a very comfortable riding position. Hell, I even put little guards on the floorboards so yer feet don’t come off doin’ 90 mph all day long. Just relax ‘an enjoy the countryside!The best of both worlds! Look good bar-hoppin’ or run to Catmandu! Dual purpose, if you will. Also, are they discontinuing their trike? Good news fer me bein’ a trike manufacturer! The trikes I build blow their doors off anyway, but a little less competion is alright with me.Yuk-Yuk!! Wiz
people have been bolting hard and soft bags to soft tails for years. harley finally catches on and decides to give it a cool name. next up theyll paint it flat black, hire some hipster skateboarders to ride it around with some hot chicks and design a cool ‘switchback’ logo. rock on hd. rock on.
the 96 and 103 are so close on my dyno from the facotry anybody who actually ticks off the option box is wasting money..take the extra grand and buy cams and a pc 5 and make a lot more than the 103 ci..assuming you have allready purchased the exhaust
guys have been bolting bags on softails for years. harley finally wakes up and decides to do it themselves. next up theyll make a cool trendy video with some hipster skateboarders and hot chicks riding the bike, switching it back and forth and having a hell of a time. paint it flat back, design a ‘cool’ switchback logo and get the new switchback line of shirts, hats, jackets and beltbuckles on the rack. rock on hd, rock on.
IM WITH A1 HE TUNES OUR BIKES AND TRUST ME HE KNOWS ……
NUFF SAID…THUG NATION!!
They will kill 2 of the best looking models ever the Rocker C and the Cross Bones!!! shit!!
z
I bet my carbureted 80″ Evo will outrun any stock 103″ of equal weight.
A1 great point you bring up as you can see from this dyno run from a bike with bob wood’s tw555 bolt in cams…………..why more guys dont do this is ???, especially with these new and heavier bikes
http://www.woodcarbs.com/images/tc96efitw555-6.jpg
the aftermarket and those ride-in willie g shows they hold at various rallys is where HD basically gets most of its ideas and new looks to their bikes
i swear their motto at HD is……..a stolen design is just as good as a new design
I will be buying a HD (probably a Fat Boy) this year, my first HD (I have a XB12R in my garage but it is not quite a Harley). I have been waiting for this news, the coming of the 103″- fabulous news. It is all about torque. I don’t want a “hot” 96, I want a torquey 103. If it is power that one wants, there are other bikes out there (Victory, etc…). I am keeping my B-king for those days when I feel like a nut, and that’s insane power. The 103 is for chilling out, not drag racing.
What happened to the new liquid cooled bikes everyone has been predicting? I guess that rumor is dead for now.
Some people feel that the reason the 103″ and 96″ have very similar dyno numbers is due to the fact that they run the same cams in each motor and the everything now has a catalytic converter in the head pipe, further reducing performance. Harley has to get bigger just to stay the same. Had enough government lately? That’s real smart, run a bigger motor with less efficient power delivery, use more gas, but hey… they hit the emissions number! Then everyone goes out and trashes the stock pipes, adds cams, tunes the engine for performance and now nothing meet emissions…..what’s the point? If more people rode bikes there would be less emissions and a lot less gas consumed. Encouraging more motorcycle use nationwide would be a better energy policy than what we have now, which is nothing.
Supprised about the trike. Thought as Buffy, Jody, Skyler, and Taylor aged, they’d buy trikes to stay in the wind.
Well, my first time seeing info like this. If I’m reading it correctly, it looks like the softail convertible will make its 3rd appearance. Maybe now it will come with quickrelease saddlebag guards to keep your passenger as safe as the driver? And of course, maybe reengineer that windshield to cure the buffeting issue and end its reign on a verrrry successful note. It is a head turner. But what decision will I make when I come face to face with the 2012 model while I currently own an ’11 and just coming off of owning a ’10? Will my new wife support the ’12??? To be continued…………
personally I will take a evo over a twin cam any day …my little FXRT 80″ pushes out 84.9 ft lbs of torque and is stylin with no parts breaking (cam tensioners)
an evo 80 in. with steroid,,,cam,carb and dyna single fire is i think the set-up to follow them in the ass
EVO all the way. I can’t stand anything twin-cam. H D has too many heat problems and no fix on my 2010 street glide. H D doesn’t care about their customers, it’s all about marketing I have a 103 upgrade dealer installed. The dealer won’t help and H D won’t help, Maybe H D’s the one who needs help.
Best answer, don’t follow the bleeded, build your own bike or keep eating the next new cookie that’s cut. RIDE A RIGID !
I heard the Switchback is a Dyna model. Probably overpriced like the Softail Convertible. Looks nice, the concept is great, but not worth close to $30 grand
The Switchback is a Dyna model with heritage type bags and a fatter front wheel.
The liquid cooled rumors every year are getting old. I think people say it every year just to be eventually right! Harley will never completely move away from air-cooled motors. At least not in most of our lifetimes.
I sure hope HD is building bikes for the long haul ? They havent since 07. All kinds of bearing issues from the tanny to the wheels these slant eyed bearings are failing AT 25000 MILES. WAKE UP HARLEY! We really dont mind paying for USA made parts!!!!
just a matter of time before it is Honda Davidson anyways.
96 is plenty of size and power, as the motor gets bigger and bigger to sell more bikes and compete they through more heat the trade off is not worth it past a 96. How fast do you want to go on a 6 or 700 pound bike ?
Will the 2013 be watercooled, or is that just a rumor?
I remember when the Shovelheads went from 74″ to 80″ because of government mandated emissions, the 80 ” motors were supposed to add more power but a good running 74″ would out run the 80″… same thing now, H-D makes the engines bigger without any real power advantage…Our government needs to fix itself before adding any more emission laws against bikes…motorcycles are NOT the problem, our government is!
Ronnie
i have a difficult decision to make-have to order my first Harley tomorrow have decided on the two tone black and white softail deluxe after lots of looking and research all of a sudden the new engine comes into the picture.
My dealer has a 2011 in stock with the 96 motor,do i wait for the 2012- 103 or is there no significant difference
i should imagine i will get the 2011 cheaper?
please help with comments
Got a 2010 103 in a ultra limited electra glide. Ran hotter than a two dollar pistol and working with HD under warrenty was a failuer for me. I’m selling and going back to BMW.
Buyer beware.
Rocker discontinued! this is the only bike that looks like a real bike! Keep buying all the other ones sheep. Rocker is was awsome. 30 years of looking for cool and rocker had it was finally going to break down a buy a harley. not now! I will look for used rocker
Spot on B C. The Rocker C is awesome & a real head turner at the traffic lights. Was going to update to another new one as it,s a great ride but will now just hold on to mine and watch it appreciate in value over the years.