A yet to be announced new 2012 model from Harley-Davidson was inadvertently released to the public by the California Environmental Protection Agency/Air Resources Board. No details have been released or provided by the Motor Company, but according to CARB’s online listing of 2012 H-D models that the agency approved the new models show up HERE.
If the information is complete it looks like three motorcycles are being discontinued (Softail Cross Bones, Softail Rocker and Street Glide Trike). There are additional models getting the 103 cu inch and the new “SwitchBack” which is getting its name for the ability to be switched back and forth from touring to non-touring. Isn’t that the same as a convertible which has been out for 3 years now? There is also what looks to be a new 10th Anniversary V-Rod model.
Water Cooled V-Twin
It might be premature on my part, but these new models don’t look like a major transformation underway in product development. It looks more like a really big yawn vs. true innovation. The fact that Keith E. Wandell (President and CEO), a position he has held since May 2009 has pontificated in every earnings call about the new direction for Harley-Davidson through the development and implementation of a strategic plan based on the core tenets of growth, continuous improvement, leadership development and sustainability…. which includes expansion of the company’s global reach and product development transformations along with manufacturing capabilities for improved responsiveness is lacking. I’ll reserve final judgment until the actual 2012 release at the end of July, but at this point I find myself asking is “SwitchBack” code word for a return to the old axiom…if it sticks out chrome it, if breaks make it bigger and if it’s ugly paint it black?!
And speaking of innovation, check out this link to Cyril Huze’s blog about a water cooled patent that H-D filed over a year ago… it seems to have resurrected a worldwide discussion on when will water cooled V-twins finally hit the market. Obviously not in 2012, but maybe in 2013?
UPDATE: June 30, 2011 – Partial release of the new 2012 models occurred about a month early. See URL HERE.
UPDATE: July 20,2011 – The H-D “SwitchBack” was rolled out at the Anaheim, CA., dealer meeting this morning and the web site is now live HERE.
Photo courtesy of CARB and ICB
Northwest Harley Blog 
Please, God, no water-cooled Harley-Davidsons.
Try selling that to a kickstart guy. The V-Rods have already broken ground Harley on being liquid cooled, maybe it will work? Looks like an EPA nightmare. Maybe Harley should go back to its roots and do some retro bikes, limited edition of course.
I think the switchback is awesome, and allot of bike for the dollars. The bags can be improved, you’d think they would get that right by now, but the scoot looks great, ride awesome and is a great in-between of a heavy cruiser and a sport model…so, he’ll, keep the old and improve on it…just my humble nickel