10 Harley-Davidson Engines With Explosive Torque

No other motorcycle brand evokes the same passion in enthusiasts who love the thump and pleasure of cruising on the highway as the Harley-Davidson. Among the numerous things for which the brand is famous, its engine stands out for the punch and iconic sound it makes while taking off with the rear wheels spinning. Their historic V-Twin engine not only delivers incredible power but also creates an unmistakable rumbling. This mix of performance and sound has gained Harley-Davidson a cult following, driving them to the top of the motorcycle industry.

The legendary company has been making motorcycles for over a century, fulfilling the aspirations of many passionate riders by giving an opportunity for personal two-wheeled freedom via constant innovations and stunning model lineups. One of the most distinguishing features of a Harley-Davidson engine’s performance is its torque, which is the rotational force that accelerates the bike across any terrain. Furthermore, its motorcycles have some of the highest torque ratings in the industry, which is due to their large-displacement V-twin engines that provide lots of low-end grunt.

Here are ten Harley-Davidson engines that can deliver explosive torque and blistering performance that you might want to check out. Whether you are cruising down the highway, twisting through the countryside, or exploring off-road terrain, these Harley-Davidson engines can provide you with an adrenaline rush of acceleration and power.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Harley-Davidson’s official website and press releases. Harley-Davidson’s engines on this list have been arranged based on their peak torque, starting with the least, and working their way up to the highest torque engine.

10 Revelation Electric Motor

Peak Torque: 84 LB-FT

Harley-Davidson is one of the few big manufacturers that has an electric motorcycle in its lineup, with the LiveWire One being its first release model. It is powered by a Harley-Davidson Revelation permanent-magnet electric motor boasting a peak torque of 84 pound-feet. Also, unlike an ICE engine, the rated torque is available from low RPM, resulting in exceptional acceleration.

Furthermore, the longitudinally mounted electric motor is water-cooled, with coolant routed through a small radiator to offer the highest efficiency while remaining cool. Additionally, its 15.4 kWh high-voltage battery provides 146 miles of city range and a reasonable 95 miles of combined range.

LiveWire One Specifications

Source: LiveWire

9 Revolution Max 1250T

Peak Torque: 94 LB-FT

After years, Harley-Davidson finally gave its sports line a revamp, starting with the Sportster S, with modern styling, better performance, and cutting-edge technologies. It is powered by the Revolution Max 1250T engine, which is optimized to provide enormous torque at low RPM to deliver quick acceleration. The engine has a 60-degree V-Twin layout with a Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC), Variable Valve Timing (VVT), and liquid cooling.

Additionally, it has internal balancers that help cancel vibration, which improves rider comfort and results in reduced fatigue on longer rides. The Revolution Max 1250T engine shares similarities to the Revolution Max 1250 engine used in Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 models, but it has been tweaked especially for the Sportster S to deliver strong low-end torque and a top speed of 143 MPH.

Sportster S Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

8 Milwaukee-Eight 107

Peak Torque: 111 LB-FT

Down the list is the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, which powers both the 2023 Street Glide and Road Glide base models, as well as the 2023 Softail Standard model. The air/oil-cooled 107 cubic-inch V-Twin powertrain produces an impressive 111 pound-feet of torque at 3,250 RPM, delivering strong power down the rev range. Additionally, this engine returns to the classic, single-cam nosecone design from the Twin Cam design, with four-valve heads instead of two for much better intake and exhaust flow.

Street Glide & Road Glide Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

7 Milwaukee-Eight 114

Peak Torque: 122 LB-FT

Harley-Davidson has equipped multiple models with the powerful Milwaukee-Eight 114 engines at different levels of tune, starting with the Electra Glide Highway King model, which produces an impressive 122 pound-feet of peak torque at 2,750 RPM. Other 2023 touring models that get the engine are the Road King Special, Road Glide Special, and Street Glide Special, albeit at a lower state of tune providing 118 pound-feet at 3,250 RPM.

However, the 2023 cruiser variant includes the Heritage Classic, Fat Boy 114, Street Bob 114, and Fat Bob 114, it generates 119 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 RPM. This 114 cubic-inch V-Twin delivers loads of power and torque on demand for a wide power band along with the classic Harley V-Twin sound.

Electra Glide Highway King Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

6 Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114

Peak Torque: 122 LB-FT

The Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine shares all the attributes of the air/oil-cooled Milwaukee-Eight 114 engines, including the 45-degree V-Twin engine design. The 114-cubic-inch powertrain features liquid-cooled cylinder heads, a higher compression ratio, and four-valve cylinder heads with increased intake and exhaust flow capacity.

Additionally, it comes with two spark plugs for each cylinder, which contributes to more efficient ignition, and its single chain-driven camshaft is significantly lighter, mechanically less complicated, and produces less friction and noise. The engine powers the Ultra Limited and Road Glide Limited touring models, generating 122 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 RPM with a broad power band.

Road Glide Limited & Ultra Limited Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

5 Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117

Peak Torque: 125 LB-FT

The Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine in the CVO Road Glide Limited model generates an incredible 125 pound-feet of peak torque at 3,500 RPM. The liquid-cooled 117 cubic-inch V-Twin engine features overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters, and four valves per cylinder.

Additionally, it comes with a large breather intake and a high-flow exhaust to improve performance and offer outstanding low-end grunt. The CVO Limited variant is equipped with luxury and comfort features such as high-quality paintwork, striking design, superior audio, heated seats & grips.

CVO Road Glide Limited Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

4 Milwaukee-Eight 117

Peak Torque: 127 LB-FT

Harley-Davidson is continually enhancing the Milwaukee-Eight V-twin engines, making its motorcycles more potent. The latest and most powerful variant of the 117 cubic inch Milwaukee-Eight V-twin is available in different states of tune. For example, the engine in the Breakout model provides 123 pound-feet of torque, while the engine in the Low Rider S and Low Rider ST versions produces 125 pound-feet of torque.

The Street Glide ST and Road Glide ST models, on the other hand, get a slight torque increase of 127 pound-feet at 3,750 RPM. Additionally, the engine features a high-performance camshaft, a high-flow intake, and a high-performance exhaust designed for maximum engine performance, providing instant acceleration with every throttle twist.

Street Glide ST & Road Glide ST Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

3 Screamin’ Eagle 131 Crate Engine

Peak Torque: 131 LB-FT

Harley-Davidson introduced the Screamin’ Eagle 131 Crate engine a few years ago, with 131 pound-feet of peak torque. The 131 cubic inch V-Twin engine is a bolt-in upgrade for 2017 and later touring motorcycles, as well as some 2018 and later Softail motorcycles, and was developed to run at high RPM while still providing an excellent torque boost from cruising speed. However, all installed models require ECM tuning with Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Tuner for effective installation.

This street-ready performance engine includes an engraved CNC-ported cylinder head with a CNC-machined chamber and 1mm larger valves, an SE8-517 high-lift cam, high-compression forged pistons, and a high-performance cam bearing. The engine comes in Oil-Cooled and Twin-Cooled variants, as well as Chrome, Black, and Gloss-Black finishes.

Screamin’ Eagle 131 Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

2 Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121

Peak Torque: 139 LB-FT

With liquid-cooled cylinder heads, a variable valve timing (VVT) system, and a redesigned intake route, the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 engine is the most powerful 121 cubic-inch engine ever factory-fitted on a Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle. The higher displacement engine is more efficient, powerful, and vibration-free than the preceding Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin engine on the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) touring models. Additionally, it features Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), a single counter-balancer optimized to remove unwanted vibrations and a high-performance exhaust with Muffler diameter increased to 4.5 inches.

CVO Road Glide Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson

1 Screamin’ Eagle 135ci Stage IV

Peak Torque: 143 LB-FT

At the first spot on the list is the Screamin’ Eagle 135ci Stage IV performance crate engine claimed to be the most displacement and powerful engine made by Harley-Davidson of all time. The tremendous motor creates absolute top-tier power and ginormous 145 pound-feet of pinnacle force at 3,500 RPM to deliver blistering performance. It has race-inspired intake manifolds, new fuel injectors, forged pistons with a compression ratio of 10.7:1, CNC-ported cylinder heads, and throttle bodies measuring 68 mm.

Additionally, it comes with a Screamin’ Eagle Pro Billet Cam Plate and Oil Pump for incredible grunt. This engine is compatible with all 2021- later Harley-Davidson touring models and can be installed as a bolt-in replacement for the original factory powertrain. However, for best performance while fulfilling emissions rules, it must be tuned with the new wireless Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Performance tuner.

Screamin’ Eagle 135ci Engine Specifications

Source: Harley-Davidson