Harley releases Screamin’ Eagle 131 engine

As the name suggests, the Screamin’ Eagle 131 is a 131-cubic-inch displacement (2147cc) v-twin and the largest production engine Harley-Davidson has offered to date.

Available for 2017 and newer H-D Touring models originally equipped with a Milwaukee Eight oil cooled or Twin Cooled engine, the bolt-in Screamin’ Eagle 131 offers 12 per cent more capacity than the Milwaukee Eight 117 (the largest Harley engine currently available), with improved high-rpm performance and what Harley says is a significant boost in torque.

“Our adrenaline-seeking riders asked for thrilling power and torque with reliability,” said Harley-Davidson Product Manager James Crean. “The Screamin’ Eagle 131 Crate Engine delivers exactly that.

“Developed by the Screamin’ Eagle performance team and factory-assembled at Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations to ensure the highest quality standards, this high-performance engine is genuine Harley-Davidson.”

Based on the Milwaukee Eight 114, the Screamin’ Eagle 131 combines the 4.5-inch stroke of that engine with a larger 4.31-inch bore in a patented design. Screamin’ Eagle parts include Milwaukee-Eight ‘Extreme Ported’ four-valve cylinder heads that are CNC-ported and fitted with 1mm larger-diameter valves to optimise air/fuel flow and velocity and also feature fully machined combustion chambers shaped to optimise combustion efficiency.

A high-lift SE8-517 camshaft and high-performance cam bearing are standard, along with high-compression (10.7:1) forged pistons, a 64mm throttle body and intake manifold, and high-flow (5.5-grams per second) fuel injectors. It’s a combination that produces a claimed 131ft/lb of torque (177.6Nm) and 121hp (90.2kW) at the rear wheel.

Each Screamin’ Eagle 131 engine is detailed with ‘Stage IV’ badging on the cylinder heads and ‘131’ badging on the timer cover. The engine is available in a choice of two finishes – Black and Chrome or Black and Gloss Black - and will fit MY17+ Touring models originally equipped with either the oil-cooled or Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight engine.

The Screamin’ Eagle 131 engine is priced from $9,610 for the oil cooled ($11,299 NZ) and $9,920 for the Twin-Cooled ($11,665 NZ), with the first deliveries expected in March.

The engine is eligible for Custom Coverage under the motorcycle’s factory 24-month vehicle limited warranty when installed by an authorised H-D Dealer within 60 days of vehicle purchase and is otherwise backed by a 12-month limited warranty.