Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Harley-Davidson Motor Co.

While Harley continues a century-long romance with motorcyclists, research showed that younger potential buyers think sportbikes and cruisers are difficult to drive, expensive, and intimidating.

We employ human-centered, multidisciplinary consumer product design to help you delight your ever-evolving consumer.

Services Page: Consumer (text only)

Seeing an opportunity, Harley-Davidson asked Erik Buell to develop an entry-level motorcycle that was hip, fun and easy to use. The beginner bike could be used for Harley’s safety courses and to entice a new generation to the sport of motorcycling.
Working with a small team within Buell and Harley, Delve hit the ground running.&nbsp;
Within 12 weeks, the team went from project launch to an operational prototype engine. Our industrial designers worked directly with Erik Buell to develop the engine’s aggressive styling, which enabled the initial prototypes to reflect a production design intent. This interdisciplinary collaboration and early vision setting prevented potential engineering re-work as the motorcycle took shape.
After the feasibility phase was complete, Delve designed a powertrain, working with Harley engineers and production support through multiple prototype builds. Our engineers participated in the first online powertrain builds and eventually helped move the engine into production.
The team took several innovative approaches to ensure the engine was a strong performer while being efficient and inexpensive to manufacture.&nbsp;
The integrated chassis mounting used the engine as a stressed member. A low-cost, lightweight, noise-reducing polymer pushrod tube system created an aesthetic that was distinct from mainstream Harley bikes. The team also developed the oiling and primary drive systems as well as a lightweight, optimally balanced crankshaft that Harley later adopted for some of its models.

06-Work-Case Study-Buell-Blast H1-2372x1334 @2x

At the end of this substantial project, the Buell Blast had an innovative 492cc single cylinder (“one lung”) engine/transmission platform.&nbsp;
The engine used existing Harley components as well as a newly designed crankcase, crankshaft, piston, connecting rod, primary drive system and gear case.&nbsp;
In spite of all the new parts, the engine was designed so that it could be built on the same production line as Harley’s Sportster engine.

Services Page: Consumer Product Design at Delve

The team also created a dynamic, lightweight, low wheel to complement the bike's styling. The wheel was designed to be cast instead of CNC machined. 
This inexpensive manufacturing process challenged the industrial design team with strict design limitations. 
The resulting design had style and function and Hot Rod Bikes Magazine said, “These are possibly the coolest stock wheels ever offered by a major manufacturer, and they are inexpensive, to boot!”

Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.delve.com/consumer-products" target="_blank">Consumer Product Design & Development Services at Delve.</a>

SEO Text: Consumer Products Sector

Newsletter Signup: Consumer Product Development (icon visual)

06-Work-Case Study-Blast Hero1-1186x667 @2x

While Harley continues a century-long romance with motorcyclists, research showed that younger potential buyers think sportbikes and cruisers are difficult to drive, expensive, and intimidating.

Contact Us | General (Let's build something together)

Consumer Products

Home

Case Studies

Harley-Davidson: Buell Blast

Breadcrumbs

A full-service product design and strategic innovation consultancy.

Delve

While Harley continues a century-long romance with motorcyclists, research showed that younger potential buyers think sportbikes and cruisers are difficult to drive, expensive, and intimidating.

While Harley continues a century-long romance with motorcyclists, research showed that younger potential buyers think sportbikes and cruisers are…

description

generator

kSwNn6qD4B-4HloWnWMUBWQNpBx2_mPi3nMqgsh6ato

google-site-verification

century-long, romance, motorcyclists, research, showed, younger, potential, buyers, think, sportbikes, cruisers, difficult, drive, continues, expensive

keywords

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/06-Work-Case_Study-Blast_Hero1-1186x667_@2x.jpg?mtime=1606512747

https://linkedin.com/company/delvedesign/

referrer

robots

twitter:card

twitter:creator

twitter:description

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_800x418_crop_center-center_82_none/06-Work-Case_Study-Blast_Hero1-1186x667_@2x.jpg?mtime=1606512747

twitter:image

twitter:image:alt

twitter:image:height

twitter:image:width

twitter:site

twitter:title

{"title":{"title":"Harley-Davidson: Buell Blast | Delve"}}

Design an Experience

Privacy Policy

FCOI Policy

Services

Insights

Testimonials

What We Do

About Us

Our People

Join Our Team

Careers

Newsroom

Who We Are

Boston

Madison

Philadelphia

San Francisco

Our Studios

Partner with Delve

Contact Us

Contact

Vamsee Pamula, Founder/President, Baebies

Footer Module: Build Something Together / Tell us about your project (Using heading block and button block)

With over five decades of innovation experience, Delve offers clients sound advice informed by over 10,000 product strategy projects. Explore our portfolio.

Delve Client Case Studies: View Our Work Portfolio Here

With over five decades of innovation experience, Delve offers clients sound advice informed by over 10,000 product strategy projects. Explore our…

Case studies, articles, capabilities, leadership, product design, strategy, innovation

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/Delve_titlecard.png?mtime=1654035558

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_800x418_crop_center-center_82_none/Delve_titlecard.png?mtime=1654035558

Harley-Davidson: Buell Blast

Beginner bike that’s a Blast to ride

Related Case Studies