The Heart of the Beast - The Magic of the Harley Davidson V-Twin

Every end of week, the streets of Mriehel echo with the unmistakable rumble of Harley-Davidson V-twins as our La Valette Malta HOG riders gathers for their meet ups and rides. A couple of bikes line up—Softails, Touring models, Sportsters, Dynas—each one with its own unique version of the legendary V-twin. Some roar louder, some purr deeper, but all share that same heartbeat that binds us together as riders. To understand why these engines feel so special, let’s take a closer look at where they came from, how they work, and why they give us that unique sense of power and freedom.

Sportster V-Twin

Harley-Davidson’s journey started back in 1903 with a simple single-cylinder engine. That was a straightforward machine: one piston moving up and down, burning fuel, and turning tiny explosions into motion. It worked—like pedalling a bicycle with one strong leg—but it didn’t quite deliver the strength and balance riders craved.

Milwaukee Eight V-Twin

By 1909, Harley unveiled its first V-twin engine, a ground-breaking step forward. Two pistons set at a 45-degree angle, firing into a shared crankshaft, instantly transformed the ride. It delivered more torque, a rawer sound, and a character that no other motorcycle could match. That design became the soul of Harley-Davidson—and it’s the same principle that powers our group’s bikes today.

Twin-cam V-Twin

Of course, the V-twin is just one way to arrange pistons. Some motorcycles use inline engines, where the pistons stand in a straight row, smooth and high-revving—perfect for sport bikes. Others use boxer engines, with pistons lying flat and punching outwards like a fighter’s fists, favored by BMW for stability and balance. But the Harley V-twin is different. With its compact shape, booming rhythm, and instant torque, it creates not just motion, but an emotional connection between rider and machine.

What makes the Harley louder than most motorcycles? It’s partly the uneven firing order, which produces that loping “potato-potato” rhythm, and partly the exhaust design—shorter, straighter pipes that let the sound burst out raw and deep. Add in the big pistons firing at slower intervals, and you get a sound you don’t just hear—you feel it in your chest. And of course, many of us in the La Valette group take it further: swapping in aftermarket exhausts, removing baffles, or even running straight pipes, making our bikes sing louder and prouder.

The beauty of the V-twin isn’t about chasing speed or technical perfection. Compared to inline engines, it may vibrate more. Compared to boxers, it may be less smooth. But that’s the point—it’s alive. It growls at idle, it surges with torque at low revs, and it creates a bond between rider and machine that no other engine can quite match.

So the next time you fire up your Harley, remember: you’re not just straddling a motorcycle. You’re sitting on over a century of engineering heritage, a design that has carried generations of riders before you, and a heartbeat that connects us all. Whether you’re riding into Mrieħel to join the La Valette Malta rides for our weekly meet-ups, or heading out solo to chase that pure taste of freedom, you now know more about the power, the science, and the soul of what you’re holding between your legs: a V-twin engine—the heart of a legend.