I test drove a new 2014 V-Rod Muscle today...

[charleygofast]

Hey, Bminder, did you like the V-Rod???
I'm anti-leather-pirate for the most part, but the V-Rod I like! (Finally, something not stuck in the 1950's!)
It looks like lots of fun, Porsche design and not obese and all; but life's too short, it won't make the cut in the time available vs. everything else I'd like to get my mitts on.
Now, if you had a KTM 990 Adventure....

Hey Pete, Engelhart Motor/Sports has a 2011 KTM Adventure 990 LC8 with167 mi. Asking price is $11,990.  they're located in Madison WI. shes a beauty! Look em up online or if you want more info (ph. num..ect) let me know... I want one too...not this year though !                                                                                     Cheers!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Charley. 

[ribbert]

[ribbert]

[img width=690 height=517]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-

[Klavdy]

I like them too.
I haven't ridden this model, but I did get a ride on the early '02 model and was pleasantly surprised with the top end pull.
However, the VRod handling and specifically the lack of ground clearance was not my cup of tea.
Although my thoughts at the time were positive. Good for HD for looking ahead and teaming with Porsche to develop a (more) modern engine. Now if they would only give the bike some better handling it would stand a chance against Yamaha's mighty Vmax.

I remember thinking back then that it will only be a matter of time until HD corrects the suspension design. I mean come on, who makes a bike in the 21st century with a rear wheel travel of 2.5 inches?

Last I checked, the Vmax is still the bike to beat in the power cruiser category.
The lovely howl of that V4 when the secondaries open, is music. The Vmax is no slouch, it hooks up and goes...

See if you can get Ducati Newport to give you a ride on a Diavel, take it over the Ortega and back.

[Dan Filetti]

I rented and rode a Street Rod through WY, ID, OR, WA, BC, AB for 600 miles.  I really did like all that low-end torque.  We passed many hundreds of cars, easily, easier than if we were on were on in-line fours, seems to me.  I enjoyed the bike, ground clearance was an issue when pushed about as hard as I could push it only, so it was fine for 95% of my riding.  I guess that means I was not crazy-aggressive with the thing.  Your riding style, level of aggressiveness may vary.   So I had a foot pedal start to vibrate loose in AB so I saw a Harley Dealer and pulled in, asking if they'd tighten it up -all they needed was a simple [metric] allen key.  The mechanic actually told me he had NO metric tools and could not help me! 

To that point, be aware, if you're serious about buying one, that you *may* have service issues -or perhaps my experience was isolated?  This was 6 or 7 years ago...

Dan   

[aviationfred]

Last I checked, the Vmax is still the bike to beat in the power cruiser category.
The lovely howl of that V4 when the secondaries open, is music. The Vmax is no slouch, it hooks up and goes...

I am going to look at a 1985 V-Max this weekend that a Co-worker owns and does not ride.

I may have an addition to the garage Saturday afternoon.

Fred

[Bminder]

 So I had a foot pedal start to vibrate loose in AB so I saw a Harley Dealer and pulled in, asking if they'd tighten it up -all they needed was a simple [metric] allen key.  The mechanic actually told me he had NO metric tools and could not help me! 

To that point, be aware, if you're serious about buying one, that you *may* have service issues -or perhaps my experience was isolated?  This was 6 or 7 years ago...

Dan   

How crazy is that, that a Canadian mechanic would not have a set of metric allen wrenches!

[Pat Conlon]

There are folks in the HD community who poo poo the Vrod. They don't believe it's a true Harley.

This caused a division in the ranks. Harley answered with a multimillion dollar campaign to get the NHRA pro stock rules changed, enlist the help of Doug Vance and made the "Vrod" brand name snyomous with 1/4 mile track dominance.
I am careful to say that it's the Vrod brand name, not the actual Vrod bike. There is nothing remotely similar between the production Vrod bike and the billet motor Vrod pro stock bike.
It was a win-win-win.... A win for Harley, a win for NHRA, they needed the Harley fans to fill the stands and cheer on their beloved brand name, and a win for Budweiser who needed the concession sales.

Regardless...I like the Vrod, is that USD's I see?  Hmmmm

[Bminder]

Regardless...I like the Vrod, is that USD's I see?  Hmmmm

How can you look at that rear end and not fall in love!

[Pat Conlon]

Yep, she's a beauty....but still only a 5 speed?

[Bminder]

Yep, she's a beauty....but still only a 5 speed?

Pat! Do you talk to your wife that way?? 

[Bones]

Regardless...I like the Vrod, is that USD's I see?  Hmmmm

How can you look at that rear end and not fall in love!

Yeah, but it's still a "Harley" and the image/lifestyle that's associated with that name, wasn't that long ago there was a thread on here bagging Harley's, or more so their riders, so if anyone buys one, be prepared to become one.

[Capn Ron]

I've always liked the look of the Vrod...the fact that it's shuned by the H-D community is a good thing.  Overhead cams and liquid cooling scaring them off?  Yeah...just what I thought.  If I was shopping for a metric cruiser, I'd probably at least consider this ride.

[ribbert]

Does anyone know exactly what the connection with Porsche and the V-rod engine is, other than both being internal combustion engines.

It is indeed an odd collaboration between between a company producing one if the best engineered automotive products in the world and one making the worst. Why would they sully their reputation and image by associating with a manufacturer of agricultural grade machinery mocked by pretty much everyone except its customers.

There is nothing about Harley or their image that I can see Porsche wanting to be associated with.

Anyone know?

Just curious.

Noel

[aviationfred]

Does anyone know exactly what the connection with Porsche and the V-rod engine is, other than both being internal combustion engines.

Noel

I pulled this from Wikipedia


The Harley-Davidson VRSC (V-Twin Racing Street Custom) family of cruiser motorcycles was introduced in 2001 in a single model called the V-Rod. The V-Rod was developed by Harley-Davidson to compete against Japanese and American muscle bikes. The "V-Rod" made use of the Revolution engine, developed jointly with Porsche that, for the first time in Harley public production history, features overhead cams and liquid cooling. The V-Rod is visually distinct from other Harley-Davidson motorcycles. It can be easily identified by the 60-degree V-twin engine, the radiator and the hydroformed frame members that support the round-topped air cleaner cover. A distinct difference between the V-Rod and all other Harley production motorcycles is the location of the fuel tank. The fuel tank on the V-Rod is located underneath the seat, placing the rider on top of it, rather than the usual frontal placement. The "tank" in this case is simple dressing, hiding the frame. Loosely based on the VR-1000 superbike, it continues to be a platform around which Harley-Davidson builds drag-racing competition machines. All VRSC models are produced at Harley-Davidson's Vehicle and Powertrain Operations facility in Kansas City, Missouri.


Fred