Educate me on The Harley V Rod

[afterburn 549]

Form the jump here, if you are a Harley hater please refrain.( i do not fault other peoples choices in bikes either )
I have owned a plethora of Sporters , Hogs and the last 20 years all have been Baggers.
I am not sure I want to be a two bike owner, but i am thinking of a "sportier Bagger like the V rod in some configuration might be the answer.....
i know the P. company helped design the engine, thats a plus!
Also i know there are a lot of variation in species with the v Rod.
So please do not refrain, tell me what you know,what you think you know, the good the bad and ugly .
Usually there are better and bad years in a line up also. ( I am not against used)So please clue me in.
thanx !

[scottmandue]

Moses...paging Moses (Moses is screen name for a PPOT'er that has/had a V rod)
They are sweet looking bikes, good luck!

[afterburn 549]

Maybe Jeff H. has had one too.

[eastbay]

A few years ago me and a buddy rented some HDs in San Diego and he picked the v-rod since he was thinking of buying one. We traded on and off over the next 2 days and I could not get back on the Deuce I rented fast enough. It's a big long bike that did not handle the tight mountain curves of the area as well as the Deuce and the Deuce is no sport bike. And the motor was just not good enough to overcome those shortcoming. After renting, my friend did not buy one. Just two opinions, ymmv. Ride or rent one first would be my advice.

[nynor]

my main complaint with HD is the motor (and the bandwagon). the typical HD motor is a very good way to turn gasoline into noise and fumes, without the pesky side effect of HP.

the V-rod engine is something else entirely. and the styling of the bike suits me, too. i'd own one and ride it like it was stolen.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've never owned one, but have ridden several. They do have good power (you do have to rev them much higher than the traditional big twins, though), but everything else is kind of compromised for "the look". No cornering clearance at all, even compared to other Harleys. The riding position was far too stretched out for me, and I'm all of six feet tall. I found it very uncomfortable.

I test rode the "Street Rod" version of it when it came out. This one had its fork at a more normal rake (I think somewhere around 28-30 degrees, as opposed to something like 40 on the V Rod), the footpegs underneath you in a more "standard" riding position, and significantly longer travel in the rear suspension, which raised the bike and gave it some real cornering clearance. I thoroughly enjoyed riding that one. Unfortunately, it only lasted a year or two. It was almost a "sport tourer", but H-D never supported it as such - no bags, no windshield/fairing, etc. I'd say if you want a V Rod, that would be the best of the lot.

Guys that I know that ride them say they are rock solid reliable. None of them say any one particular year is better or worse than any other. First year bikes had some trouble making advertised power, but that was quickly fixed. If they fit you and suit your riding style, they can be a great bike.

[nynor]

see, i would not buy that bike, thinking it was going to corner like my ducati. i'd buy that bike instead of, say, a V-max. YMMV

[rattlsnak]

I am not a huge Harley fan, but the Night Rod is just gorgeous.

[motion]

Yeah, if I was in the market for that kind of bike, I'd get the VMax. Now, that bike is gonna give you some grins

[Chocaholic]

I owned one for about a year. Nice looking bike but I found that it wasn't really good at anything. Power was good by HD standards but that's not saying much. Certainly not a mountain carver either and comfort was also lacking.

Ultimately not for me. Proceed with caution.

[asphaltgambler]

It is a more 'modern' sport-cruiser than just cruiser. You should do an extensive test ride or find a local dealer that rents. Personally I dig them for what they are and also for what they aren't. Just as the majority of sport bike manufacturers make a poor Harley-copy 'cruiser' - HD does not try to compete in the sport bike arena. Although the last of the Buell's were a good attempt, sales did not support their effort.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

I am not a huge Harley fan, but the Night Rod is just gorgeous.

I walked through the local bike dealer a few weeks ago and spent a lot of time on the Triumphs and Hondas. The other half of the building was all Harleys and I walked right by most of them until I came to the Night Rod, wow, that thing is sex on wheels.

[afterburn 549]

Asphaltgambler - do you own one?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Allow me to suggest a Victory Hammer 8-Ball. Much more of a "sport cruiser". The riding position on the V-Rod looks like murder.

[ShakinJoe]

I rented one in Scottsdale and my friend got the full bagger HD. I would say thank god the tank is only about 1 gallon because your legs go numb at 50 miles on the V Rod. I love the looks but hated riding that thing. We took a long trip to Yuma and I was DREADING the return trip.

[Moses]

Mine looks just like this. Had it for several years. Still love it.

Pros...
1) It's been absolutely reliable.
2) The most comfortable bike EVER. Like riding a big La-z-boy.
3) Good power.
4) Water cooled. Modern technology.
5) It's not a Ducati.

Cons...
1) Good for sweepers, not tight corners. You GOTTA countersteer actively.
2) The rake of the front forks makes it a little squirrely on uneven pavement seams.
3) It's not a Ducati.

[Moses]

[asphaltgambler]

I rode one when they first came out. Then rode a much improved 2012 model. I like them.

[911SauCy]

The only reason I don't have a v-rod, is my 911.

They were designed in conjunction with Porsche, run very hard and smooth, and sound the business.

IMO, they're the best product Harley has produced in my lifetime...especially because they broke all barriers with the aircooled zealots...(this board would know nothing about that)

[afterburn 549]

True enough one either likes a Harley or not.
I like them because of the ease of fixing and resale after.
I like them because they are sort of american made.
Like i said in the beginning " Harley haters please refrain "
I am at the point of wanting a bike that will do two up , a bike that I do not have to wrestle and herd through a bend or corner .
As of right now i have road king rubber glide. All new suspension parts. Its better then it was last year, but still picks up a "veer" here and wobble there. LOL
The V rod in some configuration "looks" like it could do the job with saddle bags and a fairing of sorts.
It appears H.D. made it that way one year?