FJR vs V-ROD

[Honzo]

I've had a few opportunities to take his 03 home for the weekend since I have no scooter right now (too nice of a guy). The notes I would list are too numerous and this post is actually about POWER but here are a few tidbits.

I like it's appearance and it turns heads and I wish other manufactureres would adopt the Belt final drive but... 1) You can't turn right or you will ruin the pipes. 2) You can't relax your legs and must keep them pinched up to the tank or your feet come off the pegs (cramps ensue). 3) It makes more noise than a Michael Bay movie. 4) It has 23K and tranni issues (of course, it's a HD). 5) It drinks like an Irish sheephearder.

I have heard that some consider it quite powerful for a HD and it is, compared to my former 92 nighthawk 750 and Dad's 85 Wing, the Sportster 1200, the Soft Tail, and Electra Glide in the family. I ripped it open and had some fun. I don't know how quick I got to 120 but felt satisfied at the time it was the gazelle in the family zoo. He plans on keeping it for a while.

Now tell me, when I get my new Feej next Summer, is he gonna get spanked or what?

Hanzo

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I've had a few opportunities to take his 03 home for the weekend since I have no scooter right now (too nice of a guy). The notes I would list are too numerous and this post is actually about POWER but here are a few tidbits.
I like it's appearance and it turns heads and I wish other manufactureres would adopt the Belt final drive but... 1) You can't turn right or you will ruin the pipes. 2) You can't relax your legs and must keep them pinched up to the tank or your feet come off the pegs (cramps ensue). 3) It makes more noise than a Michael Bay movie. 4) It has 23K and tranni issues (of course, it's a HD). 5) It drinks like an Irish sheephearder.

I have heard that some consider it quite powerful for a HD and it is, compared to my former 92 nighthawk 750 and Dad's 85 Wing, the Sportster 1200, the Soft Tail, and Electra Glide in the family. I ripped it open and had some fun. I don't know how quick I got to 120 but felt satisfied at the time it was the gazelle in the family zoo. He plans on keeping it for a while.

Now tell me, when I get my new Feej next Summer, is he gonna get spanked or what?

Hanzo

If you are equal riders, his ass will be handed to him.

 

[Groo]

If you are equal riders, his ass will be handed to him.

In a bag, for easy identification...

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

..., is he gonna get spanked or what?
Hanzo

Q.E.D. - Quite Easily Done

Last Spring riding a Concours, I could stay ahead of a more experiences rider on a V-Rod.

Typical Harley... they not turn too good.

 

[boogahboogah]

and you won't even have to go around any right hand corners...

 

[dcarver]

so what's the BIG deal with right hand corners?

Indy turns left..

Nascar (for the most part) turns left.

Dirt trackers turn left.

All good things go left! Just ask Ken Maley...!

 

[Spooker Two]

After putting on about 30,000 mile on my FJR, a couple months ago, I had an opportunity to test ride a new 07 V-Rod. Compaired to the FJR the power and torque of the V-Rod was not even close. In fact I thought it was running on one cylinder and returned it to the dealer. The Dealer tested it and claimed it was running just fine. Told me I had to keep the RPM's up. To get it above 4 grand was a long time coming, and keeping it above was nasty sounding, like it was about to come apart. Still felt like it was running on one cylinder and continued to produce about half the power I was expecting.

I did not buy one!

 

[SomethingSomeoneBlahBlah]

I've had a few opportunities to take his 03 home for the weekend since I have no scooter right now (too nice of a guy). The notes I would list are too numerous and this post is actually about POWER but here are a few tidbits.
I like it's appearance and it turns heads and I wish other manufactureres would adopt the Belt final drive but... 1) You can't turn right or you will ruin the pipes. 2) You can't relax your legs and must keep them pinched up to the tank or your feet come off the pegs (cramps ensue). 3) It makes more noise than a Michael Bay movie. 4) It has 23K and tranni issues (of course, it's a HD). 5) It drinks like an Irish sheephearder.

I have heard that some consider it quite powerful for a HD and it is, compared to my former 92 nighthawk 750 and Dad's 85 Wing, the Sportster 1200, the Soft Tail, and Electra Glide in the family. I ripped it open and had some fun. I don't know how quick I got to 120 but felt satisfied at the time it was the gazelle in the family zoo. He plans on keeping it for a while.

Now tell me, when I get my new Feej next Summer, is he gonna get spanked or what?

Hanzo

No. He won't get spanked. He'll be utterly dominated.

The Yamaha Warrior will eat a VRod, and the FJR owns the Warrior.

 

[ELP_JC]

I've ridden the 1700 Warrior and the V-Rod, and there's little doubt the V-Rod is quicker and faster. Yes, you have to rev it like a Japanese bike (9K redline, just like the FJR) for that kind of performance, but I don't even think it'd be close with the right riders on board, especially after the Rod gets in its powerband. Having said that, the Warrior is definitely easier to launch, and can probably be ridden quicker by the majority of cruiser riders.

As an owner of '07 FJR, it has to be quicker than a Rod, but I bet it's closer to the FJR than the Warrior to the Rod. It's a damn quick and fast bike, testament of its 120-hp. No other cruiser comes even close in performance, according to the magazines I've read. There should be 1/4-mile performance numbers somewhere to put the issue to rest. Later.

JC

 

[Scotty]

I happen to own both a 2005 V-Rod SE and a 2007 FJR1300AE. Yes, both are very fast. Couple of points the V-Rod is more of a fast cruiser and not a sportbike(touring). Sounds like some comments have come from people that have never ridden one. 9000 rpm comes very, very fast and thanks for the rev limiter. I have no idea what you are talking about on right hand turns. The lean angle and clearance are less than the FJR by design so of course the FJR will corner more aggressively. The FJR pulls with a steady rush to 9000 rpm. I believe they might be close in the 1/8th mile but would bet on the FJR in the quarter and top speed. Either one is a blast to ride. The HD does not not leak oil or has had any problems in 11000 miles except for a new rear tire at 7500 miles. I wish that I could say that about my wife's V-Star. Fuel problems, speedometer, shorts,etc. No problems with FJR in first 1600miles. It really is not HD vs Japan!!!! sorry about the Warrior it is just ugly in my eyes.

 

[kansas transit]

I rode one about 3 years ago, I thought it was pretty quick, but at the time I had not riddin anything in 17 years so I had nothing to compare it to. However to me it was like driving an old detroit powered truck, it seemed like you had to abuse it to get it to it's potential. The fjr just seems like that big electric motor, the more you turn up the reostat, the faster it goes. JMHO.

 

[BuilderBob]

Regarding the Warrior, I've owned one. Nice bike, but I don't think it will out run the V-Rod. I was actually considering another Warrior when I bought the FJR. V-Rod vs the FJR, I don't know. With shorter gearing, the V-Rod may have the FJR 0 to 60, but not beyond.

 

[87Doodle]

Regarding the Warrior, I've owned one. Nice bike, but I don't think it will out run the V-Rod. I was actually considering another Warrior when I bought the FJR. V-Rod vs the FJR, I don't know. With shorter gearing, the V-Rod may have the FJR 0 to 60, but not beyond.

It's entirely possible to take fast right turns on a V-rod.

Here's what you do.

Hang off to the right hard, decrease the lean angle by getting your center mass out from the torso up , relax, and go with the bike.

If you can't do this on a FJR, and someone CAN do it on a VROD, you will be the one getting spanked

 

[SR-71]

Thanks for confirming what I sort of suspected. I was considering buying a V-Rod for my wife, mainly because she is only 5'3" and the low seat height would probably fit her, but from the sounds of it, I'd be buying into a nightmare. SR-71

 

[Scotty]

Thanks for confirming what I sort of suspected. I was considering buying a V-Rod for my wife, mainly because she is only 5'3" and the low seat height would probably fit her, but from the sounds of it, I'd be buying into a nightmare. SR-71

Good luck with that one. The FJR has a 5.5" higher seat. Perhaps your wife has a 30" inseam so she can stretch out on the balls of her feet. My wife rides the V-Rod. She is 5'2" and I lowered the bike 1.5' in rear and 1" in front. Had a custom seat made on the reach seat pan that moved her 3" forward. Problem with V-Rod is forward controls are a stretch. You can buy the shortened reach forward controls. I bought the bike for myself but after having done all this I can't get it off her. I bought the FJR as my second bike. V-Rod is extremely easy to handle. The BS about right hand corners is written by people that probably never rode one. If she likes to go to the race course or ride the "Dragon" at above legal speeds neither

bike maybe right. Are you sure

you don't want this for yourself?

 

[Nick2]

I happen to own both a 2005 V-Rod SE and a 2007 FJR1300AE. Yes, both are very fast. Couple of points the V-Rod is more of a fast cruiser and not a sportbike(touring). Sounds like some comments have come from people that have never ridden one. 9000 rpm comes very, very fast and thanks for the rev limiter. I have no idea what you are talking about on right hand turns. The lean angle and clearance are less than the FJR by design so of course the FJR will corner more aggressively. The FJR pulls with a steady rush to 9000 rpm. I believe they might be close in the 1/8th mile but would bet on the FJR in the quarter and top speed. Either one is a blast to ride. The HD does not not leak oil or has had any problems in 11000 miles except for a new rear tire at 7500 miles. I wish that I could say that about my wife's V-Star. Fuel problems, speedometer, shorts,etc. No problems with FJR in first 1600miles. It really is not HD vs Japan!!!! sorry about the Warrior it is just ugly in my eyes.

Just to add my 2 cents:

One additional issue with the V-Rod is the long wheelbase. While it's more powerful than other Harley's it's also longer (due to the rake) - - and that makes it more difficult to handle. The Harley has a good torque feel to it and in 08 gets the bigger engine (was only on the SE bikes before). Although low I don't think it's the bike for the lady friend someone mentioned.

I wish Harley would do something with that engine, but I doubt they will. I owned a V-Rod for 3 days, took it back and got a FJR. I smiled the entire drive home. Nothing against V-Rods, they have their place, but the FJR fits my style of riding.

Later.

Nick (2)

 

[bandito]

I like it's appearance and it turns heads and I wish other manufactureres would adopt the Belt final drive but... 1) You can't turn right or you will ruin the pipes. 2) You can't relax your legs and must keep them pinched up to the tank or your feet come off the pegs (cramps ensue). 3) It makes more noise than a Michael Bay movie. 4) It has 23K and tranni issues (of course, it's a HD). 5) It drinks like an Irish sheephearder.
Now tell me, when I get my new Feej next Summer, is he gonna get spanked or what?

Hanzo

Last spring I was back home visiting my Family in FLA. Older Bro just got into MC and bought a Used VTX 1800 from a guy at work, so I rented a HD from Seminole Harley shop to go out with him BTW they were half the price of the other shops in Central FL). Since I been on sport bikes and Japanese roadsters, and haven ridden a Fat-Boy, I chose the V-Rod to test the alleged high-tech motor. I was doing loops around the VTX, he was in third gear before I had to shift, and taking him on every corner, left or right.

Downside: yeah the forward pegs are REALLY uncomfortable. I kept picking up my foot on the start and dragging it on the ground looking for the pegs? Factory pipes were actually pretty quiet, but the thing sounds like a big old lawn tractor, lots of weird parasite vibrations, and the rear cylinder pipe burns your leg!! Two up it's only good for about 20miles.

Moral of the story, I bought a FJR when I got back home!! VROD is a cool bike, but I wouldn't buy one.

 

[Nick2]

I like it's appearance and it turns heads and I wish other manufactureres would adopt the Belt final drive but... 1) You can't turn right or you will ruin the pipes. 2) You can't relax your legs and must keep them pinched up to the tank or your feet come off the pegs (cramps ensue). 3) It makes more noise than a Michael Bay movie. Hanzo

Downside: yeah the forward pegs are REALLY uncomfortable. I kept picking up my foot on the start and dragging it on the ground looking for the pegs? Factory pipes were actually pretty quiet, but the thing sounds like a big old lawn tractor, lots of weird parasite vibrations, and the rear cylinder pipe burns your leg!! Two up it's only good for about 20miles.

Moral of the story, I bought a FJR when I got back home!! VROD is a cool bike, but I wouldn't buy one.

As a note: the NightRod version of the V-Rod has two sets of pegs. One set forward and one set (with shifter and brake) back under the rider in a more conventional setting.

 

[MikeYork5]

I happen to own both a 2005 V-Rod SE and a 2007 FJR1300AE. Yes, both are very fast. Couple of points the V-Rod is more of a fast cruiser and not a sportbike(touring). Sounds like some comments have come from people that have never ridden one. 9000 rpm comes very, very fast and thanks for the rev limiter. I have no idea what you are talking about on right hand turns. The lean angle and clearance are less than the FJR by design so of course the FJR will corner more aggressively. The FJR pulls with a steady rush to 9000 rpm. I believe they might be close in the 1/8th mile but would bet on the FJR in the quarter and top speed. Either one is a blast to ride. The HD does not not leak oil or has had any problems in 11000 miles except for a new rear tire at 7500 miles. I wish that I could say that about my wife's V-Star. Fuel problems, speedometer, shorts,etc. No problems with FJR in first 1600miles. It really is not HD vs Japan!!!! sorry about the Warrior it is just ugly in my eyes.

Thanks for bringing a little bit of reality to the table -- Typical forum 'Harley Bashing/Trashing' (I see you're a FNG - Honzo - but seem to be getting into the swing of things around here) --why compare a V-Rod to a FJR, two completely different types of bikes (apples and oranges). Of course the FJR is faster - better handling so what? Like I said two different types of bikes ---
Sort of like comparing your (future?) FJR to this ----- by the way, wanna get spanked (I'll hand your ass to ya) - be happy too. Like I said IMHO - doesn't really make any sense comparing two completely different types of bikes - does it now?

I LIKE ALL BIKES - EVEN HARLEYS -- IT'S ALL GOOD!