Looking at a HD Night Rod, Harley guys hate 'em :)

[Top_Speed1]

My G/F's nephew (Mike, and he will be at our pre kick-off NERDS party with it Tues nite) just landed a beautiful all black sinister looking bad ass "modern" looking V-Rod (Night Rod Spec-Edition). He added a power module tuned to the V/H pipes, air suspension plus some other crap I already forgot. It's fricken LOUD and FAST!. I mean really bad ass loud and not the 'popping' loud like normal Harley's.

Anyways I gave it the once over, upon riding, quite impressed with the power actually but not really in total awe yet until he told me a few things on return (I have a couple of buds w normal v-rods but didn't realize this)....

1. True HD guys really dislike it, saying it's not traditional and it has no classic lines.

2. They don't wave at him when riding, rather he gets the 'lil birdie'.

3. Nobody comes up to him at one of their gatherings, he says he gets "snubbed" by the snobs.

I LOVE IT!!!

I have a friend who actually owns Geneva Harley Davidson here in Geneva (NY). Went to school with him and he's always tried to steer me to HD's. My friend (Steamer) had a normal V-Rod, It was 'Okay' but nut-tin like this modified Night Rod. LED lighting sure caught my eye as well, since when did HD get so modern? lol.

So calling the local dealer, base is under 20K but then u add the anti-lock brakes, anti-theft etc, etc... Santa, can you pre-order one for me? please!

OK, Now I'm Interested enough to say "I'm on the fence". I would like it for my "round the town" cruiser. And yes, I would love to get the ole bird from the hardcore HD owners as well

 

[wheatonFJR]

Instead of subsidizing the company holding millions of motorcycle riders back from owning a modern motorcycle, why don't you send me $5k that I could use to pick up a spare 2005 from the FS section here. If yer just itchin to get the bird thrown your way...I'M YOUR GUY!

 

[lnewlf]

Very nice scoot....

And then there's the Raider...

 

[BikerGeek99]

I took a '13 Vrod for a demo ride a few weeks ago.

Bone-stock, yeah, it does pretty decent in a straight line.

That thing turned like a damned dump-truck, though. I was surprised and disappointed at how poorly it handled.

 

[Warpdrv]

I took a '13 Vrod for a demo ride a few weeks ago.
Bone-stock, yeah, it does pretty decent in a straight line.

That thing turned like a damned dump-truck, though. I was surprised and disappointed at how poorly it handled.

Well its not like they built the bike for riding performance..... It was their attempt to bring hardley into the modern motorcycling world, which the cavemen mentality of the cult members rejected....

My brother the goober - Yamaha all his life, bought an anniversary model V-ROCK and paid almost $30k. I laugh my ass off damn near every day at what the prices of them are now NEW..... HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

Sorry not a huge fan, but if thats what you after - go for it...

 

[08FJR4ME]

Instead of subsidizing the company holding millions of motorcycle riders back from owning a modern motorcycle, why don't you send me $5k that I could use to pick up a spare 2005 from the FS section here. If yer just itchin to get the bird thrown your way...I'M YOUR GUY!

Now that there is funny. Leave it to wheaty,

 

[BkerChuck]

As a Harley dealership employee perhaps i can add a little insight on V-Rods. The first couple years they were built they were really something of a mixed message bike. Great power-plant but not so great chassis and still used regular old Harley brakes. Anodized aluminum body panels on the first couple years were really a treat too. Use the wrong cleaning products and it ruined the finish on your bike! Around 05 or 06 they introduce the V-Rod Streetrod. Finally a V-rod that made sense. Redesigned frame that allowed a 5 gallon fuel tank instead of the original 3.5 gallon unit. Mid mounted controls instead of forward controls. Brembo sourced brakes and inverted forks made for a much better riding and handling bike. I put 300 miles on our shop demo unit in a weekend. Strictly to break it in before turning the public loose on it, you understand. Unfortunately as many things Harley Davidson, this model was discontinued after only about 2 seasons. If you can find one of these, they are the V-rod to have. Vance and Hines makes a killer exhaust system for them to boot. The newer NightRod version isn't bad but it's back to the forward controls and with the 240 series rear tire, doesn't handle all that well. Mounting that tire sucks! I just watched one of our techs do one last weekend. Cursing every step of the way! Have to remove the exhaust and on this particular bike the passenger footrests the customer had installed, non OEM. The rim also doesn't have much of a drop center making mounting the tire itself a chore. If your serious about buying one of these, shop around. In our area some dealers have them languishing in storage because no one around here wants them. If you're willing to travel a little you have no reason to pay MSRP.If I can help you in anyway feel free to ask. I've worked part time for a Harley dealership for 15 years.

 

[Niehart]

I always was disappointed HD didn't build a bagger with that motor.

I have a friend that cobbled one together but with smaller gas tank. I was a blast to ride but the mileage range was nil.

 

[canucklehead-biker]

I'm annoyed at Harley for the opportunity they missed...

They had maybe the best v-twin power plant ever put in a bike, and designed by Porsche to boot...

They had Eric Buell who knows a thing or three about building a fast bike that handles...

They owned MV Augusta ferchrissakes... who also know a thing or three about fast and good looking...

They COULD have (SHOULD have!) built the world's best sport-touring bike, right here on this side of the pond...

Oh, what could have been.

Griff

 

[gixxerjasen]

canucklehead, I'm disappointed they canceled Buell before he got a chance to put that Rotax in a Uly. THAT would have been the bike to have!

 

[Bungie]

I test road a first year Nightrod. What a piece of crap. Sorry.

HD screwed the pooch. That engine in a bagger chassis.. oh my.

 

[escapefjrtist]

I always was disappointed HD didn't build a bagger with that motor.

This ^^^^ a good engine in search of a motorcycle.

--G

 

[MCRIDER007]

I must be a Harley guy because I think the Night Rod is a POS......but maybe I'm not because I also think every other Harley I have ridden was a POS.....except for the Street Rod which was only a half a POS but had some potential if they had fixed the front end instead of dumping the closest thing to a modern motorcycle they had ever built.

 

[garyahouse]

Harley has always been, and likely will always be... about image. Their marketing people are second to none. They not only created the niche, they poured gas on it when the flames died down and reignited it just recently. That image drives sales like quality, reliability, value and performance only wish they could. As a motorcyclist, almost without exception, when you put a leg over a Harley, it's a long way down, in more ways than one.

Gary

darksider #44

Looking for a really nice around town machine, have you seen the new Yammie FZ9?

1 CLICKY 2

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I can agree with all the things that every one of you said, even if some of them were contradictory. I am not a Harley Hater even though I love to poke fun at their archaic designs and stupid "image".

The thing is, and there is no getting around it, that black V-Rod has a look and a presence that is unique and awesome. There are only two other bikes that I remember looking as tough as (some versions of) the V-Rod. The Honda V-65 Magna and the Original Yamaha V-Max, both from the early '80s. Those bikes had a look that personified what a Hot Rod 1/4 mile machine should look like. The V-Rod carries that into modern times. That is a look that the new V-Max and that hideous Ducati Diavel both fail miserably to translate.

If style and looks were all it took and money was no object, I would own a V-Rod. Sadly, neither of those is true for me. I say if you like it and the money is there, buy it.

 

[gixxerjasen]

If style and looks were all it took and money was no object, I would own a V-Rod.

If money was no object, there'd be one in my garage. But I'd be putting it right next to the other 140 bikes that got in there first.

 

[yamafitter]

I hate loud bikes, probably because I have sat in far too many meetings and listen to people complain about noisy motorcycles.

You don't need to make all kinds of racket to have fun riding on the roads or on the trails.

 

[Top_Speed1]

I took a '13 Vrod for a demo ride a few weeks ago.
Bone-stock, yeah, it does pretty decent in a straight line.

That thing turned like a damned dump-truck, though. I was surprised and disappointed at how poorly it handled.

Mike's NRSE with the power module / tuned Vance Hines and a couple of other mods, would totally smoke me (FJR) in a straight up drag. Cornering, swerving etc I would totally smoke him. 2 Totally different bikes and uses for sure.

As a Harley dealership employee perhaps i can add a little insight on V-Rods. The first couple years they were built they were really something of a mixed message bike. Great power-plant but not so great chassis and still used regular old Harley brakes. Anodized aluminum body panels on the first couple years were really a treat too. Use the wrong cleaning products and it ruined the finish on your bike! Around 05 or 06 they introduce the V-Rod Streetrod. Finally a V-rod that made sense. Redesigned frame that allowed a 5 gallon fuel tank instead of the original 3.5 gallon unit. Mid mounted controls instead of forward controls. Brembo sourced brakes and inverted forks made for a much better riding and handling bike. I put 300 miles on our shop demo unit in a weekend. Strictly to break it in before turning the public loose on it, you understand. Unfortunately as many things Harley Davidson, this model was discontinued after only about 2 seasons. If you can find one of these, they are the V-rod to have. Vance and Hines makes a killer exhaust system for them to boot. The newer NightRod version isn't bad but it's back to the forward controls and with the 240 series rear tire, doesn't handle all that well. Mounting that tire sucks! I just watched one of our techs do one last weekend. Cursing every step of the way! Have to remove the exhaust and on this particular bike the passenger footrests the customer had installed, non OEM. The rim also doesn't have much of a drop center making mounting the tire itself a chore. If your serious about buying one of these, shop around. In our area some dealers have them languishing in storage because no one around here wants them. If you're willing to travel a little you have no reason to pay MSRP.If I can help you in anyway feel free to ask. I've worked part time for a Harley dealership for 15 years.

Thank you!! Very good input and I will use all of it if I do go through with buying one. NPR (never pay retail) is a definite especially when winter is near and my leverage increases, when it arrives (at least in my north woods region) I hold some extra wild cards

I can agree with all the things that every one of you said, even if some of them were contradictory. I am not a Harley Hater even though I love to poke fun at their archaic designs and stupid "image".
The thing is, and there is no getting around it, that black V-Rod has a look and a presence that is unique and awesome. There are only two other bikes that I remember looking as tough as (some versions of) the V-Rod. The Honda V-65 Magna and the Original Yamaha V-Max, both from the early '80s. Those bikes had a look that personified what a Hot Rod 1/4 mile machine should look like. The V-Rod carries that into modern times. That is a look that the new V-Max and that hideous Ducati Diavel both fail miserably to translate.

If style and looks were all it took and money was no object, I would own a V-Rod. Sadly, neither of those is true for me. I say if you like it and the money is there, buy it.

4Me- Owning both would equal 2 different bikes, 2 different uses. Remember, I'm still in the "just shopping" mode. That bike (Night Rod Special Edition) would be so bad ass to cruise town with during my work week, then hop on my Feej during the weekend for some country roads n sweepers. Call me versatile maybe, but I'm really digging the difference of fun I could have with both of these bikes.

Maybe I'm getting my mid-life crisis thing? Plus money wise, I'm selling off a couple of my snowmobiles this fall and a replacement toy is in order.

I do really appreciate all the comments from everybody

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I am not so sure about the V-Rod "smoking" your FJR in the quarter mile. A seat of the pants impression is not always 100% accurate. Yes, I know the one you rode was modified and I have no idea how it would actually run. I can tell you that Andrew Hines was able to turn 11.3 seconds on the '09 V-Rod Muscle bone stock. Mr. Hines is one of the very best on the drag strip. Compare that to the magazine times for our Gen 2 FJR of 10.98. Oh, Hines' partner Mr. Krewic was able to get it to 11.5 seconds. That has my Honda ST1300 with a 1/4 mile time of 11.42 running right there with the V-Rod, maybe even beating it.

Take the saddlebags off your FJR, line up next to the G/F's nephew and see what happens. You might both be very surprised and disappointed.

I think of it like this. There are some motorcycles that you are supposed to want because they are practical. Then, there are the ones you just want. For me, it's kind of like what the club scene was like when I was in college. There were the nice girls and there were the naughty girls. The nice girls you could bring home to meet Mom, they were pretty, they went to church, everyone approved of them. And they were fun. But... Nice is not always what you want. Sometimes Naughty is way better than nice. Sometimes Naughty is what you really need. The V-Rod is like the Naughty Girl. It is not practical, but the look, the feel, the impression you make when you have her out on the town is worth the trouble.

Again, I like the V-Rod. I'd love to have one. Like my friend GixxerJasen so wisely pointed out, it would join the multiple other bikes I also have in my Fantasy Garage.