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[skycat]

Hey guys has any one heard that the V Rod will be dropped soon due to emission problems, the talk i heard was a new bike with a Street 500/750 style big block engine ? 

[DCFIREMANN]

I can see that. It's not a big seller and they handle like chit!!!!! I know I owned one. This was Willy G's baby. Now that he has retired and sales are low, the penny pinchers will put it in the coffin!!!!

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[Spiderman]

I can see that. It's not a big seller and they handle like chit!!!!! I know I owned one. This was Willy G's baby. Now that he has retired and sales are low, the penny pinchers will put it in the coffin!!!!

Be Safe

THE DAWG

Thanks DAWG, I thought it was just me on the issue of handling. I never did get used to way my 05 SEVROD handled. Add to that I punched the power way up, it was basically a street legal drag bike. While I miss it sitting in the garage because it just looked so damn cool, I don't miss it as far as riding it. BUT, I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the human engineering model they used to design that bike. If you're under 6ft and 200lbs it was a great bike - - except for the handling but I always figured that was because me being a gorilla made the center of gravity way too high.

B B

[DCFIREMANN]

Thanks DAWG, I thought it was just me on the issue of handling. I never did get used to way my 05 SEVROD handled. Add to that I punched the power way up, it was basically a street legal drag bike. While I miss it sitting in the garage because it just looked so damn cool, I don't miss it as far as riding it. BUT, I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the human engineering model they used to design that bike. If you're under 6ft and 200lbs it was a great bike - - except for the handling but I always figured that was because me being a gorilla made the center of gravity way too high.

B B

They were some of the prettiest bikes that Harley put out there. I toooo pumped mine up. It was great on the straightaways but hell in the corners!!!!

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[grc]

The first clue that H-D wasn't serious about building a good handling bike to compete with some of the other offerings on the market was their choice of forward controls and the raked out front end.  Nice engine though, thanks to Porsche.

I haven't seen any official sales figures for Harley for a few years now (not terribly interested to tell the truth), but I wouldn't be surprised to find Sportsters outselling V-Rods by a wide margin.  It seems that nothing in their lineup is selling all that well other than baggers.  If it weren't for the Street Glides and E-glides, Harley would be in a world of hurt right now.  But they keep kicking the can down the road, until the road dead ends.

Jerry

[mark]

The first clue that H-D wasn't serious about building a good handling bike to compete with some of the other offerings on the market was their choice of forward controls and the raked out front end.  Nice engine though, thanks to Porsche.

I haven't seen any official sales figures for Harley for a few years now (not terribly interested to tell the truth), but I wouldn't be surprised to find Sportsters outselling V-Rods by a wide margin.  It seems that nothing in their lineup is selling all that well other than baggers.  If it weren't for the Street Glides and E-glides, Harley would be in a world of hurt right now.  But they keep kicking the can down the road, until the road dead ends.


Jerry

As we've discussed before on this forum, Harley's aging demographics are working against the MoCo.  I never figured out where the Vrod was supposed to fit in.  It was an attractive bike, but who was supposed to be the target?  Too expensive for younger riders and not "Harley" enough for the baby boomers. 

[tdkkart]

I never figured out where the Vrod was supposed to fit in.  It was an attractive bike, but who was supposed to be the target?  Too expensive for younger riders and not "Harley" enough for the baby boomers.

 Too rice for the Harley folks, not enough go for the ricers. For an engine with Harleys name on it it was OK, but was still a turd in the sport bike crowd.
Sportys are selling to the gangsta crowd who will eventually move up.
I think their demographics have changed somewhat over the last 15 years.
I bought my first bagger in 2002 when I was 37yo and I was one of the youngest around with a bagger.
Now the Street Glide and Road Glide are selling to the 20-somethings.

Harley has been selling to old folks for over 110 years, apparently it's not a failing business plan. 

[ice6900]

I have also heard that the V-Rod could be replaced by a 1000cc Street

[mark]

Too rice for the Harley folks, not enough go for the ricers. For an engine with Harleys name on it it was OK, but was still a turd in the sport bike crowd.
Sportys are selling to the gangsta crowd who will eventually move up.
I think their demographics have changed somewhat over the last 15 years.
I bought my first bagger in 2002 when I was 37yo and I was one of the youngest around with a bagger.
Now the Street Glide and Road Glide are selling to the 20-somethings.

Harley has been selling to old folks for over 110 years, apparently it's not a failing business plan.

Actually the SG and RG are not selling to 20 year olds, that's the problem.  Sales and demographic info show this to be true.  I've posted this before, the link will take you to a Forbes article on the topic.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2013/11/13/harley-davidsons-downfall-baby-boomer-demographics/

[Twolanerider]

Though I've never owned one have ridden several and would hate to see the V-Rods go away.  Sure, they're not the greatest handling bikes; and I'd not want to ride one any great distance either.  But for just blowing down the highway for a couple hours they are a fun bike.  Leave it to Harley to shelve the only real even close to modern engine in their stable.

[J-Carr]

My son has a V-Rod and I've put a few miles on it.  I'm not sure why the negatives on handling unless your talking low speed parking lot maneuvers.  At speed that bike turns just fine.  The only thing it needs is more lean angle.  The kids about worn through peg set 2.  Now, if your tring to compare it a sport bike, sure it sucks.  But compared to a softail or a full dresser wallowing down the road?  It's a dang site better.

I love the engine.  For my kid, its been reliable.  It seems that people say they've heard they all break all the time, or the other half say its bullet proof.  But since no one actually owns one or knows anyone who actually owns one... not sure where these stats come from. 

The street may be the same engine with a smaller displacement.  It may be more nimble for city hipsters.  But it ain't got no style.  That thing is but ugly bleh and it feels cheap as hell when you sit on it.  I haven't ridden one but I sure wouldn't want one.  It may be the MoCos future for the revolution engine, but I'd sure rather have a V-Rod in my garage.

One other note - A while back on another forum I speculated about HD using that engine in a real touring bike.  Not the V-Rod hang a road glide on it thing.  But actually using a revolution engine in a touring frame (It won't fit in a current HD touring frame).  The answers/comments seem to be that they can't use it because of torque or design because it had a frame designed around it.  It seems to me that the Street pretty much proves that you can put that engine in another frame (Duh... I knew you could) and certainly a little gearing change could make it work for a heavier bike (lower the ratio and add a sixth gear for highway cruising).  I wonder why Harley won't look to more than hipsters with that engine?

[DCFIREMANN]

My son has a V-Rod and I've put a few miles on it.  I'm not sure why the negatives on handling unless your talking low speed parking lot maneuvers.  At speed that bike turns just fine.  The only thing it needs is more lean angle.  The kids about worn through peg set 2.  Now, if your tring to compare it a sport bike, sure it sucks.  But compared to a softail or a full dresser wallowing down the road?  It's a dang site better.

I love the engine.  For my kid, its been reliable.  It seems that people say they've heard they all break all the time, or the other half say its bullet proof.  But since no one actually owns one or knows anyone who actually owns one... not sure where these stats come from. 

The street may be the same engine with a smaller displacement.  It may be more nimble for city hipsters.  But it ain't got no style.  That thing is but ugly bleh and it feels cheap as hell when you sit on it.  I haven't ridden one but I sure wouldn't want one.  It may be the MoCos future for the revolution engine, but I'd sure rather have a V-Rod in my garage.

One other note - A while back on another forum I speculated about HD using that engine in a real touring bike.  Not the V-Rod hang a road glide on it thing.  But actually using a revolution engine in a touring frame (It won't fit in a current HD touring frame).  The answers/comments seem to be that they can't use it because of torque or design because it had a frame designed around it.  It seems to me that the Street pretty much proves that you can put that engine in another frame (Duh... I knew you could) and certainly a little gearing change could make it work for a heavier bike (lower the ratio and add a sixth gear for highway cruising).  I wonder why Harley won't look to more than hipsters with that engine?

What year??? The earlier years had a different rake. I know the SE Vrod I had was an 05 and it did not corner well.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[J-Carr]

His is an '08 VRSCAW - The AW is for Ass Wide.  It sucks trying to do tight parking lot turns or pulling out right into a 90 degree right like from a stop sign or traffic light.  But once its rolling it sweeps through the turns plenty fast enough for me (and him).  It will support a hard lean but the pegs scrape pretty early and he's gone through the feelers and is now grinding the Kury switchbacks he's got on it now.  He tore the hell out of the factory pegs real quick.

[FlaHeatWave]

One thing the V-Rod did was win some NHRA Drag Racing Championships with Vance & Hines, but now you see Buell and S&S being very competitive with air cooled? motors.

I too, thought that the V-Rod was destined for a Touring Platform...

[tpcrawford]

I owned a 2007 VRSCAW for 7 years, never a moments problem with that revolution engine.    Check over at 1130cc.com  .....    In my opinion, the revolution engine is the best Harley has ever made.  Many folks on 1130cc.com have well over 100,000 miles on their bike with no engine problems at all.   2007 was the first year for the "W" wide tire .... and yes, it did make you work to get it into the corners.   I had mine setup for long distance riding, sundowner seat with gel, extended reach pegs and nice hand grips.   Does a V-Rod compare to a touring bike for long distance travel ? ..... everyone will have their own opinion on that one 

I enjoyed my V-Rod and was sorry to see it go but, I love my CVO Limited !!