Design
Due to its specific appearance and non-standard layout, some Russian bikers awarded the model the contemptuous nickname “U-Rod,” hinting at the original name. But not everyone agrees with this point of view; many consider the bike to be the standard of style in the power cruiser . Looking at the photo, the reason for such polar opinions becomes clear - this motorcycle looks very strange compared to other equipment produced by Harley Davidson.
Specifications
For the Harley Davidson company, the development of the V-Rod line was a new experience. Some controversial solutions were used in the design, but overall it turned out to be very successful and balanced. If desired, the owner can always customize the bike to suit himself, having received a unique Harley-Davidson V Rod Custom, if the money is enough.
Engine
Innovative for its time, the overhead V-twin Revolution is liquid-cooled, the cylinder angle is 60 degrees instead of the classic 45. Depending on the version, it produces up to 125 hp. and 117 Nm of torque. The engine loves high revs, which distinguishes it from the engines of most cruisers.
Transmission
The classic 5-speed gearbox , and the absence of a sixth gear is felt at high speed. Torque is transmitted to the rear wheel via a belt drive , which perfectly minimizes power loss compared to a cardan and has a longer service life than a chain.
Chassis and brakes
The bike received a stamped steel frame assembled from individual elements, which facilitates customization. Suspensions depend on the version, and vary from conventional to progressive Showa. The brakes on the first generations are not effective enough - given the incredible dynamics, they do not correspond to the technical characteristics of the engine. But on later generations they were modernized and improved.
Electronics
There are no auxiliary systems, with the exception of ABS (from 2006 as an additional option). The on-board electrical network is extremely reliable.
Weight and dimensions
The low seat height and low center of gravity make the bike very easy to ride. The weight depends on the modification, and ranges from 281 to 307 kg without taking into account possible tuning - with it the weight of the Harley Davidson V Rod Custom can differ either up or down.
Controllability
The power cruiser has excellent directional stability thanks to the fork angle and wide rear wheel . For the same reason, its maneuverability at low speed can only be called tolerable, which corresponds to the characteristics of this class of motorcycle.
Fuel consumption
When riding quietly, the bike consumes 5-5.5 liters of gasoline per 100 km. If you drive aggressively, the figure can double. A similar result can be achieved when driving at maximum speed on the highway.
Wheelbase
Separately, I would like to talk about the wheels of the V Rod model. From the factory, the motorcycle is sold with a 19-inch front disc and an 18-inch rear disc. Most likely, this was done more to give the appearance of the motorcycle a little brutality, since the rear tire is 240 millimeters wide. This size, by the way, allows you to feel the motorcycle better, and when riding the bike gets fairly good grip on the road. But here it’s immediately worth noting that factory tires are not suitable for racing, even at the entry level. It’s better to move around on it calmly, sometimes twisting the throttle, since it’s pointless to do this from the start - the wheel just spins and the tires wear off. This model has quite a lot of potential, but in order to fully realize it you will have to install quite expensive tires intended for racing.
Motorcycle price
All Harley V-Rod modifications have been discontinued, so they are no longer sold in dealerships. The latest was the Harley Davidson V Rod Muscle, discontinued in 2021 . Any modification can be bought on the secondary market for reasonable money - the price of the oldest copies starts from 500 thousand rubles , but newer motorcycles are noticeably more expensive.
Harley-Davidson VRSCF V-rod Muscle motorcycle test
The Harley-Davidson V-Rod is a historic product. And fortunately, it’s not an anniversary one at all. This is now years ago (although only ten years have passed - also a long time ago for me!) Some believe that the motorcycle with the factory name VRSC and the completely un-Harley decoding V-Twin Racing Street Custom appeared for the centennial anniversary of the brand. Firstly, not for the anniversary, and secondly, he might not have appeared.
It all started with the fact that a sports virus appeared from somewhere in the leading Harley heads. Either the prevention did not help, or the treatment was late - in a word, they decided to implement the project. Those who want to see the results can search the Internet for Harley-Davidson VR-1000, but for this story, the most important part of the project is the engine part. Firstly, unlike a sportbike, it still lives and even wins, and secondly, despite its age of almost a decade and a half, it still bears the name Revolution.
Why "revolution"?
Because, unlike the canonical Harleys, the cylinder block of this “we-twin” has a camber angle of 60 degrees, it has overhead camshafts and water cooling, that is, everything that ordinary HD cruisers could easily do without for decades, but without which a sportbike simply could not survive.
A simple example: partial water cooling was used on the Harley-Davidson touring family only last year, as one of the components of the Rushmore project.
Of course, the Americans could not have pulled off such engine-building madness alone, and they called on the Germans from Porsche for help. It was German engineering potential that made it possible to create an extremely powerful and very light (for Harley, of course) engine.
And it is thanks to them that, by simply pressing the starter button, I awaken to life the heir of that same “revolution”: only now under the air filter housing (which many still consider to be a gas tank) there are 1250 cubic meters and 119 horsepower. And the exhaust sound is not at all like the classic American “potato” (flashes in the engines of “big Harleys” occur unevenly, which is why the exhaust sound resembles the English word Potato). What kind of potatoes are there? This is real molecular gastronomy! Welcome to the world of foamed herring and beef ice cream!
So, there is the classic “Harley Heretic” set: an inverted fork, an overhead water-cooled motor, a fuel tank under the seat... Even the seating position is more like a classic one, so I, a person about 185 cm tall, have no problems controlling the motorcycle with my knees - just like on a classic .
The combination of all these factors leads to an unexpected result - the V-Rod Muscle steers.
Moreover, it steers clearly, confidently and even recklessly. The engine has enough thrust everywhere and always, however, for confident jerks you have to more skillfully grab the throttle - it has a very long stroke.
I confess, I played checkers, caused neurotic fits in my downstream neighbors, but literally after a few maneuvers I pulled myself together - a man on a motorcycle worth nearly a million (this is without the optional backrest and some other additionally installed unnecessary things) must behave with dignity.
Yeah, of course - dignity and sedateness were enough for about three minutes.
What about traffic jams? Of course, a massive cruiser is about as good as a hammer for a corkscrew, but the Muscle handled that too: first gear, rear brake, a little clutch slip if needed, and no sign of stalling left or right.
The pinnacle of our joint activity was the conquest of a suburban roadside that had become muddy from the rain. Surprisingly, the wide rear roller is suitable, it turns out, not only for confidently tumbling into turns.
Turning is something the V-Rod loves in a very un-Harley way. Sometimes it seemed to me that the “scarecrows” on the running boards needed to be made longer - like on the Softail Breakout model, for example. Because an unprepared chopper driver can, at any time, exceed the limits of his own skill. And in this case, the only thing that can help him in this case is ABS - Harleys don’t use anything more advanced yet.
However, you still need to be able to provoke Muscle. Even in long turns, even in the rain and in strong winds, the motorcycle remains stable, as if the Germans, without asking the American customer, hid a gyroscope in the engine.
Does it have any disadvantages? Well, besides the price? There are, but they are rather stylistic, like Sinyavsky’s disagreements with the Soviet regime. Well, the V-Rod does not harmonize with the column of canonical Harley-Davidsons.
There are also practical disadvantages. For example, putting saddlebags on Muscle is like canceling out the work of the designers. So it turns out that the best-riding Harley is completely unsuitable for the role of transport for every day. Simply because you can only take your wallet with you.
Maybe nothing else is needed?
Repair and tuning
All Harley-Davidson motorcycles have a multimillion-dollar army of fans, and everyone who is not too lazy makes money from them. In addition to genuine parts and upgrades, the HD V Rod is available with options from dozens of other manufacturers.
Repair
Despite its modern and relatively complex design, the motorcycle is repairable, and most operations can be performed in your own garage. There would be tools and skills.
Spare parts
The cost of original parts is comparable to the price of spare parts for Japanese bikes. Non-original, often not inferior in quality, costs even less. You can buy anything, from consumables to a new engine.
Tuning
No motorcycle in the world has as much tuning available as any Harley Davidson. V-Rod was no exception; you can change everything in it to your taste, without exception. Some craftsmen even install a full-fledged gas tank instead of a false tank to increase the power reserve.
Background
This model has quite a long history, since the first V-Rod was released back in 2002. As soon as the new Harley was introduced to the general public, a lot of criticism flew towards the V-Rod model. One part of the brand’s fans considered it almost perfect, while the other completely refused to accept the new motorcycle. The reason for this controversy was the new engine, which was now equipped with water cooling. In honor of this, the new engine received an exclusive name - “Revolution”. However, the most dissatisfied were the avid fans of the Harley Davidson brand, who were supporters of the classic design of the motorcycle. The rest of the two-wheeled enthusiasts found the installation of water cooling on the new Harley Davidson V Rod quite successful.
Over several years of active work, several modifications were made to this model, each of which revealed the motorcycle and its appearance from a slightly different perspective. In addition, after some time everyone came to terms with the new cooling system, since, following the Harleys, manufacturers from other companies began installing water cooling in their motorcycles. It turned out that the Harley Davidson V Rod became one of the first motorcycles to receive the new product.
Motorcycle modifications
- VRSCA (2002-2006) . The first modification with a 1130 cc engine and a 180 mm rear tire.
- VRSCAW (2007-2010) . 17kg heavier, with a 240mm rear roller. Later versions had a 1247 cc engine.
- VRSCB (2004-2005) . From a technical point of view, it is completely identical to the very first model, but differs in design.
- VRSCD Night Rod (2006-2008) . The foot controls have been moved closer to the driver, creating a more upright and collected riding position. Depending on the year of manufacture, it was equipped with one of the two above-mentioned engines. The frame and engine were painted black.
- VRSCDX Night Rod Special (2007-2017) . It differs in coloring and exhaust system.
- VRSCF V-Rod Muscle (2009-2017) . Stubby exhaust, forward foot controls, 1247cc engine, slipper clutch and increased torque to 117Nm, available at lower revs than other bikes in the range.
- VRSCSE Screaming Eagle CVO V-Rod (2005) . It differed from the standard modification in coloring, plenty of chrome and other little things.
- VRSCSE2 Screaming Eagle CVO V-Rod (2006) . Similar to the previous model, but additionally equipped with a 240 mm rear wheel instead of 180 mm.
- VRSCR Street Rod (2006-2007) . It had an inverted Showa fork instead of the usual one, Brembo brakes and the highest saddle height in its model range (76 mm), as well as an increased fork angle from 32 to 40 degrees. Sold mainly on the European market.
- VRSCX V-Rod (2007) . The bike received forward foot control mechanisms, a 240 mm rear wheel and a unique color scheme. Only 1,400 copies were produced.
- VRXCE V-Rod Destroyer (2006) . A small-scale modification (646 copies produced), created specifically for drag racing and not allowed for driving on public roads. The most powerful Harley in the entire line.
Pleasant advantages of this model
The new Harley Davidson V Rod is somewhat different from previous motorcycles. The first thing that is very important for buyers is the presence of modifications. The modern V-Rod has two.
Night Rod Special
This modification is distinguished by an exclusive dark color and the absence of chrome surfaces. The motorcycle has a very aggressive and intimidating appearance, as well as increased torque.
V Rod Muscle
In appearance, this is a simpler model, although compared to the Night Rod, it costs a little more. In fact, these two modifications are distinguished only by their appearance. In the Muscle version we have the opportunity to choose our own color, and we also get chrome elements as standard. The Night Rod version has neither of these, which is why it received the additional word “Special”.
Another nice feature is the presence of the ABS system. Moreover, it is available even in the simplest configuration of the V Rod model. You can also note the exclusive look and new engine.
Advantages and disadvantages
Any V-Rod is significantly different from other Harley Davidsons. This is where both its strengths and weaknesses come from.
Advantages
- Crazy acceleration dynamics . The motorcycle has so much torque that the asphalt under its rear wheel rolls up.
- High reliability . The Harley Davidson V-Rod does not have the disadvantages common to many American motorcycles, such as irritating vibrations, excess weight and low reliability of individual components.
- Low saddle height . Thanks to this, physically handling the bike is easy even for not the strongest motorcyclist. The center of mass shifted down also makes its contribution.
- Abundance of tuning and spare parts . You can buy anything you want, and in dozens of variations for each position.
Flaws
- High speed engine . Cruisers are used to having torque available from low revs, but the V Rod needs to be revved up to keep it moving dynamically.
- Compact sizes . This may not be regarded as a negative, but many bikers find the seating position on the V Rod too cramped, with their legs tucked under them.
- A small gas tank coupled with high fuel consumption. You will have to stop by the gas station often.
- Lack of 6th gear in the gearbox. The main reason for the dissatisfaction of most owners.
Owner reviews
I bought a used VRSCX in 2015, limited edition, probably no one else like it in the whole city. In fact, it’s an ordinary Harley Davidson Virot, but it looks a little different; connoisseurs of the brand immediately see the difference. Wherever you go, you are always in the spotlight)) Sergey, St. Petersburg.
The motorcycle is crazy, the suspension is super (tuned), the brakes are tenacious, the seating position is comfortable. The standard seats are comparable in comfort to a wobbly stool; it is advisable to change or at least sew in gel. You can put on a windshield and safely travel long distances, I drove from Moscow to Europe on a tour for almost three weeks, the only inconvenience was the volume of the tank, I took with me a special 3-liter canister. True, it was not useful, but it was calmer. Dmitry, Moscow.
A very strange mot, I personally didn’t like it. Before this I drove an Electra Glide with an 88 twincam, I was used to tractor traction at the bottom, but here it’s not there - the engine in the Muscle version is torsional, you need to keep the revs to go. It was unusual after a classic cruiser, but I couldn’t get used to it over the course of the season and ended up selling the car. Victor, Novorossiysk.
FAQ
- How does a 240mm roller perform in corners? Is the motorcycle trying to roll over on its side? Such a wide rear tire makes maneuvering at low speed a little difficult, but not at all critical.
- What wrenches are needed for maintenance, inch or metric? Both. The Harley V Rod engine is built on the metric system, almost everything else is built on the inch system.
- Is there a big difference between the different modifications? Or is it just the look of the motorcycles basically, the design and everything else? The difference is significant. It consists of engine settings, the location of controls and suspensions with brakes.
Conclusion
Any motorcycle in the V-Rod line fully justifies the title of power cruiser, be it a Harley Davidson V Rod Muscle or some VRSCB. If you want to join the community of owners of this model, if you have the appropriate budget, it is best to look towards models equipped with the latest modification of the Revolution engine (1247 cc) and modern Brembo brakes, which were absent on earlier versions.
Specifications
| Maximum engine power: | 119 hp at 8000 rpm HP |
| Torque: | 113 N•m at 6250 rpm Nm |
| Working volume: | 1247 cm3 |
| Motor type (cylinder arrangement, number of strokes): | V-shaped |
| Number of cylinders: | 2 |
| Number of valves: | |
| Intake type (Injector / Carburetor): | |
| Bore and stroke: | |
| Starting system (Electric starter, kick starter): | |
| Cooling system: | Liquid cooling |
| Transmission (gearbox): | 5-speed, manual |
| Clutch (Dry / Wet): | |
| Drive unit: | Belt |
| Frame: | Steel |
| Chassis | |
| Suspension (front/rear travel): | |
| Brakes (Front/Rear): | |
| Wheels / Tires / Rubber: | |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Dimensions (Length / Width): | |
| Seat height: | |
| Ground clearance: | |
| Curb weight: | |
| Wheelbase: | 1700 mm |
| Weight: | from 281 to 307 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 18.9 l. |
| Battery capacity: | |
| Year of release: | |
| Country of Origin: |
Technical features of Harley Davidson V Rod
As for the technical part of this model, there is something to discuss. It’s probably worth starting with the engine, since it has become a kind of highlight in the new Harley. In addition to installing water cooling, the engine received a cylinder camber angle of 60 degrees, as well as an overhead camshaft. In the V-Rod model, engineers decided to make the engine exactly like this for the first time. The fact is that on old Harleys the cylinder angle was 45 degrees, and a lower valve timing mechanism was used. However, this time, Harley Davidson set the task of extracting more power from the engine. Then it was decided to borrow the idea from sports motorcycles, which even then had a cylinder angle of 60 degrees.
By the way, there is a myth among motorcyclists that this engine was developed jointly with, but in fact this is not entirely true. The fact is that the Porsche concern has a department that tests and tests new engines. After development, the engine from the new V Rod was sent there in order to receive proposals for its improvement and refinement.
If we talk specifically about numbers, the V-twin engine of the new Harley Davidson V Rod received two cylinders, which in total produce a volume of 1250 cm3. The motorcycle's power was 119 horsepower, and quite good torque - 113 N/m. The listed characteristics allow you to accelerate the motorcycle to 223 km/h. For a model with a dry weight of almost 300 kg, this is considered a fairly good result. By the way, we were also pleased with the consumption; as the manufacturer assures us, the V-Rod consumes 6.3 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle.
