[longride]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

To see the new V-Rod, go to www.harley-davidson.com and look at the top of the page. They have a picture and some Flash movies available for viewing. Looks pretty cool, but I'll stick with that new Triumph Speed III, I think.

 

[Chango]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

I'm not so sure I like the GSX-R styling on the tank, but it looks like there's yet another cruiser that can handle better than I can.

I do like the mid-mount foot controls. I've never understood how anyone could have as much control or feel from the bike with the forward controls. Maybe it's just because I've got short legs, but I prefer the mid-mount or feet-up-under-the-bootyhole control placement.

Good for Harley-Davidson for trying something a bit different.

Chango

 

[nokneedragin]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

I don't understand the devotion to 19" rims. With most sport(ing) bikes sporting 17" rims, I think they missed a little with that decision. I wonder what an after market set of rims (17") would do to the styling and performance. Definatly be tough to get uglier than the factory rims it comes with.

 

[3833]

GASP! SHOCK!

Gasp: Controls under your feet! Wheels that don't get blown around! Real brakes! A less-raked-out front end! An end-can which doesn't compromise cornering so much! (Lean angle claims of 40 degrees vs 31 for the normal V-rod and 32 degrees for the sportster)

It actually looks to be a rideable MOTORCYCLE! GASP! SHOCK!

Seriously, this is the FIRST Harley I could actually see riding. Well, if it didn't cost over 2x what a CBR-600-RR does...

 

[48152]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

THE 883R is back as well...anyway VRSCR is 16-17k :-(...cool idea though

 

[seruzawa]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

Could we be seeing the end of the stupid feet-in-front-of-the-front-wheel "custom" look? Note: If everybody has it, it's not custom.

The 883R looks sweet. Now HD just needs to come up with a cafe variant. Put some life into the cafe class along with Triumph.

I see on some hop-up Sportster pages that an 883 with 1200 jugs gets better power due to a better cylinderhead shape than the stock 1200s. Cheaper, too.

 

[30968]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

It was bound to happen eventually ... The Motor Company finally made a bike I'd like to own...

 

[35244]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

Veeerrrryyy interesting!

As a motorcyclist, "what took so long?"

As a businessman, "looks like the cruiser growth curve has either already started sagging or the marketing folks can see it coming out on the horizon."

In either case, good for them and good for us!

Looks like the first Harley I'd consider since the XLCR.

 

[pdad13]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

I would love to see a V-Rod-based cafe racer. Bring it on.

 

[35377]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

I’m impressed! Glad to see that The Motor Company is doing something worthwhile with those record profits. Now, what are the odds I’ll be able to demo one?

 

[1747]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

wow if Suzuki had built that ten yrs ago we'd be saying that is the Ugliest H-D rip-off ever.

 

[4940]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

It's good to see Harley finally comming around to making motorcycles for those that aren't solely interested in posing. While the 30 degree rake on the forks is laughable, it is still a move in the right direction. The mid mounted foot controls and the addition of an extra gallon of capacity in the gas tank , also show that Harley has become aware of the short commings of the first V-Rod design. VWW

 

[32819]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

They did everything I told the dealer they should do (after I rode one). With the exeption of putting one muffler on each side - to further improve looks and ground clearance. Now, if they could get it on a diet to lose about 100 lbs, take that nasty tank decal off (c'mon H-D, put a nice chrome nameplate there instead), THEN we'd be talking. Great $12,500 motorcycle. Pity it's 17K....

 

[1747]

and another thing...

I can tell by looking it's not half the sportbike a buell xb12s is and no faster in a straight line either given the weight.

 

[Steven_Verschoor]

Wait a minute...

Wait a minute. What are you getting at?

Are you trying to say that Harley doesn't build good sport bikes?

 

[34142]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

I agree that the Buell is a better real-world sportbike, but I don't think that's exactly where they want to go with this one. I thought maybe they'd come up with a sport-touring version of the V-ROD next, but a performance-oriented model with a "standard" riding position also makes sense. I'm interested (pricey, though)

 

[48152]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

I bet that cafe racer would sell as well as the XLCR...

 

[15052]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

Pricey? Maybe, but the Rocket 3 is $15,990, and the Victory Hammer is $16,495, same as the new V-Rod. So at least it's in the same (expensive) ballpark.

Not bad to look at either...

 

[SmokeU]

Re: The V-Rod for the rest of us!

Looks like it still has that itsy bitsy fuel tank and will probably get worse mileage than the standard V-Rod.

Count me out.

 

[1747]

Re: Wait a minute...

well it all depends on your definition of sport doesn't it? this one kind of looks like some weird 60s british twin but heavier.