v-rods. the good and the bad.
#41
08-01-2007, 09:06 PM
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
Interesting thread and good timing. I have a Road King Custom but am strongly considering a Night Rod Special. Loved the looks of them when I first saw them and finally saw one on the dealers floor this past weekend. I couldn't stop staring. I called Monday and am actually approved currently to purchase the bike but know I'll need to sell the Road King. On the flip side with the power it has and the majority of my rides being under a 100 miles at a time I know I'd ride the hell out of it. I love my Road King but the Night Rod Special is like the hot new girl when you've been with old faithful for a few years. I need to make my mind up by tomorrow really, I'm real torn.
#42
08-01-2007, 09:28 PM
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: Greybeardrider
I can't quite put my finger on any specific thing about it,...maybe the headlight, or the gauges,.....I think it has a lot to do with it looking so radically different from the "traditional Harley look".......I have thought many times about renting one for a day just to see for myself,....maybe I'll just do that,.....
I can't quite put my finger on any specific thing about it,...maybe the headlight, or the gauges,.....I think it has a lot to do with it looking so radically different from the "traditional Harley look".......I have thought many times about renting one for a day just to see for myself,....maybe I'll just do that,.....
#43
08-01-2007, 09:31 PM
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: RED E GLIDE
Actually there is only one V-twin cruiser that out performs it. The Suzuki
M109R Limited. 1783 cc's with 129 HP as opposed to the V-rod 1140 cc's
with 115 Hp. The Suzuki weighs more, It has a bigger engine and is only slightly faster! It took Suzuki a 50% larger engine to beat the Harley!
Hats of to Harley (and porsche for the head design).
I rode one that a friend rented and I want one. I went to trade in my 05
EGC but couldn't handle the trade in offer or I would have one.
I'll go ride ride my slow bike now!
Actually there is only one V-twin cruiser that out performs it. The Suzuki
M109R Limited. 1783 cc's with 129 HP as opposed to the V-rod 1140 cc's
with 115 Hp. The Suzuki weighs more, It has a bigger engine and is only slightly faster! It took Suzuki a 50% larger engine to beat the Harley!
Hats of to Harley (and porsche for the head design).
I rode one that a friend rented and I want one. I went to trade in my 05
EGC but couldn't handle the trade in offer or I would have one.
I'll go ride ride my slow bike now!
MEASURED TOP SPEED
V-Rod: 137mph
M109: 128mph
0 - 1/4 MILE
V-Rod: 11.38sec
M109: 11.62sec
0-60MPH
V-Rod: 3.52sec
M109: 3.65sec
0-100MPH
V-Rod: 8.22sec
M109: 8.87sec
POWER TO WEIGHT
V-Rod: 1:5.99
M109: 1:7.26
BRAKING 60-0 MPH (FEET)
V-Rod: 109.5
M109: 135.4
#44
08-01-2007, 11:30 PM
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
On my second V-Rod. Owned an '03 for almost four years before selling it last autumn. Zero issues with it. They are fantastic as an "only" bike, and they are a fantastic complement to a big twin. It only took two months for me to recognize how much I missed the V-Rod after selling it, and picked up the VRSCDX back in Feb. Just returned from a 75 mile dinner ride. Sublime.
FWIW, there isn't a power cruiser touching it performance wise. I don't consider the V-Max a "cruiser" and the M109 does fall short, with its huge heft and size a liability. So I don't buy this crap it is passed up by the competition. The opposite is true... after six years on the market it still is #1 and the new '08's now have the 1250cc displacement. Additionally, it routinely outhandles the competition in reviews.
The exhaust note is powerful. One hears it andthinks "race". Twist the throttle above 4K RPMs and hold on tight... for a long time as the tach climbs another 5K. Unless sharing the road with race replicas, this thing will walk if not run away from most anything else on the road. Park it in a sea of other cruisers, and all others blend in and fade into the background while this thing stands out...
In the cold, gray, and rain it appears expecially menacing...
FWIW, there isn't a power cruiser touching it performance wise. I don't consider the V-Max a "cruiser" and the M109 does fall short, with its huge heft and size a liability. So I don't buy this crap it is passed up by the competition. The opposite is true... after six years on the market it still is #1 and the new '08's now have the 1250cc displacement. Additionally, it routinely outhandles the competition in reviews.
The exhaust note is powerful. One hears it andthinks "race". Twist the throttle above 4K RPMs and hold on tight... for a long time as the tach climbs another 5K. Unless sharing the road with race replicas, this thing will walk if not run away from most anything else on the road. Park it in a sea of other cruisers, and all others blend in and fade into the background while this thing stands out...
In the cold, gray, and rain it appears expecially menacing...
#45
08-02-2007, 06:22 AM
Tourer
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: HD7585
I like them but am disappointed that they still can't run like the metrics. When they were being developed i thought nothing would touch them in performance, but that's not the case. Most performance metrics can run circles around them.............Bummer
I like them but am disappointed that they still can't run like the metrics. When they were being developed i thought nothing would touch them in performance, but that's not the case. Most performance metrics can run circles around them.............Bummer
#46
08-02-2007, 06:30 AM
Tourer
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: HD7585
I saw an episode of Pinks about 6 months ago where a 1980 's era metric bone stock kicked the V rods *** easily. That was with 1980's metric technology.
I saw an episode of Pinks about 6 months ago where a 1980 's era metric bone stock kicked the V rods *** easily. That was with 1980's metric technology.
#47
08-02-2007, 07:01 AM
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RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: triple buzz
Your sure about this ? What metrics ? The M109-think not, worrior-think again- Rocket 3 -maybe but not circles around it . Only metric that will take it is a V-max which is more UJM than power cruiser.
ORIGINAL: HD7585
I like them but am disappointed that they still can't run like the metrics. When they were being developed i thought nothing would touch them in performance, but that's not the case. Most performance metrics can run circles around them.............Bummer
I like them but am disappointed that they still can't run like the metrics. When they were being developed i thought nothing would touch them in performance, but that's not the case. Most performance metrics can run circles around them.............Bummer
#48
08-02-2007, 07:26 AM
Tourer
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: WaterBuffalo
crotch rockets.
ORIGINAL: triple buzz
Your sure about this ? What metrics ? The M109-think not, worrior-think again- Rocket 3 -maybe but not circles around it . Only metric that will take it is a V-max which is more UJM than power cruiser.
ORIGINAL: HD7585
I like them but am disappointed that they still can't run like the metrics. When they were being developed i thought nothing would touch them in performance, but that's not the case. Most performance metrics can run circles around them.............Bummer
I like them but am disappointed that they still can't run like the metrics. When they were being developed i thought nothing would touch them in performance, but that's not the case. Most performance metrics can run circles around them.............Bummer
#49
08-02-2007, 08:41 AM
RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
starson - I think that bike looks absolutely filthy and I know it screams compared to my RKC. I really am beating myself up over this decision. I love that bike.
#50
08-02-2007, 09:45 AM
Road Master
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RE: v-rods. the good and the bad.
ORIGINAL: rockymtnroads
starson - I think that bike looks absolutely filthy and I know it screams compared to my RKC. I really am beating myself up over this decision. I love that bike.
starson - I think that bike looks absolutely filthy and I know it screams compared to my RKC. I really am beating myself up over this decision. I love that bike.
If you wish you'd gotten Rod instead of an RKC I feel bad for you bro. I mean, that's like my going to a Chevy dealerand driving off with an Avalanche then realizing it was a Corvette I was looking for. Whew, that's pretty messed up.