Im planning on buying a Rocker very soon but i keep going back and looking a that blacked out night rod special. It is a neck snaper for sure, at least as much as the rocker. Anyway I know that MSRP is a good deal on a Rocker but what is a good deal on one of these specials? Are they below MSRP? I know it starts out a couple grand less than the rocker but if you can get another few grand off from there,that might put me over the top on the Rod. How do these 2 bikes compare? I know that because of the chopper style of the rocker the V-Rod will handle better right? How does power compare? and also comfort and ride quality? I plan to go test ride on monday but I dont think theyll have a rocker to test so that makes it kind of hard...

 

I was at a show this weekend. There was a new blacked out Nrod in one of the dealer booths. Proce tag was either 17,999 or 18,999. Can't remember. Just the tag was there - no msrp was present.

 

The two bikes are very hard to compare. First off the Vrod will smoke anything else that HD makes when it comes to power. It has 120hp in stock form and has the suspensions and handling to use it. The problem most riders find is that if your used to and A/C motor with the lower rpm bandwith then riding the Vrod will take some getting used to. The power doesn't really start to come on until around 4k, but then it will haul a$$ all the way to 9k. Once you get used to it there is no way you can go back. I rented a StreetGlide while on vacation and couldn't believe how disappointed I was in the throttle response. I can't say anything about comfort since I haven't ridden the Rocker, but I will say that after seeing one in person it look rather cheaply made. Not at all what I would expect from HD. Pricing will vary between dealer, but if your patient and are will to travel you can get the bike below MSRP. Get the Vrod and you'll never regret your decision.

 

Given the popularity of the DX, you find any deals on them. IF you can even a FIND a D there won't be any discounts on it either. One dealer I know says he suspects the Ds are going to Europe. He was allocated 2 for each year of the Ds. They were all sold before they got to his shop. DXs are gone as soon as they hit the floor.
I Imagine the Rocker handles like any other HD aircooled bike. Maybe a little worse with the extra rake. On the day we picked up our D we went ahead and test rode all the Dyna and Soft Tail models just to be sure the D really was the bike we wanted. We had already ridden all the VRSCs. All the airheads were a let down. We even tested a lot of the import bikes the same day we tested the Night Rod. (Gotta love those big cycle shows!!) The Night Rod is the right bike for us. We weren't going for looks or trying to impress the neighbors. We searched for 3 1/2 years for the bike that had the rideability we wanted. All I can tell you is test them and get bike you want that fits your needs. Personally, I love the looks of the DX but I don't care for riding them.

 

The DX has its own riding style, with the wide rear tire it can be a handful at slower speeds. I do love the looks however. I am used to riding sportbikes, so the power of even the V Rods does not impress me much. Maybe if they lost 100 pounds or so. They are cool bikes none the less.
The Rockers are just another Harley in a different style, if you like it, get one. You wont be happy unless you get what you want.

 

Local dealer has two 08 Night Rod Specials, One flat black with vivid black stripes and one vivid black with silver stripes. They've been there for the last month or so. Either oneat around K19.6K OTD. They alsohad a month or so ago, an '07 (regular Vrod) at $15K OTD, it was gone the same day. I also like the '08 NR looks and was pondering the possibility of replacing my FB for it. It'll be interesting to see if any'08 NR specials will be unsold by the time the '09 models roll out (June - July??). I'm sure the head honchos at HD must be working something out for this model to sell better,maybe a 6 speed withmore HP??, why not a larger tank (6 gal.)androomier passenger seat. And as a long shot, I'd also make the rear tire standard at 200 and the 240 as an option. The FB would be gone just like that. Oh well time will tell.

 

I got mine for 15,999 out the door, so it was like 14 somethin' + Q@*$Q


Waltman I agree with some of your critiques of the VRSC line, but I think they really are a baddass bunch of bikes. I think they should bring the R back. I think ultimately the reason they don't sell as well as the air-heads is marketing/attitude. Also folks fixated on size/engine displacement numbers more than performance. But really I think it's marketing, and brining the VRSCs into the HD mainstream...

I think just exposure helps... I mean 99% of the people who buy a big V-Twin will do at least a stage I to get it sounding like a "Harley", not to mention all other sorts of mods. I think because of limited sales/production, the public doesn't have the exposure to tricked out VRSCs. More than even most HDs, they come out of the factory sounding like a sewing machine... and allot of folks don't like the headlight setup on any of the models... those are all very easy things to change-out.

It's funny... around here at the local HD shop all the guys serious riders on the floor and guys in back love the VRSC line... it's the guys that show up decked out in leather... and the finance/managers who seem hostile to them... who knows.

They have also kept production ridiculously low! I mean too low. Like I've been waiting almost two months now for parts on backorder because they just ain't making them...