Why They Stopped Making the V Rod
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
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I love my 2005 VRSCSE CVO V-Rod. At 80, I still ride, and it is my favorite out of several Harleys I have owned. Zero problems.
The V-Rod motor was closely based on the design of the 1999 Harley-Davidson Superbike race motor. Porsche helped improve the reliability and reduce the cost. They are fantastic to ride!
avman1339. First post that I read those actually accurate
Just tell me you can get 80 thousand miles out of one.
14000 thousand on mine and its going up . . . too much fun .
Correct... Harley Davidson VR1000 race engine, designed by Erik Buell, Cosworth, Roush Industries, Mike Eatough, and a number of others in the 1990s. And its only water cooled for emmissions, like everything else, due to the only way to keep an engine really hot so it burns clean is by use of water cooling and a thermostat. If Porsche had their way they would still be perfecting their twin turbo flat six 911 air cooled engines, because nothing dissipates heat better and makes more power through efficiency than air cooled engines. But I thought we figured this out back in WW2 with the inline water cooled VS air cooled radial aircraft engines.... if it were'nt for emmissions.
I bought an 07 Nightrod Special.
Best bike I have ever owned.
120,000 miles and have done 0 repairs! Still the original belt!
wow!
Rob Ferreira hell yeah. I have the same exact bike. No problems. People judge before riding one. Once you do, you’ll love it
Wow. That's pretty amazing. Ever fix/repair the triple sprocket bolt?
Vrods are fun to ride. They pull forever in first and second gear. They are very easy to ride and seem well balanced. Yes they are a redheaded stepchild. Probably the best motorcycle Harley will ever produce. Primary reasons Harley people don't like them, they don't vibrate and they have a smooth idle. There is no potata ,potata, potato, rather smooth as molasses....
Harley also didnt make money on V-Rod repairs cause most of the engines were just rock solid. They never broke down. It was one of the best Engines Harley/Porcshe had.
...amen
BeaglePower G Porsche put it through the dusseldorf test of running it for 500 hours without failing
Rel16 Harley has shot themselves in the foot.They capitalized on heritage and tradition so long now they can't venture out much without fans flipping.
I think it's pretty clear that the warranty is a major money maker for Harley. Many Harley owners are more proud of their warranty than they are of their motorcycles, and rightfully so. Many Harleys, simply, don't travel very far between trips to the dealer for more warranty work.
Maybe during the AMF years. One of the best motorcycles you can buy is a HD FXR with an Evolution engine.
Truth is Harley has been more concerned with selling T-shirts, vests, bandanas and wallets with chains in recent the last 10 years.
Not really though!
Truth is, Harley has gotten guys like me to go down to their shops and actually BUY a Harley!
Harley's are no longer JUST for old geezers like you anymore!
Anything to turn a buck, lol.
It’s true. My buddy was a salesman and a couple years back, they were told to push merchandise harder than the bikes.
I'm 41 and it seems like they have doing this since the nineties, merchandising the brand to death.
I had a breakout 114. Nice bike, but slow as shit! Not worth 20 grand, maybe 14k. They are way overpriced.
The v rod has sleek elegant lines with the frame a true masterpiece with a healthy engine to back it up. It’s sad they discontinued it I love my 2007
Basically the V-ROD didn't fit the HD customer profile is a bike that runs hard, it can make a curve with no sweat and the brakes are really god ...
... HD customer aren't used to it...
Jesus Crimeler autocorrect xD
Yeah...right...is that why MOST V-Rod owners eventually switch to HD Bagger's?
@@jcdenton4621 And you know that how? You did a personal survey all on your own?
@@jcdenton4621 Like anybody with a bike, rides sports machine, then after a while to relaxed loungechair on 2 wheels lol
And its not a old man bike. Lets face it image problem old fat 60 yr old guys dont sell
It figures, this and the sportster are the only harleys i like, and the harley "purists" don't consider neither 1 to be "true harleys" that kind of attitude is the reason why i'll never own 1, i'd buy a victory or a indian first.
Best engine ever in a harley... only engine harley didnt make!
Actually I'm not so sure about that. My understanding is that it was a race engine they contracted Porsche to refine and improve and make more suitable for the street. I think Porsche engineering was the big contribution to improve the design but I'm fairly sure manufacturing and assembly went to H.D.
@@gregorytimmons4777 assembly and manufacturing is harley davidson. But design is 100% porsche.
@@jp1234554321 Perhaps but I only stated what I'd heard and that is backed up by another comment about it being a Porsche improvement on Harley's 1999 SuperBike race engine. Though I'd read it was a flat track race engine. Whatever the case it sounds like money well spent which may be debatable if they didn't make money building them but then car companies sometimes have "halo" cars. Like those the V Rod showed what H.D. is capable of. At least with a partnership with another brand of vehicle. Nothing really odd about that anymore. I'm hoping perhaps one day in the future a new edition comes out. If far fewer people identify with the current line up as time goes on and H.D. warmed to the idea and figured out how to actually turn a profit building them I could see it happening down the road. At the least I bet H.D. is not totally oblivious to how well V Rod's retain a large percentage of their value or actually appreciate in value, well that would be kind of hard to ignore if the traditional design loses favor with up and coming motorcycle buyers. It would be the cheapest way to modernize if it got to the point where relying on tradition means little to future prospective buyers.
@@gregorytimmons4777 I’ve seen those bikes a lot of times for dirt cheap, I’m talking Honda shadow cheap. Not that I’m complaining though, if some fat ass old dentist dude can’t appreciate i gladly will
It’s based off the VR 1000 engine Harley made. They just collaborated with Porsche to improve it
They were really cool bikes. My local dealer even built one up with a road glide fairing and bags. Really sweet. One of my occasional riding buddies has a CVO version. The only problem for me and I bet a lot of other big guys is that it was kinda small, not much legroom/comfort when you’re 6’3”.
The problem with the V-Rod and Buell is that the salesman didn't know anything about them and would steer prospective buyers towards the classic bikes.
Harley-Davidson has always claimed to listen to the customer but has never shown it.
Depends on the customer. The one that MAY buy a V Rod in the future if it became available again new? Or the customer who has owned several new Harley's over their lifetime and probably a used one or two early on and is married to the whole image of being a traditional Harley owner and rider. Gee, most of them are old enough that they are likely shopping for their last new bike right about now or very soon. Either a whole new crop of recruits to the Harley mystique better be showing up to show rooms or there is going to be big trouble for them in the future. Also, let's face it, this global pandemic and the economic fallout is not going to help anyone's sales numbers.
That sucks I really liked the VROD, that was my favorite Harley and I totally agree that bike PULLs, I remember when you whack that throttle open you feel it pushing you up off of the seat and trying to slide you back even though it has that little scoop to it. XD
I have a 2009 Muscle V -rod and love it ! Style and fast!
I plan on keeping my 09 Nightrod a loooonngg time. Tons of aftermarket parts too choose from as well. Hope they bring it back at some point.
The V-Rod is the best looking bike Harley makes but all I can do is look and hope I can ride bikes in Heaven. I rode a BSA back in my teenage years but since Vietnam I cant ride anymore but my heart is on a bike and it would be a V-Rod if possible.
I rode a 650 BSA Thunderbolt in late 60's. Thanks for your service!
thanks for your service !
Glenn Derr.
Welcome back my Brother.
Glenn Derr god bless you brother!! Keep it up!
Get a trike man
The VROD is more badass than any Harley. As well as dependable
that's not what I have heard, I was talking to guy in the dealership who had three of them, three! & he moved to ducati!
Same me Moors, I have a Ducati Diavel and the only thing I miss from HD are my Jackets.
motor designed by porsche
Maverick3439 ....... Vrod is a Harley
The V-Rod is a Harley!
They are very popular here in australia. We love them
Martin Carter you from straya? Obv not. Guys here are making 200whp out of them, younger generation bikies love them
Martin Carter 110kmh limiter? Listen to yourself. Ive riden the 1600cc harley and ridden a vrod muscle and nightrod special. Love them all, they are all great bikes to ride in their own respect, just because you dont like them doesnt mean the rest of the world thinks the same
Martin Carter stay upright old mate, ill happily keep my cbr1000rr for knee down riding and 300+ while also keeping the nightrod to cruise around
You let the government disarm you so what the hell do you know. Bunch of sheep down there.
@Martin Carter Brit isn't Aussie 😂
OK why they stopped making the V-Rod is because it's a cool bike and powerful and reliable? I don't understand.
like an M109
Because morons would rather buy the all American junk Harleys than one rebuilt by the Germans(Porsche).
Well, here is a hint for you. The V Rod engine developed with Porsche's expertise was actually not accepted by Harley Davidson as First presented to them. They actually implored Porsche to see if they couldn't do some additional tinkering and get it to idle more like their traditional design with a bit more of the lope that owners of traditional Milwaukee built fare seem to savor so much.
I am a VERY VERY PROUD OWNER of my 2004 Vrod! which had 0 miles.. now has 65k! still has its TRUE GUTS! i used to hear "its not a real harley"...
plus i converted it to a ROAD ROD!
Good for you! The VRod IS a Harley and who cares what some people think. You are the owner of a mechanical marvel, ride safe and enjoy!
barry ream I have a 2014 with 2 n 1 exhaust. It sounds very throaty and can't stop riding it.
I have an 04 as well. Love it!
I love my 06A as well !! And I love that it's the redheaded stepchild too. Thanks for the video
I have an 06 too. Bought it in 2018 with 12,500 miles. It now has just under 18,000 miles. Zero problems other than the fuel pump went. Bike pulls like a monster. And I get tons of compliments. Only way I ever get rid of it, is if my son buys it off me and I go buy a newer night rod!!
Not a fan of low HD power... but they do sound sweet, and the V-Rod was really nice looking (definitely better looking than the Diavel to me). IMO if HD wants to play on that end of the market they need to give it a LOT more effort than one bike for a few years and complaining about it losing money the whole time. They would need to change that standardly held understanding that H-D doesn't make performance bikes... and that'll take time, money and quite a few years. They also need a motor that matches the numbers and performance of bikes like the Diavel and V-Max.
I personally think the biggest reason it lost money is because of the mindless zombie mass that keeps buying antiquated junk.
The Vmax is a V4 so you really can't compare it to a V2 Vrod.
After I retired, I bought a new '06 Street Rod, as I wanted to try the new idea. although I thoroughly enjoyed riding it, it had some issues, oil was getting into the chamber if the bike sat more than a couple hrs, and the ignition was trouble unless the thing was either idling, or the throttle was "on" . In the first 12 months I had it, 4 of them, 2 at a time were spent in the dealer Shop. It took a Lawyer's efforts to finally secure proper repairs to the bike. I went back to big Twins, but if the MoCo manages to produce a good solid model of V-Rod, I might, just might, try it again.
That was their best engine ever, they should use it in the tri-glide
I bought a used one, one owner 2003 V_Rod, low mileage. I did not realized it had been customized until I took it in to get it serviced, and replace the dry rotted tires. I love it.
The V-Rod is always admiring the back of my V-Max.
Yeah but you are always thinking about Harleys... They never think about V-Max Yamalkas
and my V-65 too
As good as everything that has come from Japan has been over the last 50 years and as significant as that is the vast majority of Japanese bikes are viewed as being more of a commodity to be used and eventually disposed of compared to bikes that strike most as being more "lifetime bikes." Harley Davidson, Indian, Moto Guzzi, BMW and a few more Italian brands. Even a fair amount of the vintage British bikes. Characterized by their clean, well handling chassis and quality components rather than brands that had pressed sheet metal frames early on and were evolving over the years to construction a bit more closely resembling the bikes seen as ultimately more rebuild able brands. For all the knocks Moto Guzzi has taken at least they supply parts for bikes they built decades ago. I didn't find that much available for my 1990 1000 Ninja I owned a half decade ago. It seems there is a bit more of the planned obsolescence that prevails in the auto industry that permeates the Japanese brands.
I walked in to buy a Fat Bob and walked out with a VROD Muscle and I never looked back. The bike runs excellent and the faster you go the more pull you get. Then I went and bought a 2005 CVO and it pulls harder. They are both Dynod and Chipped with new Exhaust. The bikes are bulletproof.
Harley customers want a traditional, American cruiser. The V-Rod was a power cruiser. It didn't look like a Harley. So the Harley customers rejected it and the Japanese bike customers got a V-Max or VTX 1800 or something. Too bad. It's a great bike.
American Flyer , yes that is what I think also.....I LOVE THE WAY MY 2002 SOFTAIL STANDARD LOOKS AND RUNS IT'S ALL I NEED. THE ZROD JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A HARLEY TO ME. SEE YOU IN THE WIND !
I have a 2005 CVO candy blue VRSCSE V-Rod which I bought in 2006 with just 2,100 miles on it. I love it. In 13+ years, I have only had to replace a shifter shaft, add radiator screens, and a water temp gauge. At 80, I still ride it to breakfast twice a week. I sold the Road King, and the Street Glide and kept this lighter weight bike. My biggest disappointment is that Harley never offered this superb water cooled engine in one of their touring bikes. It will become a classic. I have almost 38K miles on it now.
Arguing between liquid cooled and air cooled engines is like arguing if kerosene lamps are better than light bulbs. Any opinion different than my opinion is laughable.
I owned a brand new 2007 Harley Davidson VRod Special from 2006 to 2011. I loved that motorcycle for its power, the engine and yes, it’s good looks. But one big flaw this motorcycle had was not playing nice in windy weather. I can’t tell you how many times I was blown across highway lanes with virtually no control over the situation. I’m lucky to be alive. I found out after I moved to a windy part of Leesburg VA in 2010 how bad the wind problem was. I wrote HD a letter concerning this issue, it was that bad. The first opportunity I had to get rid of it, I replaced it with a 2012 Road King Classic. Night and day. Where the VRod was uncontrollable, the Road King was sure and reliable. Don’t bring back the VRod until the “wind sails” are gone
It’s the only Harley I will ever own. It was an attempt to bring metric bikers like myself over. Street 750 as well.
I'm not a Harley fan, but if I did buy one it would be a V Rod and they did sell quite well here in Australia...
Wow...it's the liquid cooled overhead cam engine???? It's the same thing Honda has been doing for years....but we're not gonna talk about that...right
Harley is stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Build a newer technology,smooth powerful bike and the 'Harley guys" won't buy it. Build the usual black and chrome slow shaker motor and that's what they already have,so they won't buy it. They are trying hard to convince the newest generation that owning a Harley makes you one of the "cool Kids" but many of them don't even have much concern about getting a drivers license.
MrCR500AF dude let's face it I have a 20 year old son and honestly it's work to ride a bike,it's not just Harleys kids that age group just don't want to fuck with shit
good point
Bub, it's like they're relying on Fox News for information. Living in an echo chamber. I watched the H-D factory videos at the time the V-Rod came out and they were describing the new (to sheep) design philosophy of enveloping the fuel tank within the frame of the motorcycle for a lower CG. There was even a CAD animation to show how clever their engineers were to come up with this idea. 1) not new 2) another company's engineers stating the obvious.
Clarification: That "tank" wasn't actually for fuel but they were touting removing the backbone frame for a perimeter frame like it was something novel.
Honda tried very hard to duplicate the Harley sound and finally gave up! The single pin crank didn't accomplish their goal either.
Just picked up an 08 night rod and I absolutely LOVE IT great transition from sport bikes although if you're a newer rider it'll probably take you a bit to get used to. It's a heavy bike with alot of power I was backing down a driveway and I tipped it over a bit the way I normally did with my r1 and I almost dropped it lol.
Check your history. Harley was messing around with the idea of water cooled cruisers back in the late 80s.
I'm glad I got my 2011 VRSC-F back in September of 2010. It was one of 3 at the time in Chrome Yellow in the USA. A year later, I got my wife got a 2006 VRSC-SE2 in Chrome Yellow Pearl from a wonderful lady in Jacksonville FL who bought it new in 2006. It only had 2,800 miles on it!
You are exactly on-point with everything you say about the V-ROD. :)
Such a beautiful bike , love the modern look. Probably not the best first bike for a new rider but definitely great for an upgrade after you learn.
Sons of Anarchy. If the VROD was in the show it would have sold better.
No, TRUMP it's gonna make them great again!!! :D There is no need for showing them in a poser show.
it was in the show, the 'bad leader' of the irish branch was riding it i believe, in one or two episodes.
SOA was a shit
Jonathan Norris so true So many wannabe
MHGA? LOL!
5 years later. They took the revolution engine from the VRod and now it's the Revolution Max Engine, and again it's the best thing Harley Davidson ever made.
No one rides a Harley because it makes big power or is reliable or well-designed. It's about noise and looks. Customer base is 110% poseurs. Even the Hells Angels admit that. To quote Sonny Barger: "In terms of pure workmanship, personally I don't like Harleys. I ride them because I'm in the club, and that's the image, but if I could I would seriously consider riding a Honda ST1100 or a BMW. We really missed the boat not switching over to the Japanese models when they began building bigger bikes. I'll usually say "Fuck Harley-Davidson."
more room on a VTX 1800 than a road king
Saw him say this at a book signing. It's true.
The main reason for adding liquid cooling, is air cooled motors cant achieve the newer emission regulations.
The only way to achieve these emission levels is to be able to control the burn in the combustion chamber for that you need to be able to control the temperature , hence liquid cooling. (liquid not water cooling)
It was a GREAT BIKE, AWESOME MOTOR ! The old timers didn't like the idea of a modern liquid cool MOTOR. But the motor is more reliable than the air oil cool vibrate until it leaks oil and falls apart motor. Next is GREED of SALES. Money, money, SALES. BUT ultimately the old timers had a problem from day 1 until the end.
I'm an old timer that loved the engine but couldn't get comfortable on the bike. My current bike is a 99 Wide-Glide I bought in 99. Too bad they didn't put the engine in other frames.
Nice bike, the only Harley I enjoyed riding. I considered buying one, but like most HD's they were way overpriced for what you get.
Vrod was my favorite Harley
HD loves to arrive late. I remember seeing anti water cooled motorcycles ads put out by HD in the 1980s. While the Big Four Japanese companies were producing state of the art liquid cooled, hydraulic valve motorcycles, HD was content to rely on old models. Their first new engine since 1967 was a simple air cooled, oil tight motor. Honda did that in 1969.
I purchased a legend, a 2017 HD V Rod, I love the bike more than I ever loved my ex-wife, but It hurts that HD dropped this line, it is truly the best, and alas, the last of the Mohicans.
h 55 you brought a smirk to my face
Just noticed you are into Lana, going to pull up her tune "Born to Die", easy on the yayo!
Who doesn't like their Honda 50 step thru more than their ex wife?
Exactly, drop the Dyna? Expand the VRod line. Easier to certify for emissions with its water cooling and infinitely flexible engine... could even be a stressed member. Major faux pas by Harley Davidson. Instead we got the M8 soft-tail... in a myriad of fallacies.
Lost the nagging ex wife. Kept the Triumph '98 Thunderbird Sport and the '93 Daytona 1200 .. lol
I had a bigger problem with the fake gas tank and crappy access to maintain the engine than I did with the water cooling.
I never owned a V rod but I heard one issue with many HD riders with Vrods when they ride in groups of other HDs they had to stop too often to fill up. The people with the street glides and dynas could go much further on a tank of gas.
The 2006 and older V-Rods had 3 gallon tanks...I put a 5 gallon aftermarket tank in my wife's 2006 VRSC-SE2 and H-D should have done that from the beginning! Can't tell it didn't come from the factory with this 5 gal tank. My 2011 VRSC-F has a 5 gal tank stock. Still only around 220 miles range, but I don't push it that close.
Jim Tilton yes we definitely fill up often.
Jim Tilton l
I owned a 2006 V-Rod Street Rod briefly. The engine was fantastic, smooth, and powerful (120 bhp), and it came with a larger 5-gallon fuel tank. But the thing weighed 673 pounds. When I rode it with a heavy accelerator hand to enjoy the massive torque and hugely satisfying acceleration, I got 26 mpg. So that's about 130 miles before you run out of fuel. When I nursed the throttle with utmost gingerliness (and what is the point of that?), I still only eked out 36 mpg, or a maximum of 180 miles before running dry. And of course on the open road you sometimes need to allow for there not being any gas stations in the next 25-30 miles (or more), so yes, it was very limited for use as a touring bike by its very modest range. And that's the main reason that I sold mine. A secondary reason was that the riding position was not conducive to long-range riding comfort, either. A total rocket-ship experience, though.
I think that it was nothing short of corporate malpractice that Harley never redesigned the V-Rod to mitigate these very manageable shortcomings. They could have built a very successful line of motorcycles upon that stellar drive train. It's a shame. My current ride is a BMW R1200 GS. It weighs about 148 pounds less than the Street Rod. It's engine is also water-cooled, and displaces 100 cc more than my Street Rod. It accelerates faster (2.9 sec. vs. 3.4 sec. 0-60 mph). It averages 40 mpg, and I have recorded a high of 53 mpg on an easy ride at 7,000' elevation. At 75 mph on cruise control I can go 200 miles between stops, although on a long cruise I usually stop before that to take a break and stretch my legs. If BMW has done it with their updated 2-cylinder engine, why couldn't Harley manage something in the ball park with that beautiful, Porche-designed V-Rod engine?
I owned a Vrod Nightrod Special. Very nice bike and way fast. The only thing I didn't like about the Revolution engine was that it had no low end torque, you had to rev it to get the power. Coming from Harley's traditional air cooled engines that produce tons of low end grunt this was hard to get use to. I recently bought a new Street Glide with Harley's new 4 valve 107ci engine and this air/oil cooled engine reminds me some of my Vrod. It pulls good up high, but it has tons of low end torque where I spend most of my time riding. It's really the best of both worlds.
I don't think it was water cooling as much as that it didn't look and sound like a Harley.
The 60° V-twin was closer in look and sound to a Suzuki M109 than it was to anything else on the Harley showroom floor (before the Street series - which is more or less a mid '80s metric without shaft drive)
It wasn't "Harley enough" for Harley Davidson enthusiasts.
Then there were the guys that got one so they "could beat all them riceburners on a Harley." Picked on the wrong R1 (or ZX10R ...whatever) and got a good view of the back of said "riceburner" That doesn't mean the VRod is slow - it is not slow. It's pretty comparable to the V65 Magna which was in its time, a beast. A 600lb Street Sledgehammer. For a short period of time the quickest production motorcycle. That's pretty fast company for a cruiser.
Shaft drives are crap except the BMW's
Perhaps. But that still doesn't change the fact that Harley's Street 750 would be middle of the pack vs. 1980s metric 750 cruisers.
It comes up short against the Kawasaki VN750 Vulcan and Honda VT750 Shadow, about the same as the Suzuki VS750 Intruder, and actually beats the Yamaha XV750 Virago.
They built a fuel injected 4-valve liquid cooled bike that is mid-pack against 30 year old carbureted bikes.
The V-Rod is a different story. It was just a fantastic bike that was marketed to people that didn't want that sort of bike
and a sportbike sounds like a weedeater yada yada yada
Honda did everything they could to get the Harley sound out of their V-twins. Even had a Harley crank and it still failed.
If that's the bike you want, check out a Ducati Monster.
Good call!! I owned a 20011 night rod. I sold it and bought a 2016 1200s monster. Love that Ducati!!
If only HD had some brains they would have made it into a standard or sports touing bike, hell even I might have bought a Harley Davidson.
Believe it or not, HD designed a 4 cylinder, 1000cc bike similar to the Kawasaki Z1 back in the late 70's. It would have been a road burner, and steal some of Japans thunder, but it didn't fit the HD badass motif and was dropped!! HD dosn't like to change. BMW was in the same predicament so they came out with the /5 series in the 70's. Look at BMW now, 3 different engine styles and several totally different series of bikes. The wait time for any BMW is 1-3 months!! HD is coming out with several DOHC V twin powered bikes in '19, the don't look badass, they actually look "Italian". Let's see how long they last. Sorry I'm so long winded. It's winter and I can't ride!!
My big issue with the Muscle was that you could not get one with the mid mount controls. With my short legs, the standard forward controls had my legs stretched uncomfortably. The Street Rod version of the V-Rod was a bike I would LOVE to have.
You have a few mistakes in your video but the two glaring ones were that the Revolution engine was designed by Porsche and that water cooling started in 2010.
The revolution engine actually originated with Harley-Davidson's VR1000 race bike in the 90's and Porsche was brought in to help make it better.
Water cooling made its debut in the BT (big twin) engines in the 2014 model year with Project Rushmore.
Richard Bentoski So glad you brought that up. The motor was there and Porsche helped refine it. I was also hoping they would get back into racing with the new motor but you know what happened there...nothing.
Stonewall 45 based on their commitment of 100 new "high-impact" models over the next 10 years, I'm really hoping to see the resurgence of a Revolution powered sport bike.
Richard Bentoski Yes you got it right, the revolution came from the Harley VR 1000 these people don't know that.
Its an honest mistake.
Then maybe a half of automotive industry should be called Porsche because list of customers at Porsche consulting and Porsche engineering is huge.
It was the sound , pure and simple, it sounded like every other japanese v-twin.
You missed the whole point. But I have had a lot of trouble trying to explain what makes Harleys special over other bikes, and they don't get it either. It's one of those things that you either get or you don't. If you do you know it, if you don't, no amount of explaining is going to make you understand. The V Rod did not fail because of engine size, or because it was designed by Porsche, or because it was water cooled. It failed because it did not feel and sound like a Harley. I noticed that when you came to a stop, the bike was smooth. It was not shaking like crazy, which a Harley is supposed to do. It had a very smooth idle, a big no no for a Harley. A Harley has an uneven, loping idle. It's a beautiful sound, a sound no other bike makes. Harley even tried to trademark it. These days, because of the EPA (may they burn in hell) you have to install aftermarket pipes to be able to hear it, but it is still there. It is the result of the mechanical design of the engine. A base model 883 Sportster has it, a V Rod does not. I'm 58 years old, been riding for 42 years on the street, got my first Harley (a 1200 Sportster) 12 years ago, and have ridden nothing but traditional Harleys ever since. Japanese bikes are drop dead boring compared to traditional Harleys. The V Rod is a beautiful bike, both visually ( especially the original silver model) and engineering wise. I wouldn't mind having one. But I would not give up my traditional Harley for one. Switching to Harley was the smartest thing I've ever done. It put the enjoyment back into riding. It sounds and feels like a top fuel dragster both idling and under acceleration. It has a thrill no other bike has.
Gerald Scott ; Gerald,the tee shirt that said" if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand " still holds true today for most HD riders especially we older folk as I just turned 66 and have 3 big twins and 3 Sportsters and enjoy the ride,shake,rattle and roll!Maranatha, GREETINGS from Tampa Florida
I may be "only" 58, but I totally get it. I believe the actual saying is "if you understand, no explanation is necessary, if you don't, no explanation is possible" Those who don't understand the appeal of a Harley never will, no matter how much you try to explain it to them. It seems all everybody wants these days is technology. I'm actively trying to avoid it. My Harley is my escape from today's electronic technology. It shakes, it's loud, and it has no computer on it. My current main Harley is a 1997 EVO powered Superglide. It doesn't get more basic than that.
Everyone gets it. Harley is about the “image”. It’s what they’ve been selling for a long time now. They are what they are, big heavy poor handling and slow. They are pretty comfy an are easy to ride I’ll give em that. Deal breaker for me has always been cost. Harley has some balls selling em for what they do considering what they are (and putting 70 and under hp to the wheel). Face it it’s an old mans bike plain an simple. No disrespect to HD riders I’m a believer in it’s not what you ride it’s that you ride but the whole “if I have to explain you wouldn’t understand” thing is ridiculous.
what's your point?
Martin Cvitkovich If I have to explain you wouldn’t understand...
Sorry couldn’t resist ya set that one up nicely 😂
I had a 2004 V-Rod that I purchased in 2006 with 110 miles on it, amazing reliable bike! We liked to ride from Massachusetts to Naples Florida with my wife on the back. It had saddle bags, nice extend legs sun downer seats, engine guards, bub jug huggers exhaust, wider tire on the back, a real motorcycle headlight, more room sissy bar and a Vance&Hines fuel pack. Not one issue with the bike, 100% reliable for 3-4 years. The only gripe I had was the small gas tank. In 2010 we decided to get a bigger bike for the longer trips where gas stations are spaced further apart and not worry about running out of fuel, even though it never happened on the V-Rod(close) and traded In the V-Rod for a new 2010 Fat Bob.
The “worst” mistake I have ever made in my life. The Fat Bob was such a POS and always had problems, we never took it to Florida, because of fear of being stranded, because of a break down. The Fat Bob actually destroyed our riding experience and we slowly stopped riding. I ended up selling it in 2013-14 and haven’t been on a motorcycle since, so disappointing. Even after 10 years I’m going to try and find my 2004 V-Rod and if it’s in good shape I will try to buy it if they want to sell. I miss it. A different 2004 just won’t be the same, it wouldn’t be mine! It’s that one material thing in life that you regret giving up and want back so bad.
Harley announced the closure of a factory today. Some 800 people out of a job. Sucks for the working man, but the HD board will still collect their fat checks . Two OBVIOUS reasons Harley is struggling, along with other bike companies.
The first, rarely talked about is quite obvious actually. As Jay Leno put it, "We are in the 2nd Golden age of muscle cars" . I had never even thought about it until I heard him say it, but he was 100% correct. With all the major US companies all producing cars with BIG HP, and many truly fast cars available as low as $20K, not to mention other foreign car company products, it makes it much harder to sell a VROD that has a base price of $17,500. And that is before any options, or any riding gear. Don't need a helmet, gloves, and a jacket to drive a car .
Second, again talking price. VROD's are priced too high in comparison to other bikes available today. People DO read online reviews, they do read performance specs, and ALL of this before even sitting on any prospective bike. You cannot sell a VROD if they never walk through the door of the local HD dealership. You can build the BEST bike ever, but if no one is there to sell it too...
My first motorcycle memory was my neighbor sitting me on his brand new Electra Glide when I was just 7 years old. The gas tank seemed like a football field. I was in love. Whenever I see a 68 Electra, I'll still get misty eyed. But here is the plain truth. I'm 56 , and there's not very many kids being hoisted onto a new Harley today. They could be, if Harley made a decent bike that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Eric Buell had the right idea. Build a cheap, affordable, fun to ride bike for less, like the Buell Blast, and you will get some of the younger kids riding an American made bike. From there they would transition to either a sport bike (Buell) or a cruiser (Harley). But Harley mismanaged Buell, and blew that all to hell. American Car manufacturers have long known that once a new buyer buys their product first, they are more likely to buy from them again. Look at all the posts here that talk about my first bike was this such and such Harley, and so have been the other half dozen. Brand loyalty can't begin UNTIL someone actually owns that said brand. Harleys higher priced bikes has eroded their new , up and coming customer base. They literally priced themselves out of the market for MANY potential new buyers. Buyers that would most likely would have bought another, and another, and another ... Blame it on the millennials if you wish, but Harley's down turn is all from the Top, on down ...
True They're banking heavily on the new electric 'starter' bike and sponsorship of new rider training classes that will feature them. And can you even call the soon to be foreign- made electric mini hogs Harley Davidson s? And they really dropped the ball letting Buehl die.. I to rode a friend s Lighting, great combo of handling, power, value. Do American corporations suck the soul out of everything, or is it just me?
Actually, it might have more to do with your getting so fat that you look ridiculous on a normal bike. Try losing a hundred pounds and see how you feel about fat, slow bikes then.
Just added a night rod to my collection it was my high school dream bike. It is amazing how similar it is sitting next to my fxdr
I WILL NEVER PART WITH IT
"I don't know" is the best thing he said...
this video brought a lot of crotch rocket rice burner fans into the comments to talk shit to the harley fans, saying its for the old dying breed of grit men. its true, true grit, ax wielding, build your own shit men, are dying off. these coffee shop, skinny jeans wearing, instagram posting guys are taking over, i see that. if i were to guess im sure there are a lot less "gray beards" posing online than there are youngsters living there whole social life online. having said that, some men like tesla and bmw's and some men like 70 nova's and 70 challengers. are we dying off? sure. we come from a time of muscle and brute force, yall come from a time of digital warfare. its simple if you think about it, harley: steady and strong, rice rockets: quick and to the point. we will never see eye to eye, who knows maybe in 30 years there will 60 yr olds riding ninjas, doubtful though.
as far as the vrod, the bastard mix breed child of harley, i love it, im a bastard mix breed child and its the only choice for me. i dont fit in either group, real harley riders dont like us, vrod riders, and the young rice burners dont like us either. i know were a small group, thus the point of this video, the vrod played to a small group and im proud to be a part of it.
if anyone reads all this, thanks and sorry for the rant.
ride safe fuckers
I ride my Road King with Vrodders, but they ride a little too fast for my 50 year riding shills!! As for mixed breed, my 59 Triumph mated with my RK and gave birth to a Honda.
Yes It's a good model.
V-rod's are sexy as fuck
WOW! ... I had to look up skinny jeans! I'm a 59 yr young Army Infantry vet that won't buy a Harley because they don't make one I like! Own Buells and love them! I epitomize "grey-beard muscle and brute force", yet I insist that brute force also be NIMBLE and have great ENDURANCE, "if you want to be infantry, you got to be thin", ... If I HAD to own a Harley, it would be the V-Rod! ... I admire your SPIRIT!
Look if you want:
I'm one of those old guys, just turned 65. Still got my old Pan and a Evo Dyna. Rode a Shovel and an old Indian 80. I'm still not much different from when I was 19 and building my first scooter. I would go places far from home with road maps, oil and tools. Back in the days of pay phones. Hardships I've endured on the road on a bike are now cherished memories. So many of my friends are gone now.
Tonight a young Millennial was over, I'm helping him build a Triumph 650 rigid chopper replete with a 70's long skinny springer. I'm starting to pass down my skills to him and other youngsters building bikes. There is a God who watches us.
Your rant is ok with me! I'm sure there will be guys my age 30 years from now digging thru old piles of Kawasaki parts and trying to fix long obsolete microchip ignition/fuel systems. Makes me wonder what all their tattoos are going to look like! Its the love of a big powerful motorcycle between your legs with the wind whistling in ones ear. All that ever made me happy was an old motorcycle and a roadside park in the middle of no where.
Keep it between the ditches!
-'lil stan
I've never owned a Harley but have ridden quite a few. The only ones that have stirred me were the V Rod, it went nearly as well as my VMax and a 1950s KR 750 that a friend's dad had owned from new.
Yall wrong! VRod wouldve made em smile and we all know Harley guys wouldnt be caught dead smiling while riding. Mean muggin that 70 hp paperweight.....
Nor do they nod. Not once, ever !!
The fourth of July dodge city races a century ago were raced with air cooled bikes for 300 miles in hundred degree heat.
But horsepower makes heat. They were big,slow revving engines that made little horsepower.
True, but it still thrilled the spectators who paid the freight just as much as today. Good racing, not horsepower is the primary factor here.
Harley is always trying to make cool shit but these old farts keep Complaining and that’s why harley is sinking Harley just keep doing your thing and don’t listen to know one
Look. I'll help ya out. The coolant prevents friction on the long term of the engine since heat expands metal.
Ya kinda have my dream bike.
my rocket 3 roadster from triumph would smoke that vrod
It's widely known that Harley Davidson has the most loyal customer base in the industry. While that sounds like a big attribute, it also comes with a price, many but not all Harley Davidson enthusiasts are traditionalist and resistant to change. It's not that Harley Davidson is not capable or unwilling to introduce new products. As you correctly pointed out, they aren't going to make something that people won't buy. What also must be understood is that it doesn't have to be either or, it can be both. Harley Davidson recently came out with their first adventure touring bike, the Pan America, they also did a complete overhaul of the Sportster, which is liquid cooled. However, none of the new products are intended to replace their more traditional models, they are just adding to their portfolio in order to reach a wider customer base. Personally, I always liked the VROD and was sad to see it discontinued, it really was a pioneer and introduced a whole new genre of motorcycle. At no time during the life span of the VROD, did Harley Davidson ever eliminate another model and replaced it with a VROD. Harley Davidson has done a nice job of introducing new technology into aesthetically traditional looking bikes. If we want Harley Davidson to continue to be a leader in the motorcycle industry, then we must understand if you are stagnant, you become a dinosaur and we all know what happened to dinosaurs.
because no one buys them .. simple ..
Great bike i dropped my v.rod 12 months ago and got a fatboy but i still miss the v.rod !!
I loved that bike. But they were too expensive for what they were, in my honest opinion.
Absolutely love my 07 Night Rod Special! I also have a 2000 R6, 96 Sportster 1200, and a 93 XR650L. Love your show by the way!!
Junk
Basically the V-ROD didn't fit the HD customer profile. At the same time Ducati did it better with the Diavel and have sold a shit ton of them.
good, I don't want to be in that Harley customer profile. Do they sell Viagra at Harley Davidsons stores yet?
Richard Neal the Davel is one ugly bike, yes it has power but the Vrod has a enough power to hit 140 mph at 120 HP and is very reliable and with the right pipes it's bad ass with that dragster sound, I really like my 2014 Vrod Muscle black and silver, to each his own, but really, just Ride that's what's it's all about.
YUP! ... But it'll cost ya $25.000 minimum and it'll "LET YOU D O W N" when ya wants ta be UP!
I like your "spirit" and agree with your overall point!!! ... I am NOT 100% in love with the DIAVEL's "look", however the Vrod is a Porsche wrapped in HD shit, imo! The Diavel IS a legitimate STORM-BIKE!
Personally I love the street rod 750 not the regular street model but the street rod I think is just awesome
I know I come off sounding like an HD hater, but in truth I just don't admire what they have done to STAGNATE an American ICON by staying mired and married to "a one trick pony", when they USED to be in racing, sporting bikes etc. ... It just seems, well, STAGNANT and atrophied! Having said that (and some of the rest here I'm NOT super proud of!) I love Buells and if I HAD to own a Harley it would be the V-Rod! (There, I said it).
I bought the last new 2017 VRod Muscle in my town. It's a real shame Harley stopped making the VRod as this bike is freakin awesome to ride and a lot of guys, including myself, can't see themselves on any other Harley model. I just cant understand why Harley couldn't sell enough of these bikes. Seriously for me, there's just no contest between the VRod and all the other Harley Davidson models, both from a performance and aesthetic perspective. The Breakout can look nice when its pimped but its got shit ground clearance.
I used to own a harley I dont see any reason to go back. Old timers are just that... old. Who wants a new Old bike?
I ride a Harley and a GoldWing. My Harley solo and my GW with the wife.
I meant it as young kids dont seem to dig harleys anymore. They need a much more powerful motorcycle. Even the Vrod was low on power for the technology in it. A bike that heavy needs 160hp or more in my opinion to be attractive to young buyers in 2018
Most kids live in their mother's basement and don't have drivers licenses let alone a Harley... A generation of mopes who have convinced themselves that third world thinking is good.
Camaro Rick 115 hp is not low on power in my book. My cruiser has 75 hp and is fine. I like Vrods over any other Harley model...except the 2018 Fatboy, that thing is sick.
Because these dudes are where I go for information on all things Harley Davidson.
had many engines by harley could do the AUTOBAHN at full throttle all the way through without blowing......yup just the vrod. HATERS! LOL #VRODLIFE
exactly it dosent need to be water cooled to make power or be reliable ,and people forget porsche themselves were still aircooled till 2000 or 2001 .
well the aircooled Porsche was never know for being horsepower monsters.They were known for having a good power to weight ratio. All things being equal,liquid cooling allows higher horsepower while maintaining reliability,therefore Porsche had to go liquid cooled to up the anti on horsepower output
Wha??? Porsche 924 - launched in 1975. Liquid cooled. Porsche 928 - launched in 1978. Liquid cooled.
Similarly to H-D owners, the Porsche purists didn't count them as "real" Porsches because they were not air cooled.
You will never see a Harley engine blow up. The only maintenance is because of the air-cooled heads which will overheat in summer and stop and go traffic. You will never see a lower end fail or a transmission fail like so many metrics. Yes I own a Harley and a GoldWing. All motorcycles back in the 50s and 60s had problems but by the 90s, most were basically trouble free.
My 900 Z1 used to overheat in summer in stop and go traffic. All air-cooled engines will do it.
I owned a Night Rod. That thing would draw a crowd wherever I stopped. But Harley treated it like a red headed step child. I don’t think I ever saw it included in the Harley ads and it definitely needed a 6th gear. I got rid of it to get a liter bike.
Edit: haha, I made the red headed step child comment before I heard it in the video. Completely agree.
stop saying water cooled!
Moors Hound water coood ? =)
Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled, Water Cooled,
Cooled by H2O with a dash of ethylene glycol?
Moors Hound Ok, liquid cooled
Gaaaatoraid
A V-twin without liquid cooling is actually two different engines. One cylinder will always run hotter, have different detonation points and wear. There was a time when people didn't trust metal in airplanes, they wanted good old wood. If you want an 8-track player, a leather helmet, no front brake and 30" ape hangers I can't stop you, just stay at the back of the line with the trikes and the Goldwing pulling a trailer.
"Por-sha"not "Porsh". Yankees ain't got no enunciation. Thanks for all your videos.
Like I have heard 100, s of times. It Pussy Not Puss.
It is Porshe. An E like in “bell”. Not Porscha. It’s Austrian and therefore German in pronounciation. Germans do not pronounce Porsche as Porsha. The only People in the world I have seen say Porsh-a are Americans.
I don't understand why these Harley guys want to pay premium $$$ For 50's tech. So they can be cool!!
You are way off base about why people don't like Harley Davidson or the V rod. Water cooled is your reason. WRONG!
Here are some real reasons.
Harley refuses to put out a sport bike. Beull doesn't count
They are out of style
Expensive
Boring
Don't smoke crack kids.
Is it really a good idea for Harley to mess in the sport bike world? All the sport bike guys usually don’t like Harley’s so they will already look at the bike critically before it even comes out until it fails at selling. But yeah basically no one really wants to buy a new Harley because they are really expensive. Although, they can do it because no one else comes close to what riding a Harley is like.
40 YEARS HOW ABOUT 115 years where have you been under a rock
Wait coming soon the Harley Davidson Ducatti
Too late. harley had ducati made, harley badged bikes in the 70s. It was a 350, called a scrambler.
Did everybody forget about the night rod? It's pretty fucking badass. I like it more than the vrod
ramblings of a been nowhere, done nothing kid. The v-rod is kinda like the PT Cruiser of motorcycles, looks kinda cool but i would never buy one. I prefer air cooled because there is less to go wrong. Harley riders for the most part are not interested in having the fastest bike on the road, we like comfort and style and we have nothing to prove.
Your Logic is backward, Liquid Cooling ADDS reliability to your engine, HEAT destroys engines. If you want LESS stuff to go wrong, you should demand Liquid cooling in all your $$$$ toys. I can understand, SOUND preference, and Style Points. But that should not get in the way of Reliability.
MajRatbag One of my friends bought a low mileage used V-Rod, a special edition, I forgot what it was called, it used so much oil it was ridiculous. We could never find out where it went, the exhaust pipes were dry, it didn’t leak, but it used about a quart every 200 miles. He traded it for a “Night Train” Softail. Later we found out that many of them used oil. I didn’t find it real fast either, I had (along with my ‘96 Ultra Classic) a ZX14R Kawasaki, that was FAST!
@Richard Bentoski is 100% correct. The issue is clearly not that it's water cooled. Several more HD's are watercooled in the 2018 lineup as are the Street 500 and 750. The issue with the VROD is emissions. In order to comply with CARB rules, the engine would have to be completely redesigned. Its purely a financial decision that the sales of this model didn't warrant that kind of investment. I always thought VRODs were cool bikes but they are drag bikes. They are not designed for touring which is the primary kind of riding I, and a large number of HD owner's do. I don't want to have to stop for gas every 100 miles.
who cares? The VSRC was but ugly and no one wanted it.
I have an 08 nightrod, and it’s AWESOME. I just wish it was bigger.
Nobody wanted a Harley with a motor designed by Porsche.... Harley blasphemy
Wasn't the Evolution engine also designed by (or in part by) Porsche?
Randy Carlisle is was HD race motor reworked by Porsche
Randy Carlisle Disagree with that? Why wouldn't a Harley Davidson fan NOT want some of the expertise of Porsches engineers?
STUPID
Yeah, God forbid that Harley riders get a dose of performance engineering from one of the most successful racing marques in history.
I just bought a Zx10r my other choices were boulevard m109r and v rod. All gorgeous bikes.
POS made by a compamy that has proven they only know how to make one bike, dress it up strip it down all same old tech air cooled pushrod v twin POS. Their only engine is not 50 plus year old design, they have not designed, really designed anything new or relevant in over 50 years. These bikes are no faster or better in any way than the originals. Slow heavy and leak oil faster than they burn gas.
I agree w/everything you said except the oil leak. I have an '02 FLHT, 81,000 miles, no leaks ,no burning oil and change at 4,000 mi. intervals. Now, the '57 FL was a different story.
Both of mine did 208 soft tal and my road king. Never own another HD ever. Parts are outrageous for what they are. Shops, 3 in my stste I used all sucked. Have dealt with honda kawasaki and yamaha dealers and never had any issues with their dealers. Do not havr to hit me in the head with a brick. I took my business where it was appreciated.
You don't buy a Harley for the latest greatest tech. You buy a metric bike.
EXACTLY that is why they are losing sales faster than you can say BANCRUPTCY LOL bye byee and buy real bikes
bobberguy1 : And what do you think that 57 FL is worth today! Maranatha, GREETINGS from Tampa Florida
Sean, first of all great channel. The attraction of air cooled engines is the valve lash/spark plug replacements are easier & no stinking radiator fluid is involved. It is because of of this that I am drooling over a Yamaha bolt as someone who does their own maintenance. I'm no hardley expert, but you can have the same low maintenance if the valves are hydraulically self adjusting while being liquid cooled. Take care my Christian brother.
Beautiful women like to look at sport bikes, Old men like to look at harleys .
retired people need a ride to tho...
Wrong girls love the Harley’s, won’t look twice at a sport bike.
Beautiful women like to look at my V Rod more than me the old man, but hey, at least they are looking in my direction!
Or here's a concept. Some women just like motorcycles in general, and most women you can get to jump on the back of a bike, will jump on almost any bike.
I don't drive a harley nor will I ever, I prefer my Honda shadow, but, you sir seem way too angry over a video that someone else made. Lol mate, it's time to move on.
Thank God a ton of these bikes are out on the market used.... and the bike was the same from 2002 until 2016, so mechanics know how to fix it.