Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod review

The first Harley for years which is actually very different, while still being a Harley. Confused? Don't be, it's a great-looking, superb bike
A Harley that is rewarding to ride as it is to look at.
The lengthy wheelbase restricts truly energetic riding to the straights.

This is the boldest move for Harley-Davidson in recent history and this is the VRSCA V-Rod. V is for V-twin, R is for racing, S is for street, C is for custom and A means this is the first of a new breed of Harley, complimenting the existing Sportsters, Dyna Glides, Softails and Tourers. Shame there's not a cross over between the Dyna Glides and V-Rod, as I'm sure there will be a lot of demand for the Dyna Rod in the UK...

But to hell with jokes, what an attractive beast the V-Rod is. Looking like she's been machined from solid aloominum (this is America, remember) the V-Rod is the most gorgeous hunk of metal to come from Milwaukee in a century. And the story goes that the great Willie G Davidson wanted various parts of V-Rod to be fabricated from aluminium so much, that after protestations from his design staff, he simply sent them daily emails with one word in them: Aluminium, until they finally got the message and backed down.

Thank God they did, cos the V-Rod is one horny Harley asThis is the boldest move for Harley-Davidson in recent history and this is the VRSCA V-Rod. V is for V-twin, R is for racing, S is for street, C is for custom and A means this is the first of a new breed of Harley, complimenting the existing Sportsters, Dyna Glides, Softails and Tourers. Shame there's not a cross over between the Dyna Glides and V-Rod, as I'm sure there will be a lot of demand for the Dyna Rod in the UK...

But to hell with jokes, what an attractive beast the V-Rod is. Looking like she's been machined from solid aloominum (this is America, remember) the V-Rod is the most gorgeous hunk of metal to come from Milwaukee in a century. And the story goes that the great Willie G Davidson wanted various parts of V-Rod to be fabricated from aluminium so much, that after protestations from his design staff, he simply sent them daily emails with one word in them: Aluminium, until they finally got the message and backed down.

Thank God they did, cos the V-Rod is one horny Harley as

Length (mm)2377
Tank (litres)3.7
Dryweight (kg)271
Seats2
Seat Height (mm)688
Suspension FrontWide 49mm custom fork
Suspension RearPolished one piece cast aluminium swing arm
Wheels Front19 inch cast disc
Wheels Rear18 inch wide cast disc
Brakes FrontFour piston 292.1 mm disc
Brakes RearFour piston 292.1 mm disc
Tank Capacity (litres)14
Wheelbase (mm)1715
Ground Clearance (mm)141
Trail (mm)99
ChassisSteel perimeter upper frame with hydroformed main rails and bolt-on lower frame rails, MIG welded
Cubic Capacity (cc)1130
Max Power (bhp)115
Bore (mm)100
Stroke (mm)72
Valve GearDOHC
Compression Ratio11.3
CoolingLiquid cooled
Fuel DeliveryElectronic sequential port injection
Stroke TypeFour Stroke
DriveBelt
Top Speed