Your Vrod experience please
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 11
From: Wheeling, WV
I did venture to my local dealership and finally sat on a 2014 Vrod Night rod version. Seating was ample, even with my long legs I can make the forward controls work. This is a stock Bike, sounded like a sewing machine.
Will test drive this weekend.
Will test drive this weekend.
Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 348
Likes: 5
From: The mitten state
Of the Harleys I've owned a Sportster,2 Dynas, one Duece, a Fatboy, 2 VRODS (07 1130, and now a Muscle 1250), and my brother's and Dad's Nighttrian, Hertiage Springer, 2 Fatboys, and several friends "Roadkings/and Streetglides,
I will take my Muscle for long rides every time. It' smooth and fast, I've raised the bars 1.5 inches and have a small screen that breaks the wind on my chest!
The big "FLs" to me feel like Pickup trucks vs cars, compared to other bikes..
The Muscle is an improvement over the old "single side" exhaust of the earlier V Rods, as balance is better, as well as the new USD forks for control..The best brakes of any Harley.
I'm 65 and have been riding since I was 12, and as such I've owned and ridden a lot of motorcycles (besides the Harleys). The "NIGHTROD" is a different set up from the Muscle, in bars and seat!!
I will take my Muscle for long rides every time. It' smooth and fast, I've raised the bars 1.5 inches and have a small screen that breaks the wind on my chest!
The big "FLs" to me feel like Pickup trucks vs cars, compared to other bikes..
The Muscle is an improvement over the old "single side" exhaust of the earlier V Rods, as balance is better, as well as the new USD forks for control..The best brakes of any Harley.
I'm 65 and have been riding since I was 12, and as such I've owned and ridden a lot of motorcycles (besides the Harleys). The "NIGHTROD" is a different set up from the Muscle, in bars and seat!!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I have a 12 NRS that I have put 6,000 miles on. That may not seem like much but it is because I have a collection of bikes and rotate their use.
I have routinely gotten 40 mpg which with the 5 gallon tank is very good range as I usually stop around 120 to 150 miles to empty my tank and walk around. then hydrate and fill the bike tank.
I did add a K&N filter and a Cobra FI2000R-CL programmer those changes added about 6 to 8 ponies to the stock at the crank 125 hp.
I want a CFR exhaust which gives the best performance for the engine and sound by they are hard to come by.
Fast? It will leave my 120R Street Bob in the dust.
I have routinely gotten 40 mpg which with the 5 gallon tank is very good range as I usually stop around 120 to 150 miles to empty my tank and walk around. then hydrate and fill the bike tank.
I did add a K&N filter and a Cobra FI2000R-CL programmer those changes added about 6 to 8 ponies to the stock at the crank 125 hp.
I want a CFR exhaust which gives the best performance for the engine and sound by they are hard to come by.
Fast? It will leave my 120R Street Bob in the dust.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 682
Likes: 197
From: Raleigh, NC
Your Vrod experience please
I have a childhood friend who bought a vrod in Missouri, and rode it home to Alaska, stopping only to eat, poop, fuel, and sleep. The fact that he didn't immediately set fire to it when he arrived tells me that it isn't as horrible as my imagination says it is.
GM
GM
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Saint Louis
I test rode the vrod and the night rod special about a month ago. Coming from sport bikes and after test riding a couple of dynas, I really liked their acceleration, and tall gears. The vrod was much more uncomfortable to me compared to the night rod. It has more of an upright seating position and just feels better. Though like others say, clearly not a touring bike. Too bad, because I really liked the liquid cooled engine.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,651
Likes: 1,278
From: PA
I had an 07 Nightrod special for the better part of 3 years. Ended up trading it in on a 15 Glide special. It was a great looking bike that got me compliments from absolute strangers every time I pulled it out of the garage. Never had a single mechanical issue with it whatsoever. Rode sportbikes prior to it so it was my 1st cruiser style bike. The 07 did come with the 5 gal tank and 240 rear tire just no ABS which made no difference to me cause the Brembo front brakes would stop me on a dime.
The reason I got rid of it was lack of storage, wasn't passenger friendly. My girl loves to ride but can only last maybe 45 mins on it before tapping out. Also it tends to beat you up on the highway after 2+ hours of riding. Have I rode longer yes but switching to the Glide reaffirms to me that the Nightrod was built for the city streets.
The reason I got rid of it was lack of storage, wasn't passenger friendly. My girl loves to ride but can only last maybe 45 mins on it before tapping out. Also it tends to beat you up on the highway after 2+ hours of riding. Have I rode longer yes but switching to the Glide reaffirms to me that the Nightrod was built for the city streets.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
That right there is all I need to hear. If the owner of those two bikes says this....... I'm impressed with the VROD.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 496
Likes: 46
From: Columbia sc
Not a day goes by when I don't wish I still had a VROD!
I had an 06 D model converted to forward controls. I added 1-1/2 risers to the handlebars, heel rest on the footpegs, Aftermarket 5 gallon fuel tank, and rigged up a RK windshield to it. The big problem was the seat, never could find one I could stand for more than about 300 miles. If I had known about Mean City Cycles Back then I may have even fixed the seat problem. The stretched out rake takes away from the low speed handling but twisting the throttle and cruising triple digit speeds anytime and for as long as I felt like made up the difference.
If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, if my Switchback could run like a VROD I'd be so happy I could scream!
And BTW, I put over 30,000 miles on it and it never missed a beat!
I had an 06 D model converted to forward controls. I added 1-1/2 risers to the handlebars, heel rest on the footpegs, Aftermarket 5 gallon fuel tank, and rigged up a RK windshield to it. The big problem was the seat, never could find one I could stand for more than about 300 miles. If I had known about Mean City Cycles Back then I may have even fixed the seat problem. The stretched out rake takes away from the low speed handling but twisting the throttle and cruising triple digit speeds anytime and for as long as I felt like made up the difference.
If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, if my Switchback could run like a VROD I'd be so happy I could scream!
And BTW, I put over 30,000 miles on it and it never missed a beat!
Last edited by bigjames4xl; Sep 22, 2015 at 09:08 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Roswell, New Mexico
I test rode the vrod and the night rod special about a month ago. Coming from sport bikes and after test riding a couple of dynas, I really liked their acceleration, and tall gears. The vrod was much more uncomfortable to me compared to the night rod. It has more of an upright seating position and just feels better. Though like others say, clearly not a touring bike. Too bad, because I really liked the liquid cooled engine.
The only 2 models in the Vrod line up; are the Night Rod Special and the Muscle. Not sure what you mean by saying you rode a Vrod and a Night Rod Special?