VRSC Models V-Rod, Street Rod, Night Rod and Night Rod Special

Why rubber mounted engine?

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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 03:27 PM
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Default Why rubber mounted engine?

Just out of curiousity... Any ideas why HD chose to rubber mount the engine even though it's counterbalanced? Conventional wisdom is that a solid mounted engine will provide a more rigid chassis and thus, better handling. (I'm assuming that at the very least, the VR doesn't suffer the same rear end "wallow" that the Dynas and Baggers are famous for. Correct me if I'm wrong.)
 
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 04:03 PM
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Default RE: Why rubber mounted engine?

Way less transmitted vibration. TheRevolution wings around at 9000 rather than the 5500 or so of the air-cooled bikes, so the vibration one would feel with the same mounting would be nearly double. Imagine the vibration you feel and then multiply it by 163%, it's shake itself to pieces. With a double backbone and all major frame rails of 1 1/2" tubing, combined with less weld joints in the frame, there isn't near the flex that the air-cooled bikes have either. You can barely see the frame in your bike in your signature picture but mine is very apparent.
 
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 04:17 PM
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Default RE: Why rubber mounted engine?

ORIGINAL: eazy

Way less transmitted vibration. TheRevolution wings around at 9000 rather than the 5500 or so of the air-cooled bikes, so the vibration one would feel with the same mounting would be nearly double. Imagine the vibration you feel and then multiply it by 163%, it's shake itself to pieces. With a double backbone and all major frame rails of 1 1/2" tubing, combined with less weld joints in the frame, there isn't near the flex that the air-cooled bikes have either. You can barely see the frame in your bike in your signature picture but mine is very apparent.
I don't doubt that the rubber mounting further isolates vibration, but with the counterbalancers, engine vibration should be negligible compared to the unbalanced TC engine. Note that the new Buell - with a redline of 10,500 is rigid mounted as are the majority of counterbalanced engines in the metric bikes.
 
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