Harley kills off the V rod

[Chuck in Indiana]

https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/goodbye-harley-davidson-v-rod/

[KiwiKev]

17 years wow, it seems like yesterday they released it, tempus fugits


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[Kev m]

I don't know about "quietly kills off" I mean they announced it LAST YEAR that 2017 would be the last model year.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  It's about time.

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

Yes, as Kev M said, we knew this was coming. The surprise from the Motor Compamy was the Dyna going away too. 

[oldbike54]

 Meh , they didn't go potato potato , and a good GS 1100 E is faster .

 Dusty

[Gliderjohn]

The motor should have at least been an option on touring models.
GliderJohn

[jas67]

The motor should have at least been an option on touring models.
GliderJohn

Too different in shape and size to just bolt into the same frame.

Yes, as Kev M said, we knew this was coming. The surprise from the Motor Company was the Dyna going away too. 

The new Softail platform definitely makes the Dyna redundant.     It really is a replacement for both the Dyna and Softail, and is a technically good upgrade for both.

[drdwb]

Never had the opportunity to ride one. We have one of the biggest Harley dealers in Minnesota in our town, yet I see very few of these around. I've been to the dealership a few times with Harley friends and have only seen one on the floor,probably the same one.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Niece Valorie bought one as soon as they came out. Rode it to Atlanta and said, "never again." Took a bath but got rid of it. I rode it.. liked the drivetrain. Suspension was horrible.

[not-fishing]

Does that mean Harley will resurrect the XLCR?   I like my foot pegs under me



I mean Smith and Wesson rotates their models and builds them in batches so why not Harley Davidson?

[twowings]

Wonder how many of the "true believers" were turned off by the fact it was a Porsche design? I can't recall any of them bragging on it...

[Huzo]

Never rode one, never will. My mates R1100S BMW took on a well ridden one and flogged it like a red headed step Son... and his Beemer is only a BIT faster than my "old" 2VPC Norge.
Whole lotta bullshit about nothing I reckon. Glad to see their back end. (It's the only way you will.)

[SportsterDoc]

I am not comfortable with forward controls, prevalent on most V rods, but the performance on a properly ridden one is more than this thread credits.  My riding companions ride a 2003 H-D Classic and a 2008 V rod.   V rod rider was quite comfortable on 460 mile day trips and has taken it from Las Vegas to Los Angeles without complaint.

My irritation with H-D is the demise of a standard height Sportster, about 7 years ago.   Had one been available, I may not have purchased the Triumph or Moto Guzzi, although I am glad I did.

[Gliderjohn]

Guess it depends what fits one. I test road one in 2004. Road it about 20 miles. Really liked the motor and transmission, brakes were good. I cannot imagine doing over 400 miles in a day on one though. Comfort wise I was more than ready to get off it after 20 miles or so.
GliderJohn

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Does that mean Harley will resurrect the XLCR?   I like my foot pegs under me



I mean Smith and Wesson rotates their models and builds them in batches so why not Harley Davidson?

Yes! It was such a sales success the first time around, that they're sure to do it again. 

[Shorty]

HD is very good at training the majority of  its customers to only want one thing. If it ain't a Big Twin, it ain't nuttin.

[SportsterDoc]

Does that mean Harley will resurrect the XLCR?   I like my foot pegs under me

Yes, I am only comfortable with midcontrols.
I rather have H-D bring back the rigid mount EVO Sportster 1200 Sport.
Both Sportsters were ridden 1,000 miles per month.

Shoulda keep both, but life happens.

The Triumph was the most comfortable and the Yamaha TW200 the least (160 mile trip was painful!)

[SportsterDoc]

HD is very good at training the majority of  its customers to only want one thing. If it ain't a Big Twin, it ain't nuttin.

Don't think most on this forum are in the majority!

My eldest son-in-law likes his Road King, but he is 6' 5" and pushing 400 pounds.

[bad Chad]

It does seem odd to me that they never did try the motor in a big touring rig.  Ok, so they would have to modify a frame some, big deal, its not like HD didn't have the resources.  But perhaps their research showed it would sell?

[Shorty]

Don't think most on this forum are in the majority!

My eldest son-in-law likes his Road King, but he is 6' 5" and pushing 400 pounds.

True.  We are not typical bikers. 

[KiwiKev]

They were quite popular here and a fair number seen on the roads still.

Quite a smart looking bike but never rode one and never will unless my  deluded old brother trades his Sporty in on one.


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[John Ulrich]

I was staying up in northern WI tourist town and the guy next door worked at HD.  His jaw dropped when I asked him how that Porsche designed cycle was coming.  He thought it was a secret!

[Tom]

They missed the boat on turning the Street Rod into a touring bike.  The Street Rod was a more capable road bike that could have been their sport touring bike too.  The Street Rod with the V-Rod engine was a good bike. 

[blu guzz]

I rode a friend's v-rod once.  I liked the engine and shifting a lot, but only a 5 speed.  The suspension did not have enough travel for me.  I was told about the 20,000 mile service where they had to remove the engine and it cost the world, so did not seriously consider one.  There will be plenty of used ones with very low miles for a good while to come for those that want them. 

[Kiwi Dave]

They missed the boat on turning the Street Rod into a touring bike.  The Street Rod was a more capable road bike that could have been their sport touring bike too.  The Street Rod with the V-Rod engine was a good bike.

I hired one in Ibiza a couple of years back.  Loved  the footpegs in the traditional position rather than forward, and the brakes worked well too.  Motor was torquey, and the wife was comfortable as pillion despite sitting with her knees around her ears.

But the slow speed steering was so stiff I thought I might drop it a couple of times.  Some more air in the tyres helped, but didn't entirely fix it.

I would have considered buying one if I  wasn't so Guzzifyed.  Same for the Indian Chieftain.

[Tom]

I didn't notice the slow steering but had fun tossing the Street Rod in turns.  Gear box 5 speeds was okay for me too.  I just rev'd the engine. Had fun.

[fatbob]

It took them 17 years to design/ build it, so they had to have 17 years of production.

[leafman60]

The best of the VR bikes was the short-lived (2006 -early 2007) Street Rod.  It had a higher tuned engine and different frame that the regular V-Rods. I am 6-2 and I could not flat-foot the Street Rod.  It had a 5 gallon tank and upside down forks.  The pegs are slightly rearward of you.

Awesome bike. A little long and a little heavy but the motor made up for it. Loads of torque and character.  It handled well too.  It was the sort of thing everybody in non-HD circles said that HD should make. Alas, they did not sell. Mine was the only one my local dealer sold.

In the end, I too would rather have a Real Harley with a 45 degree, single pin crank. Putting the V-Rod engine in a touring bike would also have been a sales flop.
.

[Murray]

Now I must confess I don't "keep up" with the machinations of HD models however this is interesting the default choice locally of most of the "club" types and we're talking people that have nothing to do with HOG in the last 10-15 years locally is a V-rod/varaint of Vrod.

Considering it is these club types image that HD markets around even though you'd never get any of the corporate drones from HD to actually admit it is this a disconnect between HD and its actual audience or a strategic move, although this might be what the "fat Bob" is aimed at.