BikeTest: Harley-Davidson VRSCD Night Rod
Harley-Davidson has done it again, producing a machine which is a world away from the "carved from a solid ingot road locomotive" for which, for decades, they have been known and loved, or derided, depending on your point of view.
The V-Rod concept, essentially an all-new modern engine in a sort of café racer/low rider chassis, first saw the light of day in 2001. Then it seemed more a work of art than a real bike but with a first-rate engine, a water-cooled development of their VR1000 superbike motor.
Opinions differed, especially amongst Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, as to whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Our first impressions were not enthusiastic. A great engine, but in the wrong chassis. It behaved like a highly-strung horse frightened by a rattlesnake whenever it saw tar-banding. With the now discontinued solid wheels it was near unmanageable in a cross wind. All told, it was not a promising start.
Several years further on and, it seems, back in Milwaukee, some notice has been paid to the unkind things most of us scribes said of the V-Rod. The VRSCR Street Rod which we recently covered was a huge advance, a leap straight into the 21st century.
Now we have yet another variant, the VRSCD Night Rod. It aims to be "long and low with raw street styling and explosive, off-the-line power". In many respects a similar machine to the Street Rod. So similar in fact, apart from the finish, that it is difficult to explain why the Night Rod costs €1,095 more. The most noticeable first glance difference being the black, powder-coated cylinders and the Black Denim finish that, "like denim fabric, will burnish or mar with age and use thus adding character and personality to the finish of the motorcycle". If scratched, Harley-Davidson says, the marks cannot be rubbed out. If polished, the "finish will become glossier and less matt over time". So, now you know!
But it is not simply a paint job difference. The Night Rod is shorter, has a lower seat-height, lower by just 25mm but it makes a big difference, 25mm less suspension travel, a longer wheelbase, less fuel capacity, though still enough for 280 kms (175 miles) and it weighs less.
Compared to the Street Rod, which you sit on, with the Night Rod it feels more like you are sitting in it. My long-suffering pillion tester was relieved to note, since most Harley's aim to place the pillion on a minuscule rearwards sloping pad, that our test bike came with a pillion posterior stop. You could not call it a backrest, it's not that high, but it does give your passenger that bit more confidence. It also means you can enjoy the distinctly impressive acceleration of the Night Rod, 0 - 100 km/h in 3.96 seconds, without having to do a U-turn to go back and retrieve your passenger!
The matt-black treatment is by no means unique to Harley-Davidson, many manufacturers are attracted to the rather aggressive "Men in Black" look, and seem to have at least one such model in their range.
Thoughtfully, because this is after all a Harley-Davidson and traditions must be respected, there is still plenty of chrome and loads of alloy that will need polishing. Roadholding, cornering, braking are virtually identical to the Street Road, that is they are extremely good, quite surprisingly so.
You now have a bike with decent performance and an over 200 km/h maximum speed potential that performs every bit as well as a lot of the plastic-coated, all-looking-much-the-same, offerings from the land of the Rising Sun. And yet it is instantly recognisable as "a Harley" by even the least knowledgeable member of the non-motorcycling public.
Interesting features include a tank filler cap hidden under the seat, self-cancelling indicators common to many other Harley-Davidsons, a feature which, if it was more widely adopted would certainly help reduce some junction accidents.
Followers of the vampire movie Blade might know it is being turned into a TV series in America, which means it will be here the week after next!
The cult hero will be seen getting around on a souped-up Night Rod. The Night Rod was chosen because of its powerful attitude which adds a dimension both to the series and the lead character. Think what it could do for you!
Tech spec
ENGINE: Liquid-cooled, 1,130cc 'Revolution' 60° V-twin, 76kW @ 8,400rpm, 109Nm @ 7,000rpm. 11.3:1 compression, Electronic Sequential Port Fuel injection. Transmission 5-speed, belt drive.
CHASSIS: Steel perimeter upper frame with hydro-formed main rails and bolt-on lower rails, 49mm telescopic forks, 1-piece cast alloy swinging arm. Brakes, front - 1 piece floating rotor, 300mm disc, rear - uniform expansion 300mm rotor, 4-piston calliper front & rear. Wheels, 19" front, 18" rear.
DIMENSIONS: Seat height 688mm. Wheelbase 1,700mm. Fuel 14 litres. Weight 2,896kg.
PRICE: €20,450.