| Author | Message | ||
     Milar |
Dave didn't have a Street Rod demo when I went in for my service. But my local dealer does. Darn fine bike. Great motor, good brakes, solid handling. Too big to be a sportbike. But the extra size and heft are a plus when touring. I was thinking what a fine sport tourer this would make. Cafe fairing, hard bags. Could HD's next sport tourer be a V-Rod? The rumor is out there. Call me if it happens Dave. Mike | ||
| Deerhunter17 |
Test rode one today, feel like if the bags were added, maybe even some decent fairing, yes, the perfect tourer | ||
| Ivershay |
drag specialities makes a bracket to add a road-glide fairing. bags too. | ||
| Gjmcmanus |
The only down side is the fuel capacity. It would need a larger tank to be a great sport tourer.. | ||
| Steelshoe |
I'm waiting for a Vrod based ST also but to adapt any of HD.s antique parts like fairing or bags would hidious, drag specialties has their heads up their a**'s. Harley and buell need to get it right this time and put that motor to use in a modern ST, I think they are on the right track with the V-rod. Can't wait till the disalusioned streetrod buyer start selling them to buy a heritage softail. Already saw one with 400 miles for 15k, 12k and I'm in! | ||
| Chainsaw |
The only down side is the fuel capacity. Street Rod has a 5 gallon tank, VROD A & B have 3.7. Range is 235/185 on the rod. Same range as a Road King and 55 more ponies to boot.  | ||
| Milar |
steelshoe wrote: "Can't wait till the disalusioned streetrod buyer start selling them to buy a heritage softail" No truer words were ever spoken. The bike I rode was a trade in. The guy put 700 miles on it and hated it. He wanted something comfortable with floorboards. When I asked the saleman what he thought of the bike, he told me had never ridden one. M | ||
| Rkc00 |
I hope to own one in the next year. | ||
| Kevyn |
I too think the StreetRod has some real ST potential...for HD. The competition is fierce! Noticed a beautiful BMW GT yesterday on the highway...also think FJR1300, ST1200, ST3/ST4S to name a few of the best known. I'm sure that one of the moto mags will do a ST shoot out as soon as the new models are released in the next couple of months. | ||
| Tommy_2stroke |
Yeah, Kevyn, the competition is fierce indeed. The FJR/ST/RT types are so well-developed and capable that it is hard for me to imagine HD or Buell getting anywhere near that podium. However, I keep thinking about the Multistrada... that is such a nice bike. And how far away from an adventure-tourer is the CityX? I wonder if that might be a more attainable goal for a Buell sport-tour bike... | ||
| Johnbranxbr |
I own a Street Rod and have put 1500 miles on it. It is AWESOME! It is very comfortable, has excellent brakes, is fast and handles great I can easily drag the foot pegs on both sides however, that is a pretty quick pace. The chassis is stable when pushed hard, it does not do the left right transitions like my XB12R but for a street bike I believe it will surprise many people on sportier bikes as to the pace this thing can easily do. I had a Road King before and this is just a different experience. I do miss the laid back nature of the Road King when you feel like just chilling and my wife misses the comfort. I don't miss the wooden brakes and the feeling like there was a couple of hinges in the middle of the Road King frame. | ||
| Bigeasy |
Have you guys seen the new BMW naked bike? 163 hp and all the extras for 14000. I am very tempted to go out and get one. I have been looking for a bigger bike to add to my beloved xb12s for 2 up riding. I also am looking at the street rod and like what I see there too. Hows the seat on that thing John? I'm thinking you can get a aftermarket one with a small backrest for the passenger. | ||
| Signguy |
Yup, the BMW K1200R is definately in the running on my "what bike do I get next" list... | ||
| Johnbranxbr |
Bigeasy, the seating position for me on the Street Rod is great...one of the most comfortable bikes I have ridden. However, for the misses we are still working on finding a comfortable seat and backrest. I put on the Harley Sundown seat with a backrest however, the angle of the seat leaves her sliding forward all of the time. Yesterday I ordered a Corbin seat and backrest that has more of a pocket for the passenger to sit on vs the ramp of the Harley seat. I'm hoping that does the trick. | ||
| Daddyhogx |
The next sport tourer from the motor company will be a Buell. Expect an announcement at the dealer meeting in July. | ||
| Bigeasy |
Thanks Jon. I am waiting to see what Buell comes out with before I make up mine mind on the street rod or BMW. Daddyhog, I hope you are right! Nothing would make me happier. Sign me up for a red one with all the trimmings! | ||
| Nedwreck |
I wish they'd stop farting around and stick the vrod motor in a full dresser. Screw tradition. Bob | ||
| Ryker77 |
I sold my 1999 BMW r1100sa just a few months ago. I knew the value would drop once the knew r1200s hit the dealerships. QUALITY. I liked the bike alot and with a nice tall windshield and the awesome hard saddle bags I was able to use the bike. Anti lock brakes and no dive front end was awesome. In a few years once all the rich idiots buy and modify the BMW's then they start showing up on the used market -- I'll get me a great deal. What Buell should do is take a hard long look at the old S3t and the new confederate bikes. Some how merge those two together. A nice powerfull bike with just some light weight and low cost wind protection and luggage. Keep things simple and cheap for the average guy to buy and service. HD/Buell will never be able to make a machine that can compete with BMW, Honda, Yamaha. But they can make a bike that people will buy even if its not the absolute best. I just want a good simple bike - with twin cyl power and sound! | ||
| Fullpower |
vrod motor has insufficient torque for a dresser. nice hot rod, comes alive at 6000, shift at 9, repeat till you run out of road. real fun, i would consider owning one if they could somehow shave 150 pounds off. | ||
| Chainsaw |
HD/Buell will never be able to make a machine that can compete with BMW, Honda, Yamaha I respectfully disagree. HD has the money to do whatever they want. HD's sell very well as is. Radically changing the whole HD line is akin to Coke changing their formula to New Coke. Ya'll remember how that panned out. The VROD is a "test balloon" so to speak. HD wants to see how their core base of loyal customers feel about a radical departure from the norm. Some people love the VROD's, some people hate 'em. If HD gets 'new blood' into the fold without alienating their core market, and not cannibalizing sales of their current line, they win by selling more bikes. | ||
| BadS1 |
Fullpower says the V-ROD doesn't have enough torque for it to be in a dresser. Why doesn't it???The 103ci of the screaming eagle Road Glide has 86 vs 75 out of the Rod.Remember thats not a standard TC88.HD could easily configure the specs to gain those losses. | ||
| Ryker77 |
HD's sell very well as is. Sure they do. Becuase they have no competion. No other company has such a loyal market segment. The customer want that HD image. You see them with the new bike, new boots, new leather jacket. Then they put less than 500 miles a year on the bike. The sport tour bike buyer is just that -- some one looking for the best sport tour bike. The rich old man doesn't want a sport tour. Sure HD could make the bike. But it would cost double what other makers have to offer. Just compare the VTX1800 for 12k to the vrod for 17k. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Becuase they have no competion Triumph, BMW, Honda, Suzuki all have cruisers. If HD made a carbon copy of any given Beemer, or R1 for that matter...who would buy it? Ain't what the HD loyalists are looking for, and the import riders would shun it because of the tank badge, even if they were priced like the competition. | ||
| Ryker77 |
Were talking about the sport tour bike market. HD bikes are simply HD bikes-- people don't care if they are $$$$, takes longer to stop, or are slower. A cruiser may be a cruiser but a HD is an HD. To the person who want a HD that is what they want. To the buyer who wants a cruiser then that buyer will compare other brands. HD buyers buy the name and history. | ||
| Steelshoe |
I think that most of us here using this forum are loyal to few or none as myself. Most forum treads I read seem to say people would love to have a buell/hd sportbike or ST if they would put the vrod engine in it. They also speak of owning american made sportbike over an import.I have owned 15 harleys 3 buells and about 20 others of all sorts, right now I'm into all sorts but waiting impatently for the buell ST with modern vr engine. |
