| Author | Message | ||
     Lightning_strikes_now |
I road to Cox's HD this afternoon in Asheboro, NC and test rode the new 2006 HD Street Rod. Since the bike was new, I didn't get into the throttle and kept it under 50 mph and 3000rpm's. The bike handles much better than the V-ROD but is heavy. I could definately feel the 650lb mass of the bike compared to the Buell. It handled and felt just like my 2001 SuperGlide Sport. I could tell that she wanted to go however. The bike has a lot of power and has been geared up. At 50mph, the tack was on 3000rpm's in 5th gear. The V-ROD runs at about 4000rpm's at 50mph. So the new Street Rod seems to be a long legged bike with a lot of top end speed. I was pretty impressed and will probably buy one later on this year or next. | ||
| Dale |
No matter how I tried, I could not see me riding to Daytona on a Road King. Traded it yesterday for an orange Street Rod. I put 100 miles on it yesterday. It took a lot more (fill in blank) to scrape the begs than I thought. What a sweat ride. 55 Mph in first, 85 Mph in second, I don't know in third. Whats the other two gears for? | ||
| Gonen60  |
Seems the street rod is HD stepping into Buell Land. The videos from the factory are all about the "Twistys". The high revving VR1000 inspired motor and agility. I said it before, it will not be long before you see a Harley Davidson sport bike. Full fairing, HD orange and black. Harleys going to have to get hip and dip into sport bike country to bring in the younger riders. Sport bikes are to hot, to not offer one. | ||
| Bomber  |
I've not ridden one, but I find it hard to believe that anything with that much mass can muscle in on the sport bike market -- not dissing the Street Rod, mind you, but those pesky laws of physics are hard to break, and survive -- now, a cruiser that out handles much of the competition, that's a good thing, but still no sport bike | ||
| 99buellx1  |
bingo ^ | ||
| Reepicheep  |
Harley is not stepping into Buell land with this, they are simply making a cruiser that sucks less in the twisties (which makes a lot of sense). I don't want one, but I get the cruiser thing, and think better handling cruisers have a place. It's just nowhere near where Buell is, and a place I personally hope they never go. | ||
| Glitch  |
I never thought I'd say it, but I like it. I sat on the one at SMHD&B the other day. Nice riding position, real nice. Your feet go right where you'd think they ought to. I hope they have one at March Badness. If they do, I'll be sure to let ya'll know how it does in the twisties. | ||
| Black_sunshine  |
I think the axle to axle wheel base is about 67". I don't think you have to worry about HD stepping into Buell territory with that. I wonder if you get free radiator cover replacement with purchase from grinding them off in the twisties.  | ||
| Gonen60 |
My point was, after watching the slick Videos on the HD site, It seemed to me,It was centered around sportbike type settings (twisty roads) and the concept of high revving and agility. NOT JUST CRUISING AND POSING I would like to see Buell come out with a full fairing sportbike, based on the FX RaceBike. But they decided to go with the urban 2 wheel hummer, street-cross thingy. Which is all good and fine if you like that sort of thing. Maybe next year (this year) the Buell superbike will debut. I still think HD is moving toward the sportbike scene, and the ads and video for the HD street rod support my theory, at least in my mind. Would a HD sportbike sell, with a VR1000 based motor, full fairing and race colors. As long as the price didn't turn every one off, I bet it would. | ||
| Cataract2 |
I think the part of HD stepping into sportbike land is where Buell comes in. Buell handles the sportbike land and Harley handles the cruiser land. | ||
| Outrider  |
I still think HD is moving toward the sportbike scene, and the ads and video for the HD street rod support my theory, at least in my mind. I would like to agree with this, but I feel that the Street Rod is more of a Dual Purpose Bike. In this case, Dual Purpose meaning an expensive profilers bike and a conservative sporting bike. I think of the Street Rod and whatever is considered its competition as sporting bikes for older and more conservative riders that no longer have the will to risk life and limb but still want the rush of pushing a stylin' and profilin' bike through the twisties occasionally. For that matter, that is the same concept I had for either the Super StreetTracker and Super StreetFighter we discussed prior to the Street Rod's introduction. Just simply cosmetic changes to a basic bike with some performance upgrades. As Harley stands to make more sales and profits from introducing the V-Rod Platform in Ultra, Bagger and Cruiser trim, I think the Street Rod is about as sporting a bike as we are going to see coming from Harley for quite some time. I can accept this if Harley or the Aftermarket make available some alternative body work that will enable the Street Rod to convert easily to the owners fantasy bike. When you think of this approach, a street tracker, street fighter, cafe racer or fully faired sporting bike are distinct possibilities. Viva la StreetTracker!!! | ||
| Hogs |
I would think that the Harleys Sport Dyna with front and back adjustable shocks is more of a handling HD than this v-rod is or will every be with its current setup "way" to top heavy for cornering ,with no setup for adjustments... But has the get up and go for the straights thats for sure I`m sure you will see more of these in the insurance sales smashed up ppl. buying them and pushing them past the limits ., as I see allready enough v-rods as it stands now smashed up for sale here and there... | ||
| Ftd  |
"I think of the Street Rod and whatever is considered its competition as sporting bikes for older and more conservative riders that no longer have the will to risk life and limb but still want the rush of pushing a stylin' and profilin' bike through the twisties occasionally. " That is probably me. In addition, living in states like FL where straight line riding far out weighs carving the twisties it is probably a more practical choice. I will be demoing them at Bike Week and if it is good and Buell doesn't come out with something bigger in '06 I will seriously consider one. Frank | ||
| Cataract2 |
If I recall, the VROD platform was built with the idea of getting into the younger crowd. HD knows that the older crowd is not going to be around for long and the only way to survive is to get to the younger crowd now. | ||
| Glitch |
I doubt the Street Rod could keep up with me in the twisties.  It is still my favorite Harley though. | ||
| Gonen60 |
I doubt the Street Rod could keep up with me in the twisties True, But not my point. I was just pointing out that HD seems to be taking a step into a new frontier, with their Twisty based Videos. I can't imagine they would stop at this juncture. Not to sound like a broken record, but I believe their will be a HD sportbike in the near future. | ||
| Lightning_strikes_now |
Dale: When you run your new Street Rod up in first and second gear, was the throttle wide open? If so, how much aceleration was there? Did it acelerate as fast a Buell? | ||
| Fullpower  |
a regular old stock vrod WILL outrun a stock buell in a straight line. stone stock they will launch harder, and will pull away from any stock buell. from 6000 to 9000 rpm they pull real well. the one i demo'd hit the rev limiter in top gear, and it did it real quick. a very impressive machine. now that they have moved the foot pegs aft, and given it enough fuel to get to the next town, i may be able to own one. | ||
| Glitch |
What would happen to turn in if you shortened that longass swingarm? | ||
| Glitch |
Ops forgot my little guy, I like this version best.  | ||
| Dale |
You cannot launch a V-Rod like a Buell. I think a V-Rod will loose to a Buell in the first 100 Feet. After that it gets fun. I would love to run a NASCAR on a Road coarse. Just as much fun as an Indy car but not as scary fast. My Street Rod is going to be a great Sport tourer. Stock settings on suspension feels good to me. | ||
| Jasonxb12s  |
I'm with you Gonen..I also feel hopeful that Buell will come out with a full fairing fx-type bike. I know I'd be in the market if one existed for us civilians... | ||
| Fullpower |
dale the vrod will indeed launch harder and faster than ANY machine with 52 inch wheelbase. with a 67 inch wheelbase, you canpretty much do anything you want to with the clutch on the vrod and not get yourself in trouble, where as it is a challenge to launch the buell withou looping it. | ||
| Deerhunter17 |
Anyone think that HD may be trying to gather some sales from their "Drag Racing" feats of this past season? They did win the title, set some records and all that stuff. The competition are "Sportbikes" that the kids go out and purchase so they too can be fast on the 1/4. So what did HD have to offer in a revolution powered street bike? A Cruiser? Not too many drag fans go for cruisers. Intro the Street Rod. I think HD's Sportbike division is safe, although a Revolution powered Buell would be sweet, but we all know how Erik feels about water cooled. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Numbers from Motorcyclist: 1\4 mile XB12S - 11.38 @ 117.6 VRSCA - 11.37 @ 115.0 Top-gear roll-on 60-80mph: XB12S - 3.85 VRSCA - 4.05 |
