Monday, 30 January 2017

Harley-Davidson V-Rod (2002) Colors, Specification, Vintage collection

Posted By: ygshhd 06:21 Leave a Reply

Harley-Davidson V-Rod

Although the V-Rod was very much a cruiser, it handled well enough to encourage enthusiastic cornering.

With its aluminium finish, innovative instrument cluster, kicked- out front forks and many clever details, the V-Rod looked fresh and interesting from every angle.

The VRSCA V-Rod that Harley-Davidson unveiled in mid-200l was far more than simply the first of a new family of V-twins. It was a stunningly stylish, original and powerful machine that looked like no other production bike ever built, and which confirmed that the Milwaukee firm had bold and ambitious plans for the 21st century.

It was clear at a glance that the V-Rod, long, low, and seemingly carved from a solid block of aluminium, was no ordinary motorcycle. Visually it had more in common with a custom machine than with a normal production bike, yet mechanically the V-Rod was even more remarkable. It abandoned Harley’s traditional air-cooled V-twin engine for a more potent and sophisticated liquid-cooled motor, based on that of the firm’s VR1000 Superbike racer and developed with the help of Porsche Engineering in Stuttgart. Germany.

‘Revolution’ engine

Until the V-Rod, Harleys had relied on pushrods to open their valves, but the new bike’s 1130cc 'Revolution’ engine retained the layout of the VR racer. That meant a 60-degree cylinder angle (instead of the traditional 45 degrees), and twin overhead cams opening four valves per cylinder. Peak power output was 115bhp at 8500rpm, almost double that of the existing Twin Cam 88 V-twin.

What looked like the fuel tank was a large airbox, which fed the fuel-injection system via a downdraft intake. Fuel lived under the seat. The radiator and oil cooler were hidden by a curvaceous aluminium shroud that ducted air onto them in a swirling motion to improve efficiency. The tubular steel frame was created using a hydroforming process (involving high-pressure water) to give smooth curves. A long aluminium swingarm contributed to the V-Rod’s lengthy wheelbase.

One brief burst of V-Rod acceleration confirmed that this was like no other cruiser from Milwaukee. The way the silver machine charged away from a standstill, revving to its 9000rpm redline through the five-speed gearbox, was exhilarating. And the motor was also very torquey and refined. The bike accelerated cleanly from as low as 2000rDtn and 30mnh (48km/h) in too gear. with real enthusiasm towards a top speed of I40mph (225km/h), and simply feeling stronger as the revs rose.

The V-Rod also handled well by cruiser standards. Its frame was strong, and suspension at both ends gave a reasonably firm yet comfortable ride. The bike was stable at speed and steered easily, while other chassis parts showed further evidence of Harley’s improvements in recent years. Brakes were powerful, not surprisingly given that the front one comprised a large pair of discs gripped by four-piston calipers. Broad radial tyres gave plenty of grip.

Inevitably the radical V-Rod did not appeal to some traditional Harley riders, but it attracted many more to the marque. This was an outstanding machine that pushed two-wheeled style to new heights, and showed the firm was very serious about combining its traditional strengths with modern technology. A new era had begun at Harley-Davidson. On the evidence of the V-Rod, it was going to be just as cool as the old one - and considerably more exciting.

Street Rod: the Sportier Alternative

Harley-Davidson V-Rod On road price in india

Harley planned a new family of bikes based on the V-Rod, and this started to take shape with the 2005-model Street Rod, which held the same 1130cc V-twin engine in a shorter, sportier chassis. Steeper steering geometry plus new suspension and wheels gave lighter, more agile handling. Higher and more rearset footrests meant there was a respectable amount of ground clearance, too. The Street Rod was particularly well received in export markets. In 2006 it was joined by another derivative, the Night Rod, which combined similar mechanical specification with a cockpit fairing, lower seat and black-finished engine.

Although the V- Rod's Il5bhp output far outstripped that of its previous cruisers, Harley relied on a familiar toothed belt to take drive to the fat rear radial.

Solid disc wheels, a large aluminium radiator shroud and an intricately curved twin-pipe exhaust system give the V-Rod the handcrafted look of a showwinning custom bike.

Specification Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod (2002)