I really fancy a Harley V-ROD....help me decide what to do!

[buzzer]

I have a 1200 Sportster at the moment... Been a great bike and it suites my riding style these days, I am a cruiser now nad no longer into sports bikes... I know its not the best handling, best brakes, fastest thing out there... but I have enjoyed it.

Just popped into the dealer and there is a nice 2008 1250 V-ROD for sale, very low miles, mint condition.

the dealer has offered me a great part ex price on my Sportster (effectively what I paid for it private 3 years ago!)

So should I buy the V-ROD? are they reliable? any of you guys got one?

so I would be going from this....




to this

Edited by buzzer on Wednesday 26th November 15:34

[Renn Sport]

Buy a Diavel!

Actually my mate has one and he is so over the moon with it! He loves the damn thing with its Porsche design and all.

[Mr OCD]

Same as my FIL... he loves it although finds it a bit of a stretch to the pegs.

[bogie]

Very reliable, just check the +100K miles club on 1130cc.com, there are hundreds of bikes well over 100K miles with just routine maintenance

I really enjoy mine, its quick enough to be interesting, looks and sounds great, certainly a preconception buster for a Harley ....of course aficionados will tell you its not a "real" Harley ...more like a "Davidson-Porsche" which is not a bad thing

Most used bikes should have the obligatory "stage 1" upgrade (exhaust, filter, remap) which livens it up a bit and makes it sound like it should...and save you £1000 doing it yourself

Another popular mod is to drop the gearing - the standard for EU and Aus markets they have a 30t front which gives over 150mph top end. A 28t as per US market is just about right IMO (pulls 140mph easy enough) and the improved acceleration is particularly useful when 2 up

Take it for a test ride and see if its what you are looking for

[jhoneyball]

Do it -- lovely things. Note there were significant changes around 2011 (new front forks, better seating)

I love mine. I have Vance & Hines Black Widow exhausts, a stage 1 remap and the freer flowing air filter. Makes a magnificent noise. Goes quick enough. Goes round corners and stops too.

Cant see why they aren't more popular amongst HD owners in the UK and USA

[bogie]

Yeah, its amazing how relatively rare they are. In the UK total after 12 years there are less than 1300 ish of all V-Rod variants

In mainland Europe they are very popular though, Germans love em...must be the Porsche connection

[Mastodon2]

I love the look of the V-ROD and Night ROD variants, they don't sound as good as the air-cooled engines though. The V-RODs are 60 degree V angle in the engine, do they have the single crank pin like the 45 degree air cooled engines?

I'm supposed to be test riding a Dyna Fat Bob tomorrow as long as the weather isn't ste, I'm quite looking forward to it, going in with an open mind. I've never ridden anything other than sports bikes and commuter stuff.

[buzzer]

for gods sake guys, I posted this expecting you all to try and talk me out of it! Just called my insurance.... its double the Sportster at £220 PA... not a deal breaker then...

maybe I should get a ride on it...

[Gareth9702]

Seek counselling?

[southgate]

buzzer said:

for gods sake guys, I posted this expecting you all to try and talk me out of it! Just called my insurance.... its double the Sportster at £220 PA... not a deal breaker then...

maybe I should get a ride on it...

Factor in the cost of a tasteful jacket too:

[CAPP0]

OP, why have you posted two pictures of the same bike?




( )

[Hemingway]

Go for it. Love mine.

[bimsb6]

I hope you are tall op , the reach to the pegs was too much for me ( but i am a shortarse) the streetrod suits me better .

[evil len]

Nice in burnt orange ...

[StuB]

Only HD I'd be seen on. Diavel a good comparison idea, but VRods been around much longer & likely to be much more expensive all round.

Break out the Matt black pis spot & Ray Bans.

[buzzer]

well I bought it.... its on the drive now, rides really nice, first bike I have ridden with ABS! only done a few miles as I only had a days insurance... roll on the spring!

[bogie]

Congrats, its going to be a long winter now waiting to ride it again ....mine is lathered up with ACF50 and I managed to get a nice ride in last weekend. Lets hope for another mild winter

[Hooli]

evil len said:

Nice in burnt orange ...

Our mates one looks good in that colour, she's tall too.

[andburg]

if you are just wanting the extra poke have you tried an XR1200?

bit sportier than a npormal sportster with decent brakes, the vrod is all about straigh lines really

[casbar]

Nice bike, if you are not already a member, have a look at the HDRCGB forum, have a few members who own VRods