The radical Harley turns 15 next month and still looks as fresh as it did at the turn of the millennium. With a strong cult following there seems to be many years still lying ahead for the king of the low-riders.
You either get the point of a Harley or you don’t, but there’s a huge cult following of the brand all around the world and most are centred in the home turf of the USA. A big chunk of these fans are hooked on the V-Rod which is 15 years old next month.
Harley Davidson does make some great bikes and you can’t argue that wherever you go in the world, even those who don’t get it, have some admiration for a motorcycle that’s been pretty much the same formula since 1907, yes almost 110 years old – beat that anyone.
The company from Milwaukee had a stack of US patents for their 45 degree engine configuration allowing them to use a large capacity engine in a comparitively tight frame. This angle gives the engine that offbeat firing order and causes the distinctive uneven ‘pocka-pocka’ that can be heard in pretty much every country in the world.
Despite almost biting the dust a few times through strikes, depressions, recessions and most famously during the AMF ownership years when quality went down the toilet, the company seems to be as strong as ever.
The traditional Harley engine has always been a bit of an interesting item. Unbalanced in more ways than one it sometimes looks like its fighting to get away from its mounts on tick-over. And the US passion for straight roads left the original bike with less than adventurous leaning capability.
But all that changed in 2001 with the introduction of the V-Rod. Developed from the VR1000 race program it featured a ‘break out from the norm’, water-cooled, counter-balanced, double overhead cam engine with a V-angle of 60 degrees. Co-designed by a certain Mr Porche, this new Revolution engine took the homeland by storm.
A touch over 1100cc, the first incarnation produced a respectable 115bhp and a customary shed load of torque. In 2005 it was honed out to a more decent 1250cc adding almost another ten horses, but it was the Limited Edition Screamin’ Eagle 1300cc that impressed with a hefty 165 horses all in, but unfortunately that engine was to only be unleashed on the track.
The bikes sold very well thanks to their hunker down stance, massive back tyre, great attention to detail and finish and beautiful mechanics.
There’s been almost a dozen incarnations of the bike with a whole lexicon of acronyms (waited years to say that) plus real hang-tough names such as Night Rod, Screamin’ Eagle, Muscle and Destroyer – we get the message Harley.
Nice touches introduced over the years are LED lights, turn indicators in the cast alloy mirror stems, hidden wiring and of course Harley’s well-proven belt drive. Low raked USD forks look the part along with the dummy tank (the real one’s under the seat) and side mount license plate all adding to the bike’s apeal.
2016 sees the line-up contine with the latest Night Rod and Muscle (shown here). The bike is now very civilised with a slipper clutch to ease the cramps and ABS brakes as well.
So what’s it like on the road? Well as usual for a Harley, the angle of lean isn’t great with about 35 degrees allowing for some twisty stuff but that big fat rubber keeps it firmly attached to the road like a limpit on the fast bends.
In a straight line it’s surprisingly quick, not a Ducati or a ‘Busa by any stretch, but considering there’s a touch of lard hidden in there it is quite quick from the lights and will pull on your arm sockets if you do wind it up.
There’s been a gripe or two with the footpeg position not being quite right and lanky blokes may find it a bit crampy on a run, and do be aware that it’s really a single seater. Ain’t no room for no passengers here.
But where this bike comes into its own is you could tour all day; if you really want a smooth long ride across Europe with bugs in your teeth feeling like a dude this is probably the one for you.
But lets face it, the V-Rod is kicking on a bit now and as much as it’s still a contender there’s a lot of decent machinery biting at its ass. Victory, Triumph and Indian are now after the same piece of road and taking a bigger share of the market each year, and some for a lot less bucks.
But hey, when the company is as old as this, a 15-year old model is still comparatively new, and as for the extra cash, well it’s a Harley Davidson, and a pretty good one at that.
CW