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Driving report Harley-Davidson Night Rod
Straight through
Harley has placed the Night Rod exactly between the power cruiser V-Rod and the Wetzer Street Rod. Black as the night ?? but you can also drive it during the day.
When a manufacturer has mastered the modular system,
then that’s Harley-Davidson. Some elements from one model, some from another ?? and a completely new motorcycle has seen the light of day. Such an example
namely the Night Rod, as a result of the cross between
V-Rod and Street Rod.
The connecting element: the »revolution engine«. Seldom has an engine generation been better named than this one. Because what happened to Harley in 2002 for the company’s 99th birthday
completely new twin the V-Rod gave, really like one
Revolution: water cooling, four valves, overhead camshafts, 60 degree cylinder angle and ?? not least thanks to Porsche help? right performance. 117 hp, which even four years later don’t have to hide. The request quickly arose to transplant this engine from the flat cruiser chassis of the V-Rod into a sporty version. Harley fulfilled it and pushed the Street Rod in 2005: a perfectly functioning chassis, an almost sporty sitting posture ?? Japan’s four-cylinder got US competition. So much for the parents.
And thus directly to the youngsters: With its centrally mounted footrests à la Street Rod and the low seat height à la V-Rod, the new model immediately looks like a compromise between the two. Which is somehow true. Low but not at the waist
bent like a slightly opened jackknife, but a
slightly bent and with knees clearly bent, takes
the night rod driver in the seat pan in just 660 millimeters
Height place. The flat low-rise handlebar invites you to stand in wait behind the streamlined, small cockpit hood.
Harley calls the seating position “discreetly aggressive”. And so can the new Night rod drive too.
At least as long as it goes straight ahead. Initially silky soft and unobtrusive, at higher speeds, on the other hand, hammering wildly from the sheer punching power, the force from the two dark, black-coated cylinders pushes the load on. Cruiser-like, the 36 degree flat, straight fork angle and the frame layout of the V-Rod, the Night Rod can be maneuvered through curves like a heavy steamer ?? unfortunately nowhere near as agile as the more dynamic Street Rod. In addition, it does not have the freedom to lean,
but scratches with the pegs and the straight-shot dual exhaust system (again from the Street Rod) early on at the athlete image that Harley has just built up. The new night hammer has also inherited the small tank volume of only 14 liters hidden under the seat in the frame triangle. But he can get a second day-
odometer boast. And so that the self-arming function of the standard alarm system will in future be able to be switched off.
The three Brembo four-piston stoppers, which already celebrated a much-praised premiere in the Street Rod, work first class. Since the V-Rod should also benefit from this, the complete series of three water-cooled Harley models will be upgraded with the Italian brake system in 2006. Which brings us back to the modular principle.
Dyna series
To mark its 35th anniversary, Harley has given the Dyna range a thorough update. As of 2006, all Dyna models have in common, in addition to an increase in output of six hp (now 73 hp), a completely new six-speed gearbox instead of the previous five-speed gearbox, a new fork with a 49er standpipe diameter, a modified one,
torsion-resistant frame with now integrated ignition / steering lock on the steering head, a stiffer swing arm, a 17- instead of 16-inch rear wheel and a rear tire that has grown to 160 mm wide.
As a new model, Harley places the Street Bob, which marks the entry-level price of the Dyna series at 12,865 euros. A solo seat, apehanger handlebars and a deep rear with short dampers characterize it externally.
Not only the Dyna models, but also all other Harleys with the Twin-Cam 88 engine, i.e. the variants of the Softail and Touring series, will benefit from the performance boost in the future. The effect that the flow-optimized cylinder heads and the larger throttle valves also have is clearly noticeable
46 millimeters in cross section. This means that the 2006 models react more spontaneously to gas commands and should have a better torque curve. The clutch on all air-cooled models (except for the Sportster) has also become much smoother thanks to a modified release mechanism.
Within the Touring series, Harley has introduced the Street Glide as a new model. The most prominent feature of the thick ship, which starts at € 21,460, is the short pane over the characteristic wing cladding. New or back in the Softail range is the Heritage Softail, which has a rather puristic design except for its massive front and solid running boards, starting at 17,295 euros.
Harley calls this black denim
Matt black available for all models in the future. This costs as much as that
Metallic paintwork at extra charge. In other words: the bad boy look
is at least 200 euros more expensive than conventional black.
Technical specifications
Engine: water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 60-degree V-engine, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, injection, uncontrolled catalytic converter, five-speed gearbox, toothed belt.
Bore x stroke 100.0 x 72.0 mm
Cubic capacity 1131 cm3
Compression ratio 11.3: 1
rated capacity
89 kW (120 PS) at 7000 rpm
Max. Torque 108 Nm at 7000 rpm
Chassis: double loop frame made of steel with bolted beams, telescopic fork, Ø 49 mm, two spring struts with
adjustable spring base, double disc brake at the front, Ø 300 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, disc brake at the rear, Ø 300 mm, four-piston fixed caliper.
Tires 120/70 ZR 19; 180/55 ZR 18
Dimensions and weights: wheelbase 1700 mm, seat height 660 mm, weight with a full tank of 285 kg, payload 179 kg, tank capacity 14 liters.
Two year guarantee
Colors black, matt black, various metallic or two-tone paintwork
Price plus additional costs from 16,995 euros
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