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- Mister Hide’s bike
- V-Rod Muscle is to Harley-Davidson what Mr. Hide is to Doctor Jeckyl. When the melody of Milwaukee’s Big twin comes out of syncope.
- Disconcerting position
- Two motor modes
- Custom catapult
- The Porsche touch
- Annoying or fashion details
- Conclusion
Mister Hide’s bike
V-Rod Muscle is to Harley-Davidson what Mr. Hide is to Doctor Jeckyl. When the melody of Milwaukee’s Big twin comes out of syncope.
It’s boxier than a standard V-Rod, sportier in appearance, licked like a hot-road with the enormous 240mm rear tire wrapped by its fender with integrated lights. We think for a moment of the Deuce, a terribly endearing Softail of the brand whose rear was particularly successful. The comparison stops at aesthetics, because since the twin-cam 88 B which fitted this model (B for mounted rigid in the frame compared to the classic twin-cam, on silent-blocks), the V-Rod appeared.
With its water-cooled four-valve-per-cylinder engine, presented on a drag track to the press as a revolution (that’s also the name of the 1,250cc engine block) is announced at factories in Milwaukee. If since then, the fashion of big vitamin customs has seized many manufacturers, Harley keeps the authenticity and a formidable track record in dragster competition to support its legitimacy..
Disconcerting position
On our roads in the old continent, we still keep the image of sluggish motorcycles stuck to Harleys like an ugly pair of cowboy boots. The position is in this spirit Softail on the Muscle. Feet exaggeratedly forward, arms stretched out by the handlebars. The first few meters are always disconcerting. And then we get caught up in the game, in the attitude. With this strange feeling of seeing each other.
This forced position, not necessarily very anatomical, does not prove to be tiring in use. On the contrary. Paradoxically, the bust leaning forward prevents straining the back, the legs are bent enough so as not to tire. We are just starting to get cold wrists from arms stretched too far forward. And we are thinking of his next leather jacket, with octopus tentacle model sleeves to be expected..
In town, given the length of the crew, it is necessary to better understand the small streets where one plans to enter in order to anticipate, like a driver’s license plateau, between the blocks. Go look high for the outermost cone before turning around looking at the next door already, we’ve all heard that.
Two motor modes
Strangely, we find the engine a bit hollow. On the speeds of the first half of the tachometer, we even have the impression of having a Harley, classic means, between the thighs. The twin now open at 60 ° and not at 45 °, resumes from 2,000 rpm. The sound is obviously worked as on a tumbled twin and we navigate in the spirit of the good vibrations of the syncopated chanting from across the Atlantic up to 3,500 rpm.
After this speed, the cruiser mode evaporates as you approach 5,000 rpm. Mr. Hide is waking up. No more syncope.
Custom catapult
After this regime, we better understand the ergonomics of the saddle. A folding seat for the passenger very pleasantly holds the spine of the pilot. And allows it not to float like the US flag. This invaluable aid makes it possible not to tense up on the handlebars and to resist the rise in speed, as elastic as it is vigorous. A second motorcycle has just come out of this seductive custom.
It is at 5,000 rpm that we cross on the motorway at around 140 km / h. Beyond that, only a few segments of the motorway rail should be considered as the wind pressure becomes significant..
The challenge is therefore to stay attached to the crew. On a custom, taking the 200 km / h in fourth and in a few seconds is nothing natural. Especially when you experience the air pressure in this special position. So we surrender our hand without knowing how far this demonic V-twin can take us. Much further, for sure.
The Porsche touch
The more than thirty-year partnership that unites Harley-Davidson with Porsche is no stranger to this vitamin engine. On the design side, we find similarities between sports cars and Uncle Sam’s motorcycles. It is only necessary to compare the ovals and half-moons of the counters, tachometers and needle gauge at the outputs of exhaust of a Porsche to be convinced.
Since a Harley is not a 911, you have to resolve to calm your enthusiasm. If the Muscle has the hypertrophied curves of a bodybuilder, he is not a track runner. In addition to the long straights, we force ourselves to give up our hands in the laces. Ground clearance always … The exhaust pipes that rub so quickly on a classic V-Rod, although reassembled in this satin chrome Muscle version, also end up touching the ground, well after the footrests. Too bad, because without wanting to register the Muscle in pro-Twin, the machine and its huge 240 mm tire, its frame which takes in without flinching, would take a little more inclination in the curve..
Annoying or fashion details
In use, this strikes a little of the pleasure that we take to this handlebars, on the reserve before each entry of an unknown curve, lest the turn tighten. In the long run, we start relying on the rear brake. Equipped with ABS, no fear of blocking the wheel to want to break a pace. Calipers are particularly effective at pinching brake discs. Finest detail, small metal grids let escape the calories caused by the friction of the pads on the metal tracks. It is that at the slightest opportunity, we go down a gear to get high speeds and acceleration, even if it means burnering the rear tire while it warms up. Quick, a Christmas tree for this dragster.
Conclusion
A heavy-duty looker version of the standard V-Rod, the Muscle brings a hot-road line to Milwaukee’s “liquid” revolution. Pleasant once the position adopted, this machine will not however allow to venture too far from the terrace of a cafe. Autonomy is very relative, about 170 km before the reserve, the bike seems endowed with an appetite with regard to its performance, from 8.5 to nearly 9 l / 100 km. It is obviously anecdotal when you spend more than 18.825 €, the base price for such a toy. A muscle feeds.
Strong points
- motor character,
- saddle comfort,
- devastating aesthetics
Weak points
- Limited autonomy,
- ground clearance always too tight,
- humidity in the meter
The Harley-Davidson V-Rod technical sheet
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