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Posted on 24.01.2018 by admin

INTERMOT countdown 2016: 7

Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle

When the legendary US company presented the new Harley-Davidson V-Rod at the end of 2001, it was a revolution: water cooling, presentable top performance and a 60-degree cylinder angle opened a branch in Harley’s long history of evolution. A strong piece to this day!

Screwing since 1903 Harley-Davidson persists in his myth. Probably the best-known motorcycle brand in the world is an icon of US industrial culture, to be mentioned in the same breath as Ford and Coca-Cola, Boeing and Apple. Shortly before the company’s 100th anniversary, the company suddenly pulled out completely new registers: The Harley-Davidson V-Rod presented at the end of 2001 was extraordinary. Yes, it was a real break with tradition. This was ensured by lots of technical Harley premieres: water cooling, wet sump lubrication, gasoline injection, two overhead camshafts and four valves per short-stroke cylinder. And those are unconventionally spread by 60 degrees instead of 45 degrees like all other V-Twins since 1909.

INTERMOT countdown 2016: 7

Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle

V-Rod Muscle actually works the muscles

Ultimately, the completely newly developed engine was based on the technology of the works racing machine VR 1000. Harley even competed seriously in the US Superbike Championship with it. This was expressed by the V-Rod model code VRSCA: It stood for "V-Twin Racing Street Custom Alpha". Porsche had further developed the Racing-V2 in its development center in Weissach for a road-going motorcycle and made it ready for series production. Today, 15 years later, there are only two new V-Rod types available in Germany, which are now 1247 cm3. There are the Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and the 2009 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF). The name says it all, it actually flexes its muscles. Nominally 121 PS strong, it maltreats the MOTORRAD test bench with a real 126 PS. Moving power from 2000 turns.

It encounters 307 kilograms of finely machined metal. These include brushed aluminum in contrast with a polished chrome sheen, fine milled parts and frame tubes rounded by hydroforming. Small works of art are elegant LED indicators integrated into the mirror holder and the narrow LED taillight strip above the straight rear fender. It contrasts with the short front fender above the large, beautiful 19-inch front wheel. The upside-down fork of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle is super flat, the steering head angle is the flattering 56 degrees. No wonder that a bold 1.70 meter wheelbase spreads between the axles. At the back a huge 245 mm rear roller rotates, flat like a car because of the low 40 mm cross-section.

All of this is fat on the eye, good for flawless straight-line stability, but not exactly conducive to curvy handling. No, such extreme chassis geometry takes its toll on the driver with determination in every corner: You always have to tell the 307 kilogram Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle where to go. After all, this Amish sling is inspired by the drag strip. She lets 165 US Mustangs gallop in racing trim. The acceleration races over 400 meters lead straight ahead. In European low mountain ranges, on the other hand, real tackling is the order of the day with the series machine: The huge rear tire finds bumps and ruts with a whisker-like security, stands up, looks for its own lines. That lives!

Early in the morning, the footpegs mounted far forward scratch their initials into the asphalt, spraying sparks. Not only the legs, but also the arms have to stretch far, namely towards the forged handlebar halves. This sitting posture looks like a folding knife. But also really cool. Lifting into the vertical requires strength. The 60-degree V2 is soft and elastic, despite the powerful 105 pistons, and runs smoothly even in the lower rev range. And rotates freely up to 9000 tours, the zenith is 8100. It would bend the bumpers of Harley’s Big Twins, with a good 100 hp liter output, Electra Glide would be & Co. cough their underlying camshafts out of the crankcase. Well, no other series Harley brakes so well either. Or sprint from zero to 100 in a remarkable three and a half seconds.

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Second hand prices have risen sharply again

In the final fifth gear, the Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle needs less than nine seconds to pull through from 60 to 140, leaving all 1690 cubic V-Zwos of the US bike manufacturer far behind. Only when it comes to sales does it not quite succeed, especially in the USA. This leads to an absurd situation: Still homologated according to the old Euro 3 approval standard, it does not seem clear at the moment whether Harley-Davidson will lift its most modern engine over the Euro 4 hurdles in 2017.

It would be a shame for him if not. In any case, used prices in this country have risen sharply again after a temporary slump. Perhaps a future classic will grow here – based on the legendary motto “live fast, die young”, live fast, die young.

Technical data Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle

jkuenstle.de

The beginning of a new era: the V-Rod was and is the slightly different Harley!

Water-cooled two-cylinder, four-stroke, 60-degree V-engine, two overhead camshafts / four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, injection, throttle valves 53 mm, bore x stroke 105.0 x 72.0 mm, 1247 cm3, 89, 0 kW (121 PS) at 8000 rpm, 115 Nm at 6500 rpm; Double loop frame made of steel, upside-down fork (Ø 43 mm), aluminum two-arm swing arm, two spring struts, cast aluminum wheels 3.00 x 19 and 8.00 x 18, tires 120/70 ZR 19 and 240/40 VR 18, Wheelbase 1700 mm, steering head angle 56 degrees, caster 120 mm, spring travel f / r 102/74 mm, seat height 700 mm, 307 kg with a full tank, tank capacity 18.9 liters; Price (2016): 19,065 euros

Dream Bike Pick: Harley Results

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Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle

Second hand prices have risen sharply again

Technical data Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle

Dream Bike Pick: Harley Results

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