All Reviews – V-Rod Muscle Review: Harley-Davidson Shows Off The Muscle (s)! – Take the measure … of the excess!

V-Rod Muscle Test: Harley-Davidson Shows Off The Muscle (s) !

All Reviews - V-Rod Muscle Review: Harley-Davidson Shows Off The Muscle (s)! - Take the measure ... of the excess!

While Harleys often evoke chrome, noise and torquey but placid engine, the V-Rod Muscle would almost embody the opposite: stocky like a Pitt-Bull and inspiring as much respect, the American also sends very big gas. Test !

Take the measure … of excess !

Reassured about the ability of his mount to cause excitement, the pilot will leave passers-by definitely dumbfounded by the grace with which the V-Rod Muscle twirls in the flow of traffic once the light has turned green! Subject to being careful of its pachydermal weight and its mediocre steering angle, the American is indeed quite well freed from the urban test..

Well balanced and accepting to resume without mowing at 1,500 rpm in second, the American suffers only from a penalizing width of handlebars, a manly clutch – with the handle located far enough and not adjustable -, from brutal braking at the start of the race and especially its propensity to cook the driver at the slightest prolonged stops … Not to mention the generous caster angle of the inverted fork of 49 mm, the position with feet in front and arms outstretched and the important inertia of the mill which does not facilitate maneuvers at low speed.

However, overall, the urban exercise is much less laborious than the dimensions let it be feared. The presence of a coded key and an alarm are all valuable assets when leaving the animal parked … an activity that requires a little grip and above all a substantial space !

Undoubtedly, the V-Rod Muscle delights in the great outdoors: like a Yamaha V-Max or a Suzuki B-King, the Muscle is capable of smoking anything that rolls at start-up, but c is indeed on major axes that his incredible motor health is appreciated.

Except that on the highway, the American is paying dearly for its custom-type position and its lack of protection. And although the motorization Revolution be able to tear off the asphalt each time a toll takes off – while purring at 5,000 rpm in fifth gear at 130 km / h – the fast lanes quickly put the neck, arms and lower part of the back in agony !

To brave boredom – and cramps! -, the right hand will find a temporary distraction in this astonishing knob placed under the accelerator and which is used to harden the throttle control at will. Be careful, however, not to screw it in completely, otherwise the gases will dangerously block. !

Well wedged on a generous saddle, the best is then to revel in the lightning revivals of the twin which tear the arms from 4,000 rpm to the 8,500 rpm of the break! Exhilarating, when it comes to overtaking stunned motorists at the sight of this machine capable of hanging 200 km / h with a big blink of an eye, this ability to kick the rear end copiously calls for joining the secondary network to abuse the unusual charms of this extraordinary Harley !

Because beyond a technical sheet of all the superlatives – having regard to the habits of the brand -, the V-Rod Muscle is not just a barrel of uncontrollable powder, just good to show off on cafe terraces! No, the meanest Harley is far from being this "anvil that lights" that its measurements and its motorization suggest: it even presents a healthy behavior, even astonishing on roads a little twisted and well paved. !

Well, don’t go to the conclusion that Muscle is capable of freaking out the clock on a rally special! With three quintals well packed in running order and a titanic size, the exuberant Milwaukee twin imposes a good dose of anticipation, flexible steering and curves all round in order to spare footrests that only ask for. to plow the bitumen !

And yet, although a legitimate instinct of self-preservation would then recommend releasing the thick throttle control, the Harley maintains its course with the same serenity as a freight train: it is well helped by a rigid frame, rather suspensions. effective – on nickel bitumen – and almost impossible to fault traction.

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