Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with this Harley-Davidson, specifically the VRSC, also known as the V-Rod. Let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I got my hands on this bike, and the first thing I noticed was its engine. This thing is liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin, DOHC, and has four valves per cylinder. Pretty cool, right?
I started digging into it, trying to figure out what makes this bike tick. It’s based on the engine from the VR 1000, which is a racing bike. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of racing tech in their everyday ride?
Initially, I thought this bike would be super sporty. However, I quickly found out that it had a long wheelbase, a steep steering rake, and was pretty heavy. I tried to take some tight corners, and let’s just say it wasn’t the smoothest ride. It’s definitely more suited for cruising in a straight line.
I also looked into the reliability. Some folks have ridden over 40,000 miles on these bikes without major issues. Of course, there’s some regular stuff like shims, valves, and cams, but that’s pretty normal, right?
Cosmetic Stuff
So my bike is the VRSCB model, which is slightly different from the VRSCA, it is black frame, polished aluminum and black powder-coated engine, and a slightly different clamshell. It looked kinda cool.
I did some more research and found out that these V-Rods are kind of rare. People are selling them for anywhere between 7,000 and 17,000, depending on the model and condition. I guess they hold their value pretty well. Anyway, I spent a lot of time just tinkering with it, trying to figure out all the ins and outs.
One thing I realized is that this V-Rod is probably what the big Japanese companies should have built but didn’t. It is a bold move for Harley-Davidson in recent history. They were busy copying Harley’s style, and now Harley made something like V-Rod.
Final Thoughts
In the end, I think the early V-Rods are the coolest, even if they aren’t perfect. It’s been a fun project, and I’ve learned a lot about this unique bike.
- Engine: Liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin, DOHC, 1130cc
- Performance: Better for cruising than sharp turns
- Reliability: Pretty good, with some regular maintenance
- Value: Holds up well, ranging from 7,000 to 17,000
That’s my experience with the Harley V-Rod. It’s a cool bike with some quirks, but definitely an interesting ride.