Harley-Davidson 1250 V-ROD édition Patrouille de France 2013 — Specifications

When Milwaukee meets Salon-de-Provence, something unexpected results. The V-Rod and the Alpha Jet would never have been expected to cross paths, and that’s precisely what makes this motorcycle fascinating. To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Patrouille de France, Harley-Davidson dressed its most radical muscle bike in a deep tricolor blue, with a mural representing the iconic jet aircraft and the anniversary logo as a fairing. The result is a unique piece, in the strictest sense of the term.

The choice of the V-Rod is not arbitrary. Among all Harleys, it is the one that deviates the most from the Milwaukee dogma. Its Revolution engine of 1246 cm³, developed in collaboration with Porsche, turns at a regime that older Sportsters would never have seen. One hundred and twenty-five horsepower at 8250 rpm, 110.8 Nm at 7250 rpm: we are far from the mechanics that grumble at idle on Route 66. The tubular double cradle frame, the 49 mm fork, the 240/40-18 rear tire plant a low and muscular silhouette, almost aggressive. The 675 mm seat makes it accessible despite its 302 kg when fully fueled, a weight that is mostly felt when stopped. In motion, the machine well conceals its bulk, and the announced 210 km/h top speed do not seem usurped.

What distinguishes this edition from any standard V-Rod is not the mechanics but the symbolism. The analogy between the two machines rests on several points: crisp acceleration, lines that break with the conventions of their respective eras, and a certain idea of spectacle. The Patrouille de France does not fly to transport passengers, the V-Rod does not ride to run errands. Both exist to provoke something in the spectator. This is a posture that few manufacturers could have claimed credibly, but Harley, with this model launched in 2002 as a deliberate break with its own heritage, manages it without forcing.

This motorcycle initially toured France during the celebrations of the brand's 110th anniversary before joining the Harley Sunroad dealership in Salon-de-Provence for an auction on September 14th. The profits are donated to "Solidarité défense" and "Tout le monde chante contre le cancer". The object is therefore doubly charged: collector's item on one side, charitable gesture on the other. At 25,500 euros for a standard V-Rod, the starting price for this unique example is likely to climb well beyond that.

This is not a motorcycle for everyone. Neither for the beginner looking for a reasonable size, nor for the touring rider who wants to load saddlebags. It is a machine for those who want to possess something that exists in only one copy in the world, at the crossroads of two very different French cultures, American mechanical haute couture and tricolor aeronautical excellence. It is difficult to find an argument against that, especially when the sale finances causes that are worth it.