Harley-Davidson VRSCAW V-Rod 2008 — Specifications

Has Harley-Davidson ever built a sportbike? The question might make purists smile, but it arises seriously with the 2008 V-Rod. Here is a machine that made teeth grind in Milwaukee bars, a flying saucer in the lineup of a manufacturer with such deeply rooted traditions. Its heart beats to the rhythm of a Revolution engine, a liquid-cooled V2 with dual overhead camshafts developed with Porsche. Heresy for some, a stroke of genius for others. In 2008, it expands to 1250 cm3, delivering 121 horsepower at 8500 rpm and a torque of 113.9 Nm. Figures that make any naturally aspirated Big Twin pale, but at the cost of a radically different character.

Because the V-Rod is, above all, a statement. Imagine a customized dragster, over a meter sixty long, planted on the ground with a seat at 69 cm. It is massive, with 304 kg fully fueled, but with a raw elegance that hypnotizes. The faux aluminum tank, the oversized engine staged, the rear wheel shod with a 240-width tire… It is a pure object of desire, a mechanical sculpture that attracts attention more than it promises adventure. Comparison with a Ducati Monster or a Yamaha MT-10 is impossible; we are in a totally distinct register, that of a rolling show.

And yet, this showman's beast must be ridden. The performant and smooth engine requires being revved up, far from the characteristic Harley thump. The belt transmission is smooth, but the five-speed gearbox sometimes seems just enough to exploit the available power. The braking, with its two 300 mm discs, is correct without being transcendent, a weak point on a machine of this size and price. The handling is surprisingly sensible considering the endless wheelbase and the oversized rear tire, but don't dream, it's not a machine for chained curves. Consumption is around 5.6 L/100 km, which is reasonable for a 1250.

So, who is this lounge dragster for? Certainly not the globetrotter who travels hundreds of kilometers, nor the track rider in search of pure sensations. The V-Rod is the ultimate weapon of the urban customizer, the rider who wants to be noticed and is looking for living mechanics under exceptional trim. At 18,390 euros at the time, it was a statement, proof that Harley could shake up its codes. It remains today a cult model, more interesting to look at and listen to than to actually use on a daily basis. A brilliant and imperfect whim, as only the Americans know how to do.