Harley-Davidson VRSCF V-Rod Muscle 2009 — Specifications

Can a Harley be something other than a clattering pushrod V-twin with a retro feel? In 2009, the VRSCF V-Rod Muscle answers yes, and with a brutality that leaves little room for doubt. Here, we are far from the potato-potato feel, immersed in the world of the liquid-cooled V2, the result of a collaboration with Porsche. This 1250 cm3 engine delivers 123 horsepower at 8000 rpm, a power that makes traditional Big Twins pale in comparison and positions this custom in a category of its own, closer to the power cruiser.

With its 240 mm wide rear tire, inverted fork, and angular lines, the V-Rod Muscle displays a resolutely aggressive character. It doesn't just play the bad girl for style, it has the substance to match. The 115 Nm of torque, available fairly high in the rev range, requires you to work it at speed, but when it is released, the push in the back is frank and linear. Belt drive and the standard anti-dribble clutch help to channel this energy, but you need to hold on tight. At 307 kg fully fueled, it’s not a featherweight, and its wheelbase of 1700 mm makes it reluctant to tight turns. It is a machine made for straight lines, highways, and attention-grabbing attitudes.

Harley-Davidson has nevertheless tried to soften the beast with some welcome equipment. ABS is present, a rarity on a custom of this era, and the finish shows a certain attention to detail: wiring integrated into the handlebars, LED lights, turn signals in the mirrors. The low seat at 640 mm facilitates handling, but the riding position, with the very forward-mounted footpegs, is a declaration of war on the back and wrists on long journeys. It’s the price to pay for this factory-spec look, where every element, from the black perimeter frame to the huge intake vents, seems designed to impress.

Facing competitors such as the Yamaha V-Max of the time or certain Suzuki Boulevards, the Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle relies on its unique hybrid character. It will appeal to those seeking a powerful custom, with a radical look and technically distinct from the ordinary Harley, without wanting a generic Japanese bike. It is a desirable and contradictory object, both sophisticated and brutal, comfortable and exhausting. A bold gamble, which still finds its audience today among riders seeking an American motorcycle that embraces its modernity without complex.