THE NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON V-ROD

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Harley-Davidson, the world’s oldest and most famous motorcycle company, is about to launch its most radical motorcycle in the company’s 98-year history. The VRSCA V-Rod, the first member of a new family of Harley-Davidson performance cruiser motorcycles, is a 1,130cc, liquid-cooled, V-Twin cruiser motorcycle that sets new benchmarks in custom styling and combines high performance with unmistakable Harley-Davidson style and sound.

"This is the Harley-Davidson that a lot of people have been waiting for," said Pat Keller, V-Rod project leader based in Milwaukee. "A Harley-Davidson through and through in terms of looks and presence but with power, torque, speed and a modern design."

The V-Rod is powered by Harley-Davidson’s first ever water-cooled engine, the Revolution. Developed by the Harley-Davidson Powertrain Engineering team in Milwaukee, the Revolution is the street legal, road going version of the VR-1000 engine used by the company in its American Superbike programme. The 60-degree 1,130cc V-Twin will rev freely to the 9,000 rpm redline and produce 115 bhp at
8,250 rpm and 74 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm – comfortably the most powerful production Harley-Davidson ever.

The introduction of the V-Rod is expected to draw a new kind of customer to the Harley-Davidson brand. The bike is bristling with new technology and production firsts for Harley-Davidson including an all-new 5-speed gearbox and electronic fuel injection system.

The styling of the bike is fresh and new yet clearly Harley-Davidson. Long, lean lines give the V-Rod a dragster inspired look, featuring a silver powder-coated perimeter frame and aluminium body parts. Solid aluminium disc wheels and a 2-1-2 big-bore exhaust add the finishing touches to a motorcycle that looks and sounds (engineers have ensured the V-Rod’s exhaust note is distinctively Harley-Davidson) as good as it rides.

"Our brief was to draw on everything we have learned about making motorcycles for 98 years and everything that characterises a Harley-Davidson, but to package it into something new, exciting and performance oriented – I believe the V-Rod is all this and a lot more," continues Keller.

Europe, a region that leans towards the performance end of the market more than the US, is expected to be a big market for the bike. Garry Brumfitt, managing director of Harley-Davidson UK, is eagerly anticipating the bike’s introduction: "We are extremely excited about the V-Rod because we believe UK customers are going to love it. The bike draws heavily on Harley-Davidson’s performance heritage in the US and uses this to carve a new niche in the custom market. There is nothing quite like it available in this country, or elsewhere, and we’re confident that demand will outstrip supply."

The VRSCA V-Rod is the first bike in a complete new family of Harley-Davidson performance cruiser motorcycles called VRSC – V-Twin Racing Street Custom. The new bike and family will sit alongside Harley-Davidson’s current line up of four families (Sportster, Dyna, Softail and Touring) - all of which have been updated for the 2002 model year.

The Harley-Davidson V-Rod and the rest of the updated 2002 models will appear in UK dealerships before the end of the year. Price is yet to be confirmed although expect the bike to fit in at the upper end of the Harley-Davidson range.

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