Birth of the V- Rod
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I watched it. Kind of interesting. Kind of not.
They never really said what makes it a Harley. Willie G proclaimed it thus after a test ride, but never said WHY. It's nothing like one except for the sound. Is that all it takes??
Also, a lot of Harley faithful do NOT like this bike. They never addressed that.
It was, essentially, just an hour-long infomercial for the bike. I was hoping for something more.
BTW, I really, really, like the bike, and give huge kudos to Harley for producing it.
They never really said what makes it a Harley. Willie G proclaimed it thus after a test ride, but never said WHY. It's nothing like one except for the sound. Is that all it takes??
Also, a lot of Harley faithful do NOT like this bike. They never addressed that.
It was, essentially, just an hour-long infomercial for the bike. I was hoping for something more.
BTW, I really, really, like the bike, and give huge kudos to Harley for producing it.
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I watched it too. I was interesting to see the convoluted process they go through in designing a bike, it's SOOOOOOOO not Japanese!! 
They go through countless man hours producing prototype parts and them show them to Willie Davidson who says "Nope, it's not 'Harley' enough". The end product is pretty interesting, strong engine and all, but I could never take a "fast" bike seriously that has the Barcolounger riding position.
They go through countless man hours producing prototype parts and them show them to Willie Davidson who says "Nope, it's not 'Harley' enough". The end product is pretty interesting, strong engine and all, but I could never take a "fast" bike seriously that has the Barcolounger riding position. Jarel,
Interseting reply. Fast is fast. Heck, there are a lot of motorcyclists who won't take the ZR-7 seriously because of its "barcolounger" riding position.
Rider position is relative.
I like the idea that a comfortable riding position (with the V-Rod, even a crusier riding position) is no longer mutually exclusive with speed and power. I think that's a great thing for motorcycles.
There is one cruiser "handicap" that they did not eliminate: ground clearance. The V-Rod apparently tempts you to extremes, and it drags pegs very quickly. I assume Harley would have it no other way, but of course the cycle mags will complain...
Interseting reply. Fast is fast. Heck, there are a lot of motorcyclists who won't take the ZR-7 seriously because of its "barcolounger" riding position.
Rider position is relative.
I like the idea that a comfortable riding position (with the V-Rod, even a crusier riding position) is no longer mutually exclusive with speed and power. I think that's a great thing for motorcycles.
There is one cruiser "handicap" that they did not eliminate: ground clearance. The V-Rod apparently tempts you to extremes, and it drags pegs very quickly. I assume Harley would have it no other way, but of course the cycle mags will complain...
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Hey TR, that low ground clearance and the fact that the bike weighs over 700 lbs. wet (I think), would scare the hell out of me. I can't even imagine trying to pick that thing up. No thanks. Tom
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When I was stationed at Ft. Hood in '88 I had an '81 Low Rider (FXEF) and the center of gravity on it was a little lower than the ZR , but the bike itself was alot lower so picking it up was a real challenge. I had some goof-ball who was late for work do a left turn in front of me. Some how I got it aimed to where I just glanced off the rear quarter panel (luckily the guy didn't have the usual panic reaction and just stop and wait to be "T- Boned"), but me and the scoot both hit the ground. When I went to pick up the bike, it was kinda like those huge weight lifters you see on ESPN trying to pick up the boulder that weighs twice as much as them. That was pretty much my P.T. for the day.:yell:
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Too much PT
Hey Marty, if it happened that way today, would you just have to walk away from it???:laugh: :laugh:
Hey Marty, if it happened that way today, would you just have to walk away from it???:laugh: :laugh:
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I think that was one of the "Luckiest" crashes. Turns out the kid (a PFC) worked for a friend of mine (a SFC) in the Battalion my wife (at the time) was in. There was no way he was getting out of that one. As for walking away, either that or push the button on the transmitter around my neck,"Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!":laugh:
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That's about what I thought there, Sarge. Take care. Tom
Hey Tom, there's another thread floating around here where I complain I couldn't even pick the ZR-7S up. But then a link got posted where some relatively small guy explains how he picks up his Gold Wing (900 lbs.!!). It's all about leverage. This weekend I think I'm gonna lay the bike on the grass and give it a try...Tom Bozeman said:
thank goodness for tiVo. i watched the show tonight. i thought it was really cool to see how a new bike comes to life. it is pretty impressive how the teams worked together to come up with a bike from the ground up. as for the bike itself, i don't know that i would ever be interested in one. it looks kinda cool, but $16000 for a bike? hmm.. that's over three times the cost of my bike!
i thought it was funny how willy proclaimed it a harley right after he broke it
yippy for harley trying to expand their market, though.
later,
q
i thought it was funny how willy proclaimed it a harley right after he broke it
yippy for harley trying to expand their market, though.
later,
q
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