The VRSC, better known as the V-Rod, is the line of V-twin cruisers Harley-Davidson built from 2002 to 2017. It was the company’s first street motorcycle with overhead camshafts and liquid cooling, and its Revolution engine was developed with help from Porsche engineers from the VR1000 racing programme.
Harley-Davidson V-Rod at a glance
| Production | 2002–2017, presented in 2001 |
|---|---|
| Family name | VRSC, V-twin racing street custom |
| Engine | Revolution, 60-degree V-twin, liquid cooled, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder |
| Capacity | 1,131 cc, raised to 1,247 cc in 2008 |
| Power at launch | claimed 115 hp at the crank |
| Frame | hydroformed steel, with the airbox in the dummy tank |
| Fuel tank | under the seat, 14 litres at first, 18 litres from 2007 |
| Brakes | three floating discs with four-piston calipers |
| Final drive | Kevlar toothed belt |
| Built in | Kansas City, Missouri |
| First versions | VRSCA V-Rod 2002–2006, VRSCB 2004–2005 |
| Later versions | Street Rod, Night Rod, Night Rod Special, V-Rod Muscle |
The article covers the V-Rod, VRSC, VRSCX, VRSCDX and Night Rod records of the old gallery, which are all versions of the same VRSC platform and now redirect here.
History of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod
The VRSC was introduced in 2001 as a single model, the V-Rod, aimed at Japanese and American muscle bikes. Its Revolution engine was developed for the road by Harley-Davidson engineers with help from a few Porsche engineers, starting from the VR1000 racing V-twin; a derivative called the Revolution X later appeared on the entry-level Street of 2014. Unlike other Harley-Davidson production motorcycles, the radiator and the hydroformed frame members support the round air cleaner cover, and the fuel tank sits under the seat so that the rider sits on top of it, while the dummy tank is really the cover for the airbox and the coolant filler. All VRSC models were built at the Kansas City plant in Missouri.
The original VRSCA V-Rod of 2002 to 2006 had a 1,131 cc Revolution engine with a claimed 115 hp at the crank, 49 mm forks, a 180 mm rear tyre, solid disc wheels and a 14-litre tank; Brembo brakes arrived in 2006, and only forward controls were offered. The VRSCB of 2004 and 2005 was mechanically identical with a black frame, a polished and black powder-coated engine and different instruments and handlebars. The VRSCR Street Rod of 2006 and 2007 was the roadster of the family, the first VRSC with inverted Showa forks and Brembo brakes, a 30-inch seat, 40 degrees of lean against 32 for the others, mid-mounted controls and a 19-litre tank that became standard in 2007. The VRSCD Night Rod of 2006 to 2008 also had mid controls, with straight-shot mufflers and a claimed 120 hp; in 2008 its engine grew to 1,247 cc, a slipper clutch and an optional ABS came in, and it was the last VRSC with a 180 mm rear tyre.
From 2007 the base model was the VRSCAW V-Rod, essentially a VRSCA with a new frame to take a 240 mm rear tyre and a five-gallon tank; the extra weight without extra power made the 2007 version the slowest production VRSC. The 2008 engine grew to 1,247 cc with a claimed 123 hp, and the Night Rod Special added a matt black finish, a 240/40-18 rear tyre and a 640 mm seat height, while the VRSCX used the 1,250 cc engine with two-tone orange and aluminium paint. The family was a limited success, especially in Europe, where the liquid cooling, the engine note and the styling were too far from tradition for most Harley-Davidson customers, and production ended in September 2017 with the 2018 model year.
Design and features
- Revolution engine: liquid-cooled, 60-degree, overhead cams and four valves, developed with Porsche help.
- Dummy tank: the airbox cover sits where the tank normally is, the real tank is under the seat.
- Hydroformed frame: a stiff steel chassis built with a new bending and welding process.
- Muscle bike performance: the highest specific output in the Harley-Davidson range of its time.
Harley-Davidson V-Rod versions
- VRSCA V-Rod (2002–2006): the original, 1,131 cc and 115 hp.
- VRSCB V-Rod (2004–2005): a cosmetically different version with a black frame.
- VRSCR Street Rod (2006–2007): inverted forks, mid controls, 19-litre tank.
- VRSCD Night Rod (2006–2008): straight-shot mufflers and mid controls.
- VRSCAW V-Rod (2007–2010): 240 mm rear tyre and five-gallon tank.
- VRSCDX Night Rod Special: matt black, 240/40-18 rear tyre and a low seat.
- VRSCX: the 1,250 cc engine in two-tone orange and aluminium.
The Night Rod Special, the best-known version, is covered here together with the whole VRSC line; the water-cooled engine idea continued in the article on the Street, the traditional air-cooled big twins in the article on the Twin Cam, and the racing V-twin behind the project in the article on the XR-750. More are in the collection.
Video: Harley-Davidson 2007 Night Rod Special
Video by KitzerPlaus on YouTube.
Sources
- Harley-Davidson VRSC, English Wikipedia: development, models, specifications, reception
- Harley-Davidson V-Rod, Italian Wikipedia: engine, chassis, market
- Harley-Davidson V-Rod, French Wikipedia: model evolution, versions
