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HARLEY NIGHT ROD: In terms of practicality, it shares the winning characteristic the whole VRSC range.

Harley Night Rod: Harley back - in black

November 8, 2005

By Tim Luckhurst

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 1130cc 60-degree V-twin.
Max power: 90kW.
Max torque: 108Nm at 7000rpm.
Brakes: Front dual 300mm discs; rear single 300mm disc.
Fuel capacity: 14 litres.
Weight: 275kg.
Seat height: 66cm.
Price: £11 495 (about (about R134 500)

Harley-Davidson is only occasionally guilty of subtlety so full marks for its 2006 VRSCD Night Rod, a bike that casts its spell through sophistication and not grunt.

The Night Rod is part of a new family of sleek, modern Harleys launched by the Porsche-powered V-Rod.

For poseurs in lightweight leather jackets, open-face...

Its upswept exhaust, low-rise bars and speed-screen visor give it oodles of street cred. For poseurs in lightweight leather jackets, open-face helmets and shades, it's an ideal mount for that short blast to the strip.

In terms of practicality, it shares the winning characteristic the whole VRSC range: a modern motorcycle conceived with traditional Harley-Davidson flair but incorporating the best of technology.

The 1130cc, 90kW V-twin has liquid cooling, overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. Instead of rumbling like air-cooled Harleys, it roars - and goes on roaring to the edge of the 9000rpm red line.

Women riders and short men need not be restricted to pillion duty. The Night Rod shares the original V-Rod frame and retains that bike's low-slung seat. Steering is also lighter and more precise than most riders will be accustomed to on a cruiser.

. . . helmets and shades, it's an ideal mount for that short blast to the strip

The Night Rod's forks are raked at 36 degrees (as opposed to 38 on the V-Rod) to give it more agility through tight curves but it is not quite as brisk through the twists as the Street Rod.

I enjoyed the perfect test ride. Having blasted up a steep pass in the Spanish Pyrenees on a less practical Harley-Davidson, I transferred to the Night Rod. Miles of corkscrewing mountain road stretched ahead, punctuated by short uphill straights.

The sun was shining and the road surface was lumpy.

The Night Rod handled the bumps without bruising my posterior. Then it handled the rest. At 100km/h in fifth a lazy rider does not need to change down to pass a coach on an up-slope.

Approaching a 90-degree right-hander at 150km/h I was extremely grateful to the excellent Brembo brakes now fitted across the VRSC range.

For pure handling the Street Rod version is better. It permits a lean angle of 40 degrees while the Night Rod can only go to 32 - but it is enough. Comfort is good too.

The Night Rod also has mid-mount foot pegs and controls, not forward-mounted cruiser versions, though there are neat little fold-down cruiser-pegs for those who want to stretch out.