Sometimes manufacturers bail on a model for very good reasons (see: Pontiac Aztek). But if you know your automotive history, you also know about those instances where a machine may have failed on the sales floor through no fault of its own. Many choice rides tanked because their feel and function didn't jibe with the public's perception of the brand. Imagine how hard it would be for Buick to successfully launch a 300-hp awd rally car to compete with the WRX and the EVO, and you get the idea.
So when Harley-Davidson decided that their objectively excellent VRSCR would not be part of their 2008 line up (the VRS Nightrod and VROD models will soldier on), we were saddened but not completely surprised. The Street Rod never played well with other Harleys. It's a bruiser, not a cruiser. You can still find one if you look around, and it's worth the trouble... Full Story...
The V-Rod has always impressed me, especially this version, but unfortunately the bike doesn't fit well into the Harley lineup. For one, it can turn corners....and not just turn corners, but it can lean without dragging boards. I haven't seen it myself, but I've heard the VRSCR can keep a pretty good pace on the track and in the twisties.
My only gripe about this bike is that Eric Buell isn't interested in using the engine. Buell is creative enough, and has the flexible customer base, to make something like the VRSCR work.
Eugene Leafty Fungi produce 13% of all the CO2 in the atmosphere, my motorcycle produces over 100 gallons of H2O per year.
I had no idea they were killing the V-Rod, it's one of the only Harleys I actually like! They sound awesome with a nice exhaust (not open pipes), much more refined sounding than any of the other Hardley Ablesons out there. I especially liked the Night Rod version. They were ridiculously expensive, but so are most Harleys.
IIRC from the History channel 1 hour special I saw a while back HD dumped a TON of money into developing the bike and drivetrain. It seems futile to drop it entirely after spending all that money to get it developed.
This is the first I'd heard about Hardley killing the V-Rod. Oh well, if one is going to build a line of stupid bikes, one might as well make ALL of them stupid. The V-Rod was too good for Hardley. Even Hardley haters like me liked it. That's what probably doomed it.
"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." - Jebediah Springfield
Maybe it's just me, but I can't follow the OP article. Is it claiming that HD is dropping the VRod line or just the one model?
FWIW, a quick check @ HD's website (and the fact I spend wayyy too much time at a nearby HD store) confirm that there are 3 models/variations on the VR for 2008.
The VRSCR Street Rod is a model within the VRS (VROD) model lineup. The Night Rod and standard VROD will continue on, while the Street Rod version that the article discusses is being dropped for 2008.
IIRC from the History channel 1 hour special I saw a while back HD dumped a TON of money into developing the bike and drivetrain. It seems futile to drop it entirely after spending all that money to get it developed.
I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, that the engine was co-developed with Porsche... It was supposedly a pretty sweet piece.
Quote, originally posted by vwlarry »
The ignorance of what you said there is so multi-faceted; it's like a kaleidoscope of ignorance.
No problem, but HD "split the difference" between the StreetRod & the Night Rod with the "Special" for 2008 (same WB as the rest of the line, but lower, kept the Brembos, etc...). There's one coming in to my local HD store & I'll be bugging them for a ride.
This is the first I'd heard about Hardley killing the V-Rod. Oh well, if one is going to build a line of stupid bikes, one might as well make ALL of them stupid. The V-Rod was too good for Hardley. Even Hardley haters like me liked it. That's what probably doomed it.
Yep. Too many euro-snobs wandering into their showrooms. Maybe they were worried that people would confuse the DIRT-bag image with a DOUCHE-bag image.
How many times can you rebuild a complex automotive component before you have two of them?
AND... I was pretty clear that it was only THIS PARTICULAR bike, the VRSCR Street Rod, that wasn't returning in the 2008 lineup. Well, that's an understatement. It's totally clear. Here's what it says in the article.
"So when Harley-Davidson decided that their objectively excellent VRSCR would not be part of their 2008 line up (the VRS Nightrod and VROD models will soldier on), we were saddened but not completely surprised."
I don't know how you read that and come away with the erroneous notion that there'll be no more V-Rods.
Ok, enough petulance. I'm done defending.
Gonna go ride: I'm in Sturgis right now, dragging floorboards in the rain.
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Yep. Too many euro-snobs wandering into their showrooms. Maybe they were worried that people would confuse the DIRT-bag image with a DOUCHE-bag image. 
