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So I pulled the trigger today - UPDATE -

DVad3r

DVad3r

Diamond Member
It's been taunting me for around a year now. Still not sure if it was the smartest buying decision (probably not) but I don't care, I'm young and want to have some fun in life right now.

Picked up a 2009 VRSCDX Night Rod Special today with the vivid black/silver stripe paint scheme. It's got ABS, security system, and battery tender. I plan on swapping out the exhaust this summer and the handle bars to ones with more pullback.

I don't have any pics, but the bikes sitting in the back in a crate, not going to pick it up till mid March or so, but here is what it looks like http://images.google.ca/images...1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Now it's time to plot some nice destinations this summer to visit 😀







UPDATE:

So it's been a few months since I got my bike. During this time it sat in the showroom, and then sat in my garage for a few weeks. Till this time I've been practicing on my dad's bike, and in the meantime took another MSF course as a refresher.

I finally decided it was time to pull out the rod this weekend and let it rip, and boy does it ever rip lol. The last bike I rode before it was the MSF 250 CC Yamaha, which is a bicycle compared to the rod. The thing is a total beast and I am really happy with it. I didn't get past 2nd gear yet but that's about all I need for city streets. Tomorrow I plan on going for a longer ride into some country roads after work.

Only issue I'm having right now is remembering to tap the brake light when I'm downshifting, cause this thing pretty much stops dead in it's tracks when I downshift, I haven't had to use the brake yet.

Just wanted to share that with you guys, and to anyone who hasn't ridden a bike yet, you have no clue what you're missing. Getting into my car afterwards I feel like I'm getting inside a garabage can with wheels and an engine.

Ill post some pics of my bike and me later on, but all I can tell you is that I feel like Batman on it (the fat version LOL).

😛


EDIT: Oh and I def need a full face helmet, and if riding around in my half helmet than goggles. My glasses = fail and getting teary eyed sucks.
 
Oh man,
guy at my last work had one, absolutely stunning. I'm not a harley guy by any means, but that thing is fantastic!
 
As long as you aren't one of the guys who won't ride of their Harley t-shirt is dirty (which makes up 95%+ of the guys here, majority of which are doctors, dentists, etc) then you're cool in my book.

Ride safe. Pick up babes. Have fun.
 
Dude, you own a V-ROD! How the hell are you going to wait until March to pick it up? You're going to lose your mind, you're going to hang out at 1130 and look at picks and ask about exhaust. You sir, are going to crack long before you get that bike.
 
Originally posted by: boomerang
Good timing

You'll have to research the details on your own. They may not be finalized yet.
Click to expand...

I'm in Canada I doubt that applies to me, if they wanted people to ride bikes here they would cut insurance costs by around 350 %. And if the company goes out of business all the better, my bike becomes a collector item.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Dude, you own a V-ROD! How the hell are you going to wait until March to pick it up? You're going to lose your mind, you're going to hang out at 1130 and look at picks and ask about exhaust. You sir, are going to crack long before you get that bike.
Click to expand...

It still hasn't sunk into me yet. I walked out of the dealership today not feeling much. I told my rents and still nothing. The excitment hasn't set in yet lol. I'm still not sure if I really did buy the bike today but the invoice and owners manual next to me sure points to reality.

But yes, the research won't stop, and I'm probably going to go back tuesday just to check out if the crate is still there!

😀
 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Greenman
Dude, you own a V-ROD! How the hell are you going to wait until March to pick it up? You're going to lose your mind, you're going to hang out at 1130 and look at picks and ask about exhaust. You sir, are going to crack long before you get that bike.
Click to expand...

It still hasn't sunk into me yet. I walked out of the dealership today not feeling much. I told my rents and still nothing. The excitment hasn't set in yet lol. I'm still not sure if I really did buy the bike today but the invoice and owners manual next to me sure points to reality.

But yes, the research won't stop, and I'm probably going to go back tuesday just to check out if the crate is still there!

😀
Click to expand...

So you don't even have the V-Rod grin yet. It'll happen, just wait.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?
Click to expand...

Why do you want to rain on the guy's parade? A V-Rod is the perfect first bike (for a man). Low center of gravity, easy to handle, smooth power delivery from idle to 9k rpm's, and it's world class cool.
If he was adding a super charger I'd recommend riding it for a few months first, but a stock V-Rod is a very tame machine, as long as you don't twist the throttle all the way open.

He's going to love that bike.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?
Click to expand...

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?
Click to expand...

Why do you want to rain on the guy's parade? A V-Rod is the perfect first bike (for a man). Low center of gravity, easy to handle, smooth power delivery from idle to 9k rpm's, and it's world class cool.
If he was adding a super charger I'd recommend riding it for a few months first, but a stock V-Rod is a very tame machine, as long as you don't twist the throttle all the way open.

He's going to love that bike.
Click to expand...

because as great as it is that there's another rider on AT, jules (and probably everyone else) wants to make sure he's a *safe* rider. part of that involves choosing the right first bike so you don't kill yourself.
 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?
Click to expand...

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!
Click to expand...

You're aware that you will drop it at some point, right? I'm not talking about laying it down on the freeway or anything like that, I'm talking about <5mph in a parking lot and leaning the bike a little too far. Something that will scuff the bike up and be embarrassing but not life-threatening. This is really the biggest reason I tend to recommend people starting with an older bike. It's a lot less discouraging to scuff up an old bike than it is to scuff up a brand new one. It took me about 6 months to drop mine after I got my first bike, but then I did it three times in three weeks. Haven't since (knock on wood).

The V-Rod has 125 hp and about 85 ft-lbs of torque, which place it pretty much in a dead heat with that V65 of your father's (with the V-Rod holding a slight advantage in horsepower and a decent advantage in torque, but also being heavier by about 100 pounds). The V65 Sabres also have slipper clutches (Honda called it a "one-way clutch") so the Sabre should actually be about perfect in terms of getting you accustomed to a bike of the V-Rod's size and power.

As far as anyone calling the V-Rod "tame", you guys are out of your ever-loving minds. Sure, you can say "just don't twist the throttle too far", but hell, my old Honda 450 has enough beans to get squirrely. The V-Rod can certainly unsettle a novice. Just be sure to respect the bike, OK? The V-Rod has more than enough power to really punish a rider if he panics.

One thing that is definitely worth watching for is the Harley turn signal arrangement. Honda in the 80's used a single switch on the left side (slide switch left to signal left, slide it right to signal right). Harley has a button on each side (press on the right to signal right, press on the left to signal left). If you're not used to this and you have rather grippy gloves it's easy to unintentionally blip the throttle when signaling for a right turn during the first week or so as you adjust to the Harley layout.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?
Click to expand...

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!
Click to expand...

Two things:
1) get frame sliders or cage or whatever devices that make for harleys that make sure you won't fuck up the fram when you drop it

2) make sure your insurance premium is at the minimum

Buying an expensive brand new first bike leads to an expensive exercise in sourcing parts for when you lowside it in your neighborhood

<- rides many a sport bike
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?
Click to expand...

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!
Click to expand...

You're aware that you will drop it at some point, right? I'm not talking about laying it down on the freeway or anything like that, I'm talking about <5mph in a parking lot and leaning the bike a little too far. Something that will scuff the bike up and be embarrassing but not life-threatening. This is really the biggest reason I tend to recommend people starting with an older bike. It's a lot less discouraging to scuff up an old bike than it is to scuff up a brand new one. It took me about 6 months to drop mine after I got my first bike, but then I did it three times in three weeks. Haven't since (knock on wood).

The V-Rod has 125 hp and about 85 ft-lbs of torque, which place it pretty much in a dead heat with that V65 of your father's (with the V-Rod holding a slight advantage in horsepower and a decent advantage in torque, but also being heavier by about 100 pounds). The V65 Sabres also have slipper clutches (Honda called it a "one-way clutch") so the Sabre should actually be about perfect in terms of getting you accustomed to a bike of the V-Rod's size and power.

As far as anyone calling the V-Rod "tame", you guys are out of your ever-loving minds. Sure, you can say "just don't twist the throttle too far", but hell, my old Honda 450 has enough beans to get squirrely. The V-Rod can certainly unsettle a novice. Just be sure to respect the bike, OK? The V-Rod has more than enough power to really punish a rider if he panics.

One thing that is definitely worth watching for is the Harley turn signal arrangement. Honda in the 80's used a single switch on the left side (slide switch left to signal left, slide it right to signal right). Harley has a button on each side (press on the right to signal right, press on the left to signal left). If you're not used to this and you have rather grippy gloves it's easy to unintentionally blip the throttle when signaling for a right turn during the first week or so as you adjust to the Harley layout.

ZV
Click to expand...

Good advice man, thanks. I'm going to practice on the Sabre as much as I can before I hop on the Rod. I'm fully aware of the "You will drop your bike" thing, but I am going to try extra hard not to fuck up. I'll cry if it does happen, not because of injury, but the shiny bike 🙁




halik: You're talking about highway bars? Like this http://www.motorcycle-journal....hway-bars-100_0782.jpg

?

 
ZV, you should take a V-Rod for a spin. Tame is the right word to describe them. To light up a Rod you have to want to, it takes active driver participation. There is no power band, it's a heavy bike that's surprisingly nimble for it's size. The only twitch it has is the front end tends to want to flop over in very low speed tight turns. It's something you figure out the first time you ride one, and it isn't a surprise. The only time someone would have difficulty with one is if they were very light or in very bad physical condition. Add a blower and I'd agree that only an expert rider should go near it, they're flat out dangerous at that point.
As far as dropping it goes, everyone drops their bike sooner or later. Put your foot down where a car leaked a little oil and your down, the same can be said for leaves and line paint.
 
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