The big Honda VTX1800C pulled up on the right at the light. Its rider looked over at the red-and-black Harley, its chrome gleaming in the street lights. We could see his brow furrow under his helmet. He tilted his head to the side as his eyes swept over the bike's right side.
"Is that a Street Rod?"
Our man shook his head no.
"So it's what...not a V-Rod?"
Fortunately, the light changed before we had to think up an acceptable answer. We were sworn to secrecy because dealers wouldn't see the newest member of Harley's VRSC family for another few weeks, and all motorcycle manufacturers like to let their dealers be the first to know about new bikes.
That Honda rider's confusion was understandable. The new VRSCD blends aspects of the V-Rod, the founding member of Harley's line of liquid-cooled 1130cc twin-overhead-camshaft 60-degree V-twins, with others from the new Street Rod. Basically, the team charged with advancing the VRSC platform combined the best of both versions of the basic bike and added a few fresh touches, creating what for many riders will be the ideal ride. The new bike is called the Night Rod. To maintain secrecy, we called it the "Nightstick" while talking about it where we might be overheard.
For those unfamiliar with Harley's VR streetbikes, here is a quick review. The original bike in the family, the VRSCA V-Rod, was introduced as a 2001 model. Though the engine, designed in conjunction with Porsche, displaces only 1130cc, it is tuned to make some real power-more than 110 horsepower. The style is pure cruiser, low and stretched out, with the footpegs well forward, disc wheels and a minimalist, performance bent. It's lighter and more responsive than most cruisers, even other power cruisers, and powerful, too. Among V-twin cruisers, only Yamaha's four-cylinder V-Max can outrun it-at least until now. However, though the seat is low, it is a long reach forward to the footpegs, which makes it uncomfortable for the inseam-challenged and can be tiring for most riders.
Next Harley added a purely cosmetic variation, the VRSCB V-Rod B model. It was barely different from the VRSCA-a black instead of silver frame and cases, a different headlight, etc.-and functionally the same. However, the third member of the family, the VRSCR Street Rod, took a big step away from the V-Rod. Introduced early this year as an '06 model, the Street Rod has a new frame bent more toward strafing apexes than blitzing the boulevard, and rides on suspension with more travel. It sits higher off the ground, which leaves more room for the underseat fuel tank. However, the Street Rod's exhaust system is what makes V-Rod riders envious, since it's more efficient, adds a handful of horsepower and has a throatier note. Its styling appears to come from the same hand that drew the V-Rod. Its attitude, however, leans toward sporting at least as much as turning heads. Harley calls it a roadster rather than a cruiser. (Harley's custom vehicles operation unit built a 1250cc variation of the V-Rod, but that was a limited-production model.)
Harley's Rod series has been popular with first-time Harley buyers and in Europe, so it represents a growth area for Harley. The team charged with developing new models on the platform must have looked at what they already had and said, "How about putting the strong engine in a cruiser chassis?" Enter the Night Rod.
At its heart, the Night Rod matches the V-Rod's frame with the 120-horsepower Street Rod engine and exhaust system. In many ways the Night Rod fits somewhere between the other two bikes. With two sets of footpegs, the rider can choose whether he or she wants the clamshell riding position with feet forward or a less stretched position on the midset main pegs, which also mount the controls.