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This is a commentary essay I wrote for a local biker periodical. It's called "Tradition".
Harley Davidson is a company deeply rooted in tradition. For years, the company has been making bikes all with the basic idea - 'traditional' bikes. In 2001, Harley broke with tradition and debuted the bike that would carry the company into the new millennium - the VROD. However, the Harley faithful did not agree.
Everything about the VROD broke the traditional mold of Harley Davidsons. The hydroformed frame, the anodized tins rather than painted, the long low look, even the under-seat gas tank. But what bore the brunt of the backlash from most Harley riders was the motor - the revolutionary "Revolution" motor. Since 1982, all Harleys were fitted with an "Evolution" engine; a 45-degree air-cooled v-twin. The VROD, however, was designed for power. Power means high revs and high revs means lots of heat that melt an air cooled engine. The Revolution engine was a 63-degree double overhead cam fuel injected liquid-cooled v-twin designed with Porsche and based on the VR1000 superbike engine. The hype around the bike was considerable, but it has not yet lived up to expectations.
Harley Davidson is a company of tradition. To understand why the VROD is treated like the 'red headed step-child' of the family, you must understand who buys the modern Harley. Lets face it, long are the days of the Harley being the symbol of rebellion. Most people that buy Harleys today are doctors and lawyers and businessmen in their 40's and 50's who grew up wishing they could be a Hells Angel. Some used to ride in the 60's and 70's but stopped riding to have families - but they want to relive that part of their youth. They want the Dynas, the Softtails, the Road Kings because those bikes have been around since the 60's and 70's. The VROD, for most people, did not fit into the Harley family. Even beyond Harley riders, the VROD got little respect. The "Revolutionary Revolution" engine was a representation of everything wrong with Harley in the eyes of import riders. The technology that was Revolutionary to Harley had been in Japanese and Euro bikes for a decade.
Despite being built by Willie G. Davidson, the VROD was labeled "not a Harley". Some even went so far as to call it a "Hadley Davidson". Despite being the most powerful bike to roll out of Milwaukee, the VROD didn't sell as well as Harley wanted. Even for those who bought the bike, there is little support from the company - under-trained mechanics, few parts, and no recognition in the massive "Genuine Motor-clothes and accesories" line. However, there were still people out there who flocked to the VROD. As the bike got older, a VROD sub-culture came into existence based at the website 1130cc.com which has been the base of the VROD community for years.
The VRODs have been around for 5 years now despite backlash from dealers and riders. Different models have come and gone, but there are 3 bikes that now make up the VROD family: the VRSCAW, VRSCD, and VRSCDX. The VROD still represents the future of the company. What most people don't know is that the point of most controversy, the liquid-cooled engine, was originally planned to be put into the Dyna frame. Even now, rumors are pointing to air-cooled engines being phased out in 3-5 years.
The VROD continues to sell to a different breed of motorcycle rider. Against all negative comments, the VROD is still the bike that will carry the 21st century Harley Davidson.
Harley Davidson is a company deeply rooted in tradition. For years, the company has been making bikes all with the basic idea - 'traditional' bikes. In 2001, Harley broke with tradition and debuted the bike that would carry the company into the new millennium - the VROD. However, the Harley faithful did not agree.
Everything about the VROD broke the traditional mold of Harley Davidsons. The hydroformed frame, the anodized tins rather than painted, the long low look, even the under-seat gas tank. But what bore the brunt of the backlash from most Harley riders was the motor - the revolutionary "Revolution" motor. Since 1982, all Harleys were fitted with an "Evolution" engine; a 45-degree air-cooled v-twin. The VROD, however, was designed for power. Power means high revs and high revs means lots of heat that melt an air cooled engine. The Revolution engine was a 63-degree double overhead cam fuel injected liquid-cooled v-twin designed with Porsche and based on the VR1000 superbike engine. The hype around the bike was considerable, but it has not yet lived up to expectations.
Harley Davidson is a company of tradition. To understand why the VROD is treated like the 'red headed step-child' of the family, you must understand who buys the modern Harley. Lets face it, long are the days of the Harley being the symbol of rebellion. Most people that buy Harleys today are doctors and lawyers and businessmen in their 40's and 50's who grew up wishing they could be a Hells Angel. Some used to ride in the 60's and 70's but stopped riding to have families - but they want to relive that part of their youth. They want the Dynas, the Softtails, the Road Kings because those bikes have been around since the 60's and 70's. The VROD, for most people, did not fit into the Harley family. Even beyond Harley riders, the VROD got little respect. The "Revolutionary Revolution" engine was a representation of everything wrong with Harley in the eyes of import riders. The technology that was Revolutionary to Harley had been in Japanese and Euro bikes for a decade.
Despite being built by Willie G. Davidson, the VROD was labeled "not a Harley". Some even went so far as to call it a "Hadley Davidson". Despite being the most powerful bike to roll out of Milwaukee, the VROD didn't sell as well as Harley wanted. Even for those who bought the bike, there is little support from the company - under-trained mechanics, few parts, and no recognition in the massive "Genuine Motor-clothes and accesories" line. However, there were still people out there who flocked to the VROD. As the bike got older, a VROD sub-culture came into existence based at the website 1130cc.com which has been the base of the VROD community for years.
The VRODs have been around for 5 years now despite backlash from dealers and riders. Different models have come and gone, but there are 3 bikes that now make up the VROD family: the VRSCAW, VRSCD, and VRSCDX. The VROD still represents the future of the company. What most people don't know is that the point of most controversy, the liquid-cooled engine, was originally planned to be put into the Dyna frame. Even now, rumors are pointing to air-cooled engines being phased out in 3-5 years.
The VROD continues to sell to a different breed of motorcycle rider. Against all negative comments, the VROD is still the bike that will carry the 21st century Harley Davidson.
