Not supporting the V-Rod?

Frankly, because it's terrible. But like many Sportster owners, I knew it, deliberately bought the bike and now I have to either fix it or suffer through it. But that's not the crux of the debate--totally. Just an analogy.

As stated, MoCo rates these shock absorbers at 1.6 inches of travel. That unloaded, sprung weight. If you sit on the bike (my preferred method to actually drive a motorcycle) the bike squats. But the shocks are quite cheap.

Granted, I went looking for a stripped down bike for a specific need. I even considered a bike like the Honda SilverWing for the storage space under the seat for tools.

A Harley "dark series" is actually just their regular bike, but with no chrome and few creature comforts. The idea of a cheap seat and cheaper shocks is part of that plan. It's my bike and I can change it out.

As this debate relates to the V-Rod, and one of the early complaints was fuel range. MoCo took a CAD program, located all of the nooks and crannies inside the frame and made the tank bigger. My question is why did this sort of development simply stop?

There are now only two models of V-Rods, but several Sportsters, numerous Dyna Glides, and so many Electra Glides my current dealer is littered with unsold models. As I stated earlier, I smell another Buell fiasco.

I most likely will never buy a V-Rod in the present design, but there will be a liquid-cooled Harley division sooner than later. Someday the air-cooled bikes with a pedigree in 1936 will be modified the last degree, will not make governmental mandates and will not appeal to new, younger motorcyclists.

MoCo now makes more complicated frames by hydro-bending. Why isn't the design team making a stand alone Electra Glide with a V-Rod style engine? If this keeps up, the idea will simply be considered worthless, and Harley has a tendency to simply scrap smaller revenue streams.

I'm noticing that part of the economy, myself. It's tough to sell a Buck 110 even with deer season pending, but chefs are still buying sushi knives in the 500 to 1,000 dollar bracket.

We used to say in finance that "When a company has problems the CEO does not sell his golf clubs--he fires ten welders."

I'm not wealthy, but half of my Dyna is CVO. I wanted it, I found the money.

But I'm not sure lots if people want "liquid cooling." And MoCo isn't helping that with ugly bikes, limited support and almost no new R/D. In fact, I wouldn't buy one now simply because of my fears that it would drop off of the chart in resale value.

Harley's resale is not as good as it once was anyway, so resale is really out the window. Sure when you go to a dealer, they are still asking an arm and a leg, but that does mean that is what the bike is actually worth.

For me, I am open to a liquid cooled HD and it is not because of the government, it is because it get hot and humid in Minnesota and I would like as much protection from overheating as possible. My wife's is liquid cooled and I like not having to worry about it overheating when the parade riding.

I agree with the rest of your post.

My biggest fear about a liquid cooled Harley was for something else to go wrong with 'em..haven't owned a VROD so I can't really comment. If you have a properly set up air cooled motor not running too lean and not running too much compression just use a good synthetic oil and you should be fine and you'll have no antifreeze to worry about

I remember back in the day where a 450 honda was huge..a bit tall..The sportys seemed smaller..and handled better

I do have a Suzuki.

You are right on. For me it would not matter if my HD was water cooled or not. It would still be an HD. I prefer my air cooled, but if there were to a water cooled HD to be introduced in other models, I welcome change to a point.

From the different Harley's that I have ridden, I honestly think that the Sportster is the best handling bike that I have ridden. Especially in comparison to my Suzuki.

I only have 6,000 miles on mine for only one season. At present I don't think that's enough to show trend data. Nor does anyone in my circle of friends own the same bike for comparison.

But within a defined definition, I think you are correct.

Granted, a canyon carver has more ground clearance, speed, power and is outfitted with superior tires.

Having said that, Sportsters trace their roots back to dirt track racers, and that's where I notice a benefit. I have lots of torque for instant acceleration. I can get around turns (at best in non-decreasing radius turns) and even correct that line--within reason--just by muscle.

In other words, on city streets at lower speeds for shorter bursts.

But then, that's what Harley wanted to create. An urban bike. I don't fear any bike in that world.

But as I have stated, I'm surrounded by larger highways and the slab. Higher speeds, longer distances and straight-aways are a factor.

There will never be a CVO Sportster in my opinion. But other companies build very successful liquid cooled tradional bikes and carvers. Modern bikes with newer technology. You don't have to be around a V-Rod too long to realize that MoCo stretched out the rake and/or crippled the bike with rear-set pegs.

For right now my motorcycle use will be comprised of some city driving and day-trips. I might get caught in traffic or stopped completely and have to idle. I don't need a 900 pound land barge with GPS for that. I need a bike that services your average rider.

I do not see an immediate future for the V-Rod in that capacity now. And since there are limited buyers now I fear MoCo will just drop the idea altogether.

Oh, I must add a side note.

I went to the bike shop yesterday, and the place was pretty much deserted. I was looking at bikes and I saw a 883 Super Low. I have never seen a 1200 Low. I asked a salesman about that because the 1200 version is on the Harley website.

He pulled up his company bulletin screen and showed me that this 1200 model has been discontinued. As a final insult, MoCo suggested that interested clients should just buy the 883 model and the 1200 upgrade kit.

My point is that MoCo will still advertise and promote a discontinued model, probably just to liquidate inventory. And they do it in such a way that it's easy to smell the rat.

Now only two variations of the V-Rod are offered. I see no new V-Rods on the floor. The salesmen tell me that the trade-in value is not what they would like. I've only seen two Muscle V-Rods in two years.

I don't have to own a crystal ball to project that MoCo might do the same to the V-Rod that it did to the 1200 Low. You might not like either of these bikes, but many guys do. Perhaps not as many as MoCo would like. In their opinion, a dip in sales is as good as a failure.

(Spyderco Knives also sells discontinued models. But in clear red printing under the ad they inform the potential clients that the model is being dropped.)

JB, you can stop ripping on my Suzuki!!!

Oh, I agree. I'm just talking about a simple curtesy.

It might blunt sales, that's the issue. For the next three of four years I'm not going to be taking long vacations and a middle-weight cruiser might be nice.

After all, if you can find parts for a +60 year old knuckle you should be able to find parts for a 1200 Low. My guess is that +95% of those parts interchange with my Sportster 48.

If you know Harley, what would be your guess is to be the continued production of not only this 1200 Low, but also any liquid-cooled bike we know as the VRSC?

Overall, I think some form of liquid-cooled bike is in Harley's R/D department right now. I also surmise it's not a V-Rod as we know it. MoCo is also shaking hands with S&S and JIMS. They just did a blurp of the 120R engine. If I had to make a guess I'd wonder if there is a new liquid-cooled bike out there that on the outside looks like a big-twin.

You are definitely correct. MoCo will spend money on a machine that few will ever see, much less ride, but they will let the V-Rod die from neglect. I simply do not see the logic here--if there is any.