Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special reviews

This is a versatile bike that does all things very well. It needs to be viewed and reviewed as a unique bike rather than comparing it to sport bikes or heavy cruisers. It cruises around town with ease and can get beastly above 6000rpm yet remains very smooth. It's not the fastest but sure as hell ain't slow, it'll propel that 600 some pounds in an instant and at 120hp it's very respectable. It handles and corners very well for a big bike and long wheelbase. No not like a Buell or an Agusta but make a few adjustments to your mindset and it will do all most riders need it to do and then some. After 3000 miles one thing is certain, a weekend or short ride can not give a rider the feel for this bike. I kept learning about it for 1000 miles or so. The versatility that comes from 10,000 rpms and a very sweet 5 speed tranny, the long wheelbase and stability, the low slung frame, and raked front end all have their attributes. It's an awesome combination and a perfect street bike. Speed - Smoothness - Comfort - Handling. Show less

I bought this bike used with 2350 miles on it in March 06, so at this point, I've had it for 15 months and about 7000 additional miles. For just plain fast fun, it's hard to beat. The small complaints are the 100 mile range gas tank, and poor passenger comfort, even with the touring seat. As a matter of personal taste, I think it is one of the prettiest bikes on the road. It handles well for a 625 pound cruiser, and the under 4 second 0-60mph leaves most of my friends in the dust. This CVO Screamin' Eagle model has lots of chrome and 5 spoke rims. I never did like the solid v-rod rims. Show less

I have ridden all types of machines in my day and this thing is just amazing. Yes, it does take a little getting used to i.e.: controls, turning and low end powerband but without a doubt one of the nicest bikes I have ever rode. I first logged a few hundered miles and when I got off I felt as good or even better than when I got on, almost therapuedic in nature on my back and arms. I did experience one thing - a huge grin on my face for the next several days that did not go away.... Show less

I have really enjoyed mine so far. I have replaced the stock seat with the sundowner seat. The sundowner seat is better for longer rides. Also, I did notice that the bike was not happy below 4K RPM. I have added a PCIII, which was very simple to install to the bike. Since doing so, I have been able to smooth out the problems below 4K RPM. The Street Rod lives for the corners. Just remember that this is not a sport bike, it still weighs over 600 pounds. But, for my riding style it fits me very good. I have heard that Harley is going to stop making this bike, so get yours if you have a chance. For a Harley, this is the best of both worlds; A cruiser along with the ability to handle the roads when they get twisty. Overall, I am happy with the bike. It may not sound like a traditional Harley, but when I start from a stop the Air Cooled Harleys can only see my rear tire since I can leave them in the dust. Show less

Very nice ride. I will have to agree though that its sound is fairly lame and the shifting noice is ridiculously loud. Other than that, I absolutely love this bike. Show less

Best bike I have ever owned, fast and powerful, smooth all the way to 9K RPM! Transmission is great, smooth shifts and very positive engagement. Fit and finish on this Harley is world class and nothing else looks like it... More expensive than other bikes in it's class, however well worth it... Show less

I'm loving this bike. I came from a 2000 GSXR-750. I miss the speed of the Gixxer but this Harley owns my old bike in style and looks. If I would dare complain about one thing, it would be the sound. I think a lot of people will agree that it sounds pretty tame compared to how it looks. And while I'm at it, the exhaust not only lacks in sound, it also lacks in style. A shorter exahust that sticks to the matte black theme would be much appreciated in place of the stocker. Maybe one that would dump downward. Needless to say, I can't wait for the aftermarket to catch up. Show less

This has been a great bike. I have been known to go up to 700 miles a day on her. I've never had a minutes worth of trouble. This is a great bike. Show less

I went from a 2004 Vulcan 2000 to the 2007 Night Rod Special and didn't even bat an eye. This is without a doubt the Baddddest V-Twin Cruiser ever. This is not a crotch rocket. Just a rocket. And don't be fooled. If you're not used to forward controls, don't waste your time. This cruiser is not for the faint of heart. It's got the power and looks. One more thing. Nobody has passed me yet, on any road. Show less

Before buying this bike I spent a bunch of hours online trying to find owner reviews. This site is one of the few that I found and I thought the reviews were helpful to me, so wanted to post my own now that I own the bike. I literally just picked up the bike this morning and froze my ass off riding it home, but I've been riding for 15 years and this is my 7th bike. Other bikes I've owned are a Honda Ascot, 2 Yamaha Maxim's, 2 Buell's and my last was a Hayabusa. In regard to build quality, the VRSCDX appears to be excellent. Although it doesn't have the same powerband as the Hayabusa, the engine is perfectly capable of putting a big fat smile on your face. It reminds me of my Buell's, it's a pretty torky (sp?) engine except the Buell engines redline at 4500 or so and this redlines at 9000. I had read that the fat rear tire caused the bike to require extra effort when turning. But honestly, if you know how to ride a motorcyle, you get used to it in about 10 minutes. This doesn't handle like a sportbike, it's longer and heavier, but it's a great handling bike. I had also read a lot of people complaining about the sound produced by the stock exhaust. I wouldn't say it's overly quiet, but I agree... the bike looks meaner than it sounds. There are plenty of aftermarket pipes available for the V-Rod and I may or may not install pipes. It really doesn't sound bad stock, but we'll see. The riding position is different than anything else I've owned but it's pretty comfortable. I'm only 5-7 and the forward controls are ok for me. I'd suggest than anyone shorter than me would want to get the controls moved back and maybe get the optional reach seat. Harley offers both. I will say, it's great to get completely flat foot on this bike at stops. I've never been able to do that before on previous bikes. Once I got comfortable on the bike I rode it to one of the local beaches. I wasn't there for more than 5 minutes when a State Trooper pulled up, rolled down his window and asked me what kind of bike I had. The guy wanted to be my best friend when he found out it was a Harley and spent the next 15 minutes complimenting the bike. So, the cool factor is DEFINITELY there and I'm assuming this will be a re-occuring event. I own a retail business and right now the bike is parked outside our showroom windows. I've got a good view of it and I'm surprised at the amount of attention it's getting. Great bike, great engine, great handling and killer looks. Buy one! Show less