Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special reviews

This is not a bike to pass judgment on unless you put real time in. It impresses initially but the fun just keeps comin'. Most reviewers spend a day or 2 & make their call such as mild complaints for it's cornering. I too was a bit overwhelmed with the long chassis and drag-bike rake. I was always a fan of shorter wheel base and less rake, However, once I learned what the bike wanted from ME, once I started to let the bike do ITS thing it became very agile in the corners, crack it in a lean and she'll straighten up in a heartbeat. As for the power, it is seamless, instant and more than most of the cruiser types will ever learn how to use. The power plant incorporates state of the art technology and most of the bike world has no clue. A 9000 rpm Harley? The harder you ride it, the bigger your stones, the more it will impress. It can cruise around town under 4000 rpm with ease and comfort, get into the 6000 - 7000 rpm range and it simply turns into a different bike. The V-Rod with is more than respectable in all phases. Show less

Hear is why I choose those 2 to decide between. I wanted three basic features in my next bike. 1-belt/shaft drive=low maint, 2-fuel INJ=better in cold & mileage, 3-Liguid cooled=comfort on hot riding days. With requirement like that, the list of eligible late model bikes under $11,000 becomes limited. Yes, Yamaha's new cruiser did fit the bill but I refuse to buy the first production year of any motorized vehicle. First let me say I love this bike. It fits my style and I have always told my friends that the only Harley I like enough to buy is the V-Rod. And it was my budget that allowed me to get this bike instead of the VTX1800. So after one year of learning to ride on a 2004 Suzuki SV650 I upgraded. After 3 weeks the farthest traveled on one trip is about 150 miles, passenger included. The bike is not without flaws but what bike isn't? Wind drift due to the solid front rim is apparent but not as bad as people have led me to believe. Basically don't try riding next to other riders above 45MPH until you are comfortable with the bike. Drifting was only in my own lane, and I have ridden my new/used V-Rod in some pretty high winds on open country back-roads where gusting is frequent. Next was fuel mileage. I am getting about 120 to a tank. But I do not intend to ride 500 miles in one day; one tank worth of riding is a good day by me and my women. Its power band does not kick until 4000RPM's but watch out when you find it. It's actually kind of cool because the lazy response makes low speed cruising more rumbly and comfortable, and to get the power you only need to drop 2 and twist. Again I love this bike, and by adding the usual accessories: tall boy seats recommended for riders close to 6' or taller, straight pipes for better sound, EFI power commander ($300+) required on all EFI's when pipes are upgraded for fuel mapping I KNOW IT SUCKS, & removable bags for those longer rides, it will be everything I need and more... Notes on the VTX1800F I compared Even though it is a much larger engine it actually has slightly less power, you've got to love Porsche for designing that great V-Rod 1130cc engine. The VTX was much heavier about 100lbs and it felt much heavier when it was upright. Last, when riding both bikes courtesy of my brother-in-law's VTX1300C=same frame as VTX1800 with just a smaller block, it surprised me that I felt much smaller on the VTX. Even he said he felt considerably bigger on the Vrod. Hope this helps. Show less

I have to admit, this is my first bike (ever) and I don't have decades of experience to pull from. But! The reality is this bad boy does exactly what it's designed to do... Go-Fast. Like I said, I'm not overly experienced and perhaps I'm a bit biased but I took this bad boy for a ride through the mountains of NC and VA and it hugged the corners like a train on rails. The only downside to this bike is... Well.... I'm hardpressed to find one. Show less

I finally found somewhat of a fix for the 2006 Night Rod's small fuel tank problem. As I said in the past, you can get about 120 miles out of the 2006 Night Rod if you are careful. However, there are times when you have gone 80 miles and the next station is 50 miles up the road. So I went to REI and they have a liter size thermos style fuel tank for camp stoves. The tank is specifically designed for fuel and seals well. I got one and filled it with fuel and put it in the saddle bags. So far I have not needed it, but it gave me an extra liter of fuel in case I do screw up and go too long. The 2007 Night Rod corrected this problem but the tanks are not interchangeable. A sharp after-market supplier might try to find a way to make a replacment tank, but for now the REI camping fuel bottle works great for gasoline. Does not leak and does not smell up the saddle bags, but stays there in case you need it. Show less

The bike is a pleasure to own and ride. Loves corners and is a true roadster with ample power and torque from the engine. Gearbox, brakes (Brembo) and clutch are excellent. Standard seats are not the most comfortable but easily replaced. Would have been nice to have better quality rear shocks and more adjustability in the front forks. Show less

This bike has been wonderful. Got caught on the edge of hurricane Alberto in the summer of 06 and the bike handled well and kept on runnning without a problem. Had to replace 1 rear light bulb in all the miles. Show less

It looks mean, rough and tough. It rides like hell in a straight line but cornering is not so easy. I am used to that because I have also a lowered FXWG from 1980 that already has been in my possession for 15 years. The thing I don't like is the mechanical noise from the distribution, the clutch and the valve train. I'd like to hear more opinions about that. In our country, where the wind always blows, the almost closed rims makes it unstable when it comes from the side. I hope everybody can read my translation and I wish everybody safe riding. Show less

that's what I named it after first 80 miles. What A Ride!! Nuff said. Show less

I've had my Night Rod for a year and just turned 10,000 miles. I just replaced the tires with Metzlers which are supposed to ride and handle better plus last longer - we'll see. I ride with a club usually 3 times a week so that is why I've put so many miles on in a relatively short time. I get many compliments on the bike and am very happy with everything about it except the small fuel tank which has been corrected in the 2007 model (but is not interchangable). The bike has a great combination of power, speed, and handling that no other Harley has except the Street Rod, but the Street Rod doesn't have the highway pegs which I use much of the time. I do use the mid-controls for hilly and curvey roads and like having the two options of foot placement. I've been getting about 42-44 mpg and the farthest I've gone on a tank has been 130 miles. All-in-all, I can't think of another bike that could replace my Night Rod and I've had many bikes over the years including a Goldwing and a custom chopper. Show less

I like the bike, it is the first Harley Davidson that I have owned and I love it. It is a little bit on the heavy side but as for comfort and a custom bike look, it takes it hands down I think. I see people trying to compare to V-max and other bikes and for the HP it is close, I am at a 137 rear wheel horsepower with my mods so far and plan on putting on a turbo. I have a friend that is running about the same set-up except he has the Destroyers pipes on his as well as a turbo and lets just say the Hyabusa's can not keep up. Show less