2006 Harley-Davidson VRSCA V Rod Review

What it has always been is a sleek, fast machine with a big hunger for straightaway acceleration. The reason is easy to see. It’s right there at the center. A liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 60° V-Twin Revolution® powertrain. Dual overhead cams. Four-valve heads. Two aggressive-breathing velocity stacks housed in a massive air box. Wind the engine up to the redline and make short work of the next quarter mile and beyond.

Harley-Davidson VRSCA V Rod

The rigid, hydro-formed frame puts all that power to thrilling use. We wanted stopping to be equally exhilarating as going. All VRSC bikes are now fitted with performance 4-piston caliper Brembo® brakes. With all these goodies to play with, we took the most award-winning Harley-Davidson® motorcycle down some new roads. No matter how you like to ride, with the additions of the Night Rod™ and Street Rod™ models, now there’s a VRSC bike that fits your style. But that’s not all that’s new for 2006. There’s also a 240mm rear tire kit available in late 2005 through Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories. Scorching asphalt has never been so much fun.

The original VRSCA V-Rod® has caused more than its fair share of jaws to drop. Just try to peel your eyes off the aluminum bodywork, sweeping exhaust, and Machined Aluminum Disc wheels now fitted with high performance Brembo® brakes. Check out the dragster-style 49mm 38° raked fork. 180mm rear tire. Silver-leaf-coated hydroformed frame. And though there’s a spectrum of glittering paint colors, all anyone may ever see is a shiny blur. That’s because the liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 60° V-Twin Revolution® engine supplies a full 115 horses and torque from here to eternity. All that’s left is to get your boots out to the forward foot controls and enjoy the cruise

 ---- OVERVIEW VRSCA V-Rod®

The VRSCA V-Rod redefined the power-cruiser category, offering an award-winning marriage of custom styling and liquid-cooled performance. Raked way out there, with a 38-degree fork angle, forward controls and pull back welded handlebars, drag-style aluminum disc wheels and chrome slash-cut exhaust, the V-Rod is one unmistakable motorcycle. The scooped-out seat is just 26 inches off the ground. Dual slash-cut chrome exhaust pipes deliver the wound-out song of a high-performance Revolution V-Twin. Triple-disc, four-piston Brembo brakes and black hand controls are new for 2006. Staggered 10-Spoke Cast Aluminum wheels are an option. A security system is standard. Choose from 13 color options plus the deep silver Anodized Aluminum finish that made V-Rod famous.

 ---- Features

• Liquid-cooled, 1130cc Revolution V-Twin engine
• 115 hp at 8500 rpm/74 ft. lbs. torque @ 7000 rpm
• Two-tone silver and charcoal powder-coated cylinders with chrome covers
• Dual slash-cut chrome exhaust pipes
• 38-degree fork angle
• 49 mm forks
• New Brembo triple-disc brakes
• Braided brake lines
• Low 26-inch seat height
• Forward controls
• New black hand controls
• Silver-leafed aluminum powdercoat on hydroformed frame
• Welded pull back handlebars
• Clamshell instrument pod
• Teardrop reflector-optic headlight
• 18-inch disc rear wheel, 19-inch disc front wheel
• Aluminum radiator shroud with twin vortex air scoops
• Custom mirrors
• Standard security system
• New clock and dual tripmeter
• Improved side stand

 

 ---- Specs

Dimensions
Length: 93.6 in. (2377.4 mm)
Seat Height:

• Laden: 2 26.0 in. (660.4 mm)
• Unladen: 27.1 in. (688.3 mm)

Ground Clearance: 5.0 in. (127.0 mm)
Rake (steering head): 34°
Fork Angle: 38°
Trail: 3.9 in. (99.1 mm)
Wheelbase: 67.5 in. (1714.5 mm)
Radial Tires (Dunlop® Harley-Davidson Series):

• Front: D207F 120/70ZR-19 60W
• Rear: D207F 180/55ZR-18 74W

Fuel Capacity: 3 3.7 gal. (14.0 L)
Reserve Fuel Capacity: No reserve due to fuel injection
Oil Capacity: 4.5 qts. (4.3 L)
Weight

• Dry Weight: 600 lbs. (272 kg)
• Vehicle Weight in Running Order: 622 lbs. (282 kg)
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 1022 lbs. (464 kg)

Engine
Engine: 4 Liquid-cooled, Revolution,® 60° V-Twin
Bore x Stroke: 3.94 in. x 2.84 in. (100.0 mm x 72.0 mm)
Displacement: 69 cu. in. (1130 cu. cm)
Compression Ratio: 11.3:1
Fuel System: 3 Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Air Cleaner: Down draft intake – hidden
Lubrication System: Wet-sump, integrated
w/ powertrain: crankcase

Drivetrain
Primary Drive: Gear, 117/64 ratio
Final Drive: Belt, 72/28 ratio (72/30 ratio)
Clutch: 9-plate, wet
Transmission: 5-speed
Overall Ratio:

• 1st: 11.752 (10.969)
• 2nd: 7.898 (7.371)
• 3rd: 6.322 (5.900)
• 4th: 5.459 (5.095)
• 5th: 4.889 (4.563)

Chassis
Frame: Steel perimeter upper frame w/hydroformed main rails and bolt-on lower frame rails, MIG welded
Swingarm: Polished, 1-piece cast aluminum
Front Fork: Wide, 49 mm custom fork
Wheels (aluminum, 10-spoke option): Machined, cast aluminum smooth disc

• Front: 19 in. x 3.0 in. (482.6 mm x 76.2 mm)
• Rear: 18 in. x 5.5 in. (457.2 mm x 139.7 mm)

Brakes
Caliper Type: 4-piston front and rear
Rotor Type (diameter x width): Patented, 1-piece fl oating rotor (front) uniform expansion rotor (rear)

• Front (dual): 11.81 in. x .197 in. (299.97 mm x 5.0 mm)
• Rear: 11.81 in. x .276 in. (299.97 mm x 7.01 mm)

Suspension Travel
Front Wheel: 4.0 in. (106.60 mm)
Rear Wheel: 4.0 in. (106.60 mm)

Performance
Engine Torque: World 74 ft. lbs. @ 7000 rpm (100 NM @ 7000 rpm)
France (opt. Germany) 70 ft. lbs. @ 6100 rpm (95 NM @ 6100 rpm)
Japan 66 ft. lbs. @ 7000 rpm (102 NM @ 7000 rpm)
Lean Angle

• Right: 32°
• Left: 32°

MPG: (EPA urban/highway test)7 37/47 mpg (6.4/5.0 L/100 km)

Elecric
Battery: Sealed, maintenance-free, 12V, 12-amp/hour, 200 cca (per Battery Council International Rating)
Charging: Three-phase, 38-amp system (439W @ 13V, 2000 rpm, 489W max power @ 13V)
Starting: 0.8 kW electric w/direct drive starter motor engagement
Headlamp: (quartz halogen) 55-watt low beam, 65-watt high beam
Tail/Stop Lights: 8W/28W refl ector-optics (5W/21W)
Turn Signal Lights: 28W (21W) self-canceling
Indicator Lamps: High beam, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, engine diagnostics, security
system8, coolant temperature, low fuel

Styling/Convenience
Engine Trim: Two-tone silver and charcoal engine w/chrome treatment
Exhaust System: Chrome, slash-cut duals
Ignition Barrel: keyed
Seat: Two-up, textured vinyl w/fl ip-up fuel fi ll access
Handlebars: Stainless-steel, low-rise
Foot Supports: Forward-mounted footpegs and controls
Passenger backrest: Available Genuine Motor Accessories
Brake and Shift Lever: Forward-mounted foot controls
Rear Fender: Supports Internal to rear fender w/included P&A saddlebag mounting points
Instruments: Electronic speedometer w/odometer and resettable tripmeter w/diagnostic capabilities and solid-state, tell-tale indicator module; tachometer, trip A&B, clock
Hazard Warning: Integrated into turn signal controls
Fork Lock: Common w/ignition key
Security System: Standard

Colors
Vivid Black, Black Cherry Pearl, Black Pearl, Chopper Blue Pearl, Deep Cobalt Pearl, Anodized Aluminum, Rich Sunglo Blue, Brandy Wine Sunglo, Two-Tone Chopper Blue Pearl/Brilliant Silver Pearl, Two-Tone Black Cherry Pearl/Black Pearl, Two-Tone Deep Cobalt
Pearl/Brilliant Silver Pearl

Warranty
Warranty:10, 24 months (unlimited mileage)
Service Interval: First 1,000 miles (1,600 km), every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) thereafter