Buying a used Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special (2007 to 2017)

Back in 2001, Harley-Davidson’s V-Rod looked like a risky thing to launch. But it lived on for a couple of decades through all sorts of wild and sometimes stylish variants. The Night Rod Special was one of them.

The Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special, or VRSCDX in Harley-speak, was one of a string of offshoots from the liquid-cooled V-Rod platform that was first introduced in 2007 and lived on for a decade.

Intended to see the brand reach a new audience, the liquid-cooled V-Rod series ran an engine in part designed by Porsche and succeeded in appealing to a (mostly) younger clientele when compared to the traditional air-cooled offerings.

The factory has over the years turned market segmentation into an art form, cheerfully spinning off new model lines to cater to pretty much any imaginable niche. For example, where Night Rod (VRSCD) might seem perfectly adequate, the factory decided something with a bit more attitude was just the ticket, hence the ‘Special’ tag.

Part of the factory’s then-new ‘Dark Custom’ series, the 2007 Night Rod Special made a statement with lots of blacked-out components where chrome previously lived. Solid disc wheels were replaced with black slotted items and the rear was pumped out to a then huge 240 section, a size up to then restricted to machines like Triumph’s first Rocket III and Suzuki’s Boulevard M109R.

The whole look was intended to emphasise the power cruiser/drag bike stance, which was backed up by a liquid-cooled 1131cc four-valve V-twin claiming a healthy (for the class) 120hp (89kW).

An engine update was introduced in 2008, taking the capacity out to 1247cc and a lift in power to 125hp (93kW). Dyno tests showed a healthy one could manage 109hp (81kW) at the back tyre. It also scored a slipper clutch for the five-speed belt-drive transmission and ABS was offered.

Harley in 2011-12 went to town with 10th anniversary editions of the V-Rod range and the Night Rod Special was no exception. It scored a fair bit of bling on the engine, front forks, handlebar, and exhaust pipes, along with new wheels and an anniversary emblem.

The clue to the V-Rod’s intentions is in the first four letters of the name: VRSC, standing for V-twin Racing Street Custom. Read that as street and strip racing rather than circuit.

Powerful enough to launch the 304kg (wet) device in a pretty convincing way, the V-Rod engine is a very likeable powerplant. Smooth, willing, and usually with a good spread of performance, it’s a good thing.

Really, the bike’s limitations are in the chassis. With a raked-out front end, short rear suspension travel, and limited cornering clearance, it’s most comfortable tackling a gentle swing through some easy turns. When pushed, it quickly runs out of clearance and tends to understeer.

If corners are your thing and you must have a V-Rod, a Street Rod (VRSCR) would be a better choice.

The V-Rod powerplant has a good reputation for reliability. Valve lash adjustment intervals are reasonably long at 24,000km and it’s a substantial job. The engine needs to be tilted forward for access and the cams removed if the shims need changing.

Carl Batey at Café Racer in NSW reckons the series as a whole responds really well to engine mapping. He says owners often go for massive exhaust diameters which in fact throw out the sensors and result in a drop in performance – so consultation with a late-model dyno can be rewarding.

Likewise a review of the suspension at each end can reap big benefits.

V-Rods in general and Night Rods in particular have been hugely popular with modifiers, and you’ll see some wild choices when it comes to wheels – rears that dwarf the original 240 or skinny front rims with massive diameters.

It’s one of those truisms that the cost of modifying or restoring a motorcycle isn’t necessarily reflected in its market value. Much comes down to taste. If what you see appeals and stacks up as a proposition, go for it.

However, long-term the bikes that will do best are those that are stock or close to and can easily be changed back. Collectors look for originality and, while the idea of a Night Rod Special being collectible right now might seem ambitious, it’s likely a few have already been quietly socked away – particularly if they’re an early version.

Cosmetics are vitally important on special editions like this and some items will be impossible to replace, so look for a complete package.

The engines are smooth and relatively quiet, so any variation on that should ring alarm bells. Look for service records and remember an up-to-date valve-lash adjustment is worth real money.

If the machine is running modifications, ask if the original bits are still available.

Find your own Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special here on bikesales.

For
Stylish
Great engine
Solid street cred

Against
Not the greatest handler
Custom models can command eye-watering prices
Getting harder to find stock or close to examples

This article was originally published on August 25, 2023.