Motoring

Mean 'n' moody Harley

By Alastair Walker
April 04, 2008

The 2008 Harley-Davidson Night Rod is a special edition of its drag race inspired V-Rod machine, with some extra blingy bits – moody black paintwork, red coachline on the wheels and restyled saddle.

All well and good but it’s the 121bhp, fuel-injected, 1130cc V-Twin motor that makes this bike a real kick-ass slice of Americana to ride. The Night Rod is ferociously quick off the line, and there’s no shortage of grip from the 240mm wide Dunlop rear tyre.

Like a customised Mustang, Dodge Viper or maybe a 1970s Corvette muscle car, the Night Rod has the kind of instant lunge that stirs the blood. There’s fire in this long wheelbase bike’s belly, even if the sanitised, emissions- friendly motor sounds more docile than a 250cc scooter at tickover. Harley have blended modern technology with their good ol’ fashioned twin cylinder grunt. Brembo brakes, digital fuel injection, self-cancelling indicators, proximity activated security device – the Night Rod has plenty of features. But it still has a lairy kind of edginess too.

Truth is, it’s hard to handle sometimes, with its kicked-out forks. It also weighs a bit more than some rivals and it could use a better heat shield on the exhausts. It isn’t a bike you can use every day – at heart, this is for sunny Sundays only.

More at www.harley- davidson.com

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It's a harley, a tractor engine disguised as a motorcycle. Ergo it's rubbush. Over-valued and over-priced. Buy a real motorcycle instead, or if you really must then simply take your wallet and pour the contents down the drain. As much fun as owning a tractor.