Riding the V-Rod brings out speed demon in all of us<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Rancamaya, Bogor<\/p>\n
Heading out on the highway with Harley-Davidson's new V-Rod
\nmotorbike will make you feel a distinctive difference between
\nthis bike and the other variants from the legendary manufacturer.<\/p>\n
Once you hop on the seat, you instantly feel the bike become
\nan extension of your body. All you will want to do is rev it up
\nuntil it reaches its maximum speed.<\/p>\n
When I got an opportunity to ride the new V-Rod bike during a
\nmedia launch earlier this month, I instantly noticed that it was
\nborn to appease the innate need for velocity.<\/p>\n
All I wanted to do was take the new bike up to its maximum
\nspeed during the test drive at Rancamaya Golf and Country Club.<\/p>\n
It was quite a different experience from riding other bikes,
\nfor example, the Fat Boy bike, which allows you to enjoy the
\nsensation of riding a Harley-Davidson instead of tempting you to
\ntake it to its maximum speed.<\/p>\n
\"It is so powerful that I reached 140 kilometers per hour
\n(kph) without any difficulties. I didn't even realize I was doing
\nthat speed,\" another journalist said after getting off of the V-
\nRod.<\/p>\n
The V-Rod was designed and built to harness the wind, while
\nkeeping intact the Harley-Davidson feeling and sensation.<\/p>\n
This new bike is the result of a five-year secret project that
\nwas aimed at injecting new vigor into the long, established
\ntradition of Harley-Davidson bikes, which started in 1903.<\/p>\n
Hard-liners and traditionalists may shudder at the idea of
\nusing watercooled engines on a Harley-Davidson in contrary to the
\ntradition of using an air-cooled one.<\/p>\n
\"This V-Rod bike is really aimed at the new generation of
\nriders, without losing sight of the components that set the
\nHarley-Davidson bikes apart.<\/p>\n
\"We can say it's a motorbike for the future,\" said John Leo
\nMcEnaney, Harley-Davidson's service operation representative for
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
McEnaney said he had been quite skeptical before he tried the
\nnew bike out.<\/p>\n
\"But once I rode the V-Rod, I knew it was a Harley-Davidson.
\nSo I also believe others will accept it as a new member of the
\nfamily,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The V-Rod is a fine blend of speed and style, which is
\ncommonly associated with a Harley-Davidson bike.<\/p>\n
At first sight, you will fall for the fine design and blend of
\na modern sports racing bike with a full array of Harley-Davidson
\ntraditions.<\/p>\n
The V-Rod is the first Harley-Davidson bike to be powered by a
\n1,130cc watercooled engine, called the Revolution.<\/p>\n
The 60 degree V-twin geometry, dual overhead cams, and the
\nfour-valve heads of the Revolution engine is the offspring of the
\nVR-1000 engine used by the Harley-Davidson Superbike team.<\/p>\n
Built in cooperation with Porsche engineers in Stuttgart,
\nGermany, the Revolution motor spins on a one-piece forged
\ncrankshaft with side-by-side rods pounding out a massive 115
\nhorse power at 8,250 rotations per minute (rpm) and has a torque
\nof 74 ft. lbs. at 7,000 rpm.<\/p>\n
It can top 402 meters in 11.42 seconds at 186.2 kph.<\/p>\n
In terms of acceleration, it can go from zero to 30 miles per
\nhour in 1.2 seconds and in 3.1 seconds it can go from zero to 60
\nmph with a measured top speed of 134 mph or 214.4 kph.<\/p>\n
The V-Rod is equipped with a self-diagnostics readout in its
\npanel in addition to an electronic speedometer, odometer,
\nresettable trip meter, fuel gauge and a tachometer.<\/p>\n
The bike is available in Indonesia through its sole authorized
\ndealer, PT Mabua Harley-Davidson.<\/p>\n
With a price tag of Rp 367 million (US$39,891) for the
\nAnodized Aluminum style and Rp 377 million for the Sterling
\nSilver and Vivid Black style, those who want a taste of the bike
\nmay have to wait a little bit longer.<\/p>\n
The first shipment of five bikes have already sold out, while
\nanother nine are scheduled to arrive on Nov. 15, with only two
\nbikes not sold yet.<\/p>\n
\"I'm quite sure that the Indonesian market will be able to
\nabsorb more Harley-Davidson bikes, including this new V-Rod.<\/p>\n
\"We already have a captive market of our old customers, and of
\ncourse we are aiming at new riders,\" said PT Mabua Harley-
\nDavidson general manager Willy A. Tjondodiputero.<\/p>\n
The V-Rod model was introduced last year in the United States
\nbut it took about one year to arrive here due to technical
\npreparations.<\/p>\n
\"We had to send our technicians to take part at special
\nmaintenance training sessions to provide better service to our
\ncustomers here. There are a lot of new features used in the V-Rod
\nbikes and we want to ensure total customer satisfaction,\" said
\nWilly.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riding-the-v-rod-brings-out-speed-demon-in-all-of-us-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}