Road test of Harley-Davidson1130 NIGHT ROD SPECIAL VRSCDX 2007 The Beast

the best nickname for this bike would be "The Beast".
This bike is exceptional in more ways than one: its size, its engine, its looks and, last but not least, the pleasure it brings.

the first thing that strikes you about this bike is its looks! Indeed, once you start to touch it with your eyes, you can't help but go around it 2/3 times to revel in the pleasure (however fleeting) of owning such a machine.
It's a bit like that of a certain VMax, which this Harley could well succeed in the hearts of muscle bike enthusiasts.
everything about this machine exudes quality, and your 292 kg dry weight will have cost you 19,000€ more than that of a jap'.but in any case, you'll own a machine of top quality and finish (as usual for the Milhawkee brand).

once you've admired the bike, it's time to let the engine have its say.
The 1130 cm3 liquid block with 106 bhp and 10 Nm of torque at 6,100 rpm sings softly over the low idle of a good bass band.
sitting on the bike isn't very complicated, given the very low seat height, but what will be harder for those under 1m80 is getting their feet onto the advanced controls.
And yes, this bike is made for real men! It's not for tamers used to watered-down bikes. A lumberjack's build and a good grip on the controls are therefore advisable to feel in control.
Hop into first gear and the bike rolls along at a good pace, as do the gears, which are quick and precise.
from 0 to 5,000 rpm, the engine handles like a true Harley block, capable of towing you in any gear. Beyond 5,000 rpm, the bike breathes very, very loudly. I can already see people laughing, but I'll give you just one warning: "Don't get too excited about the new Harleys! ".
that's how I discovered that this bike is capable of bending more than a few 4-cylinder nerves: "A relaxed Friday evening on the A15 towards Normandy: a bit of traffic jam and an annoyed guy who takes great pleasure in honking at me for 2/3 kms when I'm already at 80 km/h between the cars! I tell myself it's a good opportunity to test my ability to go from 80/90 to 200 km/h as soon as the road clears.
and then I was really surprised by the suitcase that was put in front of this enervé (in an old 92/94 600 cbr) of the trigger, which will pass with circumspection once the sentence has been pronounced: a Harley sends out big wood with a water engine.
this engine doesn't consume much in the way of fluids at normal speed, and you can easily cover 260 kms before reserving. Then, as soon as the pace picks up, you can quickly reach 9/10 L, but as with all big engines (maximum capacity 19 L)

and it's a real pleasure to have this engine between your legs: capable of rocking good riffs as a duo, winding along in peace and quiet, and transforming into an almost unbeatable urban dragster over 400m DA.
But what about the chassis?

although handicapped by its 240 mm rear tire, the bike runs quite well. Of course, it doesn't prefer small corners, but as soon as the road offers nice curves that don't close up too much, you'll get a masterly kick out of rocking the beast, which will obey you without asking too much of you. This result is due to a very good weight distribution, notably with the fuel tank positioned under the seat behind the engine. The mastery of the concept belongs to those who have always done it, and is impressive. Once you've got the hang of it, you'll even try taking the knee out and wiggling slightly to increase cornering speed.
it may scrape a little, but the angle taken is surprising. Taken to the Auvergne, it always gives me a big banana. The mountains also gave me the opportunity to check out the bike's high-quality, long-lasting braking. The 3 x 300 mm discs are capable of slowing down the crew in all circumstances, even if they're too optimistic.

the only drawbacks are the suspension's limited travel, which makes you feel as if you've just hit a cigarette butt on the sidewalk! Your passenger, like you, will appreciate the masterly comfort offered by the well-designed saddle, but will ask you for a divorce if you go over a bad patch a little too quickly. But this suspension adjustment is essential to get the handling you expect from this machine. The position is also rather atypical: all the way forward, forcing you to stretch out your arms and legs: we'd like to see a cruise control to relax the right arm.

in conclusion, in the behemoth category, where it takes on the Suzuki VZ 1800 and Triumph's Rocket III, this Harley is the one that lets you ride like any other motorcycle, but with an exceptional engine.
19,000€ for a bike that will stick with you for the rest of your life isn't all that expensive, and will set you apart from the crowd. Remember a certain V-Max....Myths die hard!

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