Motorcycle.com

The Night Rod Special was made just for me!

This is my first bike and I could not have made a better choice! This bike was made for me. In less than a year I managed to put on almost 10k miles before being re-deployed to Iraq. Though the bike isn't designed for carving up the canyons (knee drag turnes), it is still fun to ride the twist an...d turnes. On the other hand, this bike will try to to rip you off of it in fast linear accelerations if you are not careful! From my experience, this bike doesn't like going slower than 75-80. It's as if the bike is urging you to go faster. My bike seems to like to cruise at 85mph. With that said, if you are overly concerned about gas milage, this bike gets about 130 (riden like you stole it) to 170 (very conservative) miles per tank (give or take 20 miles).

My only grip with the bike is that the exhaust sounds like a moped. In other words, all BITE, no bark. I wear a half helmet and at 80mph, I can hardly tell that my engine in running. Some might like that aspect, but I'd rather have the bike sound like it looks, MEAN!

The forward controls, perfect for me being that I'm 6'0", may be too far out there for shorter riders. Though with a HD Reach Seat, you can get about 2" closer. Even though some call it a sport cruiser (75% sport - 25% cruise), the seat is very comfortable. My butt doesn't get sore or numb after long rides. I actually will be riding round trip from CA to VA (approx 450 miles a day) and back, and I don't see the seat or the riding position (pretty agressive) being a problem. Though there is a rear seat and pegs, this bike looks and feels like a one person only type bike.

Without a doubt, this is the fastest mass production bike Harley makes (HD discontinued the Screamin' Eagle VROD a few years ago). I'm way over 30, so I didn't buy the bike to race around like a 20 something idiot on a crotch rocket, but this bike really moves. This bike will move your soul as well as your body down the highway with a quickness!

The last thing I have to say about the Night Rod Special (NRS) is that this bike looks like no other. Choppers look the same, crotch rockets looks the same, even other Harley's look the same, but the NRS is in a class all it's own. It goes without saying, but Black is Beautiful! And the NRS is oh so beautiful. Read Full Review

What I now know

What can I say until 3 months ago you could have heard me say “I will never own a Harley-Davidson” After renting bagger, upon fat-boy and the like I was simply convinced that a Metric ‘Naked’ sport-bike was the only bike for me. That is until I sat on the 2009 VRSC Nightrod Special, and all I could... say was . . . sign me up!
I have owned my ’09 for 3 months and it continues to impress me every single time I ride it. Sure there are hundreds of other motorcycles out there that get better mileage and perhaps a few that are more sophisticated, but few if any that are more comfortable and flat out fun burning up the road and diving through a chicane or two.
This bike gets more looks than my Monster ever did, and it seems every time I stop to fuel up, there are heads turning and people asking ‘who made that bike’ or ‘WOW that is a Harley-Davidson’.
My new quote is “This is not our father’s Harley and yes it is an American made bike!”
There may be other bikes out there around the same price that look similar, this however is Harley-Davidson stepping into an exciting new realm with monstrous success.
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It's a Porsche.................It's a Harley

Coming from Honda to HD has been a big decision. And this Bike surely turned the tide. Fast, Low, Sleek, Agressive Looking, Very Smooth, MAde for Fast Linear Roads. Quite a Crowd Pleaser. Wan't to get noticed, Buy One...!!!! Very stable a high speeds. Dangerous in unexperienced hands. 240mm rear tir...e is one of the nicest behinds i've ever seen on a bike. Riding position for me is not tiring at all. I'm 5.7 So i had to do some mods tobetter my reaching the pedals. Reach seat en Reach pedals. This bike is thruly the Best Toy I've had ( men are little kids with expensive toys ).3.2 seconds to 100km, is permanent endorphins release = TOTAL JOY.!!! Read Full Review

Love this Engine...love this bike

As has been stated in other reviews this is a very unique motorcycle. I have owned many bikes and quite a few H-Ds, but this Night Rod Special is so different. The first thing one must do is find a suitable exhaust to bring out the tremendous sound of this remarkable engine. I selected Supertrapp... 'Fat Shots' slip-ons. The nice thing about these slip-ons is that you can fine tune the exhaust by changing how many rings you use on the tips. There are others companies who make suitable slip-ons like V&H and Tab, but I prefer the sound of the Supertrapps. The ABS breaks are great as is the slipper clutch. It is a nice, smooth shifting transmission. Agree that it is very stable while accelerating and at speed. Certainly it does get attention because it is beautiful in vivid black or matt black. Highly recommend this very special Harley-Davidson. Read Full Review

Smooth.

Im not much of a harley kind of guy my father in law has a road king and its ok but just not my thing to much vibration and it seamed more of a bragging rights thing and heratage. But i figured since harley had the current test ride program going i would try a night Rod. Man this this IS sweet It ha...s minimal vibration and has massive power. I have been riding for more than 20 yrs and i have riden and owned a hayabusa gold wing honda shadow and nothing compares to this bike for a cruser it is the best. First sitting on it with the foward controls is a little awkward but after about a min or so its extremly comfortable. so nice i bought one and now my brother is looking at buying one also. A++++++++++++ Read Full Review