[vrodleo]

Got my vrod a month ago and received the accessory catalog. TALK ABOUT A KID IN A CANDY STORE.

Just wondering what mods your folks found to be the best looking or most beneficial. I've already put the screaming eagle pipes and the chip in.

Thanks,

 

[Super Kaz]

Thats a Broad question!Is price an issue?If not!Ricks Wheels,Drag Bars,Custom paint,Doc's light,Race Tuner,NOS System,ect,ect.Your gonna get 100 different answers.

 

[vrodleo]

....One income....3 kids, money is an issue. I like the paint and the wheels. Wondering about chroming the front end, seat preferences, bag preferences (other than saddlebgs).

Thansk Super Kaz for helping me with clarity......I gues I might be admitting that I maybe, just maybe, have a thing for chrome.

 

[Daniii]

Windshield Lowers, Turn signal mirrors, hiway pegs. It came with the Sundowner and touring shield.

 

[morey000]

Like Kaz said, you'll get a lot of answers- but here's mine:

I'd have to go with replacing the black rubber coolant hose that runs up the right side of the engine. Either a chrome cover, or braided- depending on the rest of your bike's style.
It's the only thing, other than footpegs, that stands out to me on the bike as 'unfinished'.

 

[Max]

I'm more of a traditional biker my first mod was to see how a chick looked on it.

Honestly on the first bike it was some minor chrome items, caps and covers but on the second V-Rod I had to change to the drag bars as soon as we got it. Make all the difference in how the bike feels to me.

 

[MR_KING]

Hey max, ya got another one of "those mods" you can spare?

 

[ihringert]

The cheapest and my favorite was the swing arm bolt cover. Fugly w/o it. I'm on my third seat now and when I find the right one, this will easily turn into my favorite mod.

 

[vroddrew]

With a limited budget I'd say that the most "vital" mods are as follows:

1) H-D chrome belt guards (top and bottom) - the cheesy black plastic and steel stock ones just don't match the huge gob of chrome on the other side of the bike.

2) Smoke-grey turn signal lens kit. The stock Orange lens covers are too garish for the V-Rod's cool monochromatic look.

3) Braided Stainless Steel coolant hose cover. Don't cheap out and get the chrome cover. And let the dealer install them (unless you are a professional mechanic) - too many tales of woe from folks who have done it themselves. The Revolution engine is a thing of beauty in itself - Harley deliberately bought themselves some accessory business by leaving the huge black drainpipe in the middle of the cylinders.

4) Windshield: Depending on your riding style, go with either the Super Sport or the sport style. It makes riding the V-Rod for extended periods at 70mph+ not only possible, but also enjoyable. I know a lot of folks swear by the huge touring shield - but IMHO it is too big for the V-Rod. Wear a helmet instead if you are concerned about blowing the toupee off your skull.

5) Seat: If you ever want to take a passenger, you'll need the fender baseplate, touring pillion, low sissybar, and backrest pad. As a bonus, it also gives you a place to strap stuff if you ever decide you want to carry a little cargo.

Other chrome pieces, etc. you can add as you budget and tastes dictate - but the five I've listed above give you the most bang for your buck in the looks/usefulness departments.

 

[V-Fred]

Max: I never tire of that picture. It is becoming legend

V-Fred:thumb

 

[vrodleo]

I have the anniversary kit on my vrod and I'm going to change the lexan to the sport. I've read the posts on the buffeting from the super sport and you can add me to that catagory of people that hate it. Thanks for the input on the touring shield. I was thinking of the braided stainless stell hose but never gave thought to the necessity of it being a dealer intall. What type of trouble?


.....and Max, thanks

Hey Max

 

[Karlos]

Swing arm bolt covers, triple tree bolt (at the top) covers, chrome everything on the handlebars - you will see all that when you actually ride the bike and I don't like the silver paint on these parts - grips, mirrors, housing and plates etc, all chrome (makes a big difference IMHO), pegs, shifter and passenger pegs to match (the standard ones are a little plain jane), radiator hose cover or braid it, chrome upper and lower belt guards (to get rid of all the black that looks good on a vrscB, not an A), smoke turn signal lenses

Nothing huge here, but all combined it "lifts" the bike. Combined the cost also adds up!

I also have the smallest windshield (the Sport?) and the HD Chrome topped hard bags.

Still haven't touched the pipes (I know, I know, sorry! ) because I am waiting to see what the aftermarket throws up - but thinking I will get a set of the SE slip ons and have ChopperSteve V Mod them, seems to be the best option for sound and power if you like the stock look. Oh, and I want the Willie G seat because it looks great imho, keeps the line of the bike, and I don't want to carry pillions long distances and my wife is NOT getting on the back - one accident and my kids are orphans? No way. 5 and 2 is too young to be without Mum and Dad. She can get her own bike - call it risk management.

 

[esquire7oz]

i've seen a few good sugestions, i agree .. need grips, pegs, smoked lenses, chrome belt gaurds, and some covers (plugs).
we all know you cannt stop there, you'll be workin overtime to get more chrome.

 

[Karlos]

Have fun mate! I should have bitten the bullet and got the SE pipes etc, when I bought the bike because that is a big cost item in Australia and now the SO is of the (not entirely unreasonable) opinion that I have spent enough on the bike for one year! I am running the loud pipes saves lives line, but she seems unconvinced....Plus we are about to have another ********, so doesn't want me waking it up when I come and go.

 

[Bagman]

HI Vrodleo. All the reponses are good. I also added the se slip-ons and download first. But you will not enjoy the full benefit of the new pipes until you get a hi-flow filter, I would do that now (or next) It is a big air pump and you have to open up the intake side also. Beyond that, look around at every other vrod you can lay your eyes on and decide what is right for you. I have a chrome list and have been buying it by priorty, what I like most I buy first and could give a knuckle what any body else likes. The issues I have trouble with are what looks OK in polished aluminun and what HAS to be chromed. It still amazes me how many looks and comments the rod gets, even bome stock. Another thing, their are not really that many options out there yet for adding accessories (but it's growing everyday!) but there are enough options to confuse you! Good luck......

 

[mjw930]

It's obvious there are 2 categories of mod's, Functional and Decorative. I lean toward the functional mods, especially if you're tight on funds. Here's what I have done, all of them "necessary", at least that's what I told my wife

Functional:
Sundowner Seat (we ride 2 up 60% of the time)
Baseplate, luggage rack and backrest
Pipes, on my second set, started to V-Mods then went with SE V-Mods. V-Mods a little too loud for long cruises.
SE Air Filter
Race Tuner (to dial in the pipes and filter, the HD flash works well too)
HD 28T pulley and belt
Sport wind screen (sold the Super Sport that came with the kit)
Wired in battery tender and 12 volt supply for intercom (Autocomm)
Backoff chrome lighted license plate frame (decorative and functional)
T-Bag roll bag for around town
SAC + half SAC tail bags for longer trips

~$2000

Decorative:
Gold key kit (came with the bike, package deal)
Stripped and polished the top belt guard
Removed lower belt guard
Swing arm bolt covers (satin)
Kuryakyn chrome mirrors

~$150 (not including gold key kit)

Mark

 

[fehrc]

My two cents worth.

Buy the SE1 download and air filter. Get your stock pipes V-modded and buy a 28T pulley. These are not expensive options but make quite a difference.

When it comes to cosmetic changes, wait until you have the opportunity to take a look at other V-Rods. There are more and more aftermarket V-Rod accessories coming out now and I sometimes wish I would have waited and checked these out more rather than going crazy on the HD parts and buying everything at once. I know it's tough to sometimes wait, however if you're going to spend your hard earned money (and lots of it) I recommend that you carefully consider all options and buy what you think looks best for your bike. After all it is your bike and the reason you are accessorizing it is to personalize it - so take your time, look around, and get what YOU like!

Craig

 

[ThorBob]

For me it was the combination H-D dragbars & Corbin Hollywood seat, took the bike to a whole new level in terms of comfort. Then came the V-Mods & PC III, and now everything else is just icing on the cake

Thor

 

[redrazor]

All the ideas above are great. I've got many of them on my '03 S&B Anniversary model. But......the very best looking, and best performing; not to mention easiest to take on and off; windshield is the Wind Vest. I sent for the V-Rod model the day I took home the new bike, last month. They are truely a beautiful addition to the already good looks. No other windshield can say that, I believe. They cost about $300, and come with georgous billet mounts, and hadware to mount it to the top triple tree (behind the headlight mount.) Check out their web site at www.windvest.com for photos and phone number. They're really nice guys too. I've had one on custom Heritage for over 3 years.

 

[Karlos]

Not bad, but I prefer the Sport windshield from HD. Follows the flow of the bike I think and most of the time you hardly notice it's there, which I think is how you want it because the bike looks best without it.