[rodman]

Hi Everybody,

Just spoke to a friend who works at at Warr's HD in London. He was commenting on the number of Roadkings that he sold last year, (1) when he quipped:

" Yep, the Vrod saved us last year"

I was pretty surprised at this, there certainly are a lot of unqualified horror stories concerning unsellable vrods on the VROD Yahoo group and in the various magazines etc. Probing a bit deeper he indicated that the Vrod Outsold all other harleys in 2003.

Cant really say whether every other dealership in the UK saw the same thing, however it wouldnt be too surprising. The Vrod gets a pretty consistent reaction over here; people love it.

Rodman


:vrod:

 

[Ricky G.]

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

 

[BobT]

That is very nice to hear.
BobT

 

[mjw930]

Yep, we Americans aren't the most progressive bunch . Too much ancient history when it comes to HD on this side of the pond :slap: Give it time

 

[vroddrew]

Hi Everybody,

Just spoke to a friend who works at at Warr's HD in London. ...." Yep, the Vrod saved us last year"

I stopped by Warrs when I was in London over the holidays - (they have a dealership a little south of Earls Court) - the one V-Rod they had on the floor had a list price of 14,000 British Pounds. To put that in perspective, at todays exchange rate that is more than $27,000. Of course, a cotton T-shirt at their "boutique" clothing store in the Kings Road cost more than $45 (I passed...)

 

[rodman]

I stopped by Warrs when I was in London over the holidays - (they have a dealership a little south of Earls Court) - the one V-Rod they had on the floor had a list price of 14,000 British Pounds. To put that in perspective, at todays exchange rate that is more than $27,000. Of course, a cotton T-shirt at their "boutique" clothing store in the Kings Road cost more than $45 (I passed...)

It is a shame how much American stuff costs over here. I've been in Europe for 5 years- brought my other bike with me too. Gotta remember that the price includes taxes - That alone runs up to about 21% including VAT and Duty. The first service is included as well - I've seen some guys pay big dinaros for that...(why???)

Add that to the very weak US dollar and the real pain begins... luckily I bought my Vrod when the USD was stronger.

But hey that's the magic if arbitrage! Different things cost different amounts in different places and at different times.

Still - the money thing is a downer fftopic: and not why most of us ride anyway- the VROD is a total ass kicker over here! I'm sure that plenty if new riders in USA are also turned onto the rod...no?

rodman

 

[sfarson]

Still - the money thing is a downer and not why most of us ride anyway- the VROD is a total ass kicker over here! I'm sure that plenty if new riders in USA are also turned onto the rod...no?

I read Bike and T.W.O from the U.K (Among the best MC magazines IMO) and note the same V-Rod favor... with the press and riders of all sorts. Last issue of Bike had an long-term update article on the V-Rod and a highlight for the author was parking the bike at Blackpool? and taking pictures of all the people walking up to admire it.

As for the states, it is very well received but would say not as much as overseas. The H-D air-cooled big twin legacy and loyalty is strong here.

 

[vroddrew]

Last issue of Bike had an long-term update article on the V-Rod and a highlight for the author was parking the bike at Blackpool?

Yeah - and if your read a little further you discover he managed to dump it braking on a wet road.... :hmm:

One thing I thought was interesting about the article in Bike was how much time he felt was necessary to keep the V-Rod clean (several hours a week if you go by his schedule..)

Myself, and most of the other US V-Rod owners I've talked to, don't find the bike particularly hard to keep looking good. Maybe an hour or so for its weekly bath (and wheel scrub) seems plenty. But of course us U.S. riders don't (generally speaking) ride that much in the rain - and British roads seemed VERY muddy compared to most highways here.

I did pass along the comments of some British riders about how hard it is to keep their bikes clean to the appropriate people at Harley. But short of putting bigger fenders on them - there's not much you can do about it. Although I would have thought that the anodized finish of the original VRSCA was a lot easier to keep looking shiny than glossy paint.

 

[sfarson]

Yeah - and if your read a little further you discover he managed to dump it braking on a wet road.... :hmm:

One thing I thought was interesting about the article in Bike was how much time he felt was necessary to keep the V-Rod clean (several hours a week if you go by his schedule..)

Yes, I thought the focus keeping the bike clean was a little extreme, even editorially... too much content devoted to this.

 

[rodman]

Guys, Don't get me started on VROD Cleaning!!!!

I can totally understand the BIKE magazine fixation with cleaning. It's not over the top no in the UK or Ireland.

I was horrified to see my VRODs wheels visibly oxidizing after it's first rain storm. Now I live near the coast, but Harley just arnt trying hard enough to provide a bike with a durable finish :spank: . The joke amongst riders around here is that the wheels are:

'water soluable'

The local dealership sent a pair of returned, corroded VROD wheels to Dymag - a racing wheel manufacturer. The guys at Dymag couldnt believe it.

In winter, it rains fpretty much every day and whenever the weather even hints at getting chilly they dump enough salt on the roads to give you high blood pressure.

So for me the Rod has spent most of the last few months snug under a cover, I have an appropriatedly chromed and painted Roadking that ferries me across the muddysaltwaterrivers that pass for roads.

 

[CRAZY CLIVE]

Guys, Don't get me started on VROD Cleaning!!!!

I can totally understand the BIKE magazine fixation with cleaning. It's not over the top no in the UK or Ireland.
YUp,its a six hour clean if I get caught in the rain

 

[StreetRod Steve]

H-D reports that the VROD was its #1 seller in Europe last year, ahead of all other pushrod models.

 

[mr_vrodder]

It's good that thr Vrod is the best seller, it's a shame that the stealers are are not "tuned in" to the Vrod though and the UK is a bit behind "almost non existant" when it comes to aftermarket stuff.

 

[MarkB]

This all sounds very odd. Around my local villages I see just as many HD's on the road as Japanese bikes but without exception they're all traditional twins rather than V-Rods.

Even at my local club, from the 20 - 30 Harley's that turn up each month only two would be V-Rods, and one of them is mine!

It seems to me that whilst Joe Public and even the Jap riders like the V-Rod, their interest is based on looks alone. The traditional Harley rider in the UK is just like those in the U.S. - they don't even want to be seen near a V-Rod for fear of picking up some contageous disease, or betraying their creed. Their loss!!!

 

[WipeOut]

The most fun I have when riding with the aircooled guys (espacially the ones who have spent a fortune on big bore kits and other mods) is when the road opens up on a long up hill stretch and they start to give it some, I just roll it on and cruise by with a smile on my face..

As for the price of the stuff in the UK, its easily solved but importing directly.. Even if you get nabbed for VAT (17.5%) it still cheaper, including the shipping, to get it in from the US than to visit the local dealership.. Its sad really that HD haven't done the math and worked out that the customers are going around the local dealers because their prices are over the top or they are being greedy and ripping us off.. (For those in the US, $1 = +- £0.5 but a part that costs $50 also costs £50 so its double the price).. Myself and some mates work out the bits we want and then place our orders together and share the shipping.. I know its not nice to do it to the local dealership but thats the joy of free enterprise..