at the beginning of July, my ultra-tight test schedule "forced" me to overlap several bikes for the same week. What could I do?
How about asking my friendly neighbor, a great Harley enthusiast, to give me a hand?
And why not ask her to write the article? A woman's opinion, especially on Harley motorcycles for men, would be super interesting!
here we go, Scallator, I'll leave the keyboard to you...
TESTING THE "FAT BOB" AND THE "V-ROD
By Scallator in collaboration with Oli the Belgian
july 10, 2012, why do I remember this date so precisely...? Simply because "My dream came true".
Thanks to Oli , my kind neighbor, I had the opportunity to taste the pleasure of a week's ride on two magnificent Harley Davidsons. On the one hand the Fat Bob and on the other the V-Rod Muscle special 10th anniversary edition.
Here are my impressions after testing these two splendid machines.
fAT BOB
riding pleasure:
The sensations I experienced during my test ride on this machine were simply overwhelming. The smoothness of the engine contributes greatly to this pleasure.
Having owned a BMW GS 650, it's a real pleasure to be able to drop down to low revs (123 Nm at 3125 rpm) and then go "full throttle" again without any problem. What's more, this type of driving is very safe in every respect, especially when overtaking, for example.
handling:
It's clear that on our Belgian roads, with their unpredictable and very often damaged surface, caution remains the order of the day, as on any other bike. On the other hand, when the road is in excellent condition, you feel like you're on a rail.
In town, no problem. Despite the bike's weight, you can move between vehicles without any problems, thanks to the fact that you can easily touch the ground when stationary. Seat height 663 mm.
Generally speaking, this 305 kg bike handles like a bicycle, although the balance of the bike and the reasonable cross-section of the tires (a 180 for the rear and a 130 for the front) make it easy to angle the bike too much... I almost ended up in a river when I put the frame on the ground after folding up the footrests to get more angle!
Braking is sufficient if you anticipate. But this is the case for all motorcycles in my opinion. Riding a motorcycle without risk has always been a question of anticipation.
riding position:
I'm 1m78 tall, I hadn't ridden a motorcycle (Harley, incidentally) for over a year, and I confess I was a little apprehensive at first about the forward controls. As soon as Oli and I hit the road, I felt perfectly at ease, except that you have to remember to position your feet at the front. Even so, if you're a shorter person, you'd be better off not wearing them, but that's just my point of view. In use, I feel a little discomfort at the air filter, which is slightly protruding (and vibrates on the knee when stopped), as well as at the rear wheel.but I say that just to quibble and to prove that women can also use a "biker" vocabulary.
It's clear that at 120 km/h on the freeway, the range of the wind is significant and causes fatigue, given that the Fat Bob has no bubble. Fatigue is mainly felt in the shoulders.
maintenance:
Given the wonderful weather we had in July, I had the great pleasure of cleaning the machine. With a soft chamois and clear water, it's child's play; and what a pleasure to have the sun, however faint, reflecting in the chrome package....!!!!
look:
This bike suits my tastes, and I dare speak for all the ladies. It's elegant, refined and curvaceous, and the engine and exhaust tailpipes are a real eye-catcher. Its "bad girl" look is a real eye-catcher (I've seen it around town, and I'm not ashamed to say that it's a pleasure to be on a bike that looks good...!!).
conviviality :
Riding a Harley is a state of mind, and the community, contrary to what most people think, is very welcoming. I lost count of the number of "hellos" on the road.
conclusion:
With its black denim look, good ground clearance, welcoming saddle, super-wide handlebars with easy-to-use controls, tank-mounted speedo, legendary hum and dual front brake discs, it's designed to meet every expectation of a biker who wants to have endless fun....and that's my case, I've fallen for the Fat Bob.... !!!!
v-ROD "MUSCLE
riding pleasure:
The first word that came to mind when I saw this "terrible machine" was "Waaaawwww", and that "waaaww" hid both my anguish and my wonder.
Anxiety at the sight of the engine and the size of the machine, and wonder at the aesthetics that Harley has created for the 10th anniversary of the V-Rod.
So I plucked up my courage and got into the saddle.
I took the national route, sitting low with my legs forward, looking for the gear selector (but with 1,250 cm3 and 11.5 mkg under the handle, do you really have to spend your time looking for the selector? The Harley block, which was already a real spring in its step with 1,130 cm3, has retained all its suppleness on this re-bored version, and revs under 1,500 rpm in sixth gear without flinching.with my back bent and my arms almost outstretched on the flat handlebars, my anxiety gradually disappeared, even if the fact of riding a 292 kg machine only amplified the beastly feel of the bike. As the miles went by, this anxiety gradually faded.
The sound of the engine is certainly smooth and refined, and emits a melodious satin-like tone, but I was a little disappointed not to hear the legendary "purr" of the Harley engine, original pot obliged...
handling:
Admittedly, the steering is a little heavy and the wheelbase excessive, requiring a certain grip at low speeds. However, once the horizon clears, the American is more accommodating.
The chassis is rigid, stable and precise on corners, ensuring safe steering.
What impresses most is the 240 mm rear tire... !!!! You'd think it would be easy to handle thanks to this huge rubber, but it's nothing of the sort, freezing the bike except in wide curves.
riding position :
The footpegs are positioned slightly further back than on the Fat Bob, the handlebars are lowered and the seat height is slightly reduced, providing a natural, more comfortable and less tiring riding position.
The rider's position is active to best allow swinging from corner to corner.
maintenance:
Carefully polished, the many aluminum parts shine like diamonds.
look:
As far as I'm concerned, Harley Davidson has succeeded perfectly in its objective; you take a dragster, and turn it into a motorcycle. When I first saw this bike, I immediately thought of the fuselage of a fighter jet.
It's a machine that "looks good"....and doesn't go unnoticed....!!!!
user-friendliness :
In terms of passenger friendliness, the two Harleys are practically side by side... The Fat Bob (a thin seat with a pronounced angle towards the rear) is a disaster, and the V Rod is even worse, offering a mini leather-covered wooden board for the passenger. But from time to time, you have to suffer to be "beautiful".
conclusion:
Beautiful and muscular (123 hp all the same), the V-Rod offers pleasure and style in a quality package....but, for a woman; and here I'm speaking on behalf of the woman that I am, it's far too powerful to be able to take full advantage of all the possibilities it offers, unless you have the stature of a robust Viking.
Well, that's a job well done Scallator, thank you for your feminine vision during this test.
Let's do it again next year?
See you soon,
Oli the Belgian
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| Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012 | Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012 | ||||||||
Chassis |
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| Nombre de places | |||||||||
| Frame | |||||||||
| Double berceau en acier | double berceau en acier | ||||||||
| Fuel capacity | |||||||||
| 19.30 liters (5.10 US gallons) | 18.90 liters (4.99 US gallons) | ||||||||
| Oil capacity | |||||||||
| Seat height | |||||||||
| Seat height : 663 mm (26.10 in) | Seat height : 640 mm (25.20 in) | ||||||||
| Length | |||||||||
| Length : 2,330 mm (91.73 in) | Length : 2,410 mm (94.88 in) | ||||||||
| Width | |||||||||
| Height | |||||||||
| Ground clearance | |||||||||
| Wheelbase | |||||||||
| 1,620 mm (63.78 in) | 1,700 mm (66.93 in) | ||||||||
| Dry weight | |||||||||
| 305 kg | 292 kg | ||||||||
| Curb mass | |||||||||
| Weight when fully loaded | |||||||||
| 320 kg | 307 kg | ||||||||
| Brake assist | |||||||||
| ABS standard | ABS as standard | ||||||||
Front axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| Telehydraulic fork Ø 49 mm | Reverse telehydraulic fork Ø 43 mm | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 127 mm (5 in) | 102 mm (4.02 in) | ||||||||
| Angle de chasse | |||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 2 discs Ø 300 mm (11.81 in), 4-piston caliper | Braking 2 discs Ø 300 mm (11.81 in), 4-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Front tire : 130 / 90 - 16 | Front tire : 120 / 70 - 19 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.48 bar | |||||||||
| Handlebars | |||||||||
Transmission |
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| Gearbox | |||||||||
| 6 stage gearbox | 5 stage gearbox | ||||||||
| Transmission | |||||||||
| Secondary belt drive | Secondary belt drive | ||||||||
Rear axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| 2 lateral shock absorbers | 2 lateral shock absorbers | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 79 mm (3.11 in) | 74 mm (2.91 in) | ||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 1 disc Ø 292 mm (11.5 in), 2-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 300 mm (11.81 in), 4-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Rear tire : 180 / 70 - 16 | Rear tire : 240 / 40 - 18 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.9 bar | |||||||||
Motor |
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| Motor type | |||||||||
| two-cylinder 45° V-shaped , 4 strokes | two-cylinder 60° V-shape , 4 strokes | ||||||||
| Cooling system | |||||||||
| by air | liquid | ||||||||
| Fuel system | |||||||||
| Injection | Injection | ||||||||
| Fuel | |||||||||
| Starting system | |||||||||
| Timing | |||||||||
| tumbled | 2 ACT | ||||||||
| Number of valves | |||||||||
| 2 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder | ||||||||
| Displacement | |||||||||
| 1584 cc, Bore x stroke: 95.3 x 111.1 mm | 1246 cc, Bore x stroke: 105 x 72 mm | ||||||||
| Power | |||||||||
| 75 ch to 5,350 rpm | 121.3 ch to 8,000 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Compression | |||||||||
| 9.2 : 1 | 11.5 : 1 | ||||||||
| Torque | |||||||||
| 12.90 mkg to 3,500 rpm | 11.50 mkg to 6,500 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Émission sonore | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 34ch (A MTT1 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 48ch (French A2 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
Options/Equipment |
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Practical information |
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| The advantages | |||||||||
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| The disadvantages | |||||||||
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| Performance | |||||||||
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| Price | |||||||||
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| Country of manufacture | |||||||||
Compare |
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Fuel consumption
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: 6.30 liters/100km (0.37 mpg)
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
Undisclosed
Range
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: 306 km (190 miles)
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
Undisclosed
Torque
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: 12.9 mkg
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
: 11.5 mkg
Power
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: 76 ch (75 hp)
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
: 123 ch (121.30 hp)
Power-to-Weight ratio
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: 4.07 kg/ch
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
: 2.41 kg/ch
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: 23.64 kg/mkg
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
: 25.39 kg/mkg
Speed
Harley-Davidson 1584 DYNA FAT BOB FXDF 2012
: approximately 170 km/h (105.60 mph)
Harley-Davidson VRSCF 1250 V-Rod Muscle 2012
: 200 km/h (124.30 mph)
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