Ride Review: 2006 HD VRSCRA Street Rod

2006 HD VRSCRA Street Rod (used)

Interesting bike that is mired by a personality complex…it’s a cruiser that wants to be a more sporting bike, but is handicapped with a seat to peg distance that dictates anyone with an inseam longer than 28” need not apply & a rear brake location that is impossible to use because it is located too high to use unless your foot is lifted off the peg, which is exacerbated by the extreme bend of my hips of my 33” inseam that places my knees parallel with the top portion of the tank…forget about any trail braking! I tried moving up to the back seat height & that would be a more appropriate starting point with the current peg location but then you are perched way up on top of the bike detracting from the “as one with the machine” feel that inspires confidence...despite a claimed std bike seat height the SR feels low & long with a front wheel way out in front…hmm, still cruiser-like except you are perched on top instead of in the bike.

The big difference being that this bike does handle (at least relative to the cruiser genre), not in a sporting bike way, but in a deliberate stable tracking manner that interestingly seems to beg you to lean off in the corners or perhaps mandates the use of body assist to get it to deviate from its cruise-missile course. Flickable & quick steering are NOT in its repertoire…lane changes at hwy speed are akin to a long wheelbase truck, giving the impression this bike is not steered but leaned to change direction. Good tire combination that produces natural lean characteristics, very un-cruise-like because of the thankfully non-240 ultra wide “Flinstone Mobile” drag tire spec. But it is let down by the suspension, specifically the lack of any appreciable rear wheel travel, which felt harsh…the front was much better but this bike had a clunk/rattle in the front end over sharp bumps & speed bumps. The reach to the bars was about the only aspect of a functional rider triangle HD got in the ballpark. It hides its weight well & down low, but unlike my K1300GT does not transfer to a lighter feeling bike once underway. Awesome brakes, strong with good feel…very BMWish…enough said!

The motor is another enigma that feels very underwhelming, lazy & slow <5k rpm & then transform into something delicious, powerful & fast with a very un-Harley-like feel & almost 9k redline!! She needs to be woken up in the bottom half to be satisfying & a complete package. It is smooth, quiet & modern feeling with a pleasing feel & can sound wonderful with aftermarket pipe/fuel mngt….the oem pipe has to go. The tranny feels light, modern & quiet, again very un-HD like, but this bike did miss the 2 - 3 upshift 2x producing false neutrals. Clutch lever pull was ok, not overly heavy, but not as light or with the same precision feel of my 2 BMWs.

For me it is a novelty bike that would be fun as a second or occasional ride, but with too many design compromises to be a daily ride & that is why I suspect it never sold well, was discontinued & why owners don’t keep them long term…come on HD wake up…you are so close to making bikes that work for the rest of us…in a different state of the tune the motor would be a world killer…drop in an appropriate std frame with functional ergos…go on a serious weight loss program & you will have a winner….it’s like the HD designers have forgotten that they can make a XR!

It’s always interesting getting back on your own bike after riding another…which today was a Street Rod…the K1300GT felt light, quick & responsive with amazing power & acceleration + recliner leg room…not that the SR was not interesting…most certainly different (in good & bad ways), but it is a shame that HD gave up on it & had to mire it with cruiser persona & styling…easy to see why it didn’t sell…it’s a ½ & ½ bike…1/2 a real bike 1/2 a cruiser & as such doesn’t work as either, particularly when taken out of just the HD context & compare to all bikes..a shame because the motor is special if the weak bottom end can be fixed & according to Langley Dan the pipe/fuel mngt upgrade solves that.