2009 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special
First Reviewed August 17, 2009 Found in Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Reviews, V-Rod
At first glance you would think that 2009 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special was special ordered by Bruce Wayne and had just burst forth from the Batcave. This black-on-black alternative rendition of the V-Rod is yet another member of the company’s Dark Custom design direction which it has applied to a number of models in recent years.
One look is enough to tell you that the ’09 Night Rod Special Edition sports a unique appearance that skews slightly from the rest of the VRSC Line. The most obvious element of this is the near absence of any chrome, usually a mainstay of any Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Even the engine is treated to a black powder coat. This works well when contrasted with the black nacelle which wraps around the single round headlight.
There has always been a gulf as big as the Grand Canyon between Harley riders and those who favor import sport bikes. Each is looking for something different in the experience they get while riding and they often seem to be set at odds against in bitter rivalry. What these very differnt riders share in common, though, is a love for motorcycles. The 2009 Night Rod Special is seen by many as an olive branch that Harley-Davidson has extended to the sport bike community, a reason for then to come over to the dark side. Judging by the reviews both here and elsewhere, the strategy has worked out rather well.
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Black exhaust pipes curl back to mate with twin alumimum mufflers which seem to be the only significant part of the Night Rod Special which shines…and even these get black tips. The saddle, frame, airbox cover, fenders, controls, and wheels are all blacked out. It easily eclipses the ’09 Cross Bones, ’09 Nightster, and ’09 Night Train and takes the title of “Darkest Horse” in the Harley-Davidson stable.
The powerplant still consists of the 1250cc Revolution V-Twin engine. Liquid cooled, this high-revving mill pushes out 85 ft-lbs of torque at 7,000 rpm. The EFI motor is capable of attaining as much as 42 miles per gallon highway fuel economy and 34 miles per gallon in the city. That's not to say that the bike is not capable of attaining the fuel economy of its larger-displacement brethren, but given that the Night Rod substitutes a more sport-oriented 5-speed transmission vs. the 6-speed in other bikes, it's easy to see why the lower fuel economy would come into play in a smaller displacement engine. With the discontinuation of the CVO V-Rod in 2006, this is clearly the fastest production Harley for the 2009 production year.
'09 Night Rod Special Specifications
Overall Harley-Davidson did a good job in designing a motorcycle that would appeal to those who tend to gravitate to the sport-bike imports because they are looking for a slender bike with lots of speed instead of the more traditional curisers which H-D is known for.
Reviews of the 2009 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special can be found below. Please write a review of your own to share you perspective on this bike’s overall performance and value. Be sure to add your review in the right place as the ’09 V-Rod Standard, ’09 V-Rod Muscle have their own respective review sets. If you have a picture of your motorcycle, please email it with the model and year in the subject line and we’ll add it to the ’09 Night Rod Special Photo Gallery for all to see.