2009–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Blacked-Out Muscle With Bite
The Night Rod Special is the blacked-out, street-bred member of Harley's VRSC family, and it doesn't ride like the rest of the lineup. Its 1247 cc liquid-cooled Revolution 60° V-twin makes 120 hp at 8,250 rpm and 85 lb-ft at 7,250 rpm. That engine wants revs, and it pays you back with a strong pull up top. The look finishes the job. It has a stretched, low silhouette, a fat 240/40-18 rear tire under the tail and a dark finish almost everywhere you look. This is a muscle cruiser with hot-rod attitude, and it looks mean even parked.
On the road it feels planted and calm at speed, and the engine runs smoothly enough that long highway stretches don't wear you down. Build quality is solid and the aftermarket is deep, so owners tend to make the bike their own instead of trading it in. Age brings a few known gremlins. The fuel level sender can fail and misread, and bolt heads can show surface rust early. At 676 lb (307 kg) wet it is heavy work in a parking lot, the fork has no adjustment and ABS was an option, not standard. Buy it for the attitude and a real motor. Don't buy it expecting a tourer.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 120 hp (90 kW) @ 8,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) @ 7,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 1247 cc |
| Engine | 60° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 240/40-18 |
| Seat height | 26.0 in (660 mm) |
| Wet weight | 676 lb (307 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (18.9 L) |
| Top speed | 144 mph (232 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 31 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
I've collected what owners say about the Night Rod Special for years: in paddocks, at club nights, over coffee after a ride and in the messages riders send me directly. The pattern is clear. They love the look, trust the build and enjoy how hard it accelerates, and they're just as frank about what it asks of them on longer days.
The styling comes up first and most often. Owners point to the all-black finish, the fat rear tire and the stretched custom profile, and they say it stands out in any crowd. They also describe thick paint, robust parts and few mechanical issues. The motor gets its share of praise too. Riders say it pulls strongly from the midrange and revs hard toward redline, with acceleration they don't expect from a cruiser.
Comfort is the most common complaint. Owners say the forward controls and stretched position start to hurt after about 50 miles (80 km), and the firm suspension sends bumps through harshly. Some call the stock exhaust 'moped-like', far too quiet for the way the bike looks. Others mention the effort it takes at low speed and in tight corners. Riders also report a range of roughly 130 to 170 miles (210 to 275 km) between fuel stops.
License plate bracket may loosen and interfere with rear tire (recall 12V-503)
On 2012-2013 VRSCDX models, the license plate bracket can become loose, potentially contacting the rear tire or slicing the rear brake line, leading to brake failure. Dealers inspect and secure the bracket.
ABS brake fluid may boil and cause loss of brakes (recall 18V-076)
On 2008-2011 VRSC models equipped with ABS, the brake fluid may boil, leading to brake fade or failure. Harley-Davidson recalled affected units to flush the fluid and replace the ABS module if necessary.
Fuel level sending unit failure
Known issue across all VRSC models; the fuel gauge may read incorrectly or empty prematurely. Requires replacement of the sending unit inside the fuel tank.
Premature rusty bolt heads
Some owners report surface rust appearing on bolt heads and fasteners very early in the bike's life, likely due to poor-quality plating.
Where this Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special VRSCDX pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Night Rod Special VRSCDX is actually built for.
If Sturgis or Daytona is your yearly ritual, this Harley turns heads by being different: dark, low and liquid-cooled. Just know it's a rev-happy hot rod, not a traditional big-twin loper.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For unhurried miles through small towns and old routes, it's smooth and easygoing. The style is dark hot rod rather than classic retro, so make sure that's the look you're after.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honestly, look elsewhere for national-park epics. No luggage, no cruise control, and a 5.0 gal tank at 31 mpg mean frequent stops. As a solo weekend runner, it works.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2007–2008
Drag Strip Attitude, Factory Built
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special VRSCDX. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2006
Drag Bike DNA in Cruiser Clothes
Roughly $1,200 cheaper used than this bike at 14 yr
Competitor · 2009–2017
Four Cylinders Of Pure Torque
Roughly $900 pricier used than this bike at 14 yr
Same Platform · 2009–2017
Detroit Muscle, Milwaukee Badge
Roughly $2,400 pricier used than this bike at 12 yr