2006 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
The Drag Strip In Disguise
Harley built the VRSCA around the Revolution engine, and everything else on the bike follows from it. The 1131 cc liquid-cooled 60° V-twin makes 115 hp at 8,500 rpm and 74 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm, which puts it well above what the cruiser class normally hands you. The chassis is stretched to suit: 67.4 in of wheelbase, a 26.0 in seat, a 180/55-18 rear tire, and brushed aluminum bodywork doing the styling work that chrome usually does. It reads as a drag bike that happens to be street legal, and that is the whole idea.
This one holds its shape as it ages. The finish and the metalwork still look deliberate, and the parts catalog behind the platform is deep enough that no two used examples look alike. Small stuff turns up: a fuel gauge sender that reads wrong or quits, the plastic nipple on the coolant overflow tank cracking, and isolated cases of the alternator drive sprocket bolt backing out, which is worth a torque check rather than a worry. Buy it for the stance and the top-end. Do not buy it expecting range, since 3.7 gal (14 L) goes fast at the speeds this thing invites.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 115 hp (86 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1131 cc |
| Engine | 60° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-18 |
| Wheelbase | 67.4 in (1713 mm) |
| Seat height | 26.0 in (660 mm) |
| Wet weight | 622 lb (282 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 gal (14 L) |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
You sit in it rather than on it. The 26.0 in seat drops you low between the bodywork, feet out front, arms wide, and the first thing you notice is how little of the bike is above your waistline. Fire it up and the note is tighter and harder-edged than the shape suggests, more mechanical whir than lazy thump, with a clean pulse through the pegs at idle that smooths out as soon as you're moving. There's texture in the bars, never buzz. At 70 mph the thing feels welded to the pavement and asks nothing of you, which is where the forward controls make sense and where the wind starts pushing on your chest. Roll off and there's real engine braking, then a solid belt-driven surge when you get back on it.
Triple sprocket bolt loosening
Isolated reports of the alternator drive sprocket bolt backing out, which can cause noise or damage if unchecked. Easily inspected and retorqued.
Fuel gauge malfunction
Some owners report inaccurate or non-functional fuel gauges, possibly due to a faulty sender unit. Not a widespread issue but noted by a few.
Coolant overflow tank nipple fracture
A few owners have experienced the plastic nipple on the coolant overflow tank breaking, causing coolant leaks. Replacement is straightforward.
Where this Harley-Davidson V-Rod VRSCA 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 V-Rod VRSCA is actually built for.
You'll have the presence and the metal at Sturgis, plus a motor that pulls harder than most of what's parked beside you. Know going in that the liquid-cooled Revolution has its own voice.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
The look and the build quality earn their keep on small-town runs, and the 26.0 in seat makes every stop easy. The 3.7 gal tank has you planning fuel around the route instead of just riding it.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It's rock steady at highway speed, but it isn't a loaded two-up machine. No cruise control, a 3.7 gal tank, and feet-forward ergonomics make a long week harder than it needs to be.
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 · 2005
Porsche Power, Blacked-Out Attitude
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2007–2008
Blacked-Out Muscle With Attitude
Successor · 2009–2017
Detroit Muscle, Milwaukee Badge
Competitor · 2009–2017
Four Cylinders Of Pure Torque
Same Platform · 2006
Blacked-Out Muscle, Drag-Strip Soul