V-Rod
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This bike feature originally appeared in Barnett’s Magazine issue #55, May-June 2007.
No-Limit-Customs: Violence V-Rod
Story by Buck Manning
Photos by Frank Sander
Harley’s foray into the netherworld of water-cooled motorcycles, the V-Rod, is one of those love and hate things like big dogs versus small dogs, everybody seems to like one or the other. Occasionally though, one dog comes along that makes you question your stand on the subject, much like our feature custom, Violence, from Holger Schnell of No-Limit-Customs of Huffenhardt, Germany. Yeah, it’s still water-cooled and maybe not a “true” Harley in your opinion, but you gotta stare at the thing and wonder what it’s like to actually ride. It dares you to wonder with its aggressive stance and in-your-face color, much like an orange 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda asks you, “Are you man enough?” Well are you?
Holger started with a Street Rod and apparently never looked back. He’s modified quite a few V-Rods and has his own ideas about what they should look. I can tell you they’re not for the faint of heart. The chromed modified frame holds one of NLC’s three-piece swingarms that finds a 330 Avon stuffed in between the machined cut-out chainstay. Up front, super beefy NLC inverted chromed forks with triple clamps worthy of holding a bridge together grab a 180 Avon tire that was the standard size on the back of a V-Rod when it was introduced in 2003. Tire footprint should not be an issue here although I gotta guess the ability to flick it into a corner is not as easy as a stocker, more like the nose-heavy Hemi ‘Cuda’s handling prowess. Pizza pan-sized dual NLC wavy-style, drilled and ventilated rotors cover the front wheel so much it looks like it might be a disc wheel. The rear brake rotor and caliper is a similar set-up, but it’s mounted just inside of wheel-matching belt pulley and the open right-side shows off the Maltese Cross design of NLC’s wheels clearly while showcasing the massive 11.5” width. Harley shocks keep the crazed streetfighter tail section from trimming the tread of the spinning tire.
NLC bodywork gives the bike its attitude with a tank cover and solo bent up short tail section has a seat that would only appear to qualify as a seat in a question on Final Jeopardy as to what it is. The aluminum plate seat with an engraving of Homer Simpson’s skull in it has to be downright painful. I wonder how long it takes to get that skull imprint off your ass? The V-Rod’s gas tank politely hangs below it in clear view and doesn’t seem to care, it’s got a job to do, so take it or leave it. Up front, NLC radiator covers have their own take on shrouding design and the sharp lines forming hard, geometric shapes are as far from the VSRCR’s curves as you can get. Holger fabbed a fat, short front fender and also made flat-plane frame covers replacing the fluted stockers. A twin-headlight bikini fairing juts out at an angle and finishes off the Euro-streetfighter look. The tin was then covered in a bright orange hue by Pfeil Design and NLC added the graphics. NLC dragbars and rearsets complete the look.
The stock fuel-injected 1130cc Revolution motor is color matched to the bodywork and while the NLC up-turned exhausts look way cool, they promise more than they can deliver. Man, an over the top streetfighter like Violence needs something over the top powering it. If I opened a Hemi ‘Cuda’s shaker hood and found a Hemi Orange 318 two-barrel, I’d be mighty disappointed. If any bike is crying out for a Vance&Hines supercharger hanging off the side and more cc’s, this is it. Holger, it’s a cool bike, but ramp it up! I want to be dared.
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